The Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD is simply an updated version of the Galaxy S II from when it was still the flagship Android smartphone being produced by Samsung (read: before the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy S III). It comes with many features that will remind one of the device used as its template, but it also brings in several improvements, most notably the 4.65-inch 1280x720 Super AMOLED touchscreen display that can be used to take care of multimedia viewing and menu navigating duties.
In terms of hardware features, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD can easily blow a lot of its competition out of the water. It runs on a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 processor with 1GB of RAM. And it offers up to 16GB of user available storage space that can be expanded further with microSD cards of up to 32GB. Its wireless features include Bluetooth 3.0 with A2DP, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, GPS with A-GPS, and built-in NFC. It even offers hardware connectivity options via microUSB and microHDMI. In short, it’s pretty feature-rich, hardware-wise. But what about the software?
Since it comes with Android 2.3 Gingerbread pre-installed, the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD is no doubt going to be a very capable smartphone for most people. However, most reviewers agree that it would be an even better device with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) instead. It already packs a whiff of ICS on it with its lock screen configuration, but it’s all still Gingerbread inside.
Just remember that Samsung has already announced and released many new models since the Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD was first unveiled. And some of those might also be worth a look.
Need to Know: Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD
1. Large, high-resolution screen makes it a joy to use with Android 2.3 Gingerbread. (The Good)
2. Comes with one of the more powerful mobile processors available today with ample RAM for multi-tasking. (The Good)
3. Canned by the carrier that launched it in the US (AT&T) and can only be bought through Bell Canada. (The Bad)
4. No distinguishing features that make it worth getting over many new Samsung smartphones, not to mention the current flagship, the Galaxy S III. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- John V., PhoneArenaNo doubt we take a fancy to seeing a higher resolution display, but in all honesty, you’re better off picking up that other Samsung device, you know, the one they call the Galaxy Nexus. There is no reason to buy this Korean only model, as the unlocked carrier-free penta-band Nexus has similar price...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Samsung backs up the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.