HTC Sensation XL vs Samsung Galaxy S II

The HTC Sensation XL now makes that three flagship Android handsets from the Taiwanese mobile makers. Peter Chou and his team have also once again team up with Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine to bring Beats Audio software and headphones to an HTC smartphone and that gives this package one hell of an extra shine, but is it quite shiny enough?

Lurking in the wings, as ever, is the current King of the Androids in the shape of the Samsung Galaxy S II begging the big question for any wouldbe buyer - just which one is the better phone? So, we’ve lined up these two smartphones’ spec sheets and worked it out on paper at least. It’s the HTC Sensation XL vs Samsung Galaxy S II.

Form Factor

Tie: Galaxy S2

125.3 x 66.1 x 8.49mm, 117g

Tie: Sensation XL

132.5 x 70.7 x 9.9 mm, 163g

In terms of pure measurements, it’s the first round to the Samsung Galaxy S II. As ever, it’s all about how thin and how light a mobile phone is when it comes to something that’s going to be sitting in your pocket, weighing you down and interrupting the carefully tailored lines of your clothing. The SGS2 is a touch thinner and considerably lighter. The other possible disadvantage to the Sensation XL is that it’s physically bigger on the other dimensions as well, but that has its plus points later on, as we’ll see.

However, that said, we're going to call the round a tie because, as far physical design goes, it’ll be the machined aluminium block of the Sensation XL that has the edge over the more plastic look and feel of the Galaxy S II for aesthetics and ergonomic pleasure. To be fair to the Samsung, though, that doesn’t mean that it comes across as low rent. It’s still a nice piece of kit to own. Just not as satisfying as all-metal handsets.

Display

1st: Galaxy S2

4.27-inch, 800x480px, 218ppi, Super AMOLED Plus

2nd: Sensation XL

4.7-inch, 800x480px, 199ppi, LCD

It’s a very close run thing in the display category. Yes, the HTC Sensation XL screen offers a bigger viewing platform than that of the SGS2 but, sadly, at the same resolution. So, it’s one thing to lose that sharpness as a result of a lower pixel density but what it is that tips the balance is down to the screen technology itself. HTC has gone for a straight LCD but Samsung has all that panel innovation to lean back on when it comes to its Super AMOLED Plus. Without experiencing both for ourselves, we’d normally call this one a draw but word from our man on the ground who’s had some review time with the HTC Sensation XL is as follows:

That the resolution is comparatively low isn't great, the sharpness isn't really there, but it looks fine. The colours are good and vibrant and the viewing angles are fine from what I saw. The SGS2 probably has the better display though.

And there you have it.

Engine Room

1st: Galaxy S2

Samsung Exynos 4210

2nd: Sensation XL

Snapdragon MSM8255

The systems-on-chip in both phones offer plenty to be happy about but it’s the lack of a dual core CPU on the Sensation XL that will draw the criticism. It’s arguable as to whether a dual-core CPU is really needed on a smartphone at the moment anyway, but there we go.

The Samsung Exynos 4210 consists of a 1.2/1.5GHz ARM Cortex-A9 CPU running the show compared to the 1.5GHz ARMv7 Scorpion on the Sensation XL. In the graphics department, it’s Samsung’s Mali-400 vs the HTC’s Adreno 205 in a battle where the former out-benchs the latter. And the final mini-round of the catgegory is for memory, again, where the Samsung wins with 1GB of RAM plays 768MB on the Sensation XL. So, dual-core or not, it’s another victory for the Samsung Galaxy S II.

Imaging

1st: Galaxy S2

8MP rear, 2MP front, 1080p video capture

2nd: Sensation XL

8MP rear, 1.3MP front, 720p video

Sadly, the headline specs - namely the missing 1080p video capture from the HTC Sensation XL camera - is what tells the story here. HTC has gone to great lengths to describe a wide aperture snapper that shoots open to f/2.2 backed up by a dual LED flash when you need it but it’s all for nought because the fact is that people want Full HD recording. The slight dip on the resolution of the front-facing webcam doesn’t really help much either. As it goes, the XL might shoot better quality images but we simply won’t know that until the HTC Sensation XL review is in.

Until then, we will leave this category with one interesting caveat from the Samsung Galaxy S II review and that’s that the autofocus does tend hunt around a bit during video capture and that can ruin your clips as they drift in and out of sharpness on occasions. You have been warned.

