Samsung Announces Galaxy S2 Plus

By Zak Islam
published

Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to launch with device.

As expected, Samsung has announced the Galaxy S2 Plus, which features Google's Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system.

Originally launched with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the original S2 was upgraded to Android 4.0 last June. Aside from the OS upgrade, the majority of the technical specifications between the S2 Plus and its predecessor are the same.

As seen in the original, the S2 Plus will still be powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of RAM, as well as sporting a 4.3-inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display. However, in addition to the rear 8-megapixel camera with an LED flash and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera, the rear camera now features zero-lag shutter speed, which can easily capture fast-moving objects.

The new device also offers 3G with the 21Mbps HSPA+, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. The Galaxy S2's built-in storage, though, has been decreased from the original's 16 GB or 32 GB of storage space to 8 GB.

That said, the new model's SD storage can support up to 64 gigabytes of data, with its predecessor only able to support up to 32 GB. Joining that is the integration of near-field communications support that allows users to conduct mobile payments.

As for software, Samsung has incorporated a Direct Call feature that allows users to automatically dial a call by placing the phone next to their ear. Elsewhere, Smart Stay can indicate whether the user is looking away from the screen and subsequently dim it.

Smart Alert notifies users if they missed events, as well as providing status updates when they pick up the device. A Popup Video feature, meanwhile, showcases a video anywhere on the screen in a resizable window. Finally, S Voice enables you to control the Galaxy S2 Plus via your voice, which is accompanied by Voice Unlock; it allows users to unlock the phone through voice.

Samsung didn't reveal pricing or launch details for the Galaxy S2 Plus.

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Zak Islam
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • halcyon
    If the S4 and S3 are too much phone for you this may look good.
    Reply
  • kawininjazx
    Well if it's like $249 off contract that sounds like a solid device.
    Reply
  • Why when the S4 is coming this Spring would someone get this. Its like buying a xbox now its 7 year old hardware.
    Reply
  • bisso
    soldier2013Why when the S4 is coming this Spring would someone get this. Its like buying a xbox now its 7 year old hardware.No it's not. GS2 works just as great as any other phone with Jelly Bean. There isn't any game or app that can't run on your GS2 that runs on GS3, at the exception of Benchmark results, the GS2 remains a very solid phone. I do have one, and for no reason would I go grab a GS3 or even a future GS4 until my current phone can't run things new phones can.

    And the reason people would grab a GS2plus is the reason S4 will be around 550$, while they could sell this baby for half the price. Let's not forget GS2 has been seen as the best phone for its time, and that wasn't so long ago.
    Reply
  • wemakeourfuture
    Samsung innovation at its best!

    Guess they didn't have something to copy and this is what we get...

    Sure they're good at making displays, but lack any innovation outside of that. They can Fab cpu's architected by other companies. They're also good at taking existing products, updating them and selling them cheaper, that's their real strength.

    Samsung microwaves, did they really build this technology, of course not.
    Samsung refridgerators, did they really create this technology, of course not.
    Samsung ultrabooks, did they really push or create this space, of course not.
    Finger touch tablets, did they really create this market we now enjoy, of course not.
    Finger touch smartphones, did they really create this new product line every manufacturer now is creating products for, of course not.
    Operating Systems, did they really create one that powers their phones, of course not, they did have BADA which is a piece of crap which they don't even bother to use.

    All the processors you see Samsung producing are not developed by them, sure they tweak the specs, but the major R & D is done by other companies.

    Samsung makes products cheap, good, but does not innovate, create new markets for products.

    If this was Apple releasing a iPhone 4 plus or iPhone 4S plus, the Droid heads would be flooding comments at a rate of 10 per minute about how Apple has no innovation, what a double standard.
    Reply
  • wemakeourfuture
    Samsung innovation at its best!

    Guess they didn't have something to copy and this is what we get...

    Sure they're good at making displays, but lack any innovation outside of that. They can Fab cpu's architected by other companies. They're also good at taking existing products, updating them and selling them cheaper, that's their real strength.

    Samsung microwaves, did they really build this technology, of course not.
    Samsung refridgerators, did they really create this technology, of course not.
    Samsung ultrabooks, did they really push or create this space, of course not.
    Finger touch tablets, did they really create this market we now enjoy, of course not.
    Finger touch smartphones, did they really create this new product line every manufacturer now is creating products for, of course not.
    Operating Systems, did they really create one that powers their phones, of course not, they did have BADA which is a piece of crap which they don't even bother to use.

    All the processors you see Samsung producing are not developed by them, sure they tweak the specs, but the major R & D is done by other companies.

    Samsung makes products cheap, good, but does not innovate, create new markets for products.

    If this was Apple releasing a iPhone 4 plus or iPhone 4S plus, the Droid heads would be flooding comments at a rate of 10 per minute about how Apple has no innovation, what a double standard.
    Reply
  • catfishtx
    kawininjazxWell if it's like $249 off contract that sounds like a solid device.
    Exactly. Attack the bottom of the market with this phone, the middle with the S3, and the upper with the S4. All of the accessories are already out there, chargers, docks, cases, etc. This is a really good idea.
    Reply
  • backin5
    Actually the Galaxy S II CAN handle a 64GB micro SD. After reading online that people have done so successfully, I installed one myself on my S II. Works like a charm!
    Reply
  • catfishtx
    kawininjazxWell if it's like $249 off contract that sounds like a solid device.
    Exactly. This phone serves the lower end of the market, the S3 the middle, and the S4 the upper end. Plus, all of the needed accessories are already out there. No, it brings nothing new to the table, that's the S4's job, but it is a really good idea from a market position perspective. This is same logic Apple is using with the iPhone mini.
    Reply
  • zigziggo
    I have the S2 (Sprint variant). As far as the US version goes, the S3 isn't any different aside from screen size, NFC and LTE support. Sure, the S3 clocks in at 1.5Ghz, but wipe your S2 and put the latest CM10 (JB 4.1.2) on it and overclock the processor (mine is at 1.8Ghz) and the S2 is still a beast. With that, you can do all of the things that the S3 does (including the look away feature). I know; mine is doing it. And the hotspot is free, not $30/month for 5 gigs of data...
    Reply