Thinking about returning my Samsung Galaxy SII

[fishcove]

No one is expecting Samsung, HTC, Moto, ect to steal apple fan boys away. But what apple did do with the 15mos spec bump of 4s over 4 is open a window for those of us who think for ourselves and base our opinion on experience and not what a CEO or COO tells us is "revolutionary" to go out and try another device and have an open mind about it (I know that's a rarity in these parts). iPhone 4s for previous 4 users is like "been there, done that". I suspect it was the same for 3g users when 3gs came out.

The 15 month spec bump was a business decision, not a reflection of what could or could not be accomplished in that time. And yes it was the same for the 3 g to 3gs users, again by design.

Apple is simply matching their hardware upgrade cycle to the typical user's contract cycle. The 3g users saw a major jump to the 4, and 3gs users are now seeing a similar jump to the 4s.

People who upgrade every year are small (but vocal) minority. They seem to be always on the lookout for the latest and greatest, and are willing to change platforms to get it. The vast majority are happy to upgrade on a longer (and cheaper) cycle, and are more likely to stick with what they know.

So far, based on 4s sales figures, this strategy seems to be working.


Back on topic, my buddy has the Galaxy S II. It's a decent phone, but to me it just feels a little cheap. I prefer the slightly smaller size of the iPhone, and the iPhone display seems a bit crisper. I haven't played with it enough to make a fair comparison between Android and iOS, but the reality is the similarities far outnumber the differences.

Apple still has the edge when it comes to the so-called ecosystem, and that as much as anything will deter most people from switching. That kind of "loyalty" is something the Android platform, as open as it is, might never achieve. It's a lot easier to go from Android to iOS than the other direction. And we're just about due for a whole generation of Android adopters to start looking for their next phone. It will be interesting to see where they go.

 

[djarpit]

Trying the S2 out right now. Android isn't the headache I was led to believe it is. Battery life seems decent. I don't really miss my iPhone, but I'm curious which phone has better battery life.

I streamed a lot on my iphone but i did have a charger at work that i always charged my iphone through. So I might not have noticed the battery life as much on my iPhone.

I wanna iMessage as I currently use Google Voice and its awesomely integrated on my Android. Confused as hell. SMS integration on android is big since I dont have a sms plan and i used SMS GV extension on my iPhone. Might just wait it out. or just use iphone 4 if i get too bored of android...



I am impressed with the camera of both phones but the Video on 4S looks stunning compared to shakey vide on my sII.

 

[Eager Beaver]

'nuff said...

So this happened one time in a laboratory, or are these the numbers from your neighborhood, and you can see the difference with your own eyes?

I'm only asking this cause I saw a youtube vid testing both phones side by side and they seemed pretty even, (with the SGS2 winning as many times as losing).

 

[saaketham]

I've been an iphone 3GS -> Blackberry ->Iphone 4 User until last week. On the Eve of iPhone 4s launch I decided to get the SII. I like the Phone. But It just seems like a part of me is missing with this phone. I still have 3 weeks to try out and return this phone. Anyone else had this experience? Comments? Suggestions?

Not the same, but I was considering the S2 or HTC Amaze 4g right before buying the 4s. My #1 reason to consider Android devices was to stop paying AT&T $99 each month and to switch to T-Mobile's $50/month plan. I narrowed down the choices to the S2 and Amaze 4g, both of which are excellent handsets. The reasons I gave up on Android finally are
1 - there is no 1 Android experience - it is like Linux, with multiple flavors and it's not my cup of tea
2 - Updates to individual handset models come from the Mfr and not google, and in many cases, even recent handset models never get the newer Android versions ever. FAIL .. as far as I am concerned. My iPhone 3gS got iOS5 and was running fine without any issues.
3 - Android mfrs seem to be competing against each other .. throwing model after model out there, hoping one will stick. The S2 did stick, but now that's going to be outdated by the Prime. I never liked this concept of creating way too many models, creating market confusion. I am a savvy tech buyer, and I was way too confused with all these models. I prefer simplicity.

In the end ... if you like Android and the S2 (which is one of the best Android handsets out there), then why bother returning it?

