Samsung Galaxy S II, reviews from around the web
(CBS) - When tech nuts first laid eyes on the Samsung Galaxy S II at the Mobile World Congress 2011, the top-tier smartphone won many over.
The mobile device, which is set to ship to the U.S. soon-ish (on Friday, Samsung Mobile tweeted that there will be a "big" announcement sometime today), has dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 16GB of internal storage, a full gigabyte of RAM, the latest version of Android (Gingerbread), and front-facing cameras.
It is slim and lightweight, has TouchWiz user interface, and rivals the iPhone 5. "Perhaps the strongest sign of the Samsung Galaxy S II's threat to Apple iPhones is that Apple is aggressively seeking to ban the Android phone around the world for 'slavishly copying' the iPhone," reports PC Magazine.
Already released in South Korea and parts of Europe, the Samsung Galaxy S II has proven to be the fastest-selling smartphone ever.
So what do tech reviewers say about the nifty gadget?
Samsung Galaxy S II might make you think twice about the iPhone 5
"The finest Android phone we've seen so far, the Samsung Galaxy S II isn't just a competitor to the current iPhone. It competes with the next iPhone," says PC Magazine. "The Samsung Galaxy S II is smokin'. It's stunningly powerful, generally well-designed, and everything a high-end Android phone should be. The screen could be a little higher-res, and you should be able to delete the bloatware. But this phone grooves. There's one thing standing in your way, though, and that's the towering price of this unlocked masterpiece." The Samsung Galaxy S II's price tag is rumored to be somewhere in the $600 to $699 range; $250 to $300 with a two-year service contract at carriers.
Samsung Galaxy S II is a high-end device that stands out in a sea of rivals
"There aren't any gimmicks here. No 3D. No qHD display, and no extra fancy design construction. What is here, however, is a powerful smartphone with a shockingly slim body, a lightweight design, true 1080p out via the micro-USB port and a subtle Android overlay (TouchWiz 4.0). And the 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus, while WVGA, is the display to beat in terms of image quality," says HotHardware.com. "What's interesting is how the Galaxy S II stands out in a sea of rivals. There's never been more competition in the Android smartphone universe, and it really takes a lot to cut through at this point... Make no mistake: this phone is a high-end device aimed at those willing to pay top dollar for the best in performance."
If you can't wait any longer for the iPhone 5...
"I've rarely had reason to look around at the competition since getting my first iPhone, but the Samsung Galaxy S II does a very good job of turning my head. It's a phone I could easily see myself using on a daily basis without complaint, and in fact, with great pleasure. That said, I'll probably wait until I see what Apple unveils this fall before making a drastic change like actually purchasing one," says GigaOM. "The bottom line is that if you're looking for a smartphone right now that brings top-of-the-line performance as well as access to web-based Flash content, and you also aren't afraid to put up with some quirks in exchange for customizability, the Samsung Galaxy S II is a great choice, even for Apple lovers who just aren't the patient type, and feel like October might be too long to wait."
