Apple iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S2 are two of the best smart phones in the market. Let’s have a close look at both of these amazing smart phones and come to a decisive conclusion as which one of them is a better choice :
Design :
As far as beauty is concerned, both the handsets Apple iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S2 score the same point. Both the handsets are available in two colors – Black and White. The most noticeable difference in the design of both the handsets is the display screen. Samsung Galaxy S2 is extremely sleek with a thickness of just 8.49mm and weight of 116g. On the other hand, the thickness of Apple iPhone 4S is 9.3mm and has a weight of 140g.
Apple iPhone 4S has a lovely glass finish and looks classy. Well, due to the use of cheap plastic cover on the back, the overall finish of Samsung Galaxy S2 is not that good but it is more comfortable to hold. Again, when it comes to the quality of the construction both are good. However, the screen of Samsung Galaxy S2 is much tougher than the screen of the iPhone S4. The evidence of this can be noticed at the video that shows how the screen of iPhone 4S has shattered whilst the Galaxy S2 survived the same punishment relatively without much damage.
Display Quality :
The display screen of Samsung Galaxy S2 stands at 4.3 inches super AMOLED Plus display and for iPhone 4S it is 3.5 inches IPS LCD display. The high-resolution display of iPhone 4S gives a tough competition to Samsung Galaxy S2. The retina display of iPhone 4S has 960 x 640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi (pixels per inch) while the Galaxy S2 is less: 800 x 400 at 218 ppi (pixels per inch). However, this does not mean that Samsung Galaxy S2 gives poor quality display. The screen is very bright; all the colors are astonishing and very beautiful and off-angle viewing is excellent too. However, the display of iPhone 4s is brighter due to its high resolution.
Performance :
As far as performance is concerned, both Apple iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S2 are good handsets. Both phones are quick when it comes to handling everyday tasks. Navigating the interface and loading apps is smooth on both the devices. While Samsung Galaxy S2 has a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 chip, the newly launched Apple iPhone 4S comes with A5 dual-core processor. However, Apple iPhone 4S contains 512Mb of RAM, half the amount of the Samsung Galaxy S2. This makes Samsung Galaxy S2 a better choice for memory intensive applications.
Camera :
The Samsung Galaxy S2 has 8 MP camera with auto-focus and LED flash that can take 3264 x 2448 photos and 1080p videos at 30fps. On the other hand, the new Apple iPhone 4S has 8MP camera that can take 3264 x 2448 photos and 1080p HD videos. Also, iPhone 4S has a CMOS illuminated sensor, which is 73 percent more effective and about 30 percent faster than the iPhone 4. There is also high-end IR filter for greater accuracy and uniformity. Other features like Face recognition using Face time, Hybrid IR filter and auto white balance make the camera of iPhone 4s better than that of Galaxy 2. The secondary 2MP front facing camera of the Samsung Galaxy S2 is better as compared to the VGA camera on the new iPhone 4S.
Battery :
The iPhone 4S is equipped with a lithium-ion battery that allows up to 8 hours of talk time, 200 hours of standby time and 40 hours of music playback time. The Samsung Galaxy S2 comes with a standard Lithium-ion battery that works on 1650 mAh. It allows for up to 8 hours and 40 minutes of talk time and a great 610 hours of stand-by time. The battery backup of Samsung Galaxy S2 is better as compared to Apple iPhone 4S.
Connection :
The Galaxy S2 offers WiFi, NFC, 4G, Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA, WiFi tethering, and new HDMI technology. On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 4S offers WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and 3G network to the users. The 4G network and NFC technology make Samsung Galaxy S2 a better choice.
Storage :
Apple iPhone 4S is available in 16 GB, 32 GB & 64 GB models with no external storage. On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S2 offers 16 GB of internal memory and it sports a microSD too with which the storage capacity can be expanded to 48 GB. Here, both the handsets are similar.
Platform :
Samsung Galaxy S2 uses the Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system. However, since the Ice Cream Sandwich update is already on its way, it is time for Samsung Galaxy S2 to update its operating system. On the other hand, Apple’s iOS 5 operating system make the handset easy to use. The latest Siri application allows users to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. In fact, Siri is an intelligent software assistant and knowledge navigator that works like a personal assistant for iPhone 4s users. This is where iPhone 4S turns out to be winner as compared to Samsung Galaxy S2.
Processor :
The Samsung Galaxy S2 boasts a 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor that provides really fast performance without any delay. Web browsing is very quick even via Wi-Fi networks, and you won’t face any problem with loading and playing even the most “heavy” games on Samsung’s flagship.
The iPhone 4S has a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, which is also very fast (much faster than the single-core processor of the original iPhone 4 at least), but, though it provides great graphical acceleration, it yields to the CPU of the Galaxy S2 in terms of performance, so here the winner is Samsung’s smartphone.
Price :
Samsung Galaxy S2 is available from $ 199 to $ 229 in contract with US carriers and unlocked device comes at a price of over $ 600. The iPhone 4S is available in various storage options, 16 GB at $ 199, 32 GB at $ 299, 64 GB priced at $ 399 with a two-year service contract with AT&T or Verizon. You can buy any of these handsets at Amazon. However, there is a strong point to remember that Galaxy S2 is older as compared to iPhone 4S. Hence, in coming months, you can get an Apple iPhone 4S handset at a discount price too.
Conclusion :
Both the Apple iPhone 4S and the Samsung Galaxy S2 are good smart phones available in the market today. Both have their stronger and weaker sides. While Galaxy S2 has a faster processor, a bigger screen, and overall better feel, the Apple iPhone 4S has a better display and a great application called Siri. It is a matter of personal preference as which one you would like to buy.
Samsung Galaxy S2 Specifications :
iPhone 4S Specifications :
