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Description of Samsung Galaxy S II GT-I9100

Galaxy S II (GT-I9100) is larger and thinner than its predecessor, has a larger display, more powerful hardware and expanded functionality. The display size has been increased from 4 inches to 4.3 inches, the processor has become dual-core, the amount of RAM has doubled to 1 GB, and the thickness has decreased by about 1.5 mm and is 8.5 mm. The smartphone is equipped with a display made using Super AMOLED+ technology. Galaxy S II is equipped latest version Android 2.3 OS, supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, including technology Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0+HS, HSPA+ with data transfer speeds up to 21 Mbit/s and NFC technology.

Main technical characteristics

Peculiarities
Type	communicator
operating system	Android
Version	2.3
CPU	ARM Cortex A9
Frequency	1200 MHz
RAM	1024 MB
Flash memory	16384 MB
Screen
Diagonal	4.3 "
Permission	800 x 480
Color rendition	16 million colors
Digital camera
Camera	8 million pixels
Dimensions and weight
Width	66.1 mm
Height	125.3 mm
Depth	8.5 mm
Weight	116 gr.

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Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S II: first test in Russia

The more successful the start, the more difficult it is to maintain the quality level in the future. Second generation hit Samsung Galaxy The S II is now one of the most discussed devices; in order not to disappoint fans and not give reason for the gloating of opponents, the company had to put a lot of effort into creating a new device. Essentially, the Samsung Galaxy S II is all the best of the mobile industry, assembled by the Korean giant in one case. We had at our disposal the first copy imported to Russia specifically for the Samsung representative office; however, the device was a fully finalized smartphone despite its formal status as an “engineering sample.”

Back in May 2011, sales of the Samsung Galaxy S2 started. Characteristics of its hardware and software parameters, reviews from owners, etc. important information about it flagship smartphone will be discussed in detail later in this material.

List of accessories and components in the box

The characteristics of the S2 phone in terms of its hardware parameters at the time of its release made it possible to classify it as a flagship device. But the equipment of this gadget clearly does not correspond to this fact. The reason here most likely lies in the fact that Samsung, like other manufacturers, focuses on Apple products, which sets the tone in the segment of mobile gadgets. Smartphones of the iPhone brand cannot boast of excellent equipment. The situation is similar with S2. The boxed version of this gadget includes:

• Smartphone.
• Battery.
• Charger.
• Manual.

There can be no question of any memory card, OTJ interface cable, protective case, sticker, or stereo headset. Although it will be quite difficult for the owner of this device to do without any of the previously mentioned accessories.

Appearance

The S2 has a lot in common with its predecessor, the S smartphone, but it is not an exact copy. The front side of the gadget has a display protected by tempered Gorilla Eye glass. At the top, above the screen, there are sensor holes and a speaker. At the bottom, below the display, there is a typical control panel. It consists of 2 touch buttons (located along the edges of the panel) and one mechanical button (located in the middle). The lock button is located on the right edge of the device, and the rockers for adjusting the volume level are located on the left side of the smart phone.

On the bottom side of the smartphone there is a hole for a spoken microphone and the main wired port of the device - MicroUSB. On the top edge of the gadget there is only one wired audio port. The back cover of the device is made of structured plastic. Here is the backlit main camera, the manufacturer’s logo and a loud speaker.

Processor and its computing capabilities

One of the best processors 2011 used in Samsung Galaxy S2. The characteristics of its hardware parameters allowed this chip to solve problems of any level of complexity at that time. We are talking about Exynos 4210. This is the South Korean giant's own development. This CPU includes 2 cores of the Cortex-A9 architecture. Each of them could dynamically accelerate to 1.2 GHz in the heaviest load mode. If there was no need for such a high level of performance, then one of the computing modules was turned off, and the second reduced its frequency to 200 MHz. This engineering solution made it possible to significantly save battery charge levels. The Samsung Galaxy S2 DUOS boasted similar technical specifications. The characteristics of its processor are identical. But only in this case the MSM8660 chip from Qualcomm was used. The same can be said about the other representatives of this family of smartphones: S2 Plus and S2 Mini. As a result, their performance levels are comparable.

Gadget graphics

The graphics subsystem in the Samsung Galaxy S2 is quite well implemented. Characteristic technical specifications The Mali400-MP4 graphics accelerator is not impressive today, but its presence is quite enough to run most applications. The display diagonal, as noted earlier, is 4.3 inches. Its resolution is 480 x 800. It is also based on the “SUPERAMOLED” matrix. The only thing that definitely causes criticism is the presence of an air gap between touch panel and the surface of the screen. This leads to distortion of the screen image when the display deviates significantly from a right angle. Almost all devices in this series have identical technical parameters. The exception in this regard is Samsung. The characteristics of its display will be more modest. Its resolution is exactly the same, but the diagonal is reduced by 0.6 inches and is 3.7 inches. Therefore, working on it will no longer be so convenient.

Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is equipped with two cameras for photography and video recording. Their characteristics today are mediocre, but at the time the device was released their parameters were among the best. The camera is based on an 8 megapixel sensor. Also at the software level, it implements an image stabilization system and autofocus. As a result, the quality of photos and videos is not satisfactory. And the developers haven’t forgotten about LED backlight, which allows you to take photographs and record videos even in the dark at a distance of up to 2 meters. The front camera has a more modest sensor - only 2 megapixels. But for video calls this is quite enough. Well, you can’t expect more from her.

Memory

Despite the fact that sales of Samsung started in 2011, its subsystems, even now, 4 years later, are impressive. The amount of RAM is 1 GB, and this is enough for the normal and smooth operation of the gadget. Well, the capacity of the built-in storage is 16 GB. Of these, 4 GB are occupied by pre-installed software. The user can use the rest at his own discretion. This is quite enough to install an additional application software, and for storing personal data (documents, photos, videos, music). It is also possible to install external storage with a maximum capacity of 32 GB. The corresponding slot is hidden behind the back cover of the device. It is possible to connect using an OTZh cable (you need to buy it separately, it is not included in the delivery package of the device) to a regular flash drive.

