Samsung Galaxy S II (2011): Display, Camera and Model Guide

Samsung Galaxy model archive · 2011

Galaxy S II moved the young S-series forward with a dual-core processor and Super AMOLED Plus display. It belongs to the period when Android phones were becoming faster, thinner and increasingly capable of replacing a separate compact camera.

Official Samsung archive image. Image source: Samsung.

Introduced 13 February 2011. Filed under the original announcement date. This retrospective was prepared in November 2026; shop availability may have followed later.

Generation at a glance

Announced in February 2011
Super AMOLED Plus display
Dual-core application processor
8MP rear camera with 1080p video

The jump to a more capable pocket computer

More responsive apps and better video capture are different improvements, even when they arrive together. The S II’s launch story combined both with a slim body and Android 2.3 Gingerbread. For today’s archive reader, that combination explains the phone’s role better than repeating a period claim about being the fastest or thinnest. Those comparisons belonged to a particular market and moment, and should not be read as current performance advice.

Which version is which?

Samsung used the Roman numeral II, although listings often call it S2. Regional and carrier versions can differ, so the family name alone is not enough to identify every part. This is the second main S generation, not a smaller edition of the original phone. Ask for a photo of the model information if a listing only gives a shortened name.

Looking at one today

Try the physical home key, volume controls, charging connection and camera. Check the AMOLED panel using plain backgrounds, and inspect the battery compartment for corrosion or a damaged replacement battery. An old phone may turn on successfully while still being unsuitable for your apps or carrier. Decide whether you want a collection piece or a practical spare before valuing its condition.

Before choosing an older phone, check the exact model on Samsung’s current security-update list and confirm local network compatibility.