Recommended Posts

Wow, very good review. Makes me want to leave my iPhone 4 for one :p

I had the Galaxy S Captivate (Rogers Wireless) and I liked the phone. As that one picture shows, the SAMOLED screens have the best contrast by far. The blacks are unparalleled to anything I've seen.

I still think Android is too fragmented in terms of updates and carriers. That's the only thing I have against it... I have to wait for another upgrade, but I'm on Telus now it should be easier, their customer service is better lol

Don't let the "fragmentation" FUD fool you, and Samsung was pretty good at getting updates released, it was at least here in the US the carriers that screwed us over

MUST...

MUST...... GET!! ..

I have a question about battery life for this thing. How long does it last while continuously surfing the web (4G), and idle?

My mom had the Galaxy S and she had to return it because it's battery life was like 2 days after using web for 2 hours in all, and idle for the rest of the time, it died on the 2nd day. (I set all settings to low eg: screen brightness, closed all apps, etc)

2 days battery is good. No smartphone will last more than this with regular usage making use of all the features.

Samsung (among other big names) are a part of the Android partnership program with Google and have vowed to keep phones updated for at least 18 months. That and Android 3.1 due this year will merge Honycomb and Gingebread and will be compatible with ALL Android devices.

Also, Android is getting major updates soon. Movies available on the Market, music streaming over the Cloud (50GB storage) and so on. See Google IO 2011.

Also Samsung have confirmed unlocked bootloaders on all new phones so rooting = :)

MUST...

MUST...... GET!! ..

I have a question about battery life for this thing. How long does it last while continuously surfing the web (4G), and idle?

My mom had the Galaxy S and she had to return it because it's battery life was like 2 days after using web for 2 hours in all, and idle for the rest of the time, it died on the 2nd day. (I set all settings to low eg: screen brightness, closed all apps, etc)

It's not 4G lol so that's out the question. but at best you'll get about 2 days of this with moderate usage but even that's pushing it. This is normal for smart phones to only have 24-48 hours cycle with usage. Maybe able to squeeze 3 maybe on idle whole time but yeah that's dependant on background operations and syncing etc.

I'm certainly hanging out for it till it hopefully comes below $1100 NZD.

I'm torn... I want this, but Samsung themselves have said an NFC versions will hit the UK soon... Is NFC worth waiting for? I like the premise, but will it be used?

It's a great idea in practice and there have been selected roll outs in the UK (Mcdonalds in key cities for one) but until it becomes much more widely available I wouldn't count it as a must have for a new phone. In a few years however I hope it's commonplace.

I think the NFC one is lesser in spec, if it's indeed the Tegra2 powered one then it may not sport a SAMOLED+ screen too.

Not what I have heard. The US version is EXACTLY the same spec but with NFC. The UK version simply lacks NFC.

It's a great idea in practice and there have been selected roll outs in the UK (Mcdonalds in key cities for one) but until it becomes much more widely available I wouldn't count it as a must have for a new phone. In a few years however I hope it's commonplace.

Agreed, but when buying on a 2-year contract...

Off topic: I was a huge fan (almost evangelist) of Bluetooth long before such devices were released over here - I saw the potential and what it could be used for. It saddens me that it never realised that potential (at least it hasn't in commonplace UK life).

Not really a fan of any Samsung Android phone, but this one is an exception. I just despise Touchwiz, along with Samsung/carriers update lag, build quality (too much plastic). If this makes it to Verizon with LTE, I may consider it as my next phone. Android is getting lots of nice updates, but I am definitely intrigued with the future of WebOS and WP7.

I'm torn... I want this, but Samsung themselves have said an NFC versions will hit the UK soon... Is NFC worth waiting for? I like the premise, but will it be used?

NFC is still an up-and-coming tech that is starting to gain traction. Google and credit card companies are backing it, and if Apple chooses to put NFC into the iPhone 5 in September, then it is pretty much guaranteed to popup everywhere by next year. Either way, I think it is a useful feature to have if you want to future proof the phone until your contract runs out.

People should seriously have one in their hands before commenting on lack of metal body construction :p

If it wasn't stated I doubt anyone would guess it was all plastic. It feels unibody, it is that sturdy in build. It had no flex or give when you try to bend or twist it and the battery cover is flimsy yes but it hugs the battery and phone back so tightly you wouldn't even guess it came off if there wasn't a notch for your nail to flick it out.

I think it feels as rigid as a DesireHD but obviously much thinner andlighter.

And you don't need to have Touchwhizz, just install another launcher!

About cases for this phone,

I bought an S-Line one but the edge wrapping collects dust like crazy after using it on location today during a shoot:

sgs-ii_case_1.jpg

sgs-ii_case_2.jpg

But it has to go....

sgs-ii_donotwant.jpg

Waiting for this to arrive now:

http://www.obostore.com/nillkin-ultra-slim-hard-shield-faceplate-for-samsung-galaxy-s2-p-1004.html

Had one similar to that on my HTC Desire and that was perfect so this should be too and it's thin so will continue the slimline feel of the SGS.

Update on cases!

The prveious one was a dust magnet so I bought 2 new ones, picked one of them up today, the official Samsung one:

I know I've ordered this one already so when it arrives I will compare both but I will likely end up using that as my dash mount or if the holder I bought is actually good then will give it away on here because I'm awesome like that :p

Previous pics online stores of the official case don't give the impression of it looking as expensive as it does in person so hopefully my pics will help change that :)

The material is plastic/rubberised but it's not as rubbery as other cases, it won't show finger greasy marks like others and appears to be black inside and out so chips/scrapes won't show the undercoat which is good news as my Desire case had white showing on every edge!