Autonomy

This smartphone comes with a very modest battery. Moreover, exactly the same battery comes with the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus. Its characteristics are identical to the flagship solution, but only the capacity of the built-in storage is reduced by 2 times and is equal to 8 GB. The battery capacity is 1650 mAh. If we add to this a 4.3-inch display diagonal and a 2-core high-performance processor that cannot boast of good energy efficiency, we get a very bad situation with autonomy. At best, in mode maximum savings You can stretch it out for 1.5 days. If you increase the load on your smartphone, you can count on 1 day of work. Well, if you make a call, then one charge battery Enough for half an hour of communication. You can solve the problem with autonomy by purchasing an additional battery with increased capacity.

Communications

Impeccable communication suite in S2. Here you will find everything you need to start fully using the device immediately after purchase. The list includes the following:

• Full support mobile networks second and, of course, third generation. In the first case, it is theoretically possible to obtain a data reception speed of 450 kbit/s. In practice, this value is significantly less. But in the case of working in 3G networks, the speed can theoretically reach 21 Mbit/s. In reality, as in the previous case, the speed will be less.
• The main wireless interface is Wi-Fi . Almost all of its modifications are supported, except for “ac”. This standard appeared much later and is therefore not implemented in this device. The maximum speed in this case can theoretically reach 150 Mbit/s.
• The developers did not forget about such an important wireless method of receiving information as bluetooth. It is indispensable in cases where you need to transfer or receive a small file from a similar mobile device or connect a wireless stereo headset to a smart phone.
• For navigation, the device is equipped with a GPS sensor and the A-ZhPS system. . The integrated use of these two components allows one to quite accurately determine the location of this gadget. Also, with their help, it is not difficult to turn this smartphone into a GPS navigator.
• There are only 2 wired interfaces in this device: MicroUSB (battery charging, connection to a PC) and an audio port for connecting headphones.

A similar communication set is implemented in other smartphones in this series, for example, in the same Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus. Their characteristics are almost identical in this regard.

Software

The system software in this family of smartphones is the most popular platform today - Android. Moreover, version 2.3 is installed in the initial state. But the first time you connect to the Internet, the software will be updated, and the OS version will already be 4.0. On top operating system installed TouchWiz shell 4th version. With its help, you can easily and simply reconfigure the interface of your mobile gadget strictly to suit your needs. The rest of the software set is standard: social services(only international ones, and their domestic analogues will have to be additionally installed from the Play Market), mini-applications from the OS and a set of programs from the search giant and part-time operating system developer - Google.

Users' opinions

It is a very balanced solution. Its characteristics clearly confirm this. The processor, memory subsystem, display and graphics accelerator are all perfectly matched, and there are no problems with this. The cameras also allow you to take photos and videos of acceptable quality. But what the owners of this gadget had problems with was autonomy and accessories. Its battery capacity is really modest; on one charge, as noted earlier, you can last a maximum of 1.5 days. This problem can only be solved by purchasing an additional battery for additional money. The problem of modest configuration can be solved in a similar way. If you need a stereo headset or interface cable, then we buy it separately for additional fee. Moreover, in this case, we choose the accessory that is exactly needed, and not an economy option from the manufacturer.

Price

One of the most expensive smartphones at the time it went on sale was the Samsung Galaxy S2. Specifications made it the best solution among Android gadgets. Accordingly, its cost was about 800-900 dollars. But now, 4 years later, its hardware and software specifications allow it to compete only with devices entry level. Accordingly, its cost dropped to 150-160 dollars. This price makes it one of the best offers in the entry-level device segment.

Results

Over the course of 4 years of sales, the Samsung Galaxy S2 gradually fell from the premium smartphone segment to the niche of entry-level devices. The characteristics of its hardware resources clearly indicate this. But, on the other hand, even now most everyday tasks can be easily and simply solved on this device. Not every gadget can boast of such performance.

Contents of delivery:

• Telephone
• Li-Ion battery 1650 mAh
• Wired stereo headset
• USB cable
• Charger

Attention. Unlike preliminary review, here you are reading a review of the final sample, as a result, you can evaluate all aspects of the phone without any discounts. Some parts are repeated with the first material, others are greatly supplemented and expanded. Here is the final review.

Positioning

Nobody predicted the success of the Galaxy S, and for such a product it achieved phenomenal sales levels. The model is an undisputed bestseller; it set the bar for the Android phone market, but it also caused problems within Samsung. No one expected a resounding success; as a result, no one could predict that the demand for phones would skyrocket. The company was let down by the lack of SuperAMOLED screens; their shortage did not allow them to achieve large sales; the demand for the model is high, but it is not available in many markets in sufficient quantities. As one of the measures, Samsung launched a cheaper variant of the Galaxy S, the i9003 model, which uses a SuperClear TFT display. It loses to SuperAMOLED in all respects, but remains one of the best screens On the market. At the same time, the cost of the i9003 with a minimum amount of memory is 100-120 euros less than the original Galaxy S, the price difference will increase even more over time. This is a good offer that will exploit the popularity of the original Galaxy S.

After the announcements at CES, when NVIDIA showed the first solutions based on Tegra2, in particular, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola DROID Bionic, a logical question arose: how can Samsung answer these devices? It seemed that dual-core processors were becoming a necessity in flagship solutions, a good marketing ploy, even if there was no practical need for them yet, since there was no corresponding software, games, and the speed increase in ordinary applications was not so great. But at CES, Samsung did not say a single word about such plans. The reason is that the company wanted to reduce the gap as much as possible between the announcement of the product and its appearance on the market. So that potential buyers can receive this solution in the same time frame as competitors.

Does Samsung count on the success of its updated flagship? Definitely yes, and there is simply no reason to believe that it will not be successful. Based on the sales of the previous device, this model will make a market for itself. It has several unique features that its competitors do not yet have. The first is the technology race in the field of screens. The new term is SuperAMOLED+, an improved version of the previous display, which has not become obsolete, and competitors simply do not have an analogue. I don’t know why such a technology race is needed, but the screen is becoming a visible advantage of Samsung’s flagships. One of strengths. I like the Galaxy S screen quality, but it's not as sharp as the iPhone 4, not as sharp, and the fonts are a little blurry. In the new SuperAmoled+ version, the sharpness has been increased, not yet the iPhone, but not the Galaxy S either.

