Galaxy S2 or Galaxy Nexus

dahayeser

Tomorrow I am finally upgrading my constantly rebooting Desire. I was torn between the Galaxy S2 or the Galaxy Nexus but now I have more or less decided on the on the S2. I know the Galaxy Nexus has a much better (higher pixelated) display and of course Ice Cream Sandwich but the display isn't that important to me. The S2 has a faster processor, better camera, will be getting ICS in 2012 (that will happen, right?) ..

If you have and experience of either or both I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I was reluctant to go for the S2 as it is the bones of a year old and must be about to be knocked off its pedistal. It seems the Galaxy Nexus hasn't done it though and my Desire has forced me to move now rather than wait til the new year..

thanks in advance

Random

thread moved to android forum.
thanks

Chet T16

How much would both cost you?

If you need to buy now and can't hold out then it makes no sense to get the S2, it should be getting ICS but after that it probably won't get many updates. The Nexus will get them for a while yet and get them first.

dahayeser

With trading in my Desire the Galaxy Nexus will cost €150 or the S2 would cost €100 with the desire..

The S2 just seems to be a better piece of kit, with ICS and the display the only real selling points for the Galaxy Nexus, the S2 seems to be ahead in most other areas.

choronzonix

I also keep swinging between the two. On the one hand I like that the Nexus will always get OTA updates first, but feel the lack of an SD slot really lets it down (I like to keep a lot of music on my phone). The camera also appears to be better on the S2, and to be honest i'll probably root it anyway (like I did with my Desire) and put an ICS rom on to it once they start to drop in January or so. So i'm slightly leaning towards the S2 at the minute myself, but am open to be convinced otherwise.

él statutorio

dahayeser wrote: »

With trading in my Desire the Galaxy Nexus will cost €150 or the S2 would cost €100 with the desire..

The S2 just seems to be a better piece of kit, with ICS and the display the only real selling points for the Galaxy Nexus, the S2 seems to be ahead in most other areas.

Where are you trading in and what kind of deal is it? I'd nearly do that myself!

dahayeser

@é;l statutorio
Meteor, but I know 3 give €104 reduction if you trade in a Desire and I think their prices are even lower so there is definitely good value there. I am just sticking with Meteor to hold my 12 month contract, 3 only offering 18 months ..

@choronzonix
I've heard good things about the Galaxy Nexus camera despite being just 5mp, supposedly much better than the sensation 8mp camera, especially for night shots. Probably inferior to the S2 alright but I hear it is decent if that infulences your decision ..

... its a tough call! I am swinging back towards the Galaxy Nexus now!

Vegeta

Looking at a similar decision myself.

Someone has offered to get me a smart phone as a gift and I am struggling to decide what one to get. These 2 are the current front runners

griffdaddy

I wouldn't let ICS influence me, the Galaxy S2 is a hugely popular device and once you root it you can be fairly sure it'll be supported with bleeding edge updates from xda.

Goodshape

I have the Galaxy Nexus.

Some reasons I think it's better:

-- proper Google Android device, with no TouchWiz and timely updates. Super easy to root and install custom roms, should you want to, when those come. Maybe someone will correct me but I've heard from S2 owners that rooting and custom roms can be more hassle than they're worth on the S2, with a lot of proprietary and locked-down Samsung drivers.

-- It has ICS now and is built for it with proper software on-screen buttons etc. Can't be over-emphasised how lovely this OS is, imo.

-- Looks much better than the S2 (again, in my opinion). S2 is an uncomfortable rectangular slab of a thing... Galaxy Nexus has some lovely curves... and I'm a big fan of the every-so-slightly curved glass on the front.

-- The camera is lower resolution but I understand it takes better photos? I'm not really a camera person though so I'm not sure. It does take instant photos (i.e. zero shutter lag) which is quite impressive.

-- Screen resolution is amazing.


Only downside I can think of is the lack of SD Card.. and I thought that would bother me much more than it has. Really, it hasn't bothered me in the slightest. If you wanted to put tens-of-gigs worth of music on there then I guess it might, but otherwise I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Professey Chin

Goodshape wrote: »

I have the Galaxy Nexus.

