Samsung showdown:
Galaxy S II vs Wave II

When a manufacturer releases a second version of a mobile phone or smartphone, it’s normally a good sign that the preceding model was popular with consumers.

The Samsung Galaxy S II and Samsung Wave II are both successors to two already popular Samsung smartphones of the same namesake, but which of the two new models is right for you?

Samsung Galaxy S II overview

If you demand nothing but the best from your smartphone then the Galaxy S II is the phone for you.

Samsung has ensured that the Galaxy S II is one of the world’s most advanced smartphones by fitting it with a PC-style processor. This allows the phone to run high-quality videos and games extremely smoothly.

The phone also features a big 4.3in screen that ensures all your multimedia content looks fantastic, especially photos captured by the phone’s 8Mp camera.

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Samsung Wave II overview

The Samsung Wave II is a powerful yet portable smartphone, incorporating support for multimedia, downloadable apps and HD video inside its svelte 3.7in touchscreen body.

Wave II is also a good choice if you like to stand out from the crowd because it runs Samsung’s own in-house operating system - known as Bada - which was recently updated with better apps and a handy social networking tool.

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Design

Both smartphones look as though they’ve just stepped off a catwalk.

The Wave II’s touchscreen has grown slightly since the first model, but the phone has managed to retain the gun metal grey paintjob, as well as its sumptuous curves - both helping make the phone a svelte beauty.

The Galaxy S II’s touchscreen has also grown slightly since the first model, which is handy because the new screen size - 4.3in - will come in useful when you’re watching HD videos and surfing the web.

All of the phone’s amazing technology and features are also encased within one of the world’s thinnest smartphone structures - just 8.4mm thick.

Verdict: A draw.

Features

The Samsung Galaxy S II is packed with almost every smartphone feature currently available.

But what really puts this phone ahead of the likes of the iPhone 4 and HTC Incredible S, is its powerful “dual-core” processer that ensures apps, videos, the camera and the internet all open quickly and perform brilliantly.

Two of the smartphone’s headline features include:

1. Full HD recording - record your friends and family in true 1080p HD, then watch the video back in brilliant quality on the phone’s high-quality “AMOLED” screen or your HD-ready TV
2. Wireless payments - use the phone to wirelessly pay for coffees, sandwiches, train tickets and more, simply by swiping it against a special electronic reader.

The Wave II can also capture HD videos and play them back on its high-quality screen, though because the phone’s screen size and resolution don’t quite match up to the Galaxy S II’s specifications, your content may not look as spectacular.

Don’t be put off though, because the phone also includes a powerful app for creating and editing your own movie masterpieces while on-the-go.

The phone’s innovative Swype app also makes it quicker for you to write emails and text messages because it removes the need for you to tap each key individually. Instead you simply swipe your way across the keypad.

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S II

Photography

If all you’re concerned about is the number of megapixels on your cameraphone then opt for the Galaxy S II, since its 8Mp dwarf the Wave II’s 5Mp.

Both cameraphones come pre-installed with an equally handy range of imaging apps, including image stabilisation, blink detection, smile detection and geo-tagging - a record of the physical location of each picture.

You can also hold video conferences on either smartphone using their user-facing cameras, though only the Galaxy S II will record you in true 1080p high-definition.

Verdict: The Samsung Galaxy S II

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Galaxy S2(black) £0.00	100 min Unlimited texts	£20.50
Galaxy S3(blue) £0.00	400 min Unlimited texts	£31.00
One X(black) £0.00	600 min Unlimited texts	£28.50

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