The second feature is not yet applicable in practice in most situations, but it provides a huge foundation for the future; it is a dual-core processor. For technology fans, such a processor has an undoubted advantage; its presence adds additional shine to the phone. But for practical people this is not the case. Having such a processor has no undoubted and immediate benefits. Another thing is that over time, more and more programs will appear for such solutions, and then this phone will show its capabilities.

In terms of technology, the first Galaxy S set the bar very high; it wasn't a technology showcase for the sake of it, but a demonstration of how to tie all the latest technology into one compelling product. The S II went even further, it is the first phone that has Wi-Fi support Direct, does not require special software to work with any computer and synchronize data, the phone can send files via Wi-Fi, has a number of additional programs, not familiar from other Android phones, but which will soon become standard. I can list the technologies used for quite a long time (NFC, MHL, and so on), there is an impressive number of them here. Samsung created a flagship without any discounts and did it without wasting money on trifles. Unfortunately, there is not a single device on the market that is similar in characteristics and overall capabilities. Devices based on NVIDIA Tegra 2 come close to the Galaxy S II, but they usually have a much worse camera, larger size, and noticeably worse displays. Surprisingly, Samsung has created a flagship with an excellent price/quality ratio for its segment. A year will pass, and functionally the device will remain at the level of the best solutions, it will not be greatly overshadowed by other models, although more interesting solutions from different companies. This product is positioned as a long-term flagship, that is, a model that is bought in order not to change the phone for a long time. The lifespan of this device for most markets and consumers will be maximum.

It is also worth noting the HTC Sensation model, which is technically very similar to the Galaxy II (dual-core processor, 1.2 GHz frequency, but worse camera, less built-in memory, simpler screen). This model benefits from the presence of the Sense 3.0 shell, but at a similar cost, Samsung has a technological advantage. In any case, both models look extremely attractive, and choosing between them will be quite difficult.

The positioning of the phone as a flagship determines the portrait of its consumer; these are primarily those who buy the latest and best solutions. Of course, this device also belongs to them. The second and notable category is technology enthusiasts (geeks). Those who care about how powerful their phone is. For them, this model offers a win-win option, because other phones simply don’t have anything comparable in terms of technology. For practical buyers, this is an interesting model, since for a long time you can be sure that it remains relevant and does not require replacement.

Design, dimensions, control elements

Here I had to hear many different opinions. Someone judged by the picture and said that the model looked exactly the same as the previous device, some of the owners of the previous Galaxy complained that the device had become wider, and this was not entirely convenient. Some were just waiting for a different view. Samsung considered that the design of the first Galaxy S was successful, and sales confirmed this. And we decided not to change anything. In some ways, this approach is rational.

At the same time, due to the fact that the area of ​​​​the device has become larger, it has been made thinner. An impressive 8.5 mm (in the press release they say 8.49 mm, but we won’t calculate with such accuracy?) makes this device one of the thinnest on the market. What immediately comes to mind Sony Ericsson Arc, it has a thickness of 8.7 mm, which also looks thin, due to this the device is perceived in a completely different way and makes an impression. A forgotten trend that was present in phones 4 years ago has made a comeback again for the smartphone segment. Remember the Ultra series of phones from Samsung, and before that there was a device with a case thickness of 9 mm, and this was perceived as a breakthrough. Everything new is well forgotten old.

Comparison with Sony Ericsson Arc:

By the way, the Samsung Galaxy S II somehow reminded me of the Sony Ericsson Arc and in terms of proportions, it is possible that the size and diagonal of the screen leaves an imprint, it is similar in both models. The Arc has 4.2 inches, while the Samsung has 4.27, the difference is not deafening. But the Samsung screen is orders of magnitude better and more interesting. The Galaxy S II uses DNIe+ technology (that's where the plus sign in the screen name comes from). This is a processor that processes any graphics, such as photographs, pictures, videos, and makes it better for viewing on the phone screen. Similar technology is used in all Samsung TVs. Interestingly, something similar under the name BraviaEngine is used in Sony Ericsson Arc. These technologies are not used in the interface, that is, they are not responsible for drawing the menu.

Phone size – 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm (for Galaxy S - 122.4 x 64.2 x 9.9 mm), weight – 116 grams. For my taste, the device is a little wide; some may find this a drawback. But you adapt to it quickly, there is no discomfort. It’s nice that the device is invisible in your pocket; it also looks good in a shirt.

Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S:

The answer is why back cover made of plastic, not metal, you find it quite quickly. When you actively use your phone, when you watch videos, download large files, transfer them, it starts to get very hot. If the back cover were metal, then it would be impossible to touch the device, it would burn. The cellular structure of plastic was invented for a reason; it is a kind of passive radiator. But even with it, the phone sometimes heats up, it doesn’t burn you, but you feel the heat. The warmest areas are around the camera.

The lid is very thin and when you snap it on you have to run your finger around the perimeter to make sure it fits snugly. Sometimes you don’t close the lid all the way, and this creates some inconvenience. When dropped, the cover flies off and knocks out the battery. My phone flew several times, but the cover did not receive any damage. Despite the thinness of the plastic, it is resistant to both impacts and bends.

The phone has a 2 megapixel front-camera, proximity sensor, as well as lighting sensor. The central key is mechanical, but the menu and return buttons are touch sensitive. On the left side there is a paired volume key, on the right side there is an on/off button. It was not possible to find the camera key; it is still missing, and the camera will have to be called up from the menu.

At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone output, the microUSB connector has been moved down. On the back surface you can see the 8-megapixel camera lens, plus an LED flash, and there is a speaker at the bottom.

For several weeks, my main phone was the Galaxy II, so it has been through thick and thin and through copper pipes. There is no wear anywhere on the case, with the exception of the rear protrusion, there is a slight abrasion here that will get worse over time. It is visible only in the light and at the right angle. The second point is the back cover. In my pocket, it rubbed against the lining unevenly, and individual worn areas appeared. But I’ll say again, they are visible when you examine the phone very carefully, but in fact it’s hard to find them. In total, everything is as expected; the plastic case has both its advantages (weight, practicality) and disadvantages.

