Which is real Samsung superphone? Samsung Galaxy S II or Galaxy Nexus?

Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus are two top-tier Android smartphones from the Korean tech giant. Galaxy S II, the second upgrade to the popular Galaxy S series hit stores in the middle of the year. The Android 2.3 Gingerbread smartphone was actually designed as a challenge to Apple’s 2011 iPhone upgrade.

The new Galaxy Nexus is really a third generation Google Nexus phone. Samsung manufactured the phone for Google like Nexus S, the second Google Nexus phone. But the device was largely reviewed as an upgrade to Galaxy S II though it has some hardware shortfalls to the second gen Galaxy S.

Whatever, apart from being a third Google Nexus phone, Galaxy Nexus is recognized for its software, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Nexus is the first device to run on Ice Cream Sandwich, the most outstanding version of Google Android ever. Here we take Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II for a detailed comparison. Many analysts have pointed out that Galaxy Nexus is weak in hardware when compared with Galaxy S II. Anyway, read on to see which of Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus will really worth your money.

Processor
Galaxy S II mounts a dual core 1.2GHz processor for high speed performance. When realized, Galaxy S II was one of few smartphones to feature a 1.2GHz dual core processor. In fact, Samsung prepared the phone to take on the heir to iPhone 4, the most sold out smartphone in the world. Galaxy Nexus also comes with the same 1.2 GHz dual core processor. It means both Galaxy phones offer the same processor speed.

Winner: Draw.

Operating System
It is here Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus have their biggest difference, indeed. Galaxy S II runs on an Android 2.3 Gingerbread. The phone was one of the first smartphones to appear on Gingerbread, the smartphone-friendly version of Android. Meanwhile, you have the brand new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on Galaxy Nexus. In fact, Google chooses its own smartphone to debut new version of its Android mobile operating system.

The Mountain View firm launched Gingerbread on Nexus S and Android 2.2 Froyo on Nexus One, respectively the second and first versions of Google Nexus from Samsung and HTC. Ice Cream Sandwich, Google’s replay to Apple iOS 5, has many outstanding features like a fresh user interface, revamped web browser, voice recognition and cloud storage features.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

Display
Both smartphones are from Samsung, the champion in mobile display technology. Thus the devices have high quality Super AMOLED display. Galaxy Nexus has a large 4.65-inch HD display when compared with Galaxy S II’s 4.3-inch display. Both displays are capacitive touchscreens and perform quite superbly.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
Camera
It is a one thing that turns Galaxy Nexus an underdog to Galaxy S II. Samsung built Galaxy S II with an advanced 8-megapixel rear camera and 2-megapixel secondary camera. Of course, only a device with enhanced camera and other features can take on the new iPhone version. But Samsung has prepared Galaxy Nexus with a moderate 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front camera. Well, Nexus is up with decent cameras for both image capturing and video chatting, but it falls short to Galaxy S II in the category.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy S II

Memory
Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus have the same 1GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB internal memory options for data storage. Both devices sport microSD slots to load an external memory up to 32GB.

Winner: Draw.

Network connectivity
Both Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus are 4G LTE smartphones. They are carried by the largest cellular service provider in the U.S., Verizon Wireless, the leader in 4G LTE connectivity also.

Winner: Draw.

Price
Verizon sells Galaxy S II for $199 and Galaxy Nexus for $299 with two year contract. The unlocked versions of the devices respectively come for $449 and $750.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S II.

What others say?

See what Dan Sung of Pocket-lint concludes after comparing Galaxy S II and Galaxy Nexus,
“It’s going to be a close run decision for anyone looking to buy one of these two Android super-phones. There are two things that the Galaxy Nexus has going for it – the new software and that incredible screen. The trouble is that they come at the price of a more sluggish graphics processor and less powerful camera. When you throw in the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S II will eventually get the Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade, then the scales really do start to tip.”

Wrap-up
As far as hardware specs and price are taken into account, Galaxy S II is the best pick for an Android lover. The only things the consumer will miss in such a decision are Ice Cream Sandwich and a large display. In fact, the new version of Android will soon be arriving on the second Galaxy S phone. Once the frenzy of Galaxy Nexus is over, Verizon will be updating Galaxy S II with the ICS. So at this point of time it will be great to take home a Galaxy S II rather than Galaxy Nexus.