Another Spec me thread

[Burnsy2023]

So I seem to make one of these threads every 18 months and the usually are invaluable in giving me a decent handset.

I have the original Desire from when it was very first released and I've loved it ever since. It's well specced and has lasted the test of time, but with my contract up, I'd like something new and shiny.

So what is it worth me looking at? I'd like to stay android but I'm not sure what is worth getting and what features it has over and above my Desire.

Any suggestions?

 

[Macky]

Samsung Galaxy S2. Best phone going currently.

 

[Burnsy2023]

Anything else on the horizon over the next 2-3 months? When was the Galaxy S2 released and what functionality does it have that the desire doesn't?

 

[kona786]

Anything else on the horizon over the next 2-3 months?

Nothing worth mentioning.

When was the Galaxy S2 released and what functionality does it have that the desire doesn't?

Released on April 27th 2011.


HTC DESIRE vs SAMSUNG I9100 GALAXY S II

I made the move from the desire to the SGSII and have I can only describe it as taking a Desire and improving every aspect of it. Faster, smoother (due to gpu accelerated UI), better screen-battery life-loud speaker, more ROM space, exceptional camera & camcorder, fast processor & tonnes of ram, plays nigh on all video codecs.

There's not a better more complete Android smartphone available at present and not until next year IMO.

 

[SKILL]

The one thing the SGS2 doesn't have that you might be used to/want is the HTC 'Sense' UI, if this is a dealbreaker then the HTC Sensation is a good phone, almost but not quite as good as the SGS2 in pretty much every area.

You can't really go wrong with either, but those are the two I'd be looking at, in 2-3 months we're unlikely to see anything massively superior (at least I believe the 'Nexus 3' is not gonna be here till early 2012?)

 

[kona786]

The Nexus 3's specs and release are just rumours at present.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I went from the desire to a sensation and it feels like an excellent upgrade despite a few early teething troubles.

I looked at the Galaxy S but I love Sense, don't like cheap plastic feeling build and had no desire to sit comparing tech specs every day (much of the advantage of the Galaxy is on paper and barely shows itself day to day) so I am more than happy with my choice.

 

[AndyCr15]

The Galaxy S doesn't have a huge advantage, but the SII does.

The screen for example, is so much better than anything else out there, visibly so. Take a look here -

For me, as the Nexus One (and Desire) was a safe upgrade, not really to be beaten for 12 months or so, the Galaxy SII is the same.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Obviously I meant the S2.

As some will know from my musings in the Sensation thread, although its clear the screen in the Sensation is not as good as that in the Galaxy S2, in the real world unless you spend most of your day comparing the screens side by side the screen in the Sensation does not really detract from the phone.

I found once i'd stopped comparing it directly to my Desire, I stopped being hugely bothered by the screen. In isolation, the screen is clear and excellent.

 

[AndyCr15]

But in that case you may as well get a Monte Carlo... if you don't ever compare it to other things, you'll never know it can be better.

I do understand what you're saying, but just because something is acceptable doesn't mean it's what I want. If something else is better for the same price, I would rather that.

 

[Robbo]

I looked at the Galaxy S but I love Sense, don't like cheap plastic feeling build and had no desire to sit comparing tech specs every day (much of the advantage of the Galaxy is on paper and barely shows itself day to day) so I am more than happy with my choice.

I wanted to use the Sensation and actually couldn't because the difference unfortunately did show up in day to day use, but I'm assuming you mean you personally, as there are quite notable differences even if they aren't huge.

Burnsy, the Galaxy S II is what you want to look at getting, the only phone with a guaranteed release over the next 2-3 months is the iPhone 5 but that doesn't really have much relevance here.

You should go and compare it in a shop to the Sensation though, as you might be a HTC Sense lover and not know it, in which case the tables swing heavily in favour of the Sensation.

 

[[TW]Fox]

I wanted to use the Sensation and actually couldn't because the difference unfortunately did show up in day to day use, but I'm assuming you mean you personally, as there are quite notable differences even if they aren't huge.

So in day to day use (ie, you have a phone. You use it as your phone rather than sit on the internet with it sat next to another phone comparing specs and measuring load times with a stopwatch) what didn't the Sensation do?

I nearly 14 day returned my Sensation because I got too caught up in the world of thinking a phone is something you directly compare looking for the slightest of differences rather than a device you simply get on and used. I decided to give it a week of normal use... and I'm now really, really happy with it.

