Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus Review: Specs Of 2011 Flagship’s Refreshed Version W/ 4.3-inch SAMOLED Display, 2MP Camera & Up To 64GB Storage Still A Winner

Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus review: The smartphone that Samsung released last January 2013 has specs that doesn’t differ much from the it’s old version, the Samsung Galaxy S2 (released 2011). But the refreshed version, in Phone Arena’s words “is breathed new life by loading it from the get go with the Android 4.1.2 OS. It was one of the latest OS version at that time.

SPECS
Specs of the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus include the aforementioned 4.3-inch display with Super AMOLED Plus with a pixel density of 217 ppi. It has 8 megapixels camera with LED flash and 2 megapixel front-facing camera. The handset runs on a dual core processors coupled with 1GB RAM and starts at 8GB storage. Thanks to the MicroSD support, it can accommodate up to 64GB in additional external storage. Connectivity options for the S2 Plus include Bluetooth 3.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and USB 2.0.

PROS

In a review by Phone Arena, it notes that the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus is a capable and well-made mid-range smartphone. It mirrors many traits of the two-year-old S2 Plus which has landed in the pockets of over 40 million people all over the world. Such attributes include the slim profile, the great performance and the high-grade camera that graces its back.

Additional pluses that Phone Arena says about the S2 Plus is its big display, high-resolution, a decent size of RAM and fast mobile data. The small dimensions of the unit (4.93 x 2.60 x 0.33 inches inches), also makes it a unit that’s easy to bring anywhere.

Notebook Check describes the user interface animation of the device as smooth as silk and websites load extremely fast on the unit. Its swift browser and Android 4.1 definitely enhances the internet experience with the device. The features of Samsung TouchWiz 5.0 is also a value-adding feature, says Notebook Check and the decent camera specs and handy Micro SD support all add to the pluses of this refreshed S2.

CONS
The low 217 ppi is one of the obvious downside of the device and PhoneArena says that there’s nothing “Plus” in the smartphone that deserves the title. The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus, the mobile industry-focused site added, is not a step-up to the S2, but a simple refresh. A quick search in Google will show a number of Android 4.2.2 ROM updates, but the lack of an official Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update is a minus for the handset.

WILL IT GET THE ANDROID 4.4 KITKAT?
With the fragmented adaption of Android mobile OS, compared to Apple’s iOS 7, it was reported that the Android 4.4 KitKat will be the platform that will unit Android handsets. The free OS will allow updates for unit with a system memory of at least 512MB RAM and at 1GB, the Samsung Galaxt S2 Plus will pass the requirement.

According to Google, units that has gone beyond the 18-month window for updates will not be receiving the KitKat upgrade. Since the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus has only been in the market for around 12 months, it is (from available information) possible that it may get the 4.4 KitKat.

PRICE
A quick look at Amazon.com shows the unit available for $299-320.00 for an unlocked unit. There are some 4G unlocked Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus on the site that are as low as $250.00. In terms of price, this is one of the most affordable Android-powered handsets in the market.

VERDICT
Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus is definitely not the hottest phone in the market today, but it’s still an Android-powered unit capable of delivering a needed performance for most users. It’s aesthetic and design as a handset has some huge pluses and it’s definitely easy on the pocket. Purchasing the phone won’t make you the coolest Android-carrying gadget user on the block, but you sure will experience the benefits of having one in your pocket.