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Samsung Galaxy S2 gets Jelly Bean next month, not in UK yet

Jelly Bean is coming to the Samsung Galaxy S2 in February in Singapore. Fingers crossed for a British update too.

Richard Trenholm Former Movie and TV Senior Editor
Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.
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Richard Trenholm
2 min read

Jelly Bean is coming to the Samsung Galaxy S2 in February. But when it's coming to this country -- and to your phone -- is anybody's guess.

Samsung told CNET that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will be made available to owners of the S2 at the beginning of February -- in Singapore. The rest of the world? Cross your fingers.

At least we know the now-ageing S2 can run Jelly Bean. Released in 2011, the S2 is nearly two years old. In technology years, the thing's Joan Rivers.

Jelly Bean has already come to the S2 -- sort of. Last week the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus was announced, loaded with the very latest Android 4.2.1 software. Currently not set for Britain, the S2 Plus is on paper the same as the S2, with no hike in the main hardware: it has the same specs for processor, camera and screen.

When -- or if -- that happens is unclear. I've contacted Samsung here in the UK, but haven't had any confirmation. Perhaps Samsung has learned not to write cheques its update schedule can't cash, after the original S2 was at the centre of a storm of controversy over the update to Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung certainly got Jelly Bean to the Samsung Galaxy S3 sharpish, so here's hoping we won't have to wait too long for the S2 to follow suit.

With 40 million S2s sold, there's bound to be a few people out there who would be excited to give their phone a new lease of life with an Android update. Would you like to see Jelly Bean on your S2? Does the S2 still hold its own against today's range of rivals? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our up to date Facebook page.