Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD - Discussion

Evandela · ‎03-23-2011

Hi guys!

Yesterday at CES 2012, 6 new devices were announced. There will be 2 new Samsung devices, the Galaxy SII Skyrocket HD and the Samsung Exhilarate. The devices coming up seem very interesting, I especiallly love that LTE will be coming to Windows Phone as well. However, while all this is interesting, I have to say I'm quite a bit disappointed in the Galaxy Skyrocket HD.

The reason I say this is because the design has already been used twice, and now it's being used for a third time. For those of you who are wondering, the second use was the Skyrocket, upgraded with an LTE antenna from the original Galaxy SII phone. The upcoming Skyrocket HD doesn't seem to have any new features that would want us as consumers to actual buy it over the original Skyrocket, in my opinion. For example:

1) The both have dual core processorss

2) Same design

3) Same graphics

4) Same screen material

I'm all about upgrades, but not same designs. It's kind of unappealing since theres no originality anymore when it's reused. The only differences I see thus far right off the bat is that on the Skyrocket HD, it says "AT&T" on the left hand corner (hate that on Android; looks ok in iPhones). The second difference is screen size, the Skyrocket has a 4.5 inch screen and the HD has a 4.65 inch screen.

(Yes, I know AT&T does not make the device; but they wont sell as efficiently compared to others to be honest )

What do you guys think about this particular device?

~ Evandela ~

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

Actually, there were three Samsung devices announced. The third one is Galaxy Note, a 5.3" 1280x800 screen phone. You forgot the biggest difference between Skyrocket and Skyrocket HD is the screen resolution. The later has the same screen as Galaxy Nexus, 4.65" 1280x720 HD screen. That's will be the biggest attraction point for Skyrocket HD although no one knows exactly how the same Snapdragon processor can handle the HD screen.

I'll take a 720p HD screen over any 800x480 screen any day, pentile or not.

Only thing comes out of all this, the current Skyrocket owners are screwed

Evandela · ‎03-23-2011

Oops! I forgot about the Galaxy Note lol.

I did forget to mention the resolution as well haha.

Like I said, I'm all about upgrades, but the design is the same and I think because of this it makes the HD a bit unappealing since in reality it's not too different from the original skyrocket. I also loathe seeing the AT&T logo on the left hand corner of the Android (its just unattractive to me lol)

I don't follow, why are Skyrocket owners out of luck? Is it the resolution you mentioned?

~ Evandela ~

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

Because the original Skyrocket is only two months old and it is already been replaced by a newer and better model. The HD screen IS a big deal. It's like try to tell ppl who have the HDTV that your old SD TV is just as good

I may forgive the inferior processor in it and pick one up for the sake of HD screen. 720p is the minimum spec for high end Android phones from now on. WVGA is so last generation and will be reserved for low end entry level phones.

Evandela · ‎03-23-2011

True.

Nice analogy too lol.

Still, kinda wish Samsung would change the actual design instead of just making hardware upgrades on the phone itself.

While what you what your saying is absolutely true, when a customer walks into a store and asks: "What's the difference?", and the resolution is mentioned, what else would make the device stand out more? Resolution is a very big deal, but speed is too.

Even for those who are not tech-savvy will look more into speed than resolution most of the time.

It's like saying great picture, but what good is that when the refresh rate isn't up to par compared to the TV released 1 week ago.

~ Evandela ~

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

That's why I mentioned the performance is unknown at this time. But they are already a few LTE tablets running at this resolution

Evandela · ‎03-23-2011

That's true too. I guess it all depends on the hardware as you mentioned since the tech used in tablets are slightly more powerful.

~ Evandela ~

LazrRocketArm · ‎09-18-2011

Yes, I am one of the og Skyrocket owners. I also had the GSII. Starting to have issues, would advise against the Skyrocket or Skyrocket HD.
Really interested in the New Sony xperia Ion.

Love my phone-when it is working right!!

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

Evandela wrote:
That's true too. I guess it all depends on the hardware as you mentioned since the tech used in tablets are slightly more powerful.

Not really the Samsung 8.9 LTE tab released on AT&T uses the exact same Snapdragon 1.5Ghz CPU.