Some reasons I think it's better:

-- proper Google Android device, with no TouchWiz and timely updates. Super easy to root and install custom roms, should you want to, when those come. Maybe someone will correct me but I've heard from S2 owners that rooting and custom roms can be more hassle than they're worth on the S2, with a lot of proprietary and locked-down Samsung drivers.

This is really only a problem at the moment with trying to get ICS on it before a Samsung rom gets released/leaked. The GS2 is really remarkably open considering they opened the bootloader at a time when HTC were starting to lock them (before the backlash). Its been a piece of piss for Custom roms since day 1 really

Rowley Birkin QC

Vegeta wrote: »

Looking at a similar decision myself.

Someone has offered to get me a smart phone as a gift and I am struggling to decide what one to get. These 2 are the current front runners

I think I know what one they are getting you.

Kenno90

Got the Galaxy Nexus and i have to say i'm loving it. Never thought i'd end up buying a samsung phone as i heard terrible things about there build quality. Also i've used touchwiz before and i didn't enjoy it.

With the Galaxy Nexus i'll always get the latest updates for at least two years. So that means Jelly Bean as well.

Offy

I got a S2 a few months ago and went and bricked it so I bought another one I sent the original to someone in the states to play with, see here, its on its way back to me now, big thank you to Adam Outler for fixing it. The sad news is that it seems there will be no unbrickable mod for the S2 but regardless its by far the best phone Ive ever owned and now I have two of them

conor.hogan.2

Offy wrote: »

I got a S2 a few months ago and went and bricked it so I bought another one I sent the original to someone in the states to play with, see here, its on its way back to me now, big thank you to Adam Outler for fixing it. The sad news is that it seems there will be no unbrickable mod for the S2 but regardless its by far the best phone Ive ever owned and now I have two of them

How did you brick the s2 exactly?

SmithySeller

dahayeser wrote: »

.The S2 has a faster processor, better camera, will be getting ICS in 2012 (that will happen, right?) ..

I disagree. The S2 has not got a faster processor, they are both dual core 1.2G afaik but the Nexus has outperformed it in most benchmarking tests that I have read for example;



However the GPU in the S2 is without doubt faster which would manifest itself best in gaming.

The Camera is a matter of perspective. I have read many reviews, but most are before the phone was even released. The Nexus is suppose to have a far superior lense and sensor (I wouldn't read too much into that either btw), the below link is a good test review and again there is no clear winner, so one might argue the nexus is the winner, one might argue the S2 is.

One thing you will notice in any comparison review the screen on the S2 looks dull and dated compared to the screen on the Nexus.

Connectivity the Nexus falls down. The HD recording is so good (and I compared to the iPhone 4S, nexus destoyed both phones) but its so good you will use it and that lack of SD slot is a bummer.

http://hemorrdroids.net/samsung-galaxy-nexus-vs-samsung-galaxy-sii-s2-camera-test/

My tuppence worth..

Professey Chin

Wouldnt a Quadrant score make more sense to use then Javascript since the ICS browser is supposed to be a huge improvement compared to the GB?
Although we dont know how much more efficient the Nexus chip is compared to the S2 until optimised ICS builds are out for the S2

Inquitus

The Galaxy Nexus is a much better all round package than the SGS2, don't get too caught up in the specs. I got rid of my SGS2 in favour of one and am very happy with it indeed. The screen is sumptuous, the phone looks great and the lack of buttons is a real benefit of ICS that won't apply to the SGS2. The shooter is actually fine, and defo better than the HTC Sensation though probably not as good as the SGS2 but not too far off, and perhaps better in low light.

The Galaxy Nexus also looks and feels alot better than the SGS2, it doesn't have the flakey plasticky feel of the SGS and SGS2. As stated above it will also get updates to Android long after Samsung have forgotten about the SGS2. And don't discount how much of a difference the screen makes, you spend almost all the time you are using your phone looking at it!

