Samsung recently launched a refresh of the Galaxy S II handset, calling it the Galaxy S II Plus.  In reality, it is really a refresh of the software features of the Galaxy S II since the hardware has remained the same for the most part.

Samsung’s strategy is sometimes questionable.  It is fine to issue updated versions of devices but with the Galaxy S II, it doesn’t seem natural since there is already a Galaxy S III in the market.  The Galaxy S II is a fine device, I must admit, but releasing an updated version mostly with software updates does not seem logical.  A simple software update could have simply been made available to current owners, even for a fee if Samsung’s intention really was to earn something from it.

In any case, the Samsung Galaxy S II Plus still has the same display, the same processor and the same cameras.  In particular, the display of the Galaxy S II is a 4.3-inch WVGA(480×800) Super AMOLED Plus, the same type we saw on the Galaxy S II.  The handset is still powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor,  still packs an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, and is still powered by a 1650 mAh battery.   The internal storage has been surprisingly downgraded as it now only features an 8GB memory while the original version had 16GB and 32GB variants.  The Galaxy S II Plus has no 4G or LTE connectivity, so it’s basically still a 3G device.

As previously mentioned, the main upgrades are software-related.  The Galaxy S II Plus now runs Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) with a nature-inspired user-interface similar to what we see in the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II devices.  The Galaxy S II Plus also now features Direct Call, Smart Stay, Smart Alert, Popup Video, S Voice and Voice Unlock.

Considering the availability of Samsung’s flagship handsets like the Galaxy S III and the Galaxy Note II, the Samsung Galaxy S II Plus is most likely geared towards the budget-conscious market.  If priced right, the Galaxy S II Plus could sell well despite its aging specs.

Samsung Galaxy S II Specs