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Two of the highlights of this year's Mobile World Congress are the powerful Samsung Galaxy S2 (Galaxy S II) and the futuristic LG Optimus 3D.
Both step from 'smartphone' into 'super-phone' territory with their next-generation dual-core processors.
Both also impress with cutting-edge screen technology, although they couldn't be more different in their execution.
The Samsung Galaxy S II in action.
So it's hard to measure whether the Galaxy S2 is 'better' than the Optimus 3D. Or vice-versa. But you can get a good feel for which phone you fancy by comparing them side-by-side...
Both the Galaxy S2 and the LG Optimus 3D run Android, albeit different versions. Samsung's phone uses Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), customised with the TouchWiz 4.0 UI overlay and Swype text input.
Samsung has a few notable extras to the software on the Galaxy S2. For starters, there are now four 'hubs' - the Reader's Hub, the Social Hub, the Games Hub and the Music Hub.
The Galaxy S2 also features enhanced conferencing and connectivity services from Cisco, a comprehensive implementation of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and secure remote device management from Sybase.
Android 3D: LG has customised elements of Android 2.2 with a 3D UI
In contrast, the LG Optimus 3D will launch with Android 2.2, which will be upgradeable to 2.3 at some point in the future. LG has obviously had more time to modify this version of Android to work with its unique 3D UI.
A dedicated '3D' Hot Key on the side of the handset can activate one of five 3D UIs, including: Gallery, Camera, Game & Apps, YouTube 3D and 3D Guide.
As previously mentioned, both the Galaxy S2 and the Optimus 3D incorporate the latest in dual-core mobile processing. Inside the S2, you'll find an Exynos processor (formerly 'Orion'), rated at 1GHz.
This is the dual-core follow-up to the successful single-core Hummingbird chip that appeared in the original Galaxy.
The Optimus 3D, meanwhile, boasts a 1GHz dual-Core, dual-channel OMAP4 processor supplied by Texas Instruments. LG claims that it offers "significant performance benefits as a result of the faster transfer of data between the dual-core and dual-memory".
"This enables users to browse web pages, multitask between programs, play games at a higher frame rate and enjoy movies more smoothly than ever before," Samsung adds.
The Galaxy S2 features a touch-sensitive Super AMOLED Plus display with Gorilla Glass for added toughness and scratch-resistance.
Quoted as a 4.3-inch screen, it actually measures 4.27 inches across the diagonal and has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels.
Hey good-lookin': Note the Super AMOLED Plus screen on the Galaxy S2
The touch-sensitive 3D LCD screen on the Optimus 3D is the same size and resolution. Although the LCD technology will be no match for the vibrancy of the Super AMOLED Plus display on the Galaxy S2. That said, this autostereoscopic LCD is a world's first on a mobile phone, supporting 3D viewing without glasses.
The Galaxy S2 wins the internal storage battle between the two as it comes in either 16GB or 32GB models. In comparison, the Optimus 3D only has 8GB-worth of capacity.
Both feature microSD slots, however, enabling you to boost the internal storage by up to 32GB. This means that the 32GB Galaxy S2 can top out with 64GB of memory, the 16GB model 48GB and the Optimus 3D 40GB.
Headlining the Samsung Galaxy S2 is an 8.0 Megapixel camera (3264 x 2448 pixels) with extras that include: autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus functionality, face/smile detection, image stabilisation and 1080p video capture. On the front face, you'll also find a 2MP camera for video calls. Or self-portraits.
Twin Cam: The dual 5MP lenses can take 3D photos and video (720p)
It's hard to compare this setup against the LG Optimus 3D, which features dual 5MP cameras with an LED flash between them. It might boast fewer options (autofocus and geo-tagging), but the twin lenses are capable of taking stereoscopic photos and videos (720p only) or capturing 1080p video in 2D.
Like the Samsung handset, LG has also added a front-facing camera, probably a 1.3MP or 2MP model (unconfirmed).
In terms of connectivity, both phones are well-specced. The Galaxy S2 incorporates 3G/HSDPA and HSPA+ at speeds up to 21Mbps where supported. It's got every band of Wi-Fi covered too and can handle 802.11a/b/g/n with DLNA content sharing and Wi-Fi Direct.
Bluetooth 3.0+HS finishes off the wireless options. Based on 802.11 protocols, it's capable of enhanced data speeds up to 24Mbps.
The wireless options on LG's Optimus 3D are fairly similar. They include a tasty mix of 3G/HSDPA and HSPA+, a triple play of 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP. Not quite as good as the Galaxy S2, but still far from shabby.
Both phones also feature microUSB jacks, stereo FM radios (with RDS) and HDMI ports for outputting whatever is on the mobile display to an HD telly.
High-def: Both phones feature HDMI ports for outputting video to an HD TV
At this level, you'd expect most smartphones to feature GPS/A-GPS, a built-in gyroscope, digital compass, plus screen-flipping accelerometer, proximity and light sensors. You won't be disappointed with either phone.
Cutting-edge technology rarely comes cheap and Expansys lists the SIM-free Samsung Galaxy S2 (16GB) at an eye-widening £649.99. The LG Optimus 3D works out cheaper at £514.99.
Orange has announced that it will be ranging the Optimus 3D, which will also be available exclusively through Carphone Warehouse, while Three has confirmed that it has first dibs on the Galaxy S2.
The Galaxy S2 is a neatly designed, beautiful-looking handset that measures 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49mm. If you know your phones, then you'll appreciate the fact that 8.49mm is slimmer than the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, which nabbed the 'world's thinnest smartphone' crown from Apple's iPhone 4.
Size zero: The Galaxy S2 is 8.49mm thick, thinner than the iPhone 4
LG's phone is visibly chunkier, measuring 128.8 x 68.0 x 11.9mm. It also has more of a plastic gut than the new Galaxy S2. Compare the two and Optimus 3D's phone is 168g, while Samsung's' handset is a mere 116g.
Neither manufacturer has supplied any talk and standby time stats, but the Samsung Galaxy S2 boasts a 1650 mAh battery, while LG's 3D-enabled Optimus makes do with a 1500mAH Li-Ion cell.
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Comments are closed on this article
thetechchild
February 14, 2011 at 5:25pm
They seemed pretty good 'till I saw the price tags. Over one thousand USD for one, and ~825 for the other? At that price, in this day and age, I would've expected better specs. For one thing, the front facing cameras on both are crap -- 2MP?? 8GB on the Optimus vs a possible 32GB on the S2 in terms of storage is ridiculous. And 1 GHz dual cores -- that's great and all, but Marvell announced a 1.5GHz triple core something like 5 months ago, right?
I commend each phone for their excellent features, but the price range and a few lacking areas make them unattractive at the moment. I'd rather just wait a few months for a better, well-rounded, and cheaper phone.
