Apple iPhone 4S vs. Samsung Galaxy S II vs. HTC Sensation: Smartphone comparison
- — 05 October, 2011 12:00
It may not be the iPhone 5 that everybody expected but Apple does have a new iPhone, the iPhone 4S. Unveiled by new Apple CEO Tim Cook, the iPhone 4S is best described as an evolutionary upgrade over the iPhone 4: it boasts the same design, the same screen and an identical look and feel, but has an upgraded processor, a better camera and a new voice recognition feature called Siri.
Read our detailed iPhone 4S preview and our reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Sensation.
Feature: Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs. Apple iPhone 4S
Techworld Australia: HTC EVO 3D vs. Samsung Galaxy S 2
Though the iPhone 4S is expected to remain one of the most popular smartphones in the world, it has plenty of competition. In Australia, the iPhone 4S will immediately go up against two of the most popular Android smartphones currently on the market when it hits the shelves on 14 October: the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Sensation.
The Samsung and HTC Android phones have similar specifications — the HTC Sensation sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3in qHD display, an 8-megapixel camera and wraps it in a unibody aluminium design. The Galaxy S II also has a 4.3in screen and an 8-megapixel camera, but uses Super AMOLED Plus display technology that produces more vibrant colours.
So how does the iPhone 4S stack up against the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Sensation when it comes to specifications?
Apple iPhone 4S vs. Samsung Galaxy S II vs. HTC Sensation: Specifications
| Feature | Apple iPhone 4S | Samsung Galaxy S II | HTC Sensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Apple iOS 5 | Google Android "Gingerbread" | Google Android "Gingerbread" |
| Display size | 3.5in | 4.3in | 4.3in |
| Display technology | Capacitive LED-backlit IPS | Capacitive Super AMOLED Plus | Capacitive S-LCD |
| Display resolution | 640x960 | 480x800 | 540x960 (qHD) |
| Pixel density | 330 ppi | 217 ppi | 256 ppi |
| Multitouch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front camera | VGA | 2 megapixels | VGA |
| Rear camera | 8 meapixels w/single-LED flash | 8 megapixels w/single-LED flash | 8 megapixels w/dual-LED flash |
| Camera features | Autofocus, touch focus, geotagging, face detection, video stabilisation | Autofocus, touch focus, geotagging, face detection, smile detection, image stabilisation | Autofocus, touch-focus, geotagging, face detection, image stabilisation, instant capture |
| Video recording | 1080p HD @ 30fps | 1080p HD @ 30fps | 1080p HD @ 30fps |
| FM radio | No | Yes | Yes | GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internal memory | 16GB, 32GB or 64GB | 16GB | 1GB |
| Expandable memory | None | microSD | microSD |
| Dimensions | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm | 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm | 126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm |
| Weight | 140g | 116g | 148g |
| Application Store | Apple App Store | Google Android Market | Google Android Market |
| Processor | Apple A5 dual-core (800MHz) | ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core (1.2GHz) | Qualcomm MSM 8260 Snapdragon dual-core (1.2GHz) |
| RAM | 512MB | 1GB | 768MB |
| Australian 3G networks | HSDPA 850/900/2100 | HSDPA 850/900/2100 | HSDPA 850/2100 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11b/g/n | 802.11a/b/g/n | 802.11b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 with A2DP | 3.0 with A2DP | 3.0 with A2DP |
| NFC (Near Field Communication) | No | No | No |
| HDMI-out | No (Yes with Apple Digital AV adapter) | No (Yes with MHL adapter) | No (Yes with MHL adapter) |
| Quoted battery life | Up to 8 hrs | Up to 8 hrs 40 min | Up to 6 hrd 40 min |
| Battery capacity | 1420 mAh | 1650 mAh | 1520 mAh |
| Adobe Flash support | No | Yes | Yes |
| Carriers | Telstra, Optus, Vodafone | Telstra, Optus, Vodafone | Telstra |
iPhone 4S vs. HTC Sensation vs. Samsung Galaxy S II: Design
The Apple iPhone 4S retains an identical design to the iPhone 4. It's constructed largely from aluminium and glass, is just 9.3mm thick and has an industrial look and feel with distinctive, sharp edges. The iPhone 4S also retains the iPhone 4's glass back that does look slick but attracts plenty of fingerprints. The iPhone 4S remains a very well constructed smartphone, but is beginning to look a little outdated.
