Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II

Into Droid Hardware

Overview:

The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II was the successor to the original Galaxy S and represented a significant leap forward in terms of design, performance, and features. It was widely acclaimed and became one of the best-selling smartphones of its time.

Features:

  1. Display: 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels.
  2. Processor: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9.
  3. Camera: 8 MP primary camera with autofocus and LED flash, and a secondary 2 MP camera.
  4. Storage: 16/32 GB internal storage with an option to expand via a microSD card slot.
  5. OS: Initially shipped with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and was later upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
  6. Battery: 1650 mAh removable battery.
  7. Connectivity: Supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC (in some versions), and GPS.

Pros:

  1. Performance: The dual-core processor made the Galaxy S II one of the fastest phones on the market at its launch.
  2. Camera Quality: The 8 MP camera was a significant improvement over its predecessor and captured high-quality photos.
  3. Slim Design: At just 8.5 mm thick, it was one of the slimmest smartphones available.
  4. Vivid Display: The Super AMOLED Plus display was brighter and more vibrant than the previous generation.

Cons:

  1. Plastic Build: While the phone was slim and lightweight, the predominantly plastic build made it feel less premium than some competitors.
  2. Battery Life: With increased performance came increased power consumption. The battery life was decent but not exceptional.
  3. Software Bloat: Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, while feature-rich, was often criticized for being bloated and slowing down the device over time.

Comparison to Other Technologies on the Market:

The main competitors at the time were the iPhone 4S and the HTC Sensation. The Galaxy S II boasted a larger screen and better performance than the iPhone 4S but lacked the cohesive ecosystem of Apple. Compared to the HTC Sensation, the Galaxy S II had a brighter display and was slimmer, but some preferred the build quality of the HTC device.

Launch Date: The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II was launched in April 2011.

Common Issues/Problems:

  1. Overheating: Some users reported the device getting unusually hot, especially during intensive tasks.
  2. Screen Burn-in: Being an early AMOLED screen, there were reports of screen burn-in over prolonged use.
  3. Battery Drain: Some users experienced rapid battery drain issues, which could be attributed to software or specific apps.

Conclusion:

The Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II was a landmark device for Samsung and solidified its position as a major player in the smartphone market. It combined a sleek design with top-tier performance and was a favorite among Android enthusiasts. While it had its share of issues, its pros far outweighed its cons, making it one of the most iconic smartphones of its era.