I admit honestly that I do not share the opinion of many people that the phone body must be metal, especially if it flagship model. It can be made of plastic, glass, or other materials. The question is how the material behaves over time, whether it ages or not, whether it is wiped out or not. For example, glass used in Apple iPhone 4, relatively fragile, dropping the device on the asphalt can break it. Does this stop anyone from buying a device? I think no. This is one of its features. The model turned out to be very light in weight, but at the same time wide, and this is captivating. Constantly using HTC Incredible S and Galaxy II, I caught myself thinking that the Galaxy is more convenient for me. The reason is the weight and thickness of the case.

Display

Those who claim that SuperAMOLED Plus is just a marketing ploy should take a look at how different the picture on it is compared to regular SuperAMOLED. It is brighter, sharper with an increased screen diagonal, but the main thing is that the screen consumes less energy. An energy saving option has appeared in the settings, when energy consumption is adjusted depending on the picture that is displayed in this moment(uses DNIe+). This technology is also used in all Samsung TVs; a special processor analyzes the information and then improves the picture, making it more beautiful for us. A side effect is that the phone can now analyze how energy is spent. The selection of wallpaper also takes into account the fact that AMOLED screens waste energy differently, depending on the color. A similar technology is used by Sony Ericsson, it is called Bravia Engine, but the gains on TFT screens are not so noticeable; rather, the technology there is only for visual improvement of the displayed image.

Let's return to screen technology. The first SuperAMOLED matrices use PenTile technology, when one point on the screen is formed from two subpixels. Surprisingly, this caused quite heated discussions on many forums, in which it was argued that the effective resolution of any screen with PenTile technology is at least a third lower than stated. This is a rather bold and stupid statement, since the number of dots was no different from any screen, and if the manufacturer spoke about a matrix of 800x480 dots, then there were exactly that many of them on the screen. No more, no less.

Another thing is that in some aspects, a lower number of subpixels resulted in visible distortion on the screen, which, coupled with high definition, irritated some users. For example, for the first generation SuperAMOLED, the fonts had a sharply defined outline with a ladder; in fact, this is the only visible difference from most screens, which arises from the use of PenTile technology. Just look at the labels for the icons in the main screen and see this effect on the same Galaxy S. Comparison with second Galaxy will show that there is nothing of the kind there.

The explanation lies in the Real RGB Stripe technology, which was used in SuperAMOLED Plus matrices. Now a single point on the screen is formed not by two, but by three subdots. The picture from Samsung Displays shows the difference, the increased number of subdots makes the picture smoother, including fonts, there are no sharply defined contours that could be annoying. I honestly admit that until we started discussing this topic and procrastinating on it, I didn’t even pay attention to the fonts. But then, of course, I saw this sharpness, although this did not have any effect on my perception of the previous Galaxy.

In the sun, the screen behaves worse than in the first Galaxy, the explanation is that the size of the matrix has increased, but the resolution remains the same, plus the technology has changed. The picture is readable at a right angle or in not very bright sun. But otherwise everything is exactly the same as on other types of screens; there is no advantage that was in the first SuperAMOLED.

At the moment, SuperAMOLED Plus technology does not allow creating screens with a pixel density of more than 200 ppi; the iPhone has a matrix with more than 300 ppi. Samsung will change its matrix manufacturing technology in order to achieve more than 300 ppi as early as 2011.

For my taste, the picture on SuperAMOLED Plus looks smoother, the brightness adjustment is well selected. But main point This is due to the fact that the user can choose the saturation of the picture (Movie, Standard, Dynamic). In fact, this is a setting that allows you to set the color temperature of the screen and change the color saturation. Some people like bright colors - leave the standard option. Some people like not so bright colors - choose Movie mode.

The screen diagonal is 4.3 inches (the previous model has 4 inches, but the difference is huge and striking), the resolution is 800x480 pixels (displays 16 million colors). In practical terms, the display is extremely convenient; there is an automatic adjustment of image brightness depending on the lighting. Protective glass hardened, coated with special anti-reflective material. The screen also has an oleophobic coating, which in theory means that it does not get dirty with your hands. A similar coating is used in the Apple iPhone. Users of this device know that there are still prints, just a few fewer of them. Exactly the same story here. There are greasy marks, but they are not so noticeable.

Samsung devices also use VibeZ technology - when you press the keys, the body vibrates, which confirms your action.

The screen can accommodate up to 16 lines of text and up to three service lines. In message reading mode, this can be up to 24 lines, depending on the selected font. You can select the font size and style for the screen in the settings, but they are not much different. Another thing is that, unlike many models, the screen font here is huge, it can be easily read from any distance. This is a plus of the device.

Screen comparison with Galaxy S (maximum brightness, same pictures).

Screen comparison with Sony Ericsson Arc (maximum brightness, same pictures).

Battery

The phone is used lithium ion battery capacity 1650 mAh. According to the manufacturer, the battery can provide up to 6.5 hours of talk time and up to 350 hours of standby time. In Moscow networks, the device works on average for about one day. The time to fully charge the battery is about 3 hours.

Playback of unconverted video is possible for approximately 8.5 hours. Music playback - up to 30 hours.

Perhaps checking the operating time of the device was the most difficult and extensive test for me. The number of settings related to energy consumption is huge, and you can customize the phone to suit you, and also save operating time. For each person, this device will be able to show its results, this is very individual and depends on hundreds of settings (screen brightness, number of programs in memory, and so on). Therefore, I decided to conduct comparative tests with first Galaxy. SIM cards of the same operator were installed on two phones, PUSH mail was configured, the same applications, programs, and so on were used. In fact, I even tried to call from the same places and talk for the same amount of time. The result turned out to be quite unusual - the operating time of Galaxy II increased from 1.5 to 2 times. In my case, the first Galaxy, starting to work at 9 am, was already completely discharged by lunchtime (yes, I’m not a very ordinary user, for many it works longer), but the Galaxy II worked for a long time.

