Samsung Galaxy S 2 vs Apple iPhone 4
It would be easy to suggest that Apple’siPhone 4 has had things its own way. Not even a few antenna troubles could stop it being constantly touted as one of the best mobiles on the market. It still is. However, a new breed of Android handsets are beginning to chip away at the iPhone 4. Can they compete? Read on, as we pit theSamsung Galaxy S 2 against the iPhone 4 in our latest smartphone face-off.Table of contents
Click on any of the following test criteria to be taken directly to that part of our comparison
Design & Build quality
There’s little denying that the iPhone 4 is a thing of beauty. Its glass exterior, and slim glossy looks make it one of the best looking handsets ever conceived. At just 9.3mm thin, it’s incredibly waif-like, yet manages to feel solid. That is, until you drop it. A concrete drop is means a very likely chance of the glass smashing. The iPhone 4 isn’t exactly one of the most rugged phones around.
Looking a lot like the iPhone 4, the Samsung Galaxy S 2 is somewhat more solid, but at a cost to its aesthetics. Dive in for a closer look and you’ll see that the Galaxy S 2 is a more plasticky affair, making it much more impervious to accidental drops. Its 8.49mm thickness makes it even slimmer than the iPhone 4. For looks and style, it’s the iPhone 4. For a more dependable build, it’s the Galaxy S 2.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Apple iPhone 4
Camera – photo & video performance
Apple has upped the megapixel count from three megapixels on the iPhone 3GS to five megapixels on the iPhone 4. Photos look great. Even better is the 720p HD video recording and being able to edit movies using the iMovie iPhone app.
But it has to be said that the Samsung Galaxy S 2 trumps the photography of the iPhone 4 with its 8-megapixel picture shooter. Add to that a camera capable of recording full 1080p high-definition video and the Samsung nudges ahead. Autofocus is slightly erratic, but the camera and video skills of the Galaxy S 2 still beat the iPhone 4.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Storage
With both the handsets you’ll be able to take full advantage of up to 32GB of storage space. The iPhone 4 comes in 16GB and 32GB versions. Purchase the Samsung Galaxy S 2 and you’ll get a 16GB model expandable to 32GB via an SD card, giving you the choice of splashing out more for extra storage.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Power and performance
The 1GHz A4 chipset of the Apple iPhone 4 easily makes the Apple phone one of the nippiest around. Web pages and apps load up within seconds. Gaming is equally nippy.
The dual-core 1.2GHz Galaxy S 2 can mix it with the very best when it comes to power and performance, and exceed them. Its Android 2.3 operating system is super fast. As on both handsets, gaming and video look fabulous.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Screen
Both the Galaxy S 2 and iPhone 4 are blessed with stunning screens. The Galaxy S 2 features Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus screen tech to deliver a sharper display than its predecessor. A whole 4.3-inches makes for plenty of viewing space for when playing games or viewing video. A Gorilla Glass coating means the Galaxy S 2′s frontage is incredibly tough when faced with potential scratch-hazards.
Apple upped the stakes when it unveiled its Retina Display for the iPhone 4. Its 960×640 resolution screen is still one of the sharpest displays around – even up close, you’ll barely see the pixels. Never has a mobile phone display looked so good.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Connectivity
For both handsets, Wi-Fi and 3G web browsing are on the menu. The Galaxy S 2 will even let you connect it to a TV via an HDMI cable, though you will need a required MHL connector, which is sold separately. The iPhone 4 doesn’t have that option, so is lacking on the hardware connectivity front out of the box, though Apple AirPlay will let you stream music to other AirPlay compatible speakers and Hi-Fi set-ups.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Media playback
The Galaxy S 2 will play anything you can fling in its direction, even 1080p high-definition video with minimum fuss. Flash 10.2 support means the Galaxy S 2 is just as media-friendly when browsing the web. You won’t get messages telling you to install the Flash Player on certain web pages like you do with the iPhone 4, which does not have Flash. The iPhone is great at media playback but is limited to AAC, MP3 for audio and MPEG-4 and H.264 MP4 files for video.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Call quality & battery life
As well as the Samsung Galaxy S 2 fares in most departments, it still lacks when it comes to lasting the distance – an unfortunate problem that continues to hamper Android devices. If using Wi-Fi you’ll still need to charge it on a daily basis to be on the safe side. The same applies to the iPhone 4, especially when using it as an iPod to listen to music, play games, surf the web and view videos. In terms of call quality and reception, you’ll still need to invest in a bumper iPhone case, as the antenna woes of the iPhone 4 persist. The Samsung Galaxy S 2 has no such worries.
Samsung Galaxy S 2
Apple iPhone 4
Overall
Yes, it’s an undeniable fact – the Samsung Galaxy S 2 comes out on top overall, edging ahead with its camera and video skills, connectivity and media playback. The Samsung Galaxy S 2 is the newest handset on the block and it shows – beating Apple on the spec front at almost every turn. Apple’s handset is still the best looking but if you’re an Android fan, this is the phone to own and if you haven’t yet decided between an Apple or Android phone, this could be the phone that makes you think twice about that iPhone 4 purchase…
We recommend
iPhone 4 if you want a phone guaranteed to wow friends, colleagues and family not in possession of one.
Samsung Galaxy S 2 if you want the latest, most feature packed smartphone you can buy that is readily equipped with everything you could need in a smartphone right now.
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