Evandela · ‎03-23-2011

Does it really? I guess I'll have to look into that tablet

~ Evandela ~

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

Does Skyrocket has pentile or not screen?

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

Skyrocket has the SAMOLED Plus screen which is not pentile. But it only has WVGA (800x480) resolution.

Skyrocket has the SAMOLED screen which is pentile. But it has 1280x720 HD screen.

I've owned a Pentile SAMOLED phone before, Samsung Captivate. Now I own GS2 which is not Pentile. Personally I can't see the difference unless you examine the pixels under magnifiers.

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

Captivate had pentile matrix? What about infuse?

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

Infuse has non-pentile screen.

Entropy512 · ‎09-02-2007

Captivate is Pentile

Infuse is non-Pentile

I777 is non-Pentile

Skyrocket - non-Pentile?

GNex - Pentile

Skyrocket HD - Pentile + Qualcomm CPU = horrible phone.

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

Entropy512 wrote:
Captivate is Pentile
Infuse is non-Pentile
I777 is non-Pentile
Skyrocket - non-Pentile?
GNex - Pentile
Skyrocket HD - Pentile + Qualcomm CPU = horrible phone.

So if choice comes up between Nitro HD, Skyrocket HD or Sony Ion, which one would have best screen + processor?

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

The Super AMOLED screen, pentile or not, is still waaaay better than any LCD screens out there. Neither LG Nitro, nor Sony Ion has Samsung's Exynos processor, so it is probably a wash among the three as far as processor goes.

What Entroypy512 compared to is original Galaxy S2 which has Exynos processor and non-pentile Super AMOLED Plus screen (800x480) only.

Exynos processor is one the best mobile processor by far but unfortunately, it does not support LTE. GNexus is using a TI OMAP processor.

I'm willing to sacrific the processor for the sake of HD Super AMOLED screen. Even with pentile screen, it will still be much better than the WVGA screen we have today. I have compared GNex to my GS2 side by side and I liked the HD screen on it.

I'm pretty sure 6 months later, Samsung will be releasing phones using non-pentile SAMOLED HD screens.

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

UPDATE: Both LG Nitro HD and Sony Ion use the same 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU.

Wild Banchi · ‎12-11-2009

Very interesting.

If I had to replace my Captivate, I would probably replace it (in order) with a...
1. Samsung Galaxy S II or Galaxy S II Skyrocket (still debating on which is better)
2. Motorola ATRIX 2
3. HTC Inspire

If I had to replace my iPhone 3GS, I'd go with a 4. Or wait for Apple to release their new one later this year.

Remember that Wild Banchi... 1993-2010

umcpgrad · ‎11-13-2011

I am ticked about the skyrocket hd thing...................

Entropy512 · ‎09-02-2007

While technically Samsung "makes" the phone - it is clear when you look at things that AT&T is doing much of the design and Samsung is acting as a contract manufacturer. It is why so many of these AT&T devices coming out will have poor performance and awful battery life - AT&T is doing to its customers what Verizon did last year, shoving LTE down their throats despite having almost no advantages, and lots of disadvantages:

1) Hitting your data cap (which hasn't changed) faster - if you've got grandfathered unlimited, AT&T is apparently pulling nasty throttling shenanigans with LTE customers

2) Poor battery life due to significantly increased radio power consumption, just like the early days of 3G before it matured

3) Heavy, thick "fatty" phones due to the need for a larger battery and a radio that runs hotter

4) Poor processor performance due to forcing a Qualcomm radio which can only be used with Qualcomm CPUs.

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

Entropy512 wrote:
While technically Samsung "makes" the phone - it is clear when you look at things that AT&T is doing much of the design and Samsung is acting as a contract manufacturer. It is why so many of these AT&T devices coming out will have poor performance and awful battery life - AT&T is doing to its customers what Verizon did last year, shoving LTE down their throats despite having almost no advantages, and lots of disadvantages:
1) Hitting your data cap (which hasn't changed) faster - if you've got grandfathered unlimited, AT&T is apparently pulling nasty throttling shenanigans with LTE customers
2) Poor battery life due to significantly increased radio power consumption, just like the early days of 3G before it matured
3) Heavy, thick "fatty" phones due to the need for a larger battery and a radio that runs hotter
4) Poor processor performance due to forcing a Qualcomm radio which can only be used with Qualcomm CPUs.

