Poll: Poll: What dual-core phone are you going for?

[BoomAM]

The SGS has an excellent mod community too, that will no doubt carry over

Not quite the same community size or scope as a HTC Androids though....

TouchWiz, while not generally as good as Sense, is still decent and isn't bloaty, especially with a 1.2Ghz dual-core running it

Its not CPU speed that was my point, it was memory. Id imagine TouchWiz uses a fair chunk of memory, hence why the extra 256Mb of RAM maybe somewhat nulified?

The camera and video recording is almost certainly going to be better on the SGS2

Isnt the Sensation meant to have higher res cameras and better video frame rates?

The screen, while slightly lower resolution is hugely superior technology

How so?
SLCD has proven that AMOLED based tech isnt that good...

The SGS2 has a bigger battery and the screen draws less power

Bigger battery doesnt mean more battery life when doing an Apples to Orange comparison and the latter ties into that the same too.

You get 16GB of onboard storage compared to 1GB on the Sensation

Expandable though?

The build quality with Samsung is generally fine, yes its plastic in order to make it very light, but it will be solid and comfortable to hold as they've changed the texture of the back from the original SGS.
HTC are no angels when it comes to build quality really, have you used a Desire HD? The bottom part of it is just awful

Its the plastic that does it, its not even high quality plastic, thats whats annoying, on a premium device, i want premium materials, i want it to feel and look like its cost as much as it has.

 

[Demon]

From having had a few Tegra 2 Tablets, I'm not convinced that whatever Android release after Gingerbread isn't going to just take it all a step backwards.

Honeycomb on a Tegra 2 is far from a fluid/smooth experience, It feels like a quad-core/better GPU or massive optimisation is required..

If Gingerbread is here to stay for 2 years, then things should be fine, but Android do bring part of the HC experience to phones, I'm just not sure things are so future proofed.

 

[True_Scotsman]

Staying with my SGS at the moment.

 

[estebanrey]

Its not CPU speed that was my point, it was memory. Id imagine TouchWiz uses a fair chunk of memory, hence why the extra 256Mb of RAM maybe somewhat nulified?

This is Touchwiz 4.0 don't forget (on the SGS2) and according to Techrader is 'more than just an update' [to 3.0], so I would use it before making a judgement, don't base it on your experience with 3.0 on the GS.

All the reviews I have seen have been very postive about TW 4.0. Of course HTC will update it's software for the Sensation.

Isnt the Sensation meant to have higher res cameras and better video frame rates?

No, they both sport a 8mp camera with 1080p video recording.

How so?
SLCD has proven that AMOLED based tech isnt that good...

Horses for courses, each panel type has it's advantages. The selling point on the Super AMOLED+ screen on the SGS2 is that it is better in sunlight than the competition.

Bigger battery doesnt mean more battery life when doing an Apples to Orange comparison and the latter ties into that the same too.

It does when the two units use the same tech and the same OS. The specs on the Sensation seem on a par with the SGS2.

Expandable though?

Yes, up to 32GB extra via micro SD.

Its the plastic that does it, its not even high quality plastic, thats whats annoying, on a premium device, i want premium materials, i want it to feel and look like its cost as much as it has.

Being seen is your thing is it? Fair enough go buy an iPhone if you want to look 'flashy'. As Charlie Brooker once said, if you think the way your phone looks characterises your personality, don't worry, you have no personality.

Having said that the flimsy bit of platsic you are refering to can only be seen with the back off and I'm sure before long someone with bring out an aluminium replacement.

 

[Robbo]

Not quite the same community size or scope as a HTC Androids though....

Maybe not but it has got a very good community behind it, its supported just as well.

Its not CPU speed that was my point, it was memory. Id imagine TouchWiz uses a fair chunk of memory, hence why the extra 256Mb of RAM maybe somewhat nulified?

I dont honestly know, I'd guess Sense uses a similar amount.

Isnt the Sensation meant to have higher res cameras and better video frame rates?

Not that I know of, and as its HTC vs Samsung, Samsung is going to be better in the camera department unless HTC have radically changed their camera stuff.