SmithySeller

I agree, but some would say Quadrant is outdated too. I believe the best tools are available in the Android market CF Bench etc. I guess my point is its the sum of all parts, and I personally wouldn't let GPU/CPU be the point that sways my decision or the Camera for that matter, on these two phones. The Nexus is super fast. It would be connectivity, screen etc. Some people couldn't live with 16GB, so the Nexus would be no good, some people, like me, want the 720P screen and 16GB is ample. The Irony is I'd love a mini HDMI out. Its the Nexus for me, but the person next to me bought the S2

PS. I will say this, everyone looks at that Nexus Screen and wants to pick it up...

SmithySeller

Inquitus wrote: »

and perhaps better in low light.
QUOTE]

Thats a real plus, when out at night you can defo get a good picture in the dark with the Nexus. In low light or dimmed light, IMO both are crap.

Professey Chin

True. Ive wanted to hump that Nexus screen many a time

Captain Chaos

conor.hogan.2 wrote: »

How did you brick the s2 exactly?

I bricked one too myself and bought another one as it could not be fixed. I bricked mine while trying to install the CM7 ROM. Rooting was easy just be careful with those ROMs. I got the file from the XDA site and all but it stuffed up during the install. I followed every step by the letter so I don't know where it all went wrong.

I still have it and no one can figure out how to sort it out.

I'm going to get someone else to install CM7 on my new S2 as I'm not paying another €500 for a 3rd one. If touchwizz was not so bad I'd leave it alone. HTC Sense is a better overlay but I'd rather the pure Android OS.

conor.hogan.2

OK, sorry to hear that.

Its just I never actually heard of people bricking their phones, I am going to root my gs2 tomorrow I imagine it is easier or as easy to do as the G1 hopefully.

I do not mind touchwhizz, I just do not like any overlay at all and all the bloatware.

pickarooney

Nobody's mentioned the superior glass panel on the SGS2...

Ste-

Captain Chaos wrote: »

I still have it and no one can figure out how to sort it out.

Can you access download mode ?

SmithySeller

pickarooney wrote: »

Nobody's mentioned the superior glass panel on the SGS2...

Link?

Or do you mean its not using Cornings Gorilla Glass, just another brand of fortified glass? Which if Im a betting man, Samsung will start using on all their handsets in the future...

Who knows, rumour has it that it uses Fortified Dragontrail Glass, touted to be much stronger than Gorilla Glass...

Inquitus

SmithySeller wrote: »

Link?

Or do you mean its not using Cornings Gorilla Glass, just another brand of fortified glass? Which if Im a betting man, Samsung will start using on all their handsets in the future...

Who knows, rumour has it that it uses Fortified Dragontrail Glass, touted to be much stronger than Gorilla Glass...

This glass actually seems better than that on the SGS2, no micro scratches or anything in 3 weeks in my pocket, my SGS2 had a couple of micro scratches by now.

opinion guy

OP no contest.

S2 all the way.
Reasons:
1. Nexus is stupidly big
5. Nexus comes with vanilla android which is cack and lacks good features that touchwhiz has
579. S2 gets ICS early next year.
42. S2 has better GPU
5. Nexus is stupidly expensive

pickarooney

I haven't scratch tested either myself, but the word 'only' seems to come up a lot in articles about the fortified glass in the Nexus. I don't know if it's the same glass as in the older Nexus but I've seen some awful scratch marks on that model.

Professey Chin

opinion guy wrote: »

OP no contest.

S2 all the way.
Reasons:
1. Nexus is stupidly big
5. Nexus comes with vanilla android which is cack and lacks good features that touchwhiz has
579. S2 gets ICS early next year.
42. S2 has better GPU
5. Nexus is stupidly expensive

Are you drunk? have you ever used ICS? The majority of Touchwiz is horriffic!
And once again. Drunk?

sports_

dahayeser wrote: »

Tomorrow I am finally upgrading my constantly rebooting Desire. I was torn between the Galaxy S2 or the Galaxy Nexus but now I have more or less decided on the on the S2. I know the Galaxy Nexus has a much better (higher pixelated) display and of course Ice Cream Sandwich but the display isn't that important to me. The S2 has a faster processor, better camera, will be getting ICS in 2012 (that will happen, right?) ..

If you have and experience of either or both I'd love to hear your thoughts.

