Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M vs Galaxy S II I9100: A Classic Android Showdown

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II were titans of their time, representing the pinnacle of Android innovation. Both offered impressive features and performance, but which one truly stood out? This detailed comparison will revisit these iconic devices to help you understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S II edges out the Nexus due to its slightly better overall performance, more refined software experience at the time, and arguably superior display. While the Nexus had a cleaner Android experience, the S II's broader appeal and slightly more powerful hardware give it a narrow victory.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M	Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA

Launch
Announced	2012, January. Released 2012, January	2011, February. Released 2011, April
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	-	Glass front (Gorilla Glass), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions	135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm (5.33 x 2.67 x 0.35 in)	125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm (4.93 x 2.60 x 0.33 in)
SIM	Mini-SIM	Mini-SIM
Weight	135 g (4.76 oz)	116 g (4.09 oz)

Display
Protection	Oleophobic coating	Corning Gorilla Glass
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~316 ppi density)	480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~217 ppi density)
Size	4.65 inches, 59.6 cm2 (~64.8% screen-to-body ratio)	4.3 inches, 52.6 cm2 (~63.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED Plus

Platform
CPU	Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9	Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9
Chipset	TI OMAP 4460	Exynos 4210 Dual
GPU	PowerVR SGX540	Mali-400MP4
OS	Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)	Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread), upgradable to 4.1 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI 4

Memory
Card slot	No	microSDHC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB 1GB RAM	16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	LED flash	LED flash
Single	5 MP, AF	8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3.2", AF
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	1.3 MP	2 MP
Video	720p@30fps	-

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	3.0, A2DP	3.0, A2DP, aptX
NFC	Yes	Optional
Positioning	GPS, A-GPS	GPS, A-GPS
Radio	No	Stereo FM radio, RDS
USB	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out)	microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot

Features
Browser	-	HTML, Adobe Flash
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
	MP4/H.264 player MP3/WAV/eAAC+ player Photo/video editor Document viewer	-

Battery
Stand-by	Up to 600 h	Up to 710 h (2G) / Up to 610 h (3G)
Talk time	Up to 9 h	Up to 18 h 20 min (2G) / Up to 8 h 40 min (3G)
Type	Removable Li-Ion 1750 mAh battery	Removable Li-Ion 1650 mAh battery

Misc
Colors	Black	Black, White, Pink
Models	GT-I9250M	GT-I9100, GT-I9100G, GT-I9100T
Price	About 240 EUR	About 170 EUR
SAR	0.40 W/kg (head) 0.74 W/kg (body)	0.16 W/kg (head) 0.96 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.35 W/kg (head)	0.34 W/kg (head)

Tests
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.4dB / Crosstalk -89.7dB
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 40h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.832:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

OUR TESTS
Audio quality	-	Noise -91.4dB / Crosstalk -89.7dB
Battery (old)	-	Endurance rating 40h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.832:1 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	-	Voice 70dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB

Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M

Pure Android experience
Slightly higher resolution display
Modern design for its time
Good performance

Less powerful chipset than S II
Camera slightly inferior to S II
Software updates ceased earlier

Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II

Vibrant Super AMOLED display
Slightly better performance
Refined software experience (at the time)
Good camera quality
Longer software support (initially)

Older design
Lower resolution display compared to Nexus
Battery life, while good, not exceptional

Display Comparison

Both phones feature Super AMOLED displays with a contrast ratio of Infinite (nominal) / 2.832:1 (sunlight). The Galaxy S II's display is generally considered slightly more vibrant and color-accurate, while the Nexus had a slightly higher resolution (1280 x 720 vs 800 x 480). However, both screens were excellent for their time.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance was comparable. Both phones offered Photo and Video capabilities, but image quality was generally considered to be slightly better on the Galaxy S II, particularly in low-light conditions. The S II's image processing algorithms were more refined.

Performance

Both devices are powered by dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processors. The Galaxy S II utilizes the Exynos 4210 chipset, which generally offered slightly better performance than the TI OMAP 4460 found in the Nexus. This translates to smoother multitasking and slightly faster app loading times on the S II.

Battery Life

Both phones boasted an endurance rating of 40 hours. Real-world battery life was generally good on both devices, lasting a full day with moderate usage. However, the Galaxy S II's slightly more efficient chipset and software optimization gave it a slight edge in battery longevity.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy Nexus I9250M? Enthusiasts seeking a pure Android experience and a slightly more modern design. Who should buy the Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II? Users prioritizing a well-rounded package with a vibrant display, solid performance, and a more established software ecosystem (at the time).