The Samsung Galaxy S II is an entirely different proposition to the iPhone 4S. It's made largely from solid feeling plastic and is just 8.49mm thick, making it the thinnest smartphone in the world (at least until another competitor trumps it). The Samsung Galaxy S II has an attractive carbon-like finish on its rear battery cover that does feel a little flimsy when removed, but helps keep it impressively slim.
The Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone is just 8.49mm thick, making it thinner than the iPhone 4S and the thinnest smartphone in the world.
One of the most lauded features of the HTC Sensation is its unibody aluminium design, which has also been used on a number of HTC's other Android phones including the original Desire, the Desire HD, the Legend and the Incredible S. The HTC's unibody casing is constructed from a single piece of aluminium and gives the phone a premium look and feel.
Comments
bob
1
The iphone4s is a disappointment, just a small upgrade to the 4, same size and no 4g.
Samsung Galaxy SII is the phone to get, best one out there.
HTC what?
Myro
2
It should be noted that the Samsung also has voice recognition where you can send texts, write memos, call people, send emails, set alarms, go to webpages ,facebook and twitter updates etc...
Im really tired of people acting like Apple are the first to come up with everything. Voice recognition has been around for years!
Samsung and HTC are giving Apple a run for their money and apple are scared, hense the constant suing.
Gary
3
Yeah,sure Samsung does have voice recognition but show me anyone who uses it!
It's pretty useless,the new Apple version is a whole new proposition and as for suing because Apple is scared-get real,it's because Samsung copies everything Apple does including the packaging.Just open your eyes and not your mouth until you're better informed.
Samsung is a good company and should be more original with their phones and more courts around the world are agreeing hence the bans on Samsung products.
Gary is a tool
4
Don't cry Gary, it's a phone.....
jaicon
5
@Gary, yeah Samsung copies Apple, Apple copies everything!
Siri? I won't be surprised if forums will be flooded with complains....mark my word..
Kenny
6
Gary I use the voice recognition all the time, so much more convenient. Works excellent as well, my S II is fantastic
rob b
7
information on the iphone 4s is incorrect. its a 800mhz dual core a5 chip with only 512 of ddr2 ram to preserve its amazing battery life. please correct this
Edgar Sanchez
8
I don't care... I can't imagine just a few hours without my iphone. I think it is the best phone in the market. it has everything we need.
John
9
rob b is correct about the chip speed, also check this link.. http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/10/11/testing_shows_iphone_4s_a5_gpu_clocked_at_800mhz_73_faster_than_iphone_4.html it show's how the chip crushes all competition.
Jack Moss
10
John covered my point. Simply put the iPhone 4s is the fasting phone on the market except for 4g and that's a misnomer. It simply blows the Samsung away - period. No matter what the droid OS, it sucks. It's buggy, bloated, prone to crashing and data loss. As a county IT professional I service both iphone 4s, and all flavors of droid.
Dave
11
Jack Moss, "iPhone 4s is the fasted phone" yet the HTC Sensation is not on the graph displayed on the website John posted.
Maybe there is a reason for this?
David
12
I have both the iphone 4s and the s2 , i leave my 4s at home all the time, take it to the beach and stuff, the s2 is way too valuable
Ron G.
13
I had the BlackBerry for years, got my first iphone the 4s and love it. Taken a bit to get use to the operation of it. I seem to learn something new everyday. I got the 64 GB and everyone says why? I say why not...LOL would have bought 128 GB if it was available.
Heidi
14
I want someone to tell me quite bluntly to make a choice out of iphone 4s and Galaxy Sii as I would like to know which one captures a picture faster. Also, I like the feature of sending a message to your phone when it is lost in transit. Does the iphones 4s have this feature?
Thanks!
