Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus: 4.3-inch dual-core with an 8MP camera
The Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus landed in early 2013 as a refreshed take on the original Galaxy S2, one of the best-selling Android handsets of 2011. It kept the same slim profile and 4.3-inch form factor but swapped the Exynos chipset for a Broadcom BC28155 dual-core processor running at 1.2 GHz. The idea was simple: deliver a familiar Samsung experience at a more accessible price point while pushing TouchWiz and Jelly Bean into a wider slice of the mid-range market. For buyers who wanted Galaxy S styling without the premium of a Galaxy S3, this was the logical stepping stone.
In Australia, the Galaxy S2 Plus arrived through the usual channels: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone offered it on contract, while unlocked units turned up at JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, and Dick Smith Electronics. Pricing hovered around AUD $399 to $449 outright depending on storage variant, which was competitive against the iPhone 4S still commanding over $600 at the time. Shoppers weighing the outright cost against contract repayments often checked the latest smartphone deals before committing, particularly during end-of-financial-year promotions when retailers ran aggressive discounts.
What made the S2 Plus interesting for the local market was its balance. It felt like a phone designed for someone who wanted a reliable daily driver without forking out flagship money, a common mindset among Australian buyers who tended to hold onto handsets for two to three years. The combination of a dual-core CPU, microSD expansion, and a removable battery addressed real pain points that more expensive rivals sometimes ignored. As we'll see, the S2 Plus carved out a niche between budget Android offerings and the growing fleet of 5-inch flagships that were about to flood the market.
Design and display
The Galaxy S2 Plus carries forward the same understated styling that made its predecessor popular. It measures 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.9 mm and weighs just 121 grams, light enough to slip into a pocket without weighing you down during a long arvo in the city. The back panel uses the same textured hyperglaze plastic Samsung favoured at the time, which felt more premium than the glossy finishes some competitors used. Build quality was solid for the price bracket, though the removable backplate did creak slightly when pressed.
The display is a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus panel running at 480 x 800 resolution. That works out to roughly 217 pixels per inch, which sounds modest by modern standards but was perfectly serviceable for browsing, messaging, and video playback. Colours were the typical Samsung punchy, slightly oversaturated affair that polarised viewers; some loved the vibrancy, others called it cartoonish. Viewing angles were excellent thanks to AMOLED technology, and the screen remained readable outdoors, important for anyone catching a train from Central Station to Bondi Junction on a sunny Sydney morning.
Around the chassis, Samsung placed the power button on the right edge and the volume rocker on the left, with a physical home button flanked by capacitive back and menu keys below the display. The 3.5mm headphone jack sat up top, and the microUSB port was on the bottom edge, standard layout for the era. Overall, the S2 Plus felt like a refinement rather than a reinvention, and that was the point. It took a winning formula and gave it a fresh coat of paint for buyers who wanted Samsung's design language without the newer Galaxy S3's larger 4.8-inch footprint.
| Spec | Galaxy S2 Plus | Galaxy S2 (original) | Galaxy S3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus | 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus | 4.8" Super AMOLED HD |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 | 480 x 800 | 720 x 1280 |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz dual-core (Broadcom) | 1.2 GHz dual-core (Exynos) | 1.4 GHz quad-core (Exynos) |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | 8 GB + microSD | 16/32 GB + microSD | 16/32/64 GB + microSD |
| Rear camera | 8 MP | 8 MP | 8 MP |
| Battery | 1650 mAh (removable) | 1650 mAh (removable) | 2100 mAh (removable) |
| Android version | 4.1.2 Jelly Bean | 4.0 upgradable to 4.1 | 4.0 upgradable to 4.3 |
| Weight | 121 g | 116 g | 133 g |
Performance and software
Under the hood, the Galaxy S2 Plus uses a Broadcom BC28155 chipset paired with 1 GB of RAM. The dual-core CPU runs at 1.2 GHz, and the VideoCore IV GPU handles graphics duties. In real-world use, this configuration handled TouchWiz-flavoured Jelly Bean without breaking a sweat for everyday tasks. Opening apps, scrolling through Facebook, and browsing the web felt responsive, and the phone rarely stuttered when multitasking between messaging, maps, and music playback. Heavier 3D games would push the hardware, but for the average user, performance was more than adequate.
Software was Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with Samsung's TouchWiz Nature UX skin on top. This was the same generation of TouchWiz that shipped on the Galaxy S3, which meant buyers got features like Smart Stay, Direct Call, and Pop-up Play for video. Australian users appreciated the local touches Samsung included, such as weather widgets that pulled data from the Bureau of Meteorology and Samsung's own content stores. The interface felt busy compared to stock Jelly Bean, but it offered enough customisation to satisfy tinkerers who liked tweaking their setup.
Storage was one area where the S2 Plus showed its budget origins. Out of the box, only 8 GB of internal storage was available, and after the OS and TouchWiz ate their share, users were left with around 4-5 GB of usable space. The microSD card slot accepted cards up to 64 GB officially, which solved the storage problem for most people, especially those carrying around large music libraries or capturing video on holidays in Queensland. The phone also supported USB On-The-Go through an adapter, a handy feature for transferring files from a camera or USB stick when travelling.
