LG Optimus 2X vs Samsung Galaxy S II I9100 (16GB) - Smartphone Comparison

March 30, 2011 - PRLog -- If you're considering the purchase of a new handset anytime soon, you'll no doubt be weighing up the option of making it a dual-core device. So, why not have a look at the similarities and differences of the two powerhouse 'Superphones' that are making the headlines at the moment - the Optimus 2X and the Samsung Galaxy S II?  

First of all, let's see which features the 2X and the SGS2 have in common; both run the Android OS on a 1GHZ dual-core chip, both feature a large touchscreen display and a slim line design, both have a large internal storage capacity and both feature an 8MP camera. However, it's not as simple as that so let's drill down into the specifics.

Hitting the market first, the LG Optimus 2X comes with Android 2.2 FroYo out of the box, but an update to 2.3 Gingerbread is due soon after release. The Galaxy S II on the other hand will launch with Android 2.3 Gingerbread in May, so there's little difference to draw between the two here. In terms of a custom UI, the SGS2 will be more heavily skinned thanks to TouchWiz v.4.0, although this (or any other manufacturer skin) can easily be removed with applications such as LauncherPro or Gingerbread Launcher. http://www.clove.co.uk/lg-optimus-2x

When it comes to power, again there is little to separate these two heavyweight smartphones. The LG Optimus 2X runs on the nVidia Tegra 2 chip, although the situation is not quite so simple with the Samsung Galaxy S II. Reports have suggested that there will be two variants of the Galaxy S II released, one that features Samsung's own Exynos chip, and one that features the nVidia Tegra 2 chip. These details will be confirmed by Samsung closer to the release of the I9100.

Next up, screen specs. Overall the Samsung Galaxy S II has the better screen, being the first device to feature a Super AMOLED Plus display. It also has the slightly larger display at 4.3-inches, compared to the 4-inches of the Optimus 2X. However, this does mean that the LG smartphone won't be quite as big in your pocket, although it is slightly thicker - measuring 10.9mm compared to 8.5mm for the I9100. http://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-s-ii-i9100-16gb

The camera capabilities are another key feature of any smartphone and in this department neither of our candidates falter. Both handsets offer an 8MP snapper with autofocus & flash and record HD video in 1080p. In fact, the only detail separating the two is the front facing camera; the SGS2 wins marginally with a 2MP cam compared to 1.3MP for the Optimus 2X.

Of course, with the ability to record in HD you'll want plenty of space to store any home made videos. On this front, the Samsung smartphone comes off best with 16GB of Internal memory. However, the Optimus 2X still weighs in with 8GB of internal memory and, with microSD expansion up to 32GB on both devices, you're still left with more than enough storage for music, photos and apps.

In terms of connectivity, both the 2X and the SGS2 have all the options you could want, with only a couple of small differences. The pair include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth (3.0 for the SGS2 and 2.1 for the 2X), a 3.5mm earphone jack, and DLNA capability. Both handsets also offer HDMI out, although the Optimus 2X has a native MicroHDMI port whereas the Galaxy S II provides HDMI out via the MicroUSB port using MHL Technology.

So, up to this point, the SGS2 and the 2X have been fairly neck and neck in the features that we have compared. However, there are a few things that the Samsung device can do that the LG cannot. Firstly, there's a range of business features for the Galaxy S 2 which include Microsoft Exchange Active Sync, on device encryption and a suite of Cisco services. There's also NFC technology, facial recognition lock built-in (although this could probably be set up on any Android device with a front facing camera) and a slightly larger capacity battery. As of yet there are not talk time estimations to compare, so we'll have to wait to see how that one pans out.

Overall the Samsung Galaxy S II I9100 comes out the winner in terms of specification, it's got a few more features and probably has more appeal to the business user. However, the Optimus 2X has a lower price tag and hits the market earlier than its rival, so if it's mainly the dual-core power that you're interested in, maybe the LG handset is the right choice. When it comes down to it, both are top of the range handsets, perfect for multimedia and the next level of Android games that thrive on the power of a super-fast processor.

The LG Optimus 2X is due to be in stock at Clove Technology towards the end of March priced at £368 (£444 inc. VAT), while the Samsung Galaxy S II I9100 is due to arrive at the beginning of May with a price tag of £444 (£528 inc. VAT). If you'd like to compare specification features for yourself, head over to the Clove Device Comparison Tool.

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Clove Technology is a specialist provider of the very latest & greatest mobile technology, most specifically, smartphones, tablets & accessories. Clove is an approved reseller for many manufacturers including HTC, Acer, Motorola, Samsung and more. Visit http://www.clove.co.uk for more information.