GalaxyS2:The second time is always a charm
Payton H. Wilmott, Youthlink Writer

Technology is changing so quickly that not even I can choose a product and stick with it for more than a month before I set my sights on something new from the range of options out there. When it came to phones, these were my main picks ... until this month.

Eight months ago (iPhone 4)

Well, I saw my first iPhone 4 and fell in love with its power and performance, then started saving due to its ridiculously high price tag.

Six months ago (Samsung Galaxy S)

Still saving, I found myself bedazzled by a Super Amoled display on a phone that took my breath away with all its potentials and possibilities.

This month (Samsung Galaxy S2)

I got the chance to test out a Samsung Galaxy S2 for a week and I became bewitched for the second time around ... oh, mercy me. I have saved enough money now and my mind is made up to get this phone for these reasons.

Display

The screen is simply amazing, and that's putting it lightly. The Galaxy S2 comes with a 4.3-inch display which is way bigger than anything that Apple has to offer. Also, this phone comes with a Super Amoled Plus display with a pixel density of 217 ppi that shows better colour than the HD television set I have at home. Persons who own the first Galaxy S can testify to what I'm talking about.

Dual Core Processing

What I hate the most about smartphones of yesteryear is the speed at which they would access programmes and run them; not to mention the random crashes that would happen when too many programmes were being run in the background. All these problems are non-existent on the Galaxy S2 because of its 1GB of RAM and 1.2GHz dual core processor. This beast puts all processors to shame with its power.

HD Recording and Photos

My Chinese phone says 8 megapixel but I guess that's a lie, because it doesn't look even half as good as the pictures taken by this device. Take a look for yourself, each is in 3264 x 2448 resolution, and just trust me when I say that pics taken at nights look just as good. The problem is, I'm too scared to whip out such an expensive item in any dark area. On the topic of darkness, I should also mention that this phone does the best video recording I have ever seen at 1080p in total darkness.

Android Operating System

There are only three mobile operating systems (OS) on the market right now that are worthy of being mentioned. The IOS, developed by Apple, is the leader, followed by the Android OS, developed by Google, then Microsoft's Windows Mobile. So, it's a given that owning a device that uses the Android platform will guarantee access to millions of applications past, present and future.

Final Thoughts

After one week, I can say without a doubt that this phone, which is as slim as a Papermate pen and more powerful than most netbooks on the market, is the best smartphone I have used this year. Without hesitation, the Samsung Galaxy S2 is the one to beat.

Have you ever seen Emancipation Park look this good in the afternoon? This picture was taken by the Samsung Galaxy S2 in a dark room with only the phone's flash as a source of light. This pic was taken at 3.5x zoom.