Connectivity

1st: Galaxy S2

Wi-Fi, NFC, 4G, BT 3.0, DLNA, Wi-Fi tethering

2nd: Sensation XL

Wi-Fi, BT 3.0, DLNA, Wi-Fi tethering

The SGS2’s constant pipping of the XL to the post is making the HTC look like a bad handset which it certainly isn’t. It might not be a big deal in the UK that there’s no 4G radio or NFC technology included but in countries where both infrastructures exist, that could be quite a let down. As we say, both phones here have got the basics, as well as tethering potential and the luxury of streaming your bits and pieces without the need of cables, but it’s the Samsung Galaxy S II that can claim the advantage on paper.

Battery Life

1st: Sensation XL

1600mAh, up to 11 hours talk time

2nd: Galaxy S2

1650mAh, up to 8 hours talk time

Despite the larger battery unit, the quoted life of the Samsung Galaxy S II is smaller than that of the Sensation XL. Now, it’s quite possible that Samsung has stated 3G talk time whereas HTC’s refers to 2G talk time but, since Samsung has said no more on the matter, then that’s what we have to believe - that you can get up to 8 hours of talk time on the SGS2 after a single charge.

That may be because it’s running a dual core processor or more RAM or a different screen technology. Or it may be inaccurate. Either way, both phones will probably make it from dawn till dusk on a single charge and that’s about it.

Software

1st: Sensation XL

Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread + HTC Sense 3.5

2nd: Galaxy S2

Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread + TouchWiz 4.0

We can sit and argue about tiny decimal places of updates on Gingerbread but what separates the sheep from the goats in this software match-up is the custom user-interfaces each compay has placed on top of Google’s mobile platform. TouchWiz 4.0 is ok. It neither gets in the way nor adds anything really significant to the equation apart from All Share and the wireless syncing tool that is Kies Air both of which you can find replacements for on the Android Market anyway. As it goes, the only unique piece of software is the Swype keyboard which is actually rather good.

The Sensation XL, on the other hand, gets the benefit of HTC Sense 3.5 UI which is known for its neat integration of your contacts and their details, as well as an excellent graphical look and feel. On top of that, the XL also comes with the Beats by Dr Dre audio circuitry inside to improve the quality of your digital music.

Storage

Tie: Galaxy S II

16/32GB + microSD

Tie: Sensation XL

16GB

Bit of an odd one this but the HTC Sensation XL comes in just one memory size and with no expandable storage options. 16GB isn’t titchy and will probably do you fine but in the face of anywhere between 16-64GB on the Samsung Galaxy S II, it’s really no competition. The question is just how much data are you looking to carry around at any one time?

Price

Galaxy S2

£410 (16GB)

Sensation XL

£unknown (16GB)

No prices just yet for the HTC Sensation XL, so not a lot we can say about this round for the time being. However, since the SGS2 has been around for a while and the XL is fresh out of the blocks, we’re willing to bet that’s the latter that comes out more expensive.

Conclusion

1st: Galaxy S2

2nd: Sensation XL

Apart from a dubious call on the battery and a good win on the software front, the HTC Sensation XL doesn’t come out too well on paper against the current king of the Androids. All the same, to warn you off the Sensation XL would be a mistake. It’s a good looking device with a good looking UI and some great sounding audio. It even comes packaged with some decent Beats By Dr Dre headphones too. For pure grunt though, it can’t quite match the Samsung Galaxy S II which will run games better and is probably the superior device to use as a video player too.

That said, if you’re all about look and feel, playing music, browsing the web and taking cracking stills, then you may find that the HTC Sensation XL is actually more suited to your needs.

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HTC Sensation XL: 4.7-inch monster Android phone with Beats

HTC has announced the HTC Sensation XL, the third handset in its Sensation range of flagship smartphones, but the first not to feature a dual-core processor. The new handset was launched at HTC's Beats event at the Roundhouse in London.
So what is so XL about it exactly, given it falls behind even the first Sensation in the power department? Well 4.7-inches of screen puts the XL into this Sensation sandwich, along with 16GB of in-built memory (only 12GB available to the user) and the inclusion of the quite frankly awesome Beats Audio technology.?
The HTC Sensation XL is the second Beats branded phone to be launched by HTC, following the recent HTC Sensation XE. The XL is out-powered by the XE however, so even though it is bigger, it's not necessarily going to be better.
The Sensation XL includes an 8-megapixel camera with fast F/2.2 lens, which should be great for shooting in low light, as well as a dual LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel snapper on the front. It only offers 720p video capture however.?
Display-wise you get a 4.7-inch 480 x 800 Gorilla Glass screen. Powering the Sensation XL is a 1600mAh battery, which keeps the single core 1.5GHz Qualcomm MSM 8255 processor ticking over. There is 768MB RAM and the phone will ship with Android 2.3.5.
All the usual HTC bells and whistles are present, including the new HTC Sense 3.5, and as this is a Beats branded handset, you get a set of upbeats in the box, with custom Beats Audio profiles to make the most of your music when you hook-up those headphones.
There will also be an HTC Sensation XL special edition that comes with a pair of white Beats Solo headphones, although we don't yet know who will be offering this edition of the phone.
The handset itself measures in at?132.5 x 70.7 x 9.9mm and is relatively lightweight at 162.5g. If you fancy joining us an in depth look at the new monster Android handset why not check out our HTC Sensation XL First Look review?where we'll give you all our first impressions and a huge gallery of glorious pictures.
UPDATE: We've heard that Vodafone, 3 and O2 will be stocking the new HTC Sensation XL in the UK, available from the beginning of November across Europe and Asia.?

