Shermdiggity
Active member
My experience with the Skyrocket
So, I was second in line on October 2nd to get the SGSII when it came out at AT&T. I absolutely loved the phone. Screen is beautiful, snappy and intuitive UI, ton of storage, yada yada yada. I was completely content and happy with the phone I'd waited 6 months to buy. Then AT&T decided to launch the SGSII Skyrocket....which was basically intended to be the SII with LTE.
I read as much as I could in these forums, other sites, reviews on Engadget, PC Mag, Phonearena, Mobile Tech, etc. etc because I was concerned about 3 things: 1) Impact of Qualcomm processor vs. Exynos 2) Battery Life and 3) Screen size with the same resolution. In general, the reviews stated that even though the Exynos processor tends to score better on most tests than the Qualcomm Snapdragon S3, it is unlikely that you would be able to tell the difference in everyday use.
So, I went to AT&T and bought the Skyrocket, so that I would be covered with an LTE option whenever my city gets it. Once I got home, I spent hours configuring, downloading apps, customizing my home screen and panels and just using it like I used to use my SII. It became clear very, very quickly to me that I do notice the Qualcomm processor chipset compared to the standard Exynos SoC. I'm not saying the Snapdragon S3 is awful, but after using my SII with the Exynos for a month, I could immediately tell the difference. Things just weren't as snappy, crisp, and fluid. Screen transitions weren't as smooth, I often noticed a stutter when apps closed, and it just seemed slower than what I had become accustomed to feeling. For lack of a better way of saying it, the phone just felt "bloated" to me. It felt outsized for what was under the hood to me. I even did Quandrant tests and they were pretty good...often in the 3000-3100 range.....but the everyday usage was not the same.
The phone was not bad at all, do not get me wrong....I was just very disappointed after falling in love with the experience of the original SGSII. If I had purchased this phone first I probably would have been fine.
Here is my advice:
1) If you have not bought a SGSII but are looking to get a phone with similar specs and are concerned with LTE, get the Skyrocket
2) If you currently have the SGSII and tend to notice/care about technical details, don't buy the Skyrocket. My personal opinion is that you'll be able to tell the difference and it will drive you crazy.
3) If you have an upgrade available and haven't purchased either, go with the Skyrocket first. That way you are covered if LTE comes to your city and you don't build a preconceived idea of what the SII will feel like.....if for some reason you don't like it, you can always return and get the SII....the difference in price will pay for the restocking fee AT&T charges you.
I returned my Skyrocket and now I have my SII again. I'm a happy camper.
So, I was second in line on October 2nd to get the SGSII when it came out at AT&T. I absolutely loved the phone. Screen is beautiful, snappy and intuitive UI, ton of storage, yada yada yada. I was completely content and happy with the phone I'd waited 6 months to buy. Then AT&T decided to launch the SGSII Skyrocket....which was basically intended to be the SII with LTE.
I read as much as I could in these forums, other sites, reviews on Engadget, PC Mag, Phonearena, Mobile Tech, etc. etc because I was concerned about 3 things: 1) Impact of Qualcomm processor vs. Exynos 2) Battery Life and 3) Screen size with the same resolution. In general, the reviews stated that even though the Exynos processor tends to score better on most tests than the Qualcomm Snapdragon S3, it is unlikely that you would be able to tell the difference in everyday use.
So, I went to AT&T and bought the Skyrocket, so that I would be covered with an LTE option whenever my city gets it. Once I got home, I spent hours configuring, downloading apps, customizing my home screen and panels and just using it like I used to use my SII. It became clear very, very quickly to me that I do notice the Qualcomm processor chipset compared to the standard Exynos SoC. I'm not saying the Snapdragon S3 is awful, but after using my SII with the Exynos for a month, I could immediately tell the difference. Things just weren't as snappy, crisp, and fluid. Screen transitions weren't as smooth, I often noticed a stutter when apps closed, and it just seemed slower than what I had become accustomed to feeling. For lack of a better way of saying it, the phone just felt "bloated" to me. It felt outsized for what was under the hood to me. I even did Quandrant tests and they were pretty good...often in the 3000-3100 range.....but the everyday usage was not the same.
The phone was not bad at all, do not get me wrong....I was just very disappointed after falling in love with the experience of the original SGSII. If I had purchased this phone first I probably would have been fine.
Here is my advice:
1) If you have not bought a SGSII but are looking to get a phone with similar specs and are concerned with LTE, get the Skyrocket
2) If you currently have the SGSII and tend to notice/care about technical details, don't buy the Skyrocket. My personal opinion is that you'll be able to tell the difference and it will drive you crazy.
3) If you have an upgrade available and haven't purchased either, go with the Skyrocket first. That way you are covered if LTE comes to your city and you don't build a preconceived idea of what the SII will feel like.....if for some reason you don't like it, you can always return and get the SII....the difference in price will pay for the restocking fee AT&T charges you.
I returned my Skyrocket and now I have my SII again. I'm a happy camper.