I was reluctant to go for the S2 as it is the bones of a year old and must be about to be knocked off its pedistal. It seems the Galaxy Nexus hasn't done it though and my Desire has forced me to move now rather than wait til the new year..

thanks in advance

the nexus is a super phone u shud defo get it

opinion guy

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Are you drunk? have you ever used ICS? The majority of Touchwiz is horriffic!
And once again. Drunk?

Lol not drunk. I haven't owned samsung but played with my brothers S2 and I found the interface very good (I have a Desire myself same as the OP).

I haven't used ICS but I was reading about some of the features it lacked and I couldn't be putting up with that to be honest.
Besides S2 gets ICs early 2012

Captain Chaos

Ste- wrote: »

Can you access download mode ?

Believe me it's beyond hope. I can load any ROMs I want on it but it won't change a thing in getting the phone to boot up.

Odin is the only thing that will detect my phone. Windows wont pick it up as USB storage and Kies won't detect it.

I keep on installing stock samsung software to try and help it but it just hangs on boot up after installing. Just won't go past the Galaxy start screen, no way, no how. The only way it will turn off is to pull the battery and even then it has to be out for at least 30 seconds because if you put back in any quicker it's still on the boot screen somehow.

I left it in to that place in the GPO arcade and they could not fix it. They were asking how I managed to mess it up and was I trying to partition the internal memory.

Professey Chin

opinion guy wrote: »

Lol not drunk. I haven't owned samsung but played with my brothers S2 and I found the interface very good (I have a Desire myself same as the OP).

I haven't used ICS but I was reading about some of the features it lacked and I couldn't be putting up with that to be honest.
Besides S2 gets ICs early 2012

Touchwiz is horrible and slow. It doesnt even add that much
What features is ICS missing? The only 1 I can think right off the bat is Facebook integration (which is easily solved with Friendcaster until FB pulls their head out). Oh and the quick toggles in the notification menu but a widget can sort that too

SmithySeller

opinion guy wrote: »

I haven't used ICS but I was reading about some of the features it lacked and I couldn't be putting up with that to be honest.
Besides S2 gets ICs early 2012

Thats fair enough, I assume you mean the lack of SD slot etc. I like you could not put up with the substandard stuff either...

On the S2 that is

Ste-

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Believe me it's beyond hope. I can load any ROMs I want on it but it won't change a thing in getting the phone to boot up.

Odin is the only thing that will detect my phone. Windows wont pick it up as USB storage and Kies won't detect it.

I keep on installing stock samsung software to try and help it but it just hangs on boot up after installing. Just won't go past the Galaxy start screen, no way, no how. The only way it will turn off is to pull the battery and even then it has to be out for at least 30 seconds because if you put back in any quicker it's still on the boot screen somehow.

I left it in to that place in the GPO arcade and they could not fix it. They were asking how I managed to mess it up and was I trying to partition the internal memory.

I'd still says there's hope if you can access download mode in odin.
Sounds like your bootloader is ****ed tho.
There is a thread on xda about an unbrickable mod, not sure if the S2 is included but you're not going to lose anything trying to look.

Also maybe try Heimdall. Stick to flashing full stock sammy. If teh bootloader was borked tho you shouldn't be getting download mode. I had my s1 in a similar state last week and was still able to flash stock firmware, well it was a cf-root kernel to get recovery and from there stuck on a custom rom.

I would only give up on it if you didn't have download mode.

opinion guy

The Great Chinholio wrote: »

Touchwiz is horrible and slow. It doesnt even add that much
What features is ICS missing? The only 1 I can think right off the bat is Facebook integration (which is easily solved with Friendcaster until FB pulls their head out). Oh and the quick toggles in the notification menu but a widget can sort that too

Honestly I can't remember but I remember reading about some stuff and thinking....nah couldn't deal with that

pickarooney

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Believe me it's beyond hope. I can load any ROMs I want on it but it won't change a thing in getting the phone to boot up.

Odin is the only thing that will detect my phone. Windows wont pick it up as USB storage and Kies won't detect it.

I keep on installing stock samsung software to try and help it but it just hangs on boot up after installing. Just won't go past the Galaxy start screen, no way, no how. The only way it will turn off is to pull the battery and even then it has to be out for at least 30 seconds because if you put back in any quicker it's still on the boot screen somehow.