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Samsung "Galaxy Nexus" details leak out: Verizon Wireless exclusive

BGR has gotten their hands on what they claim are the details surrounding the new device that Samsung is expected to announce with Google next week. The supposed "Galaxy Nexus" is said to be the next member of the Nexus family of pure Google Android smartphones, and it packs an impressive list of specs.
According to BGR's sources, the Galaxy Nexus will feature a 4.65-inch, 1280 x 720 pixel HD Super AMOLED display complete with curved glass. It will be powered by a 1.2GHz, dual-core TI OMAP processor, with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The back of the phone will have a 5 megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, and the front will feature a 1.3 megapixel camera for video calls. It will also sport LTE or HSPA data support, depending on carrier, and will have support for NFC. All of these features will be crammed into a 9mm thin chassis, and a 1,750mAh battery will provide juice to the Galaxy Nexus.
The Galaxy Nexus is said to run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and it will be a "pure Google Experience device," without any customization to the software by Samsung. BGR says that it will be exclusive to Verizon Wireless in the U.S.
Samsung has announced an event for next Tuesday where it has teased the unveiling of a new product. We should find out more details then.

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Riptide GP Racing Game Coming to All Android Devices This Month

The developers at Vector Unit have mentioned that their Android game Riptide GP, a wave racing game, will be coming to all Android smartphones sometime this month. The game, highly regarded by many for quality graphics, gameplan and lots of fun, was previously only available on Tegra 2 devices. I covered this game at CTIA this past March and I can say without a shadow of doubt that many non-Tegra users will want to be up bright and early to check this one out when the expansion goes live. No specific date yet but we’ll keep our ears to the street. [Droid Gamers]

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Samsung Galaxy S II stock arriving at T-Mobile early

T-Mobile appears to be gearing up for some pretty impressive sales of the new Samsung Galaxy S II for their network. Codenamed the Hercules it will come to market as just the Galaxy S II for T-Mobile. Officially announced a few weeks back, the T-Mobile branded version of one of the best phones around will be available come October 12th. It appears T-Mobile stores are already starting to receive tons of stock, gearing for a big launch.

The device should be available for pre-order on the 10th according to the press release, but with stores already getting tons and tons of stock (see photo), there is a small chance you might be able to pick one up in stores on the 10th if you’re lucky.
 According to TmoNews, stores are seeing upwards of 50 units each, so it’s safe to assume T-Mobile expects this smartphone to sell fast.
It will only be $199 with a new 2-year contract and available soon so be ready and waiting with that plastic or all those pennies you’ve saved. If you’d like to wait and see what everyone (we) think before making your decision be sure to stay closely tuned to Android Community because we will have one very soon to unbox and show you in detail.

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In-app purchases coming to the Amazon Kindle Fire

Android users have been able to take advantage of in-app purchases via PayPal, Glu Mobile or the Android Market’s native tools for a while now, and Amazon is naturally going to be bringing the same capability to the Android-based Kindle Fire tablet. The online retailer is beginning a developer beta program for in-app purchasing even before the tablet goes on sale next month. Developers can request access to the program today.

The Kindle Fire uses a completely skinned/forked version of Android Gingerbread, and has precisely zero of Google’s proprietary software installed. That means that since it swaps out the Android Market for the Amazon App Store, developers selling apps for the Fire don’t have access to Google Mobile Services. Amazon’s solution will use their own extensive back-end to allow games and marketplaces to sell digital items and upgrades directly within apps.
The pre-registration form for the beta program indicates that Amazon is targeting subscription apps and one-time purchases. The form also asks applicants if they’ve used Google Checkout, PayPal or the iOS App Store for in-app purchases before, but that’s likely just for research. I can’t imagine Amazon using anything except its own checkout process for purchases on the Fire.
The Kindle Fire is currently set for a November 15th release. Amazon has already racked up more than 250,000 preorder sales.