I’ll briefly talk about the settings that are present in the phone and can do a good job in saving energy. Firstly, you should go to the Wi-Fi section and in the advanced settings set the connection only when the screen is active. This will save some energy, especially if you don't use any IM apps and want to see information the moment you pick up the phone. Secondly, it’s worth considering whether you need PUSH in your mail; if you receive dozens of letters per hour, this function greatly affects the operating time. You can set the interval to 15, 30 minutes or even an hour. This gives a noticeable increase in operating time.

In the screen settings I recommend setting automatic adjustment brightness, but also add analysis of the image on the screen (a separate item not found in all competing products). This item allows the phone to select brightness depending on the applications used, everything works quite well. Regardless of whether this item is selected or not, the phone has a temperature sensor. If you are in the sun and at the same time playing with some kind of toy, simultaneously pump large file, the screen brightness will automatically decrease to prevent the device from overheating. Until now, I had never encountered such functionality.

The Power Save Mode section allows you to install an assistant that will turn on energy saving mode when the battery is discharged to a certain level. At the same time, you can specify exactly how the phone will save energy. Enough good setup, as it flexibly allows you to set your priorities. When the battery reaches 15 percent charge, the camera stops working. The telephone is designed to ensure that you can call until the last moment. It’s nice that at 15 percent the device lasts 1.5-2 hours, you can talk for up to 15-20 minutes.

It's surprising but true that the Galaxy SII lasts longer than the first Galaxy. And this is reflected not by a slightly larger battery, but by the technological platform itself, the Exynos processor turned out to be very economical. In terms of technology, this is an extremely complex phone, in which many settings have been applied, with the help of which real energy savings are possible without deteriorating the user characteristics of the device. Let me hint that by studying the phone and its capabilities in detail, you can save up to 50 percent of your operating time, which is just great. Other devices do not provide such customization options even close. And if you also have straight arms and know how to delve into the insides of the device, then even more. In a word, among the flagships latest generation It is the Samsung Galaxy SII that has one of the longest-lasting batteries.

Below are screenshots from the built-in Android utility that shows operating time and energy consumption.

USB, Bluetooth, NFC, communication capabilities

Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 3.0, also called High Speed. When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbit/s. Testing the transfer of a 1 GB file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbit/s within three meters between devices.

The model supports various profiles, in particular, Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.

USB connection. In the menu you can select one of three possible operating modes: Media Player, Mass Storage, Samsung Kies. The device can be easily used as a modem by enabling Wi-Fi Hotspot or activating a similar function for USB.

In USB Mass Storage mode, the device is picked up perfectly without additional drivers, and you can copy the necessary data. USB version – 2, data transfer speed – about 25 Mb/s.

When connecting to a PC, simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable; the device requires you to turn off Bluetooth regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device is recharged.

The USB on the Go function is supported, which means that using a special adapter, you can connect any flash drives or external hard drives to the microUSB connector, in this case, you will be able to view files, copy them, and so on in the file manager.

The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available at electronics stores), you can connect the phone to the TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks preferable to a separate miniHDMI connector on the case.

For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.

WiFi. The 802.11 a/b/g/n standard is supported, the operation wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember selected networks and automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router in one touch; to do this, you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup).

Wi-Fi Direct. A new protocol that is intended to replace Bluetooth or begin to compete with its third version (which also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). On the menu Wi-Fi settings select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. Choose required device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer to them necessary files, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

NFC (Near Field Communication). The phone has built-in NFC technology, with its help in some countries they create payment systems where you can pay for a purchase with your phone in a parking lot or at a kiosk. Similar systems will develop, and Samsung has built these capabilities into the device so that it is the most advanced. For certain countries, this option will not be available in the menu (Russia is one of them, but at the same time NFC is physically present).

Kies via Wi-Fi. The first company to offer a phone experience without having to download any software to your computer was Motorola. You connected to the PC with using Wi-Fi, in the browser they could view individual sections of the phone. Samsung went a little further and gave access to all sections of the phone. Enter the address that your phone provides you in the browser, and you can work with all your data and download it to your PC. Convenient and simple. None special programs, you can write SMS from your computer, read them, and so on.

Motion Control

Individual functions can be controlled using movements. In most cases, these movements are contrived. For example, in the gallery you can touch a picture with two fingers and tilt the device to zoom in or out. It is not always possible to regulate the speed at which the picture changes; it is easier to zoom it by hand. The only convenient function is unlocking; you touch the screen and shake the phone, and the lock is removed. The menu has good tutorials showing how to work with movements, but to save energy it is better to turn them off.

Memory, memory cards

The phone has 16 GB of internal memory (a version with 32 GB is planned), initially about 14 GB is available to the user. The memory card is visible separately, it is possible to display all folders (both from the memory card and internal). Eat file manager, which allows you to copy files both from and to the card. Memory cards are not hot-swappable. We tested microSD cards with a capacity of up to 32 GB, everything works.

Volume random access memory equal to 1 GB, after downloading about 800 MB free. This is enough for all applications; in terms of RAM, the phone is one of the best on the market.

Performance

This is the first dual-core phone from Samsung, and it uses an Orion processor inside, which was recently renamed Exynos 4210. Compared to the prototypes, the processor has been changed - it is also dual-core, but the maximum frequency is 1.2 GHz.

Is this solution comparable to NVIDIA Tegra2, which I was able to try in Motorola ATRIX 4G, as well as LG Optimus 2x. Both devices were my main phones for several weeks. I can only evaluate performance from the user’s point of view, since there are simply no programs today that use all the capabilities of such an architecture. Samsung's solution is no less fast than Motorola devices or LG phones. They are perceived on the same level. My impression is extremely positive, this is one of the most fast phones On the market. In a number of situations, the Samsung phone even looks faster; one gets the feeling that a lot of work has been done on its optimization.

So, here are the results in the synthetic Quadrant test, the stock Galaxy SII firmware shows about 3000 points, while competitors lag behind by a significant margin. I want to emphasize that these measurements are speculative; they do not affect the real performance of the device, which depends not only on the processor, but also on the memory, as well as on how the programs are optimized and how stable they are in operation.

