Samsung Galaxy S II Review: The 2011 Flagship Redefined

Galaxy S II (GT-I9100)

Product Overview: The Samsung Galaxy S II (model number GT-I9100) is the second-generation flagship smartphone of Samsung’s Galaxy S series, unveiled at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2011 in Barcelona and released globally in May 2011. Positioned as the successor to the groundbreaking Galaxy S (GT-I9000), it elevated Samsung’s smartphone lineup with a slimmer design, faster processor, upgraded display, and enhanced camera capabilities. The device ran on Android 2.3 Gingerbread at launch, with official updates to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich; it also garnered a massive developer following, supporting custom ROMs based on later Android versions. The Galaxy S II became one of the best-selling Android smartphones of its era, solidifying Samsung’s dominance in the global smartphone market and setting a new standard for flagship devices.

Key Hardware Specifications

Component	Details
Display	4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen, 480×800 resolution (217 ppi), 16M colors; scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 1; multi-touch support, 180° viewing angles
Processor	1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos 4210 dual-core processor (ARM Cortex-A9 architecture), Mali-400 MP4 quad-core GPU; region-specific variants used Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 for LTE support
Memory & Storage	1 GB RAM; 16 GB/32 GB internal flash storage; microSD card slot (up to 32 GB) (expandable, hot-swappable)
Cellular Connectivity	3G (HSDPA 21 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps), EDGE, GPRS; quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz); LTE support on select regional variants (e.g., GT-I9100G); Wi-Fi calling (region-dependent)
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (dual-band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz), Bluetooth 3.0 + A2DP, GPS/GLONASS with A-GPS, FM radio with RDS
Camera System	8.0 MP rear camera (autofocus, LED flash, 3264×2448 resolution); supports 1080p Full HD video recording (30 fps); 2.0 MP front-facing camera (720p HD video calls)
Battery	1650 mAh removable lithium-ion battery; up to 18 hours of 2G talk time, 8 hours of 3G talk time, 720 hours of standby time
Design & Dimensions	125.3 × 66.1 × 8.49 mm, 116 g; ultra-slim unibody with plastic back panel; physical home button + capacitive menu/back keys (search key removed from Galaxy S design); available in Phantom Black, Noble White
Other Features	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, barometer; 3.5 mm headphone jack; micro-USB 2.0 port (charging/data transfer); NFC support on select variants

Core Feature Upgrades & Innovations

Super AMOLED Plus Display: Enhanced Clarity & BrightnessBuilding on the Galaxy S’s Super AMOLED screen, the Galaxy S II introduced Super AMOLED Plus technology, which replaced the previous PenTile pixel arrangement with a standard RGB matrix. This upgrade delivered 20% higher screen clarity, sharper text, and more accurate color reproduction, while retaining the deep blacks and energy efficiency of Super AMOLED. The 4.3-inch size struck a balance between one-handed usability and immersive media consumption, making it a standout feature against competitors like the iPhone 4’s 3.5-inch LCD display.
Dual-Core Exynos 4210 Processor: Flagship Performance LeapThe 1.2 GHz Exynos 4210 dual-core chip was a game-changer for mobile performance in 2011, outperforming single-core processors in competing devices by a significant margin. Paired with the Mali-400 MP4 quad-core GPU, it handled intensive tasks like 1080p video playback, 3D gaming, and multitasking with ease—without the lag that plagued older Android devices. Regional variants with Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 chips added LTE support, catering to markets with emerging 4G networks. The 1 GB RAM further boosted performance, ensuring smooth operation of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI and third-party apps.
1080p Full HD Video Recording & 8 MP Rear CameraThe Galaxy S II was one of the first smartphones to support 1080p Full HD video recording (30 fps), a feature that was revolutionary for mobile content creation in 2011. The 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash captured sharp, detailed photos in daylight, while the 2 MP front camera enabled 720p HD video calls via apps like Skype and Google Talk. Samsung also added camera software features like smile detection, panorama mode, and face recognition, enhancing the user’s photography experience.
Ultra-Slim Design & Removable Battery/Expandable StorageAt 8.49 mm thick, the Galaxy S II was one of the slimmest smartphones in the world at its launch, setting a new benchmark for sleek design. Despite its thin profile, Samsung retained two key user-friendly features from the Galaxy S: a removable 1650 mAh battery (allowing users to swap in spares for extended use) and a microSD card slot (supporting up to 32 GB of expandable storage). These features were major differentiators from Apple’s iPhone 4, which had a non-removable battery and no expandable storage.

Software & User Experience

Launch OS: Android 2.3 Gingerbread: The Galaxy S II launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which improved battery life, added a new virtual keyboard, and enhanced gaming capabilities with native support for 3D graphics. Samsung layered its TouchWiz 4.0 UI on top of Android, introducing a more streamlined interface with customizable widgets, a redesigned app launcher, and multimedia features like AllShare (for wireless media streaming to compatible TVs and devices).
Official Update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich: Samsung released an official update to Android 4.0 in 2012, which brought a cleaner, more intuitive interface, improved multitasking, and better security features. The update also optimized performance for the Exynos processor, though some users reported battery life trade-offs. The device did not receive official updates beyond Android 4.0, but its active developer community created custom ROMs based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, 4.4 KitKat, and even later versions, extending its lifespan for years.
Multimedia & Connectivity Features: The Galaxy S II emphasized media consumption with support for DivX/XviD video playback, a built-in FM radio, and Samsung’s Media Hub service. The dual-band Wi-Fi and NFC support (on select variants) enabled fast internet connectivity and early mobile payment experiments.

Market Impact & Legacy

Best-Selling Android Flagship: The Galaxy S II sold over 40 million units worldwide, making it one of the best-selling smartphones of 2011 and 2012. It helped Samsung overtake Nokia as the world’s largest smartphone vendor in 2012, a position the company held for years.
Industry Benchmark: The Galaxy S II set a new standard for flagship smartphones, with competitors like HTC and Sony rushing to release dual-core devices with large AMOLED displays. Its combination of performance, design, and user-friendly features established the Galaxy S series as a direct rival to Apple’s iPhone lineup.
Developer Community Icon: The Galaxy S II’s popularity spawned a massive developer community, with custom ROMs, kernels, and mods that improved performance, added new features, and extended the device’s support cycle far beyond its official lifespan. This community solidified Samsung’s reputation among tech enthusiasts and power users.

Limitations

Battery Life for Heavy Users: While the 1650 mAh battery was competitive in 2011, heavy use (e.g., gaming, 1080p video playback) drained the battery quickly—though the removable design mitigated this issue.

Plastic Build Quality: Like the Galaxy S, the Galaxy S II’s plastic back panel felt cheap compared to the iPhone 4’s glass and aluminum design, and it was prone to scratches and fingerprints.

TouchWiz UI Bloat: Samsung’s TouchWiz 4.0 UI was criticized for being bloated with pre-installed apps, which slowed down the device over time and used up storage space. Many users opted for custom ROMs to remove TouchWiz and improve performance.

LTE Limitations: The base GT-I9100 model lacked LTE support, with LTE connectivity limited to regional variants like the GT-I9100G. This was a drawback for users in markets with growing 4G networks.