Samsung Galaxy S Plus

Editor's Review of the Galaxy S Plus

The first Samsung Galaxy S caused quite a fuss amongst smartphone users and Fandroids alike, ultimately becoming one of the best-selling Android phones of all time. If it's now time for an upgrade and you're not so keen on paying more for the Galaxy S2 - the Galaxy S Plus could be the perfect choice.

Design & Build

Design-wise, the Samsung Galaxy S Plus looks near identical to its first-gen brother. It even boasts the same pocket-friendly measurements as the original, as well as an identical sleek casing and hardware keys.

Unsurprisingly, the phone packs the same 4-inch Super AMOLED (480 x 800) display as the original too, so you're greeted by the same vibrant images and excellent viewing angles. The only downside here is that it's by no means on par with the Galaxy S2, which boasts an upgraded, eye-poppingly impressive Super AMOLED Plus screen.

It's under the hood where things get exciting, as Samsung has shifted from a 1GHz processor to a speedier 1.4GHz alternative - bringing it more in line with the performance we've seen from recent dual-core devices. Although the bump sounds relatively minor you'll notice the different straight away.

OS & Interface

The Galaxy S Plus runs Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread), paired with Samsung's usual TouchWiz interface. Admittedly, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the S Plus and the original, but the 1.4GHz processor seems to handle the interface much-more effortlessly.

Multimedia & Storage

On its rear, the Samsung Galaxy S Plus sports a 5 megapixel camera capable of recording video at 720p. If a decent camera is the most important feature for you, it's worth pointing out that the Galaxy S2 packs an 8 megapixel rear-facing shooter with 1080p HD video.

Still, photos from the Galaxy S Plus are just as great as from the original Galaxy S - vibrant, with plenty of detail. Unfortunately, the shooter still struggles in low-light conditions, as there's sadly no flash on the rear of the handset.

For sharing media, the upgraded Galaxy S comes with DLNA technology, enabling you to quickly mirror footage on your HDTV.

Everything Else

If you're upgrading from a Galaxy S to a Galaxy S Plus, you'll be pleased to hear that it boasts the same browsing experience, boosted by the same HSDPA and WiFi connectivity.

What has been altered, however, is the handset's battery, as the Galaxy S Plus packs a higher-capacity 1650mAh effort. As you'd expect, the battery life is excellent, and a full charge will easily get you through the day.

Conclusion

Considering we loved the original Galaxy S, it will come as no surprise that we love the Galaxy S Plus. While it's by no means on with the Galaxy S2, the Galaxy S Plus offers-up a competitive spec-sheet for a much-lower price.