Max
15
Galaxy s2 is superb phone,but in terms of pixel density,and processing power it is way behind ip4s
on a paper it has only 512mb ram 0.8 dualcore? Correct! but in benchmarks it shows much better results than samsung
just google iphone 4s benchmarks. you'll see that it has twice as good graphics thanks to the best smartphone gpu on market and so on... it beats galaxy in every category so androidfags,please stop trolling ;)
John Woodruff
16
The Samsung Galaxy S2 looks and feels wonderful, so much so I replaced my iPhone3. WRONG! Samsung it turns out, have had a manufacturing/design fault with their S2 that they have been informed about by a large number of unfortunate buyers like me, but which the refuse to acknowledge. Just Google samsung galaxy s2 echo problem and find vast pages of people with the same problem. It only happens when you put it in a cover and it only happens to some phones not others, but it makes the phone unusable as a phone so BE WARNED THAT SAMSUNG DON'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT SO DONT BUY ONE!
Muhammad ali
17
Can you please tell me which one is better. I want games on a smartphone so which one will suit me better?
Muhammad ali's homo
18
Nokia Brick phone kills it with snake
reality
19
your all just a bunch of dicks with nothing better to do than bury your heads in a phone 24/7. iphone is just a trend/fad or a label such as billabong....apparently if you dont have an iphone your not cool! grow up there just phones!
reality check for reality
20
I am cool with my iPhone 4 & without, I own both and each does what they say they do. I like the available docks & players for iPhone, but like the easier use and connectivity to any PC of Galaxy S II. My iphone freezes for no reason, my Galaxy S II doesn't respond when the day is very hot around 30c & above. If you really want to find out which is best ask the people who own one, and ask them about the feature/s you are wondering about...
@ reality... "grow up there just phones" There-is a word used to indicate where something is & cannot be used in a sentence like the one above; They're-is an abbreviation of they are, this is what you wanted to say ;) right.
They're (see how it works) not just phones anymore. Mine are music players, cameras, shopping lists, Gps', Calendars, Weather reporters... etc As well as a phone.
mc hammer
21
@jack moss dude the s2 has been proven time and time again to be WAY faster than the 4s get your facts straight dude
reality check for reality
22
Why did you leave out your? I think you should have schooled him on that as well.The proper word is you're.
zool
23
" Galaxy s2 is superb phone,but in terms of pixel density,and processing power it is way behind ip4s on a paper it has only 512mb ram 0.8 dualcore? Correct! but in benchmarks it shows much better results than samsung"
Really. "in reality iphone is faster". Benchmarks. is that how you satisfy your ego? Can't you see the difference between 1.2 that can be overclocked to 1.5 and 0.8. Exactly how can 512mb ram be better than 1 gb.
Try opening 10 tabs in dolfin browser and 10 in opera mobile and then see if you can play angry birds simultaneously without any glitch on your iphone.
Seriously face time. Video call has been since the time of Nokia n95. That was the time when phones had keys.
gool
24
Iphone is definitely a status symbol . I use a diamond ring instead. much more effective.
Cristiano
25
I phone 4S the best ...... Other phones kindly f... off okay .. Best phone in the world nice one from apple i phone 4S .. I love it . If you don't haven i phone life is bad lol
gool
26
Life is worse without a diamond ring. You know most people when they buy the costly i phone and say they like it, its mostly cognitive dissonance.
Cambria
27
Samsung galaxy s2 is the absolute greatest! I have used my sister's iphone4...Complete rubbish, ugly and not user-friendly at all...Even talking on the phone if my cheek touches it it will mute...Scratches, fingerprints and dated look...Samsung is fantastic and I loooove the swype function! No competition in my mind whatsoever! Samsung all the way (:
Gary is a tool supporter
28
Garry is a tool comments
Like 12,452
Dislike 1
Jim
29
Sumsung all the way
jimbo
30
i have both. galaxy is much better im to scared ill drop the iphone and break the crap screen dropped one from waist high and cracked the screen i put a high amp battery in the galaxy lasts so much longer
Gary is a poo
31
Yep. Galaxy s2 wins. so yea.
sesiarn
32
Wow, I have a web site too but I can't write at the same time as you do. Good stuff.