Price and specifications of Samsung Galaxy S II LTE I9210 advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Introduction to Samsung Galaxy S II LTE I9210

The Samsung Galaxy S II LTE I9210 was announced in August 2011 and released in November of the same year. This device marked Samsung's foray into the LTE market, offering advanced connectivity options alongside a suite of impressive hardware specifications.

Network Capabilities

The Galaxy S II LTE was designed to support a broad range of network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and crucially, LTE. For 2G networks, it operates on GSM bands 850/900/1800/1900. In the realm of 3G, it supports HSDPA on bands 850/900/1900/2100, while for LTE, it covers bands 3, 7, and 20, allowing for robust connectivity options and faster internet speeds for its time, with speeds up to HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps.

Design and Build

The design of the Galaxy S II LTE is characterized by its dimensions of 130.9 x 69.9 x 9.4 mm, making it a relatively compact smartphone. It weighs 132 grams, which was considered quite manageable for a device in 2011. The smartphone uses a Mini-SIM card, reflecting the standard of its era.

Display Features

The device features a 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, which was one of the leading display technologies at the time, known for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. The screen resolution is 480 x 800 pixels, giving it a pixel density of approximately 207 ppi. It also comes with Corning Gorilla Glass protection, enhancing its resistance to scratches and minor impacts.

Hardware Performance

Under the hood, the Galaxy S II LTE is powered by a Qualcomm APQ8060 Snapdragon S3 chipset. It features a dual-core 1.5 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 220 GPU. This combination provided a solid performance for browsing, multitasking, and handling media applications. The internal storage capacity is 16GB with the option to expand it via a microSDHC card slot, which includes an 8GB card.

Camera Specifications

The main camera on the Galaxy S II LTE is an 8 MP shooter with an f/2.6 aperture. It supports auto-focus and is paired with an LED flash, which helps in low-light conditions. For video recording, the main camera can capture 1080p videos at 30fps. The front-facing camera features a 2 MP sensor, catering to basic selfie and video call needs.

Audio and Connectivity

Audio playback on the device includes a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, which was a ubiquitous feature in smartphones at the time. In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and hotspot capabilities. Bluetooth 3.0 comes with A2DP and aptX support, enabling better audio quality over wireless speakers and headphones. The device also includes GPS with A-GPS and optional NFC support.

Software and User Experience

The Galaxy S II LTE originally shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread and was upgradable to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, providing access to a wide range of apps and an improved user interface. This operating system upgrade expanded the device's capabilities, offering a smoother user experience and access to newer Android features of that time.

Battery Life and Management

Powered by a removable Li-Ion 1850 mAh battery, the Galaxy S II LTE offered a decent battery life for its generation. It provided a standby time of up to 192 hours, talk time up to 5 hours, and music playback up to 30 hours. The removable battery design allowed users to carry a spare battery for extended usage.

Sensors and Additional Features

The device comes equipped with a range of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors enabled a variety of functionalities, from screen rotation to augmented reality applications.

Market Availability and Pricing

Upon its release, the Galaxy S II LTE was available primarily in black and retailed for approximately 200 EUR. Despite its discontinuation, it remains a noteworthy device that contributed to the transition of Samsung into the LTE smartphone market. Its SAR values are 0.16 W/kg (head) and 0.66 W/kg (body), aligning with safety standards of that time.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S II LTE I9210 was a significant milestone in smartphone development, offering LTE connectivity along with a feature set that was competitive at its time of release. Its blend of advanced network capabilities, robust design, and efficient performance made it a popular choice among early adopters of 4G technology. While technology has significantly advanced since 2011, the Galaxy S II LTE holds an important place in the history of smartphone evolution.