How so?
SLCD has proven that AMOLED based tech isnt that good...

The one main gripe with SAMOLED has been resolved (small text being distorted due to the PenTile matrix) and now the subpixel amount has been increased, meaning you get a much sharper image.

I've stolen this from GSMArena so you have an idea of what I mean -

The first generation of Super AMOLED screens use a PenTile matrix of two subpixels per pixel. In the new Super AMOLED Plus screens, each pixel has three subpixels just as regular LCD panels..The image below demonstrates the difference.Bare in mind these zoomed in samples show a patch of 4 pixels in a group.

Both the original Galaxy S and the Galaxy S II have screens of equal resolution: WVGA, or 480 x 800 pixels. The SuperAMOLED Plus screen of the Galaxy S II has 50% more subpixels, making it sharper. Small text and fine texture is where it matters most but, overall, the difference is barely noticeable to the naked eye.

I think SLCD is fine, but I still personally find SAMOLED better, if I can choose, it will be LED all day long.

Bigger battery doesnt mean more battery life when doing an Apples to Orange comparison and the latter ties into that the same too.

It doesn't, but it should be better in theory.

Expandable though?

Yep.

Its the plastic that does it, its not even high quality plastic, thats whats annoying, on a premium device, i want premium materials, i want it to feel and look like its cost as much as it has.

I know where you are coming from, I love the feel of the iPhone 4 but even HTC phones aren't up to that standard and I'm not too fussed either way.

And all of what estebanrey said too

 

[sarge78]

Not quite the same community size or scope as a HTC Androids though....

Not if the bootloaders locked and signed, look what happened with Motorola.

Isnt the Sensation meant to have higher res cameras and better video frame rates?

All the Sensation samples have been rubbish so far.

How so?
SLCD has proven that AMOLED based tech isnt that good...

SLCD vs early AMOLEDs? Maybe... compared to a pentile sAMOLED? No chance... It'll be ~2013 before anyone can match sAMOLED+ (Although Sony's small screen plans are unknown)

Bigger battery doesnt mean more battery life when doing an Apples to Orange comparison and the latter ties into that the same too.

Snapdragons generally use more power (modems are integrated into the SoC, cheaper for OEMs with using one chip though...)

Edit: Two answers already? Guess we're all Samsung fanboys now.

 

[BoomAM]

It does when the two units use the same tech and the same OS. The specs on the Sensation seem on a par with the SGS2.

Its not the same tech or OS though. Sence and TouchWiz vastly change the OS in a multitude of ways. My example for that would be the battery life on the same phone, one running Sence, one running stock Android.
And the tech is different in all manor of ways!

Being seen is your thing is it?
...random pompus drivel copied from somewhere...

First of all get off your high horse.
If im buying a £500 product i dont want it to feel like im using a fisher price toy.
Thats what annoys me about a lot of phones, my Desire included, the plastics are mostly cheap and nasty and apart from looking that way, they creak, they bend, and dont feel all that durable.
Thats one thing Apples got right, i dont like the design of the iPhone4, but it does feel like a quality device thats well made.

I've stolen this from GSMArena so you have an idea of what I mean -

Interesting read.
Might read up on it.

Its the one gripe i have with my Desire, the AMOLED screen on it displays some amazingly colourful images, but slightest bit of light and its hard to read. One of my work colleagues has a SLCD Desire and its the other way around. Colours arnt as good but he can see it in sunlight clearly.

I know where you are coming from, I love the feel of the iPhone 4 but even HTC phones aren't up to that standard and I'm not too fussed either way.

I do like the design standards that HTC have on their newer phones...the Desire isnt too bad considering, but a colleague of mine has the Mozart. Very well made phone. Arguably the best non-Apple device when it comes to quality imo.

 

[Robbo]

The SAMOLED Plus screen will absolutely blitz everything when it comes to sunlight clarity, I'm quite sure of that.

 

[estebanrey]

Its not the same tech or OS though. Sence and TouchWiz vastly change the OS in a multitude of ways. My example for that would be the battery life on the same phone, one running Sence, one running stock Android.
And the tech is different in all manor of ways!

