This or the Tmobile Prepaid SII?

[TauSigmaNova]

TMobile just announced the Galaxy SII Hercules coming to TMobile's prepaid with 4G HSPA for $299.

Now what? Do I go with the GNex for 350 or the SII for 300? Both are great phones, and the processor on the SII (along with the camera) are arguably better than the ones on the Nexus.
The screen is big enough. After 4.3" I can't say I really care. 4.5 vs 4.65- It's all the same to me at this point. The SII also has a great repository of ROMs available including Cm104 Nightlies and the such which is pretty good..


On the other hand,I could always switch a Nexus to a different carrier (not like I'd need to do so), and it has Jellybean from the get-go (Stock version, too) which is a big plus side. Though I could also build from AOSP source for the phone (though I never really got that far into that, Linux/Wubi hate me). It's also 50 dollars more and has no SD slot support. Which should I go with when the time comes?

E: S II has HSPA+ 42, Nexus only has HSPA+21

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Unless having the 42mbps HSPA+ is extremely important to you, I'd never hesitate to recommend the $350 Play Store Galaxy Nexus over the Galaxy S2 at this point. Simply from a software update point of view, the Galaxy Nexus is superior. And as you said you can bring it to other carriers because it has the proper 850mhz / 1900mhz frequencies for AT&T (and all of it's MVNOs).

 

[project.in.process]

+1 Gnex
*pure Android & amazing development & easiest root process out there.

using $45/mo Straight Talk service (ATT mvno= 6 down, 1.5 up) after leaving T-Mo $30/mo (1.1 down, .2 up) which wasn't too grand in my particular area of operation (work/home/commute). hoping your experience w/ T-Mo is better!

 

[TauSigmaNova]

I get "Excellent" 3G/4G coverage according to TMobile's site where I live and in all the surrounding neighborhoods. I mean, 21 or 42, it's still better than the supposed 15 which Im not getting from my WiFi from Optimum. I'm definitely gonna stick with TMo simply because it's the cheapest and best plan out right now.

Also, I beg to differ, for my Optimus V I just had to install Gingerbreak.apk, press one button to run it and wait a few minutes and it was ready. The 50 dollar difference isn't much, but it still is a difference. I mean, CM10 is also a fairly good contender (If I were to get a Nexus, I'd probably rock CM10 on it EITHER WAY, or some other JB ROM like JB AOKP). The only reason I'd ever switch a SIM Card is for overseas which I only do once every few years, if that. I mean, both phones have great develpment. The SII Forums on XDA and the Nexus Forums there are both full of ROMS (As are the Opt S/V forums on Android Central, lmao).


Still, keep in mind I live in the most populated part of New York City so I would expect to have at least 10-15 down. I wouldn't even mind 5 down, I only get like .3-.7 down on Virgin Mobile's crappy 3G and about 5-8 down on average on my PC-(I have a 6 year old modem, Cablevision guys are gonna send a technician to check my phone line and give me a free new Modem also tomorrow!) which might change soon, but yeah.

Both phones suit me fine, I guess it's just flip a coin. I mean, I love the Nexus, it;s beautiful and fast (The TMobile one without the physical buttons looks decent too)

 

[anon(847090)]

Nexus... the $50 is well worth because of jelly bean and future android release.

S2 might get jelly bean but dont think it would get the next version.

Nexus is much more smoother(even though S2 processor is better) than S2 because of jelly bean.

 

[TauSigmaNova]

Should I just wait in hopes of a 350 dollar nexus 2012? Is it realistically going to debut in that range? Will it be worth the wait?

 

[Andrew Martonik]

Should I just wait in hopes of a 350 dollar nexus 2012? Is it realistically going to debut in that range? Will it be worth the wait?

Worth the wait? Probably, although "worth it" is completely subjective depending on who's asking.

Launch at $350? Not going to happen. They'd lose money out the door. I'd expect $499 at the cheapest.

 

[TauSigmaNova]

Yeah. I can't go for that much. The GNex also has a much nicer screen.
Truth be told though I really like the way the TMo S2 looks.

Maybe I'll just flip a coin, though I'm leaning to the Gnex for now, though it might just be a bit too big for my pockets.

 

[zuben el genubi]

TMO is apparently doing some upgrading with the 1900 band. They are also trying to get everyone off 2G. I have a Nexus S, and will get an H on the bar rather than 3G. Can't tell you the speed, since I don't really care. I do more data over wifi.

 

[TauSigmaNova]

Uhuh. This is relevant... how? Both phones support HSPA eitherway

 

[karrQ10]

I would suggest the nexus... The fact being s2 is being offered by tmo (or in fact any carrier) itself is a deal breaker. U would b better off with an unlocked s2. But as other's pointed out u will have to wait for getting the latest version of android. Also I kind of like the vanilla version of android rather than a heavily skinned one that usually come from carriers

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

 

[emoeskaite]

I just switched from SGSII to GN and it was the best move that I could have done. Don't buy anything from T-Mobile - they preload every phone with lots of crap that is slowing the phone down and crashing apps, I will never do that again. Get a bare GN and stick a SIM in! GN is working much smoother, doesn't crash apps and is updatable to 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. Plus you can use Google Wallet.