I find it strange how they didnt use the same 8MP sensor as in the SGS II, seems a bit odd given how well regarded it is. However, considering the specs of the Nexus (barring the screen and ICS 4.0) aren't any better than the SGS II in general, a phone almost a full year older, I guess it's not too surprising. Add in a lack of expandable memory, and if this is really a "flagship phone", then it's not a particularly impressive one imo.

It seems like my Galaxy SII with Ice Cream Sandwich may yet have life left in it

The SGS II, barring the screen resolution, IS still as close to the most the perfect Android phone hardware-wise in my eyes. ICS 4.0 will make it awesome.

Roll on the Galaxy III though, heh.

As for the camera: the SGS II's camera is really good, I agree. However, it's also pretty slow. The Nexus' camera is lightning fast. Focus is instantaneous, no shutter lag whatsoever. But anyway - what counts in the end is the image quality - and that isn't great. So agreed - I would have preferred the SGS II's camera as well here.

As for the rest, however: the Nexus is a drastic upgrade from the SGS II. What really sets it apart is the screen. There's simply no comparison. If you hold the two next to each other, it becomes clear immediately that the SGS II's screen is equally bright, but the resolution simply pales to that of the Nexus.
Apart from that: the processor is not the same. Both run at 1.2ghz - but the Nexus is a crapload faster:

http://www.20min.ch/digital/dossier/...story/11850585

The SGN also has some smaller improvements (such as much better call quality, better reception, an NFC-chip, penta-band 3G / UMTS etc.) under the hood.

For the screen and the speed alone, the upgrade is definitely worth it. The differences are much bigger than, say, between the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. And, as compared to the latter, battery life hasn't suffered.


that said: I'm sure the SGS III will be better yet. The problem there is that it probably won't look anything like the current SGS II, because Apple will kick Samsung's a** if they don't come up with a genuine design. If that's going to be a good thing remains to be seen. Also - while some super-eager online shops already accept pre-orders for it: nobody knows when the III will be released.

The rumor mill is in full swing, and according to some reports, Samsung has planned to release Galaxy S3 during the Feb'12 World Mobile Congress.

Also rumored, not confirmed, is that SGS3 will have a quad-core Exynos with the HD screen we see in the Galaxy Nexus but in cleaner/slicker lines, most likely keeping the "home" button. Some early (and unconfirmed) info on the SGS3 here: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_iii-4238.php

As I am soon to change contracts, I find myself halfway through the release cycle. To save money and be ready for the SGS3 when it hits the stores, I will probably (save money) and get me a SGS2 now, root, ICS instead of spending the full monty on a Galaxy Nexus. True, the Nexus always has the latest-and-greatest Android but then, if I am to upgrade next summer again... maybe worth saving those couple of hundred now.

Often overlooked is that the Galaxy Nexus has *no microsd* slot, i.e. whatever you buy 16/32GB is whatever you have, very much like the iPhone. The Galaxy S2 has microsd card slot, meaning that even the cheaper (and widely available) 16GB version can add extra 32GB of microsd, making the storage total closer to 45GB (considering the reserved space for system, apps, etc). If you like to store tons of music/videos, this is a deal breaker. If you are humble in your storage needs, 16GB may be plenty and this argument is moot.

I am on the fence between the Galaxy Nexus and the SGS2+root. My mind tells me to save money, my heart lusts the fluid design of the Nexus. Decisions, decisions...

good luck - let your wallet decide if you can't make up your mind :-)

as I don't store music on the devices, even 8gb is plenty for me. one downside is the lack of USB mass storage mode on the nexus.

Luck won't help here... LOL. The developers on XDA I exchanged messages with are split in two camps as well - those saying SGS2 is future proof for the next 12 months (i.e. the wiser pick, as it is now cheaper) versus those who say the Galaxy Nexus will get "at least" two more Android versions beyond ICS and Jellybean.