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Pandigital SuperNova confirmed, 8-inch Gingerbread tablet for $229

It’s positively raining cheap wifi tablets lately. The big brother to the original Pandigital Nova is the SuperNova, and after munching down a Super Mushroom it’s upgraded to an 8-inch capacitive display. Unfortunately, the resolution is still a rather disappointing 800 x 600 in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The budget tablet should hit retailers soon at a price of $229.

Other hardware details include a 1Ghz single-core processor, an onboard micro-HDMI port and Bluetooth 2.1. Internal storage is 4GB with a free MicroSD slot for expansion. Pandigital doesn’t have Google’s blessing for any of their tablet offerings, so users will have to make do with the GetJar alternative app store. A few built-in apps like Barnes & Noble’s ebook store, YouTube and Adobe Flash help spruce up the Gingerbread operating system before owners download anything new. According to Pandigital’s press release, the SuperNova will be available in mid-October at retail locations across the US.
Slightly larger screen notwithstanding, it’s hard to see why anyone would pick up a SuperNova over any of its close competitors. If you’re looking for a cheap, hack-friendly tablet, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color is just $20 more (or even less if you play your cards right) and the solid HTC Flyer now provides a full Gingerbread tablet with access to the Android Market for $299. If you’re dead-set on a cheap tablet and you’ve got some spare patience, Amazon’s Kindle Fire will release in just over a month for only $199.

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Motorola Droid Bionic 4G has the specs and the price drop that could make most users take the plunge

Motorola released their Droid Bionic 4G Android smartphone recently, and it is exclusive to Verizon’s 4G LTE mobile broadband network. While it is the fourth phone to land on Verizon’s LTE 4G platform, it is the first Verizon LTE phone with a dual core processor. There is one other important designation that the Motorola Droid Bionic owns in comparison to the other three Verizon LTE 4G network handsets. Beginning with the HTC Thunderbolt, which was the first handset to arrive on the Verizon 4G LTE platform, the three handsets other than the Droid Bionic seem heavy and dense feeling, and definitely at up battery life at a rapid speed. The Motorola Droid Bionic is the lightest and thinnest of all Verizon 4G LTE handsets, and is the stingiest when it comes to battery usage.
New customers can buy the Motorola Droid Bionic for only $149 at select online retailers.
Physically it appears like most other 4G handsets, arriving in a rectangular, black slab form factor. The familiar four Android control buttons lie beneath the display when held in portrait orientation, and the screen offers a 4.3 inch qHD display. The exterior is made from heavy-duty plastic, which keeps the weight down, but doesn’t feel poorly constructed. 540 x 900 pixel resolution is offered with a coating of scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. The screen supports up to 16 million colors and multitouch gestures, and light and proximity sensors are built into the display.
The improved run time on a single battery charge approaches 11 hours, easily the best of all 4G LTE devices. A rear facing 8 megapixel camera offers dual LED flash, touch to focus, face detection features, panorama picture taking mode and autofocus, and records video in 1080P HD at up to 30 frames per second. There is also a front facing VGA quality chat cam which provides video calls as well.
Facebook, Photobucket, Picasa, Twitter and Adobe Flash​ media player software is preloaded, a dual core 1.0 GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM memory is present, a 3-D graphics hardware accelerator is also present and Google’s Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread operating system is present out-of-the-box to round out the software set. The Motorola Droid Bionic offers a microUSB port for charging the device and connecting to other peripheral electronics, a microSD slot for memory and storage expansion, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. HDMI and DLNA video out are also present.
The Motorola Droid Bionic 4G Android smartphone retails for $149 with a two-year activation and is exclusive to the Verizon wireless 4G LTE mobile broadband network.

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Best Buy Drops 16GB HTC Flyer to $100

After dropping the price of the HTC Flyer to $300, Best Buy has slashed off a couple hundred more, now offering the 16GB version of the Android slate for a mere $99.99. Of course, Best Buy’s inventory dropped just as quickly and the tablet is currently sold out for those ordering online. Not sure if the deal holds up in-store, but it is worth investigating. The Flyer might not have made the biggest splash upon its release, but it still features a high build quality and comes from a manufacturer with a proven track record in terms of Android devices. Besides, $100 is a steal for a tablet that once cost five times that much.
[via Best Buy]

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