Galaxy S2 vs. the iPhone

Date Posted:15 January 2013 

The Samsung Galaxy S2 has been around for a while and it’s still going great guns. But how does it stack up against the iPhone 4S, the stalwart of the iPhone range? We compared the features and here’s what we found.

Display

The Galaxy S2 screen wins hands down. It has a bigger 4.3-inch screen, compared to the iPhone 4S, which only has a 3.5-inch screen. The Galaxy’s larger display is more appealing for those who play games or do a lot of Internet browsing on their smartphones.

The iPhone 4S does have a higher resolution display compared to the Galaxy’s, but if you are using older icons and apps not made for high resolution screens, they tend to look grainy and unattractive. So, taking all this into consideration, the larger screen of the Galaxy would seem to make it the winner in this category.

Weight

Another round to the Samsung Galaxy S2, which is lighter than the iPhone 4S. The Galaxy weighs in at 115 grams, while the iPhone 4S is 140 grams. While this isn’t a huge amount, it certainly adds to the weight in your pocket when you’re carrying it around all day. The Galaxy is also one of the slimmest phones on the market, with a thickness of just 8.49mm.

Strength

But while the Galaxy S2 is slimmer and lighter, the iPhone 4S is more robust, constructed from sturdier materials such as metal and glass, rather than being all plastic. It is a typically well-made Apple product, designed to take the knocks of everyday use. Having said that, however, purchasing a Samsung Galaxy S2 case will provide perfectly adequate protection in most situations. In terms of durability, the iPhone 4S is the winner, but only by a small margin.

Speed

The Galaxy S2 has a 1.2GHz dual core processor, while the iPhone 4S has a 1GHz dual core processor. Both are fast and the iPhone 4S is a vast improvement on the single core processor of its predecessor, the iPhone 4. But trying to compare speeds is difficult, as there are no discernable differences, so we’ll call this one a draw.

Camera

There is little between the cameras of both phones. Both are 8MG cameras, able to take 3264 x 2448 pictures. Again, the 8MP capability of the iPhone 4S is a big improvement on the 5MP of the iPhone 4, but the Galaxy S2 camera is just as good. Both phones can shoot 30 FPS 1080p HD video, so for all intents and purposes, this round would also have to be called a draw.

Battery life

Both the Samsung Galaxy S2 and iPhone 4S will give you about a day of use before needing to be recharged. This is fairly normal and depends on what you are using them for and how often. Providing you have access to a portable phone charger, battery life is not an issue with either phone.

Price

There are no prizes for guessing that the Galaxy S2 is cheaper than the iPhone 4S, but it depends what you use your mobile for. If you just want to be able to check your emails, surf the net and play games, then the Galaxy S2 is a great budget buy. But if you need a serious, hard-working, knockabout phone that will be your constant working companion, then the iPhone 4S is also worth every cent.