I like the drilled look too, I don't think it's to help heat escape but more a design feature and does help grip too.

It also provides a bit of a lip on the front so if the phone is placed face down then the screen is protected from surface contact.

sgs-ii_case_official_1.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_2.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_3.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_4.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_5.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_6.jpg

sgs-ii_case_official_7.jpg

Well worth the <?10 asking price!

Very Nice review! I'm seriously considering selling my iPhone 4 for this.. Can't wait to see it in stores to test it in person!

I've seen videos in action... Impressive speed expecially for browsing!!!

For the cases... Why didn't you consider a pochette-style case like this? http://www.ispazio.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/phpThumb-2.jpg

it will preserve the phone's original look!!!

(and.. A little off topic... Can you please give me the product model of your keyboard? I'm searching for a laptop for my desktop PC style keyboard and yours is exaclty what I'm looking for!)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • They aren't going to want to. Most would just go with the 17 Pro and save money. Why would they want to spend $300 for basically the same thing? It's not worth it if there are hardly any changes from year to year.
    • 24H2 rolled out to the Release Preview Channel in early June 2024, so this coming a bit later in the Experimental Channel (formerly Dev) doesn't really say much more than earlier H2 releases that came out in October. I am not sure what the thinking is here by putting it in Experimental, one would think that the 26H2 stamp means features are locked down and it's now bug tested until October? I don't even pretend to understand Microsoft's strategy for Windows Insider Program though
    • Nothing Ear (a) and CMF Buds Pro 2 with active noise cancellation drop to lowest price ever by Fiza Ali With Prime Day 2026 scheduled to run from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 June, Amazon has already begun rolling out early access offers ahead of the main event. Particularly, Nothing Ear (a) and CMF Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds have dropped to their lowest price ever with limited Prime deal offering 33% and 24% discounts, respectively. Nothing Ear (a) are equipped with 11mm dynamic drivers featuring a PM1 + TPU diaphragm. For noise control, the earbuds offer active noise cancellation (ANC) of up to 45dB across frequencies reaching 5,000Hz. The smart ANC algorithm adapts to surrounding noise levels, while a Transparency Mode allows users to remain aware of their environment when needed. Connectivity is handled via Bluetooth 5.3, with support for AAC, SBC, and LDAC audio codecs. Additional features include IP54-rated earbuds for dust and splash resistance, paired with an IPX2-rated charging case. Furthermore, users also benefit from pinch controls, in-ear detection, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, dual-device connectivity, and a low-latency mode designed for gaming and video playback. The Nothing X app unlocks a range of customisation options, including a personalised equaliser, bass enhancement, control remapping, ear tip fit testing, firmware updates, dual-device management, a Find My Earbuds feature, and low-latency mode settings. When it comes to the battery, the earbuds house a 46mAh lithium-ion battery, while the charging case contains a 500mAh cell. With ANC disabled, users can expect up to 9.5 hours of playback from the earbuds and up to 42.5 hours in total with the charging case. With ANC enabled, battery life is rated at up to 5.5 hours per charge and up to 24.5 hours combined with the case. Finally, fast charging is also supported that should provide up to 10 hours of playback from a 10-minute charge with ANC turned off. Nothing Ear (a) Wireless Earbuds (Black): $53.20 (Amazon US) - 33% The CMF Buds Pro 2 feature a dual-driver audio system consisting of an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm micro-planar tweeter. The earbuds use PU (polyurethane) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) titanium-coated diaphragms and are tuned by Nothing to deliver balanced audio performance. They further support active noise cancellation of up to 50dB across a frequency range of up to 5,000Hz, and noise control features include a Smart ANC algorithm, Adaptive ANC, Transparency Mode, and Clear Voice Technology 2.0. For calls, the CMF Buds Pro 2 use a total of six microphones and feature an environmental noise-cancelling algorithm, Clear Voice Technology 3.0, and Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 that should improve voice clarity during conversations. Furthermore, when it comes to the connectivity, it is provided through Bluetooth 5.4. Additional features include an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, in-ear detection, a low-latency mode, and a Find My Earbuds function. Moreover, through the Nothing X app for Android and iOS, users can access custom EQ settings, a bass enhancement algorithm, customisable controls, Find My Earbuds, low-latency mode, dual-device connectivity, an ear tip fit test, and firmware updates. The earbuds contain a 60mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, while the charging case houses a 460mAh battery. A full charge of the earbuds and case via USB-C should take approximately 85 minutes, while the earbuds alone should be fully recharged in the case in around 60 minutes. Battery life is rated at up to 11 hours of playback on a single charge and up to 43 hours with the charging case when ANC is turned off. With ANC enabled, playback time is reduced to up to 6.5 hours on the earbuds and up to 26 hours with the charging case. Talk time is rated at up to 6 hours on the earbuds and 25 hours with the case with ANC disabled, or up to 4.8 hours and 18.6 hours, respectively, with ANC enabled. CMF Buds Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds (Dark Grey): $37.05 (Amazon US) - 24% Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • The entire world moved to the vastly superior and now universally supported Dolby Atmos technology a very long time ago, mate.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Collaborator
      ryansurfer98 went up a rank
      Collaborator
    • Week One Done
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Eurosoft10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • One Year In
      Skeet Campbell earned a badge
      One Year In
    • One Month Later
      Sharbel earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      544
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      187
    3. 3
      Michael Scrip
      77
    4. 4
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      75
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!