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Samsung Galaxy S II review: Eye-popping Gingerbread

Top-notch specs deliver on the Samsung Galaxy S II. We can't wait to get our hands on a version bound for the U.S.

Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
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Jessica Dolcourt
Josh Miller

What do you get when you merge Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 4.3-inch high-end screen, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera, and 4G capability? Simply Samsung's best smartphone to date.

The Samsung Galaxy S II (first announced at Mobile World Congress) impresses with a long list of top-shelf features that overall deliver. Not every design element is perfect and we weren't always able to maintain 4G-like speeds, a hurdle that's hardly surprising given this model is an unlocked handset that's unoptimized for US networks.

However, the FCC's recent clearance leads us to believe that the Galaxy S II is bound for our shores soon, and we can't wait. After all, the 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display alone makes Gingerbread look good enough to eat.

Catch our hands-on video, photos, and all the pros and cons in our hands-on review.

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