I left it in to that place in the GPO arcade and they could not fix it. They were asking how I managed to mess it up and was I trying to partition the internal memory.

You could maybe buy one with a smashed screen for peanuts and swap the motherboard? I've no idea how difficult that is though.

conor.hogan.2

Swapping motherboards on a laptop is not worth it, I imagine in a phone it is much harder and less worth it.

pickarooney

Fair enough. It's what LG ended up doing with my bricked phone (luckily under guarantee) so just thought I'd put it out as a possibility.

Jarren

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Ste- wrote: »

Can you access download mode ?

Believe me it's beyond hope. I can load any ROMs I want on it but it won't change a thing in getting the phone to boot up.

Odin is the only thing that will detect my phone. Windows wont pick it up as USB storage and Kies won't detect it.

I keep on installing stock samsung software to try and help it but it just hangs on boot up after installing. Just won't go past the Galaxy start screen, no way, no how. The only way it will turn off is to pull the battery and even then it has to be out for at least 30 seconds because if you put back in any quicker it's still on the boot screen somehow.

I left it in to that place in the GPO arcade and they could not fix it. They were asking how I managed to mess it up and was I trying to partition the internal memory.

The good thing is that you can. access Odin download mode which tells me that your SGS2 is not completely dead yet

I managed to softbrick my Sgs2 at on many occasions but I have a very cheap piece of hardware that resets my phone.

Google USB Jig

Zagato

Captain Chaos wrote: »

Believe me it's beyond hope. I can load any ROMs I want on it but it won't change a thing in getting the phone to boot up.

Odin is the only thing that will detect my phone. Windows wont pick it up as USB storage and Kies won't detect it.

I keep on installing stock samsung software to try and help it but it just hangs on boot up after installing. Just won't go past the Galaxy start screen, no way, no how. The only way it will turn off is to pull the battery and even then it has to be out for at least 30 seconds because if you put back in any quicker it's still on the boot screen somehow.

I left it in to that place in the GPO arcade and they could not fix it. They were asking how I managed to mess it up and was I trying to partition the internal memory.

Have you tried flashing stock firmware with the .PIT file included, I get the impression that it might help if you've soft-bricked it

Cianos

Bumping this as I'm due an upgrade myself and I'm undecided between the S2 and the Nexus. After reading through the thread the general consensus seems to be towards the Nexus. I'm wondering if anyone has had more experience with either that would change their mind?

Also, what conditions do Meteor have on trading in a phone? I have a Desire that I'll be wanting to get rid of if I get a new phone.

choronzonix

I went with the s2 in the end due to the Sd card issue (spent 70euro on a class 10 32gb about a year ago and didn't want it to go to waste). Fantastic phone I gotta say. I'm not too bothered by the AOSP thing since I have it rooted running CheckRom which is fantastic. All depends on what's more important to the individual.

rommy

Great choice s2 is defo the better phone imo

gpjordanf1

IN same position,

At this stage now I'm gonna wait for the SIII, cant wait!

Bad Panda

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

IN same position,

At this stage now I'm gonna wait for the SIII, cant wait!

It's not out 'til June.....I'd go for the Nexus. Best phone I've ever owned - I've had a Galaxy S2, iPhone 4 previously. ICS is unreal.

rommy

S2 is getting ICS very soon in fact if you use an AOSP rom you can have it right now

Cianos

gpjordanf1 wrote: »

IN same position,

At this stage now I'm gonna wait for the SIII, cant wait!

When is this likely to come out?

edit: Early June, I see. Same time I feel there's always going to be the new better phone around the corner to wait for. Eventually you should just buy one!

the whole year inn

Looking at upgrading to the S2 aswell but if theres a new S3 in June im aswell to wait for that,what price range are we looking at for the S3?

elderlemon

I have both. Went from the SG2 to the GN and now that I've got ICS on the SG2 I've gone back to it. The GN is a great phone, but for me , its just too big. The screen size of the SG2 and its thinness and lightness wins for me.

Probably going to stick the GN up on adverts soon once I'm completely sure the SG2 is happy with ICS.