The smart way - SGS2+root on a budget. The geek way - budget is no issue, latest-and-greatest each time. The geek and family man inside are in battle right now. Hope to find out who the winner is soon

Given that carriers are now releasing white versions of the SG II, I would have thought there was still life in the old dog yet.

I love how the go-to way of "inventively" prolonging a successful gadget's life is to release it... in a different color. A reminder of how primitive our thinking sometimes is.

Well, it does have USB host (not that I am able to test that). MTP works like a charm on Windows. Apple, however, doesn't believe in MTP.

As for storage: same here. I have maybe 2gb of music on it and a couple of podcasts, that's it.

The strategy of many companies desiring to branch out into women's items has been to pink-it-and-shrink-it. Take a man's clothing/footware/phone/whatever and just apply. Likewise for the phenomena you describe - could not get any sillier than this but yet, it's like a plague. It is everywhere. And this is perhaps due to the fact 99% of consumers fall for it LOL

To all fellow members who wish to buy it under 600chf, Conrad is running a time limited promo -15% off, arriving at chf 585.- WITH two years warranty. Run, expires 12 dec

http://www1.conrad.ch/scripts/wgate/...T&scrwidth=768

And just moments ago Digitec updated the availability to more than 10 available for pickup in Zurich.

Congrats to the lucky first

Sunrise just updated their website with availability + price.

On a side note, leaked ICS for Galaxy S2 circulating the intertubes (XDA for one). According to TechRadar, wiser move is to buy S2 + hold for S3...

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pho...iew?artc_pg=13

So, SGS2 with ICS or Galaxy Nexus... Just a couple of hundred CHF apart. And don't even get me started on the Galaxy3 rumors pouring in lately... wof!

If you don't need / want the large super-high-res display, go for the S2 and wait for ICS - that's my opinion.

Waiting for the S3 is like waiting for the iPhone 5. Sure, it'll be available sometime next year. But if you can wait that long, you might not need a new phone anyway and you can just stick with whatever you have now.

The Nexus is, by definition, a reference platform - drivers are available in abundance for all things hardware inside. An absolute joy to hack and play. Two things on the GN rub me the wrong way: no SD card slot (so fricking Apple of them) and crappy camera. If these were right, there would be no doubt in my mind.

I am not among the patient ones, so I am getting me a S2. Procedure: root, backup stock ROM, flash Cyanogen7.1, restore all data from old Android. I think Samsung got the TouchWiz so wrong that it should either be renamed to TouchPiss or scraped altogether.

S3 will be announced in Feb, released in May just to annoy Apple and perhaps available in shops Sept/Oct - plenty of time for the S2 to serve. One thing I learned over time is - if you keep waiting for the next best thing, it is like waiting to reach the horizon. Ain't gonna happen. Buy smart, sell in time before next upgrade and all is good.

Curious to know if someone of the thread participants bought a Galaxy Nexus already?

I've had mine for three weeks - best smartphone ever. Runs circles around my old SGS 2 - but that's just my opinion :-)

It's much faster (I know, same proc. speed, but the GN has a different chip), the screen alone is worth the 650 Fr., the external speaker is better (always had a hard time understanding Navigon on the SGS 2), the voice quality is drastically better (the SGS 2 has mediocre in-call voice quality), I really like the notification light, I never liked the physical buttons on the SGS 2.

ICS is a dream to use. Then again, I'm not a modder. I'd like to tinker with my phones but I simply don't have the time.

Peter

Awwwww, so not fair, Peter. I am renewing my contract (and picking up the S2) tonight... This first hand experience feedback in at the last minute certainly makes things harder on a geek (just kidding)

Really happy to read these lines! The majority agrees with you, saying ICS is the star of the package, without a doubt. Cannot wait to see it on my soon-to-be S2 without the TouchWhizzzz bloatware.

Say, aren't the soft buttons often in the way when texting or typing on the keyboard. Isolated folk have complained that it is easy to close apps and/or revert to Home when in the process of typing... or is this greatly exaggerated?

Why wait, an ICS beta for the S2 has already been leaked and is available for the brave