 

[AndyCr15]

So in day to day use (ie, you have a phone. You use it as your phone rather than sit on the internet with it sat next to another phone comparing specs and measuring load times with a stopwatch) what didn't the Sensation do?

Not loud enough for me to hear podcasts while making my breakfast. HTC have terrible speakers. This is not even 'it's not quite as good as other phones' like the screen or build quality, this is something it just cannot do for me, and it's a day to day thing.

You're talking like as long as a phone is capable of doing what you want, it is good enough. Fair enough. If you're deciding which phone to get, you SHOULD compare and you SHOULD choose the one that does all these day to day things the best.

If someone is offering you a Wildfire or a Sensation, you would take the Wildfire? No, no you wouldn't.

 

[Burnsy2023]

I wanted to use the Sensation and actually couldn't because the difference unfortunately did show up in day to day use, but I'm assuming you mean you personally, as there are quite notable differences even if they aren't huge.

Burnsy, the Galaxy S II is what you want to look at getting, the only phone with a guaranteed release over the next 2-3 months is the iPhone 5 but that doesn't really have much relevance here.

You should go and compare it in a shop to the Sensation though, as you might be a HTC Sense lover and not know it, in which case the tables swing heavily in favour of the Sensation.

That sounds like good advice. I'll take a look at these two and report back with my opinions/any other questions I have.

 

[Robbo]

So in day to day use (ie, you have a phone. You use it as your phone rather than sit on the internet with it sat next to another phone comparing specs and measuring load times with a stopwatch) what didn't the Sensation do?

You may be shocked to hear I don't actually bother or care about all the silly stopwatch stuff, that doesn't really interest me.

I use the camera quite a lot on my phone, I found that overall, the picture quality was quite a bit better on the Galaxy S II; it honestly can take some exceptional pictures. The Sensation is acceptable but there is a clear difference.

The screen doesn't actually bother me as much as it does you, I'm not a massive AMOLED fanboy and it wouldn't sway me either way. I like the Sensation screen, it's very crisp.

Also, the notification LED isn't all that useful, I find it quite rubbish to see a lot of the time which was disappointing. It's better than not having one at all though, Samsung need to put one on the next phone. It's quite a big oversight.

I think that while a slight improvement over the Desire HD, the loudspeaker isn't loud enough. I'd say the Galaxy S II speaker is a good 40-50% louder, which can make a difference.

Lastly, the battery life on the Sensation can be very dodgy, it's unpredictable and tends to drop erratically. It won't easily last a day like the Galaxy S II under quite heavy use, the Galaxy under light/moderate use will go for 2/3 days which could be useful if you can't charge it for some reason.

Again, these are things I've noticed when using them, not things I've sat down and extensively compared.

I think Android is worse off for not having HTC Sense. It is absolutely excellent, it brings the software quality far closer to the high general standard of iOS and I do miss it dearly.

I nearly 14 day returned my Sensation because I got too caught up in the world of thinking a phone is something you directly compare looking for the slightest of differences rather than a device you simply get on and used. I decided to give it a week of normal use... and I'm now really, really happy with it.

You know I like the Sensation, very much so infact, if I for some reason HAD to have one for 2 years, I wouldn't be remotely upset about it.

I can absolutely accept why people would pick the Sensation over the Galaxy S II, but to suggest there is barely any difference isn't really accurate.

 

[[TW]Fox]

They don't really sound like big issues to me - I find the notification LED fine and the Galaxy S II doesn't have one anyway, like you say.

My opinion is that they are the best two phones on sale today and only personal preference - rather than 'This one is the best!' 'No this one is!' can tell them apart. There are pros and cons for each.

It's not like comparing the Sensation with a Tocco is it, where one is clearly superior

 

[Robbo]

No, I understand that. I think you've said before that you don't use the camera much, if that is the case and you find the battery fine, the Sensation is probably the better option for you provided you like HTC Sense (I think you do?)!

 

[[TW]Fox]

Yea, I don't use the camera much. Odd snap here and there if I see something interesting but if I want proper pictures, I've got a proper camera.

 

[AndyCr15]

My opinion is that they are the best two phones on sale today and only personal preference - rather than 'This one is the best!' 'No this one is!' can tell them apart. There are pros and cons for each.

For sure. But... of people that have used both, the majority lean towards the SGSII as a better device. But, as you say, personal preferences can swing that the other way.

We should be happy as Android users, that not only is there great choice, but these days there is choice of top end handsets. 18 months ago, the Desire was the only real option for a fair time. (Unless you imported the Nexus One like me )