Galaxy S2 replacement

DogsBody

DogsBody

DogsBody

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Hey,

My upgrade is due next week and I am looking to replace my 2 YO galaxy S2.
Really want to stay with android as it does work for the most part but does freeze up occasionally and is starting to slow down now.
Don't particulalry want an iPhone either so android is for me (hopefully)

But the question is what do I replace it with.
This is/was my first smartphone and I ordered it on the advice of a couple of people that are into phones without seeing the phone first, I was pretty shocked at the size when it arrived (very big) but over time phones have got bigger and bigger again (another issue I will address in a second) so the size has become more "normal"

What I want
More speed
more battery life (not an essential but would be nice)
GPS that works properly when I turn it on first time

The obvious natural progression would be to an S4, however these things are HUMOUNGOUS I would really not be happy getting a phone this big unless absolutely no way around it.

So the way I see things (I know little about these phones by the way) is the current "market leaders" are the S4 and the HTC one and some Sony xperia thing that I don't like either.
not sure about the size of the HTC one.
My alternative is to go fo ra "mini" verison of one of these phones which is probably about the same size as my S2 is, do I sacrifice a huge amount of speed by doing this ?


And the next question,
Is there anything due out between now and Christmas that would be worth me waiting for ?

Thansk for reading my ramblings, please discuss and advise :)
 
S2: 66.1x125.3x8.49 mm
S4: 69.8x136.6x7.9 mm

So not really a great deal of difference, mostly just 11mm in the vert. (because the screen's about 10mm vertically taller). I'd just get used to it tbh.
 
Agreed. After using an S4 after a week or two you'll think that the S2 is like a small dated phone.

edit - the trick is to stop comparing it side by side when you get the S4. Stick the S2 in a drawer and don't compare it for a couple of weeks then go back to compare.
 
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As said I don't think the size of the S4 etc (One is slightly bigger iirc) will be a problem, it's not *that* much more and you'll get used to it. I've still got my S2 but used my mates S3 and S4's enough to know it's not that big a deal.

One phone that might be worth waiting for is the Nexus 5, saw a rumour earlier that it'd be announced October 14th but not sure how much faith to put in that, realistically I'm expecting late October/Early November.
 
I think it's the JB update that ruined the S2 to be honest :p.

HTC One is very similiar in terms of size compared to the S4.

If you feel that both phones will be quite big, then I would be tempted to go for the S4 mini. It's a fair step down from the S4 but it's still better than the S2. There's also the HTC One mini but I feel the S4 mini will offer more due to the faster SoC + expandable storage.
 
Are you guys kidding me

The S4 feels completely different to use compared to the S2. I can just about operate the S2 now with one hand and I have fairly big hands. I don't want a bloody palm PC in my pocket. :(

You may be right I may have to "man up" :confused: and get the bigger phone.
I want something iphone kinda size I guess (please don't say just get an iphone then :( )

Stupid phone manufacturers :(
 
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But... that's against the iPhone... and the iPhone looks small even against an S2...

Here's an S4 next to the S2:

y9eN3Xcl.jpg.png


If that's still too big for you then get the S4 mini, it's smaller than the S2 even with the same screen size:

 
S4 (i9505 variant) vs S4 mini: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=5371&idPhone2=5375

The S4 mini still keeps the IR port and NFC, only thing you'll lose is about half the proccessing power, 0.5gb RAM, the resolution is dropped to 960x540, and the camera is dropped from 13 MP to 8 MP. It has 8gb storage but it has a microSD card slot.

HO vs HO mini: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=5313&idPhone2=5505

Where as the HO mini, you lose a lot more, no NFC and no IR port, and only 1gb RAM. But it does have a 1280x720 4.3" screen and retains the 4 "ultrapixel" camera. In terms of specs though, it uses the same SoC as the S4 mini but runs at a lower 1.4 GHz. You also only get 16gb storage which can't be expanded due to the lack of a microSD slot.

Personally I would say the S4 mini will last longer, but either way both mini devices will still be better in terms of specs compared to the S2.
 
If I were to change from my S2, the S4 Mini would be my preferred choice as I too don't like the size of the S4, but it is currently priced too high for what it is.

Other brands aren't an option as I am a SAMOLED whore. :D
 
I went from the old Sony-Ericsson P910i and P990i smartphones, to a Galaxy Apollo, to an S2. I'm due in a couple of months time, therefore in the same situation as the OP.

My criteria is the colourspace though - that's the sharpness and vividness of the picture. The S2's screen is so vibrant that I was no way going to stick with my old Dell G-series monitor. I then posted in OcUK's monitors section to obtain a monitor that was close to the S2's colourspace and they recommended a Dell U-series. I therefore went for the U2412 and I'm happy with that. So going back to phones, what offerings are closest to the S2's colourspace (or even exceed it)? I'm considering either the S4, the Mega, the Note 3, HTC One or the Nexus 5. 2nd-priority criteria is the size - the bigger the better.
 
Monserrat said:
I went from the old Sony-Ericsson P910i and P990i smartphones, to a Galaxy Apollo, to an S2. I'm due in a couple of months time, therefore in the same situation as the OP.

My criteria is the colourspace though - that's the sharpness and vividness of the picture. The S2's screen is so vibrant that I was no way going to stick with my old Dell G-series monitor. I then posted in OcUK's monitors section to obtain a monitor that was close to the S2's colourspace and they recommended a Dell U-series. I therefore went for the U2412 and I'm happy with that. So going back to phones, what offerings are closest to the S2's colourspace (or even exceed it)? I'm considering either the S4, the Mega, the Note 3, HTC One or the Nexus 5. 2nd-priority criteria is the size - the bigger the better.
Click to expand...

If the bigger the better, then the Note III hands down. It uses an AMOLED screen like the S2, and I believe Samsung has calibrated the screen better too, so the colours should be better than the S2.
 
I know it was a while ago since I started this thread, but thought I would give you an update.

The phone I ended up ordering was the HTC One.

Got to say it was a good decision, very happy with the phone overall.
A few annoyances to get used to comeing from a samsung touchwiz based phone but nothing I can't cope with.

Managed to find a free app that will transfer settings over from apps that don't normally allow it without having to root the phone as well.
 
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