In Smartbench2011 (optimized for dual-core processors), the results are equally impressive. At the time of testing, this is the only product that showed the maximum result, as you can see for yourself in the screenshot. Below are the results of the overclocked LG Optimus 2x, but this is not a very fair comparison, since you can increase the frequency on Oxynos to much higher values ​​(1.8 GHz, to be precise). In the absence of commercial samples of HTC Sensation, it is unfair to compare the performance of these two devices, while Sensation loses in performance in tests. In our Sensation review, we'll compare processors and system performance with the Galaxy SII.

Camera

The model received a new 8-megapixel camera module from Samsung, which is one of the best on the market. However, let's compare it with that of the Sony Ericsson Arc.

Sony has created the EXMOR matrix, which is used in the company’s flagship – Sony Ericsson Arc. Countless advertisements and marketing materials show the superiority of this matrix in low-light conditions, and marketing has drummed into people's heads that this is the ideal solution. Or close to it. Unfortunately, Sony is not a leader in photo solutions for phones; moreover, the company's products are secondary to what Samsung does. This can be verified at simple examples comparison pictures.

So, let's look at a photograph of chrysanthemums without any lighting. The pictures look the same. Here and below, pictures from the Galaxy SII are located on the left.

Let's take the pencils off on the table by the window. The light is from the side, the lighting is clearly not enough. Both cameras did about the same job; I wouldn’t single out a leader.

The Laughing Buddha in my office turned out great on the Galaxy, but for some reason Arc raised the ISO to 400 (250 on the Galaxy), and at the same time darkened the picture. It also didn't turn out very sharp.

With the flash, things are even worse for the Arc; the device simply shoots as needed. See for yourself. I tried to take pictures several times, but always got this result.

But in this photo (a rare case!) one can even say that Arc shot it a little better. Little bit.

In daylight, bright light, the cameras have parity, although Arc does not handle all scenes well. But let me remind you that these are almost ideal conditions, and all cameras work well in them.

Well, a couple more pictures:

I hope this little comparison has shown that Sony's EXMOR is pure marketing, nothing more. The regular, untitled camera from Samsung puts EXMOR to the test and produces better image quality in all conditions. I think this is enough to stop once and for all the discussion of Sony Ericsson's marketing nonsense about the superior quality of the cameras (and yes, the iPhone will use a Sony solution that will not be available on the SE phones due to the high cost).

There is a small but significant change to the Galaxy SII's camera interface. Now the interface can be either horizontal or vertical, it all depends on how you hold the device.

All settings are shown on a translucent background, which is also nice. I will briefly list the main settings.

The zoom is digital, 4x, you just need to swipe the screen with two fingers to activate it. Very convenient implementation (pinch to zoom). You can judge the quality of the zoom from the following photos, it is not impressive.

Flash mode: automatic, always on, off.

Shooting mode - one shot (default), Beauty (filter that hides skin imperfections), Smile Shot (finds a smile and responds to it), Panorama, Action Shot (photos of moving people or objects), Cartoon (filter that turns a photo into something similar to a sketch).

Scene Mode – Portrait, Landscape, Night, Sports, Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dawn, Fall color, Firework, Text, Candelight, Backlight.

Shutter speed is adjustable from -2 to +2.

Focusing – autofocus, face, macro.

Timer for 2, 5 and 10 seconds.

Effects – negative, black and white, sepia.

Resolution – 8M (3264x2448), 6.5W (3264x1968), 7M (3072x2304), 5.7W (3072x1856) and lower resolutions.

White balance – day, cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent.

ISO – auto, 100, 200, 400, 800.

Also worth noting is point or matrix metering, automatic contrast, image stabilizer, and the ability to set a GPS tag.

You will find examples of photographs below:

Video. To the already used resolution of 1280x720, 1920x1080 pixels (1080p) were added. At the same time, the file properties indicate up to 30 frames per second, but the picture looks a little jerky if you walk or drive. Constant autofocus is supported, but in difficult conditions the camera cannot always quickly focus on the subject or subject of shooting (example with cocktails). But in general, the shooting quality is quite at the level of other solutions and even better. See for yourself.

NEW QUALITY VIEWING CONTENT
E-books, websites, videos and more are now available to Galaxy S II owners in quality never before possible on a smartphone. The ultra-bright 4.27" SUPER AMOLED Plus display delivers crisp detail and vivid rich colors. Read, search for information on the Internet or enjoy your favorite video with Samsung GALAXY S II - and don't be surprised that all eyes are on you!

Super AMOLED Plus display
The Super AMOLED Plus display features excellent color reproduction, high text readability and low power consumption. You will be pleasantly surprised by the naturalness of color reproduction, as well as how bright and vibrant the image can be reproduced by the Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone. Ultra-fast response times ensure smooth display of graphics and text, and the 4.27-inch display size will give you a true pleasure from viewing photos and videos on the wide screen.

Samsung TouchWiz 4.0 proprietary interface
Download apps and get direct access to your content with an updated branding GUI TouchWiz 4.0. All widgets can be customized according to your preferences and will provide fast access to all content elements. With one touch you will have access to the gallery, music, videos, social networks, e-mail, notes, games displayed on the main screen. Don't look for content, live in it!

Full featured web browser
Information is the most valuable thing. The GALAXY S II smartphone allows you to find information quickly and easily. A full-fledged web browser with an improved user interface provides access to a whole universe of information. The browser is fully optimized for the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) platform, search options are easily customizable, and the 4.3-inch SUPER AMOLED Plus display Adobe Flash Player will allow you to enjoy all the possibilities of multimedia. Browse the Internet easily and in style with the Samsung GALAXY S II.

NEW QUALITY OF MULTIMEDIA ENTERTAINMENT
What was once just a way to pass the time is now replaced by a whirlwind of exciting entertainment: thanks to the Samsung GALAXY S II smartphone, you will see the possibilities of mobile devices with new eyes. Discover a world of interactive 3D games, Full HD video and superb music. Delight guaranteed!

Dual-core Samsung Exynos 1.2 GHz processor
Dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 Samsung Exynos processor with clock frequency 1.2 GHz is a revolutionary approach to improving the performance of mobile devices. It delivers lag-free, lag-free multitasking, fast web page loading, responsiveness, fast image editing, and superb gaming and user-friendliness. Thanks to incredibly fast data processing, the smartphone is able to play and record videos in Full HD quality (1080p) at 30 fps.