I think you can switch off LTE and revert back to 3G if you want to save on battery life, is not it?

FredW · ‎04-24-2007

HD isn't much of an issue for me, so it would not make me rush for an upgrade. But HTC is planning to come out with a quad core phone in 2012, so I would think Samsung is going to have one too. That is something that would get me to upgrade.

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

artisticcheese wrote:

I think you can switch off LTE and revert back to 3G if you want to save on battery life, is not it?

As far as I know, there is no easy way to do that out of box. You will probably jump through hoops to do this.

BMan17 · ‎08-15-2010

How about a person coming from an Infuse to a Skyrocket HD?

I'm guessing that would be decent step up?

Cause I do love my screen on the Infuse.

And I never knew that Captivate was Pentile as well. I'll have to do a side by side with my Cappy and Infuse. (Wife has the Cappy now)

It seems there is a big knock on the pentile? why?

And I'm assuming the Galaxy Note is pentile? (cause I'm either getting the Note or the SRHD, it's upgrade time for me.,..)

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

I moved from Insude to Skyrocket about a month ago and it's very welcome changes.

Notes:

1. LTE speeds. I get sometimes up to 30Mbps down and 10 Mbps up, while I never mastered more then 6 down and 1 up on Infuse.

2. Same screen size and quality as Infuse

3. Dual Proc so things are faster in applications which utilize those cores. Notably browser rendering

4. 1 GB RAM vs 512 MB RAM on Infuse, so you would not end up your application killed in background due to shortage of memory (happened to me a lot of Infuse, where Facebook app will launch browser and then that browser will in turn cause OS to kill facebook becouse of shortage of memory).

5. Skyrocket shall eventually get ICS where Infuse my understanding still currently waits for Gingerbread and unlikely will ever run or get ICS

The things I miss.

Only one thing and this probably will be the same for all Skyrocket onwers - battery life. LTE connectivity kills battery and I get I would estimate 40% less battery life on Skyrocket compared to Infuse.

BMan17 · ‎08-15-2010

artisticcheese wrote:
I moved from Insude to Skyrocket about a month ago and it's very welcome changes.
Notes:
1. LTE speeds. I get sometimes up to 30Mbps down and 10 Mbps up, while I never mastered more then 6 down and 1 up on Infuse.
2. Same screen size and quality as Infuse
3. Dual Proc so things are faster in applications which utilize those cores. Notably browser rendering
4. 1 GB RAM vs 512 MB RAM on Infuse, so you would not end up your application killed in background due to shortage of memory (happened to me a lot of Infuse, where Facebook app will launch browser and then that browser will in turn cause OS to kill facebook becouse of shortage of memory).
5. Skyrocket shall eventually get ICS where Infuse my understanding still currently waits for Gingerbread and unlikely will ever run or get ICS

The things I miss.
Only one thing and this probably will be the same for all Skyrocket onwers - battery life. LTE connectivity kills battery and I get I would estimate 40% less battery life on Skyrocket compared to Infuse.

Now my question will be will the PenTile screens look more washed out? Or is it at this point with a SAMOLED HD screen you just can't see that washing effect from PenTile?

And I agree Infuse will probably never get ICS. GB is out for the Infuse but theres been issues with kies mini and have pulled the update until they fix it.

artisticcheese · ‎10-08-2003

Skyrocket does not have Pentile screen

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

artisticcheese wrote:

Skyrocket does not have Pentile screen

Correct. And you posted in the wrong thread. This thread is about Skyrocket HD, a phone that hasn't been released yet, not Skyrocket. Basically, Skyrocket is going to be replaced by Skyrocket HD soon.

foxbat121 · ‎01-14-2005

BMan17 wrote:

Now my question will be will the PenTile screens look more washed out? Or is it at this point with a SAMOLED HD screen you just can't see that washing effect from PenTile?

Who says PenTile screen will have washed out look? Almost all Motorola phones have PenTile screen. The Captivate has pentile screen and it seems to have better contrast than GS2's screen. Neither saw complains of wash out color. The only difference between pentile and non-pentile is the amount of subpixels per pixel and you will notice a little bit roughness on the text when inspected under a magnifiing glass.