 

[djarpit]

Not the same, but I was considering the S2 or HTC Amaze 4g right before buying the 4s. My #1 reason to consider Android devices was to stop paying AT&T $99 each month and to switch to T-Mobile's $50/month plan. I narrowed down the choices to the S2 and Amaze 4g, both of which are excellent handsets. The reasons I gave up on Android finally are
1 - there is no 1 Android experience - it is like Linux, with multiple flavors and it's not my cup of tea
2 - Updates to individual handset models come from the Mfr and not google, and in many cases, even recent handset models never get the newer Android versions ever. FAIL .. as far as I am concerned. My iPhone 3gS got iOS5 and was running fine without any issues.
3 - Android mfrs seem to be competing against each other .. throwing model after model out there, hoping one will stick. The S2 did stick, but now that's going to be outdated by the Prime. I never liked this concept of creating way too many models, creating market confusion. I am a savvy tech buyer, and I was way too confused with all these models. I prefer simplicity.

In the end ... if you like Android and the S2 (which is one of the best Android handsets out there), then why bother returning it?

the iMessage has casted a spell on me for some reason....

 

[saaketham]

the iMessage has casted a spell on me for some reason....

Ok .. well, if I were you, I'd wait for a few more hours to see what Ice Cream Sandwich brings to the table. Google should be able to do something similar more easily. iMessage is like an instant messaging client where you don't have to log in, unlike GTalk or IMO, etc. Google should be easily able to adapt gtalk to do the same. I like iMessage personally, but then I have unlimited Texting anyways and don't really care.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Trying the S2 out right now. Android isn't the headache I was led to believe it is. Battery life seems decent. I don't really miss my iPhone, but I'm curious which phone has better battery life.

I love down votes for giving an honest opinion. lol

 

[djarpit]

Ok .. well, if I were you, I'd wait for a few more hours to see what Ice Cream Sandwich brings to the table. Google should be able to do something similar more easily. iMessage is like an instant messaging client where you don't have to log in, unlike GTalk or IMO, etc. Google should be easily able to adapt gtalk to do the same. I like iMessage personally, but then I have unlimited Texting anyways and don't really care.

yeah

and I also heard BBM might be coming to Android which would be awesome

 

[saaketham]

yeah
and I also heard BBM might be coming to Android which would be awesome

I hope not .. for Android's sake - if all email/messages have to go encrypted, through the BB servers, then it is a single-point-of-failure model and we all know how well that worked out for them last week. The advantage of a google offering similar to iMessage will be that gtalk works across platforms and most Android users if not all, have a google account anyways. With iMessage, you can only send messages to others on iOS5 (as of now), which is a small fraction of those with google accounts. So, a gMessage offering can probably make iMessage look weak. If that happens in ICS, then more power to Android. I love competition ... it works out best for us consumers in the end. But, again, I have unlimited data and text, so I don't really care whether a text I send goes out as an iMessage or not ... except when I text someone who's got a limited texts/month plan.

 

[gloryunited]

'nuff said...

Interesting to see such high scores for iPhones (both 4 and 4S running iOS 5.0), but how much could the results reflect real world performance?

I like the iPhone and plan to buy the 4S, but I've also watched a youtube comparison video where the GS2 is slightly faster in browsing.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

The 15 month spec bump was a business decision, not a reflection of what could or could not be accomplished in that time. And yes it was the same for the 3 g to 3gs users, again by design.

Apple is simply matching their hardware upgrade cycle to the typical user's contract cycle. The 3g users saw a major jump to the 4, and 3gs users are now seeing a similar jump to the 4s.

People who upgrade every year are small (but vocal) minority. They seem to be always on the lookout for the latest and greatest, and are willing to change platforms to get it. The vast majority are happy to upgrade on a longer (and cheaper) cycle, and are more likely to stick with what they know.

So far, based on 4s sales figures, this strategy seems to be working.


Back on topic, my buddy has the Galaxy S II. It's a decent phone, but to me it just feels a little cheap. I prefer the slightly smaller size of the iPhone, and the iPhone display seems a bit crisper. I haven't played with it enough to make a fair comparison between Android and iOS, but the reality is the similarities far outnumber the differences.

Apple still has the edge when it comes to the so-called ecosystem, and that as much as anything will deter most people from switching. That kind of "loyalty" is something the Android platform, as open as it is, might never achieve. It's a lot easier to go from Android to iOS than the other direction. And we're just about due for a whole generation of Android adopters to start looking for their next phone. It will be interesting to see where they go.

I agree with all you said and I appreciate you not questioning my intelligence. My point was this, with the android powered phones getting better and better as the years go on, these little 4 to 4s spec bumps every two years when you produce one phone a year, may open a door for people to walk away and try the droid phones. That's all. I realize the hardcore apple fans will never jump ship.

 

[SR45]

Left Verizon, and got the Samsung Galaxy S II from Sprint. Next day returned and it went back to Verizon, for the following reasons..