8 MP camera with LED flash
Cherish the moments! The 8 megapixel camera with autofocus will allow you to achieve perfect picture clarity, even if you are photographing moving objects. The built-in LED flash guarantees high-quality photos with detailed details, even in low light. Thanks to the improved interface on the Android 2.3 platform (Gingerbread), the user can instantly change scene modes, and the function of quickly switching to the front camera with a resolution of 2 megapixels will allow you to take a self-portrait in no time. Samsung GALAXY S II - the art of seeing the world in your own way.

Video recording and playback in Full HD (1080p)
Become a star! Allow built-in Samsung camera GALAXY S II shows you to the world in all your brilliance. The Full HD (1080p) recording feature will make every captured moment a real masterpiece. Not only can you shoot action scenes in high resolution and at high speed thanks to the dual-core processor, but also instantly playback and edit footage in Full HD quality on the bright 4.27-inch SUPER AMOLED Plus display.

Music portal (Samsung Music Hub)
Live to the music! New built-in music player Samsung has an intuitive playback system. You can play a sample, purchase a tune, or download an audio recording on the go. The music portal contains more than 900 thousand songs for download or purchase. The app will also give you detailed information about the albums and tracks you've purchased, including artist details, lyrics and reviews, as well as music recommendations. Finally, bass boosters and a 5.1-channel playback system make the sound rich and deep.

Game portal (Samsung Game Hub)
Play by your own rules! The game portal (Samsung Game Hub) allows you to download quality games to your smartphone, and also provides access to games on social networks, as well as 3D HD games. With this service, you can easily find new products in the gaming industry or information about their launch, or simply choose your favorite game and have a blast! With a position sensor, digital compass and 3-axis gyroscope, games will become even more intense and you'll experience incredible dynamic and spatial sensations. One wrong move and you're dead! This is real fun!

Portal Books and Press (Samsung Reader’s Hub)
Leave the heavy books at home - just take the Samsung GALAXY S II. The convenient Books and Press service will allow you to read any book from the library of classical works or find the latest bestseller among 64 thousand volumes of domestic and foreign literature. You can also subscribe to the press: 2,500 magazines in 20 languages ​​and 1,600 newspapers in 47 languages ​​are at your service. Reading will not be a strain on the eyes: clear text is perfectly visible on the display. In addition, you can enlarge an area of ​​text, choose to view the entire page or just the text, send it by email with two touches of the display, and take advantage of many other smart functions. Paper is timeless e-books- No.

NEW COMMUNICATION OPPORTUNITIES
Technological progress expands the possibilities of communication. Samsung GALAXY S II supports the latest technologies that make life vibrant and the impossible possible.

Video call
Just recently it seemed fantastic. Now is a reality embodied in Samsung smartphones. Thanks to 3G support, you can not only hear, but also see your interlocutor! There is no additional need to configure your smartphone: after you have dialed the desired number, Samsung GALAXY S II will prompt you to select the type of call (voice call or video call). Before making a video call, we recommend that you make sure that the phone you are calling also supports the 3G network, and your mobile operator provides the corresponding service.

Social portal (Samsung Social Hub)
With this service it will be much easier for you to synchronize your contacts. You will be able to send email, SMS, instant messages and messages to social networks from one application. Which way is more convenient to contact the right person is your choice. Communicate more, easier and faster. Communicate on your terms.

Multimessenger uTalk
uTalk is a universal application with which you can send text, photo and voice to your friends and family, wherever they are and whatever social network didn't use it! Using uTalk is simple and convenient; everyone can quickly understand the application and send messages to friends and family within a couple of minutes after registering in the program. The uTalk multimessenger was created specifically for mobile platforms.

SamsungKies 2.0 and KiesАir
The new and improved Kies 2.0 application, which replaced Kies 1.5, allows you to synchronize your Samsung GALAXY S II with your computer via Wi-Fi to do backups organizer data, subscribe to services and transfer multimedia content. Thanks to the SamsungKiesAir solution, you can connect to any computer via a web browser (even if it does not have Kies installed) and work with information and multimedia content on a large monitor.

AllShare
Let's go to the screens! From now on it's easier than ever. The AllShare function allows you to connect your Samsung GALAXY S II via wireless connection to a TV, laptop or audio system and play multimedia files directly from your mobile device. The AllShare feature synchronizes your smartphone with compatible DLNA devices, allowing you to stream content to a large monitor in Full HD format. We are erasing boundaries in the world of digital devices!

HSPA+ 21 Mbps
Smooth video streaming just got faster with super-speed standard wireless transmission HSPA+ data 21 Mbps.

Wi-Fi technology Direct
Forget about wires. Samsung GALAXY S II allows you to directly (without an Internet connection) transfer data from your smartphone to other devices via Wi-Fi. The transmission speed complies with the Fi a/b/g/n 802.11 standard even without an access point.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS PEOPLE
Samsung GALAXY S II is a real office in your pocket. To ensure you benefit from the latest enterprise solutions, Samsung has teamed up with leading IT experts. As a result new smartphone features the most complete mobile version of Exchange ActiveSync. Samsung GALAXY S II guarantees the reliability and security of your data and is equipped with all the necessary business applications. This smartphone is ready for serious work!

Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync
GALAXY S II provides secure access to corporate resources on a Microsoft Exchange server. Your built-in calendar, Email, contacts and task list will be updated regularly and remain relevant. Samsung GALAXY S II provides the most comprehensive support for Exchange ActiveSync settings.

Mobile office Polaris
The Polaris office application allows you to work with documents stored over the Internet directly from using Samsung Galaxy S II. You no longer need a laptop to quickly edit a document. The Polaris application allows you to open office documents of various formats, add a photo or image, edit text and save changes. Stay productive – even outside the office.

I present to your attention a fairly large and high-quality text review + 2 video reviews of the Galaxy S II smartphone from techvideo and droider. This article describes all its main characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the device.