Camera capabilities
The Galaxy S2 Plus sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and a single LED flash. In good lighting, the camera produced sharp, well-exposed shots with the colour saturation that Samsung's image processing was known for. Photos taken outdoors around Melbourne's laneways or on a hike in the Blue Mountains showed good detail and decent dynamic range, though the HDR mode available through the menu helped with high-contrast scenes. The shutter was reasonably quick, making it easy to capture candid moments at a footy match or a family barbie.
Low-light performance was where the camera showed its age. The single LED flash was underpowered for anything beyond arm's length, and noise crept into indoor shots taken at pubs or restaurants without flash. Samsung's night mode helped somewhat, but it required a steady hand to avoid blur. Video recording topped out at 720p at 30 frames per second, which was acceptable for the time but felt limiting compared to the 1080p recording that newer flagships were starting to offer. There was no slow-motion mode, which became a standard feature on later Galaxy models.
The front-facing camera was a modest 2-megapixel unit, suitable for video calls over Skype or the occasional self-portrait. It lacked the wide-angle field of view that later selfie-focused phones adopted, so group shots were a squeeze. Camera software included Samsung's typical suite of scene modes, panorama, and a few colour effects, all accessible from a side panel in the viewfinder. For sharing on social media or printing standard 4x6 inch photos, the S2 Plus camera was more than capable, even if it didn't challenge dedicated compact cameras.
Battery life and connectivity
Powering the Galaxy S2 Plus is a 1650 mAh removable battery, modest by today's standards but reasonable for a phone with a 4.3-inch screen and dual-core processor. In practice, the phone comfortably lasted a full day of moderate use, including some web browsing, messaging, occasional calls, and music streaming during a train commute from Parramatta to the CBD. Heavy users who spent hours on gaming or video would need a top-up by late afternoon, and the battery indicator would start flashing red by evening. The removable back cover made swapping in a spare battery straightforward, a feature that has largely disappeared from modern handsets.
Connectivity options were typical for the era. The phone supported 3G HSPA+ for fast mobile data on Telstra's 850 MHz band, Optus's 900/2100 MHz bands, and Vodafone's 900/2100 MHz setup, meaning coverage was solid across Australian networks. Wi-Fi b/g/n was included, as was Bluetooth 4.0 with apt-X support for higher-quality wireless audio. GPS was on board for navigation, though the initial lock could take a minute or two without assistance data. NFC was conspicuously absent, which was one of the trade-offs buyers accepted at this price point.
The Galaxy S2 Plus was available in single-SIM and dual-SIM variants in some markets, though Australia primarily received the single-SIM model. Charging was via the microUSB port on the bottom edge, and there was no wireless charging or fast charging support, features that didn't arrive on Samsung phones until much later. The 3.5mm headphone jack up top supported standard headphones and the in-line remotes that came with Samsung's own earbuds. For a mid-range handset of its time, the connectivity suite covered the essentials without overselling on features most people wouldn't use.
Value proposition and alternatives
When the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus launched in Australia, it slotted into a crowded mid-range market that included devices like the HTC One X, the Sony Xperia S, and the incoming wave of 5-inch Android phones. Compared to the original Galaxy S2, the Plus model offered updated software and a slightly faster chipset, though the swap from Exynos to Broadcom divided opinion. Some preferred the newer software support window, while others missed the Exynos silicon's slightly better graphics performance. Pricing in Australia made it a compelling option for buyers who wanted a Samsung experience without paying Galaxy S3 money.
Alternatives from other brands included the LG Optimus L7, which offered a similar 4.3-inch screen but with a more conservative design, and the Huawei Ascend G600, which packed a larger battery into a similar footprint. The iPhone 4S remained the premium alternative for those willing to spend more, though its 3.5-inch screen felt small next to the growing Android competition. For shoppers specifically after larger screens on a budget, a phablet-style option worth considering is the Lenovo A850, a 5.5-inch dual-SIM phablet that landed in similar budget territory and offered a different take on the value handset formula.
The Galaxy S2 Plus remained a sensible pick for users who valued battery swappability, expandable storage, and Samsung's feature-rich software over bleeding-edge specs. It also held up well as a secondary device for travel, thanks to its compact size and reliable performance. Many Australian households bought one as a first smartphone for an older relative or a teenager, since the forgiving interface and sturdy build handled the odd drop or spill without complaint.
Looking back, the Galaxy S2 Plus represents a transitional moment in smartphone evolution. It wasn't flashy, but it didn't need to be. It delivered a polished Android experience, a capable 8MP camera, and a dual-core processor in a package that felt familiar and approachable. For buyers who wanted a dependable handset without overspending, it ticked the boxes that mattered most, and it helped bridge the gap between budget Android offerings and the flagship models that defined the next few years.
For more releases from this era and detailed spec sheets for dozens of handsets, New Mobile Arrivals remains the go-to resource for Australian buyers tracking the mid-2010s smartphone landscape.