It's the same OS (Android) but a different touch interface, I can't see it having a massive effect on battery life though.

First of all get off your high horse.

Hang on, you're the one who want your phone to look expensive..thou horse is taller than mine, sir.

If im buying a £500 product i dont want it to feel like im using a fisher price toy.

I think when you see the screen and it being used it clearly isn't a fisher price toy.

Thats what annoys me about a lot of phones, my Desire included, the plastics are mostly cheap and nasty and apart from looking that way, they creak, they bend, and dont feel all that durable.
Thats one thing Apples got right, i dont like the design of the iPhone4, but it does feel like a quality device thats well made.

That's because the weight statistic is important to a lot of people. Look at the efforts Samsung has gone to so they can say they have the World's thinnest smart phone. They also know a lot of people look at the weight and apply just as much importance to it. The iPhone 4 for example is 137g, compare that to the the 116g of the SGS2.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if they used an expensive, light but durable metal but it would make the phone more expensive than it already is.

Chassis mods shouldn't be impossible either, I had a fairly unpopular LG Arena and you could buy new casing from ebay in abundance. The SGS2 will be massively popular so I'd expect a few body mods for it too.

 

[BoomAM]

The SAMOLED Plus screen will absolutely blitz everything when it comes to sunlight clarity, I'm quite sure of that.

It'll be interesting to see what its like in a real world scenario tbh. Might have to nip to CPW for a nosey. lol.

It's the same OS (Android) but a different touch interface, I can't see it having a massive effect on battery life though.

It makes a massive difference. More threads on the go mean the CPU/Memory does more, when they do more, more battery is consumed.

Hang on, you're the one who want your phone to look expensive..thou horse is taller than mine, sir.

Dont even try that one sonny.
Your insinuation was that im sort of fashionista more concerned with style over function, as long as it looks good.
Which is rubbish. If your happy with your £500 gadget looking and feeling cheap then your in a minority, but don't start insinuating things about me, who you know nothing about, because your views are different!
Theres nothing wrong or stylistic about wanting some thing expensive to look/feel like it cost what it did.
If ive spent that much on a device, and im not the only one, i want it to have some sort of durability about it, even if its just placebo based on its construction materials.

I think when you see the screen and it being used it clearly isn't a fisher price toy.

Seen and used a GS1 and it was pap. The feel of it was awful, the buttons horrible to use.

That's because the weight statistic is important to a lot of people. Look at the efforts Samsung has gone to so they can say they have the World's thinnest smart phone. They also know a lot of people look at the weight and apply just as much importance to it.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love it if they used an expensive, light but durable metal but it would make the phone more expensive than it already is.

Chassis mods shouldn't be impossible either, I had a fairly unpopular LG Arena and you could buy new casing from ebay in abundance. The SGS2 will be massively popular so I'd expect a few body mods for it too.

The thing is though, making them out of better quality materials wouldnt hurt their profit margin that much. Im sure if Apple can handle it...it was reported a while back on the iPhone -> 3g that the metal->plastic transition worked out something insignificant in overall unit cost.

 

[Robbo]

I wouldn't call the SGS pap compared to a Desire really. Samsung have just gone for lighter materials instead of heavier ones, the SGS2 build quality is actually very good (apparently).

 

["andy"]

People saying iPhone 5 when no one knows what it looks like or what it has in it just goes to show the amount sheeple Apple now control. I bet if you put a poll up asking what you'll have in 10 years there'd say iPhone 15.

well id rather have an iphone4 than the majority of phones that ive just seen announced so is it really so ridiculous to assume that the 5 will be an improvement and therefore i may buy it ?

 

[sunny007]

Isnt the Sensation meant to have higher res cameras and better video frame rates?

The video samples are shocking from the HTC sensation

 

[estebanrey]

Dont even try that one sonny.
Your insinuation was that im sort of fashionista more concerned with style over function, as long as it looks good.

Because you listed it as a main concern and a reason as to why you wouldn't choose the SGS2, that implies you are concerned about looks to me.

