Galaxy Nexus vs Galaxy S II? Which should be my next phone?

[obi5683]

Sounds like you are on a GSM carrier. That means you actually have a choice. The SGSII is a nice phone. I wanted one myself.

Nexus has very similar hardware as the RAZR, same processor and RAM. The screen on the RAZR is a lower resolution, but for what I am going to say, that won't matter AFAIK*. CF-bench listed the RAZR as slightly better that the world version of the SGSII. By slightly I mean not enough to notice. So both phones are pretty much equal. The camera spec is a wash IMO. Bigger pictures are not better pictures. You might be able to get clearer pictures with the Nexus, but definitely faster on the Nexus. ICS is amazing IMO. It doesn't need a skin. The UI is what GB should have been when they promised an upgraded UI. The SGSII will get ICS,and it will work better after is does. It may even beat the Nexus.

I am getting a Nexus to have zero bloat. I am on Verizon and they load phones up with crapware. I also want updates as soon as Google updates Android. You need to choose your phone based on what you expect. If you want zero bloat and speedy updates, get a Nexus. If you don't mind bloat, you like touchwiz, and you don't mind waiting for Samsung to modify touchwiz to work with ICS, then get an SGSII.

*Screen resolution from highest to lowest: Nexus>RAZR>SGSII

 

[turb0wned]

This question keeps being asked. Its a simple answer. Anything with the word Nexus is better. End of debate.

 

[palmor]

Did you see how the camera had virtually zero shutter lag? Maybe they exist now but I've never even seen a digital camera do that.

That is an easy thing to accomplish when you don't require the camera to focus in-between shots which is what seemed like was going on. In real life usage the speed is going to be dictated by the slowest factor, in this case it will be the AF system.

 

[SpaceHippie]

The only one who can decide which phone is for you, is you. Go play with a GS2. It's a great phone. If you like it as is fine. The Nexus is only slightly different. More curved and lower mp camera(with better sensor). The big deal is the Nexus is a stock device. Meaning when ICS is updated or when Android 5.0 is released, it will receive the update immediately. Where the GS2 and all other skinned devices take awhile because they first have to lay their skin on top(touch wiz, Sense etc) and also load bloatware, which is something the nexus won't have. All in all, the Nexus is a developer phone. If you plan on rooting and flashing like crazy, the nexus is your friend but if your looking for just a good phone that works and works well, the GS2 is no slouch.