1. Download and Upload G4 speeds were like G2 or dial up speeds where I live. Very disappointing to say the least. I tried a few spots, but mainly need the phone for home, and places I eat. Don't travel much. Only phone I have, no land line in my house. Home is made of cement and steel. Got around 300k dn load at desk, and about 350k at the window. Outside it got real good around 480k/600k dn load (Wow )

2. Next, I hated the position of the volume key that I kept on hitting, which lowered by accident the phone ring tone which prevented me from hearing the phone when I place it on a table in another room, not to mention the voice quality was so low, I could not hear the caller very well, then noticed I had to increase the volume key again. However, I know other cell phones have the volume key in the same place but since the phone was so big, I just normally put my large hands around it in the upper one third of the phone.

3. Too big ? Yes, it seems that I do prefer a smaller cell phone the size of the iPhone 4s. Easier to carry, and hold.

4. Sound quality was not up to snuff for me. Could not hear the caller as well as my simple flip phone from LG and others had a difficult time hearing me as well. No, it was not the sound volume this time. Perhaps just a bad batch that I got, but did not want to take the chance on another replacement. So back it went.....

 

[PhoneI]

the iMessage has casted a spell on me for some reason....

iMessage and PhotoStream are my two favorite features by far. Couldn't live without them anymore.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Left Verizon, and got the Samsung Galaxy S II from Sprint. Next day returned and it went back to Verizon, for the following reasons..

1. Download and Upload G4 speeds were like G2 or dial up speeds where I live. Very disappointing to say the least. I tried a few spots, but mainly need the phone for home, and places I eat. Don't travel much. Only phone I have, no land line in my house. Home is made of cement and steel. Got around 300k dn load at desk, and about 350k at the window. Outside it got real good around 480k/600k dn load (Wow )

2. Next, I hated the position of the volume key that I kept on hitting, which lowered by accident the phone ring tone which prevented me from hearing the phone when I place it on a table in another room, not to mention the voice quality was so low, I could not hear the caller very well, then noticed I had to increase the volume key again. However, I know other cell phones have the volume key in the same place but since the phone was so big, I just normally put my large hands around it in the upper one third of the phone.

3. Too big ? Yes, it seems that I do prefer a smaller cell phone the size of the iPhone 4s. Easier to carry, and hold.

4. Sound quality was not up to snuff for me. Could not hear the caller as well as my simple flip phone from LG and others had a difficult time hearing me as well. No, it was not the sound volume this time. Perhaps just a bad batch that I got, but did not want to take the chance on another replacement. So back it went.....

Half your problem was with sprint. 4s users have jumped ship because of their DL/UL speeds. That has nothing to do with the phone.

 

[SR45]

Expected as much about Sprint....

The sales department told me that I should get about 15 MB download speed, and I questioned that from reading reviews and testing, but the guy stuck by the numbers. Boy was he wrong

 

[djarpit]

or should i just wait for the iphone 5......

 

[tigress666]

I suspect what is missing comfort and the perceived "prestige" of people seeing you with an iPhone.

Really? Just because you found you liked the SG2 better now that means that anyone else who disagrees must have some frivolous reasons for liking the iPhone?

Get over yourself. Your preferences aren't everyone's and just cause you like it better doesn't mean that invalidates anyone's preferences who don't agree with you.

 

[linkgx1]

I had the 1st Galaxy S. Samsung support sucks past two days. I'd get the 4S (I am). The Galaxy SII is an AWESOME phone....but the Galaxy Nexus is coming out soon.

Or you can have two phones. If you stick with Android, Samsung IS THE BEST. Up to you though.

I feel like I'm downgrading, but upgrading at the same time with the 4s. I'm more concerned with the ecosystem/support.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

or should i just wait for the iphone 5......

Here was my thinking. I already have an Iphone 4. 4S wasn't that much to sneeze at so that left me with a window to try an android device. Worst case is I don't like it, pay the $35 and go back to the 4. The only thing that worried me about the switch was my music, but doubletwist air sync let me transfer everything in 25min over wifi, problems solved. Contacts, calander, ect....google had me covered. iMessage sounds great, you already have a similar feature. It's called google talk and can be used on ANY phone, not limited to those only on iOS 5. I have lots of friends who don't have iPhones, so as cool as iMessage was, it is a moot point for me. In the end, everyone has to do what they feel is best for them. I will anxiously wait to see what the next iPhone has in store, bigger screen, thinner, fast and I may come back.

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Really? Just because you found you liked the SG2 better now that means that anyone else who disagrees must have some frivolous reasons for liking the iPhone?