Video review from Droider ru Samsung Galaxy S II

Basic Samsung specifications Galaxy S II:

• ARM Cortex-A9 processor 2 cores 1.2 GHz;
• operating room Android system 2.3 (Gingerbread);
• Super AMOLED Plus display, 4.3-inch diagonal, 480×800 pixels, capacitive, with multitouch;
• RAM 1 GB, flash memory 2 GB (1.8 GB available), inner memory 16 or 32 GB
• communication GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, GPRS/EDGE;
• communication 3G UMTS 900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 21/HSUPA 5.76;
• Bluetooth v3.0+HS;
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot;
• GPS, AGPS;
• Slot for microSDHC cards;
• USB host (USB On-the-go)
• MHL connector for connecting external HDMI panels
• FM radio with RDS
• spatial position sensor;
• light sensor;
• magnetometer;
• NFC chip
• camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels and autofocus, video recording 1080p@30fps;
• battery 1650 mAh;
• dimensions 125.3×66.1×8.5 mm;
• weight 116 grams.

So, this smartphone will replace the “first galaxy” Samsung Galaxy S, which became a real sensation among best devices on Android in 2010. It was the first galaxy that made the rise of the company. There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S 2 will be even more successful.

Appearance

Samsung i9100 has a strict body. It turned out to be very large, but thin. Samsung Galaxy S2 is slightly larger than i9000, but this is not so noticeable.

The dimensions of the new flagship are 125.3x66.1 with a thickness of only 8.5mm. Weight is only 116g, which is very low among smartphones of this class.

The sheer width of the case can make talking on the phone a little awkward. The phone barely fits in a shirt pocket. Despite its large size, the phone has good ergonomics. It is very comfortable to hold in your hand.

The phone has several sensors. This is a light and proximity sensor. They are very compactly placed on the front panel. Nearby is the front camera, which has a solid resolution for a phone - 2 Megapixels.

Below the display there are three keys. There is a mechanical button in the center, which is very convenient to press. It performs a very simple but necessary function of returning to the desktop. Long pressing the button will launch the task manager. There are also two touch keys. The left key goes to the menu, the right one goes back.

The phone has a microUSB connector, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern phone. For music lovers, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack is built-in.

A 1650 mAh battery will provide a long operating time.

Platform

The Samsung Galaxy s 2 comes with the new Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS. The ARM Cortex A9 processor running on two cores and at a frequency of 1.2 GHz simply theoretically cannot slow down. At the same time, the new “Galaxy” was equipped with 1 GB of RAM. Built-in memory 16 or 32 GB. There is also support for microSD memory cards up to 32 GB. Even when working with the most large maps The phone's memory feels comfortable.

Samsung i9100 has an even more colorful display. The diagonal has increased to 4.27 inches versus 4 for the first “galaxy”. The flagship has new technology Super AMOLED Plus. For now it is installed only on this smartphone. It has become even better than last year's Super AMOLED. The resolution has not increased and remains the same - 480x800 pixels. The screen is capable of displaying up to 16 million colors and does not respond to touches by third-party objects (control only with a finger); it is also worth noting multi-touch support.

The screen is able to adjust the brightness itself. You don't have to worry about scratching it. It is protected from scratches and other damage. Gorilla Glass technology is recognized all over the world. Sunlight hardly changes the image. Samsung Galaxy S has made a breakthrough in the field of mobile displays and we hope that the second Galaxy will repeat the success of last year's flagship.

Interface

The developers used the proprietary TouchWiz interface. There are 7 desktops available for use. You can add elements at your discretion. For example, to add a new shortcut, widget or folder to the screen, you just need to hold your finger on the display for just a couple of seconds. Will open special menu at the bottom of the screen where you can select the desired item. Widgets represent the main interest of the user. Now there are even more of them, and they have become even brighter.

The variety of widgets is amazing. Many of them require an Internet connection. The user has access to many standard widgets: YouTube, Vlingo, Power Management, Weather Clock, Stock mini, News, Voice Translator, Tips, Post and many others. Many of them are standard for all Android 2.3 operating systems.

To decorate your desktop, set the picture to fill the entire screen. It can be either animated or regular. Background image will be displayed both on the desktop and in the main menu.

If in TouchWiz 3 new events were displayed on the screen in the form of a mosaic, then the new user interface does not boast such a feature. You can unlock the screen by pulling the image in any direction. At the very top of the screen there is a service line, which displays the clock, battery charge, signal quality indicator, many connections and other data.

The main menu is launched using the icon at the bottom of the screen. Four icons are always displayed on the screen or menu. These are Phone, Contacts, Messages and Applications.

Icons in the menu are arranged in 4x4 tiles. main feature The menu is that the icons got rid of the annoying background. The design has become more pleasant. Icons move freely around the menu. Add new table also very easy. It is possible to create folders for convenient sorting of applications.

Contacts

The phone book synchronizes perfectly with Google services. It is very convenient to navigate and search for contacts. You can enter text in both vertical and horizontal positions. Input is very fast using Swype technology.

As in any device based on Android OS, it is installed standard application for work Gmail. You can use multiple accounts at the same time. For convenient work with text there is copy-paste.

Camera

The phone has an 8 megapixel camera with autofocus. Unlike its predecessor, a flash appeared. The camera key is missing. The application is launched from the main menu. The phone automatically changes the camera interface depending on the position of the device in space (from vertical to horizontal).

The user can use manual focus. When you press your finger on the screen, the phone will focus the area and highlight the desired object.

You can use the camera for video calls to take self-portraits. The photos come out quite decent. Photos can be taken with a resolution of 8 to 0.4 megapixels.

Video

Video recording remains at the highest level. 1080p video is a breakthrough for mobile devices. The quality is simply amazing, there are no problems with sound recording. The video is of very high quality and a 30-second video at maximum settings weighs about 60 megabytes. For fans of video shooting, you will have to think about a capacious media.

Conclusion

Samsung has released a landmark model that features phenomenal functionality and is virtually free of flaws. Well maybe better than Samsung Galaxy s 2? We will find out this in a year, when the successor to this flagship comes out. We are almost sure that it will definitely have a 3D display.