In an ideal world I'd prefer if they made the batery cover out of a higher grade, ultr alight weight metal but I don't think it is anything but a tiny negative and no review I have seen has taken marks off because of it.

Which is rubbish. If your happy with your £500 gadget looking and feeling cheap then your in a minority, but don't start insinuating things about me, who you know nothing about, because your views are different!

But that is clearly an exaggeration, to say the SGS2 looks and feels cheap is pretty much a lie. What we're talking about here is the battery cover that is only seen with the back removed. The front of the unit does not look 'cheap' at all and nor does the back with the cover on.

Theres nothing wrong or stylistic about wanting some thing expensive to look/feel like it cost what it did.

There's nothing stylistic about wanting materials that last and are durable but your concern is that they look flimsy and not that they are flimsy.

If ive spent that much on a device, and im not the only one,

I know, the popularity of Apple products is evidence enough.

i want it to have some sort of durability about it, even if its just placebo based on its construction materials.

So you are actually saying you would rather have a less duarbale material as long as it looked good than a more durable material that didn't? Isn't that the defenition of being stylistic?

Seen and used a GS1 and it was pap. The feel of it was awful, the buttons horrible to use.

But the SG1 isn't an option. From the photos, the SGS2 looks quite different from it's little brother in both design and construction.

The thing is though, making them out of better quality materials wouldnt hurt their profit margin that much. Im sure if Apple can handle it...it was reported a while back on the iPhone -> 3g that the metal->plastic transition worked out something insignificant in overall unit cost.

It is rumoured that Apple will not be using the glass back on the Iphone 5, so even they are dropping style for weight/costs.

 

[estebanrey]

well id rather have an iphone4 than the majority of phones that ive just seen announced so is it really so ridiculous to assume that the 5 will be an improvement and therefore i may buy it ?

Which suggests there are a minority of phones you think are better than the iPhone 4.

 

[Locke]

Lots of quoting in this thread eh.

Anyways, I'm personally keeping my Desire with a nice 2.3 ASOP ROM on it, very fast and enough for me. However if I was going to upgrade, it would be to the Samsung Galaxy S II by miles.

 

[Morba]

People saying iPhone 5 when no one knows what it looks like or what it has in it just goes to show the amount sheeple Apple now control. I bet if you put a poll up asking what you'll have in 10 years there'd say iPhone 15.

I can't see me changing from iphones for the foreseeable future. I like the product and will be happy to upgrade to future generations if they continue to provide better phones that meet my needs.

Of course, should something amazing come out that really would drag me away from apple, i would be silly to not look at it with a view to switching. It would have to be better than what is already available or planned though.

Apple have done an amazing thing, they have managed to get themselves integrated into peoples lives, making it harder to get away from. This is definitely the case for me at the moment and atm I have no issue with it

No different that the way people buy many other white goods, they are happy with the current version but its out of date and the same company provide a more than adequate new version.

 

[Robbo]

My only real issue with Apple at the moment is that the latest iOS updates have taken away the iPhone 4's smoothness in operation, something that is very important. Many of the menus judder a bit and opening/closing applications can lag, etc.

 

[BoomAM]

I wouldn't call the SGS pap compared to a Desire really.

Each to their own, but when i was configuring a SG1 at work, the buttons just annoyed me, there's no 'feeling' to them.

...snip...

Im not arguing with you all day. So lets just leave it at that.
But i will point out this: If i was concerened about style in the manor of which you speak, then i wouldnt have a Desire, i'd have an iPhone

It is rumoured that Apple will not be using the glass back on the Iphone 5, so even they are dropping style for weight/costs.

Thats more to do with the back shattering through from what ive read. Common fault apparently.

 

[BoomAM]

My only real issue with Apple at the moment is that the latest iOS updates have taken away the iPhone 4's smoothness in operation, something that is very important. Many of the menus judder a bit and opening/closing applications can lag, etc.

I want the new iOS 5 to have widgets.
If they do widgets, or something that allows for some customisation beyond icons and folders, then i may be swayed to a iPhone5, but at the moment, i cant see that happening.