Get over yourself. Your preferences aren't everyone's and just cause you like it better doesn't mean that invalidates anyone's preferences who don't agree with you.

Like there hasn't been any threads, EVER about "how is someone is going to tell I have the newest 3Gs or 4s over the 3G or 4?" The rest of what I said about being comfortable in an OS or with a certain phone is wrong?

 

[tigress666]

Like there hasn't been any threads, EVER about "how is someone is going to tell I have the newest 3Gs or 4s over the 3G or 4?" The rest of what I said about being comfortable in an OS or with a certain phone is wrong?

Yes, there are people who are that shallow. In fact I've bitched about the fact that there are people here who bitch that a major complaint about the 4s is that it didn't change the design just for looking more updated .

But... that is no reason to just instantly claim that just cause some one prefers the 4S over your SII means that they are one of those people. There are also people who have their own reasons for preferring the 4s (Maybe for example they already are well into Apple's ecosystem and the SII doesn't really offer them anything important/nice enough to bother getting out of it).

What I object to is your claim that if you don't prefer the SII you must necessarily just want the iphone for prestige. That's BS and not understanding that not everyone's priorities are your priorities. What is good for you doesn't mean it is good for some one else. And just cause there are some idiots who are like that doesn't mean they *all* are like that (or even most).

 

[TM WAZZA]

I've been an iphone 3GS -> Blackberry ->Iphone 4 User until last week.

On the Eve of iPhone 4s launch I decided to get the SII.

I like the Phone. But It just seems like a part of me is missing with this phone. I still have 3 weeks to try out and return this phone.

Anyone else had this experience? Comments? Suggestions?

Yup, you're not the only one.

I had a SGS2 before (international version, way before the US release) and while it's the best Android phone I decided to sell it for an iPhone 4S. It's all about preference. I'm sure anyone out there who hasn't tried an iPhone before and went straight to the SGS2 would find it amazing.

 

[juswest]

Yup, you're not the only one.

I had a SGS2 before (international version, way before the US release) and while it's the best Android phone I decided to sell it for an iPhone 4S. It's all about preference. I'm sure anyone out there who hasn't tried an iPhone before and went straight to the SGS2 would find it amazing.

It's a great phone whether you've tried an iPhone or not. It's not like one phone is just blowing the other out of the water.

 

[lilo777]

I streamed a lot on my iphone but i did have a charger at work that i always charged my iphone through. So I might not have noticed the battery life as much on my iPhone.

I wanna iMessage as I currently use Google Voice and its awesomely integrated on my Android. Confused as hell. SMS integration on android is big since I dont have a sms plan and i used SMS GV extension on my iPhone. Might just wait it out. or just use iphone 4 if i get too bored of android...



I am impressed with the camera of both phones but the Video on 4S looks stunning compared to shakey vide on my sII.

PCWorld rated SII camera higher than the one in iPhone 4S.

Don't be confused by a few very carefully crafted videos produced with iPhone 4S. You will not be able to get the same results in real life

Look at the comparison of the two cameras here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwq9ZwVOSUc&feature=relmfu

If anything, SII looks better in this comparison. You probably think IP4S should produce better videos because of image stabilization. Yeah, Apple talked a lot about it. Well, SII has it too. Samsung does not brag much about it because what both phones have is digital image stabilization (aka gimmick). In fact, I do not know of any flagship smart phone that does not have this one (Motorola, HTC, Samsung, Sony - all of them have it).

----------

Interesting to see such high scores for iPhones (both 4 and 4S running iOS 5.0), but how much could the results reflect real world performance?

I like the iPhone and plan to buy the 4S, but I've also watched a youtube comparison video where the GS2 is slightly faster in browsing.

The reason SGSII scores lower in this particular benchmark has nothing to do with hardware. The default Android browser (in Android 3.*) does not utilize more than one CPU core. Safari in iOS 5 does. So do Firefox and Opera on Android. I ran this benchmark in Mozilla on my SGSII and it scored higher than iPhone 4S. Ice Cream Sandwich will be released tomorrow and when SGSII gets it, its score will double even with the stock browser. And you are right that in the real life browsing tests SGSII does look faster.

 

[MacJones]

I went from an iPhone 4 to an HTC Thunderbolt to get the Verizon 4G LTE unlimited before they discontinued their unlimited data plans. It was an ok phone but it didn't have the same quality as the iPhone and it lagged up on me all the time. It ended up being a lot of little annoyances that added up over the three months that I had it that convinced me to switch back to iOS and get a 4S. I'm glad I switched back.

 

[thenerdal]

OP should try the SII out for a week and not a couple of days.