Samsung Galaxy S II (S2) vs BlackBerry Bold 9900

The smartphone of the moment is without doubt the Samsung Galaxy S II or S2, and we’ve posted many articles on this impressive Android handset. Recent posts included a review roundup where the experts were similarly impressed, and a look at the Galaxy S II vs. the LG Optimus Black. Now though we wanted to look at another comparison, this time the Samsung Galaxy S II (S2) vs. the BlackBerry Bold 9900 to see if there’s a sure winner.

The BlackBerry Bold 9900 (aka the Bold Touch) is for the T-Mobile HSPA+ 4G network and will also be available with a GSM/CDMA variant, the 9930. We have already given you details of a summer release for this handset and some news of reviews. As a very brief specs recap the Bold 9900 will have a 1.2GHz Snapdragon single-core processor, 2.8-inch VGA display, five-megapixel rear camera with 720p HD video capture, 768MB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage (expandable to 32GB with Micro SD card). The operating system will be BlackBerry OS 7 and it also features a QWERTY keyboard.

For the Galaxy S II a specs recap includes a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, the latest Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel rear camera, 16/32GB storage and 1GB of RAM. At first glance on specs we’d have to say that the Galaxy S II is ahead although the BlackBerry Bold 9900 is no doubt a decent enough powerful BlackBerry handset.

Over on Know Your Mobile, Paul Briden has conducted an in-depth comparison of these two phones split into categories with a win, lose or draw given for each section and we thought it would be interesting to see what he has to say and give you a rundown. On form factor there’s really no contest and the Galaxy S II easily wins this one. For the display the Galaxy S II takes it again. It’s Super AMOLED display came in for wide praise in reviews and it seems, rightly so.

We’ve already mentioned the storage and the Galaxy S II is once more way out in front with that optional 16 or 32GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. As far as operating systems go the two handsets come out with a draw. The Galaxy S II has the latest Android Gingerbread OS but the Bold Touch 9900 has the latest BlackBerry OS 7. For processor, once again it has to be the Galaxy S II with its 1.2GHz dual-core as opposed to the 1GHz single core of the Bold 9900. Best camera winner is also the Galaxy S II, pretty obvious given the earlier specs we gave you.

In conclusion then the Galaxy S II takes the victory fairly easily and pretty much sweeps the board. That’s not to say the Bold 9900 is not a good handset, it’s a fairly solid respectable smartphone. That said, it’s not really in the same league as the Galaxy S II, which is set to take the world by storm with sales targets of 10 million. What are your thoughts on these two handsets? Would anything persuade you to choose the BlackBerry Bold 9900 over the Samsung Galaxy S II? Send us your comments to let us know.

Rumor: iOS 5 will not be available for iPhone 3GS

Such is the way of technology. Just two years after its release, the iPhone 3GS may be deemed "too old" for Apple's next iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 5.

Mobile phone blogger Eldar Murtazin, from the Russian site Mobile-Review, stated frankly in a tweet recently (via MacStories): "Just one comment. Apple iPhone 3GS wont be upgradable to iOS 5.x. iPhone 4 will."

The comment did not come with a follow-up on sources of the information and could very well just be an educated guess on Murtazin's part. Whether fact or fiction, the true issue is on the table: will your iPhone 3GS remain relevant once iOS 5 comes to market?

My guess is no. You can see the performance difference in normal usage between a 3GS and an iPhone 4 already. Once you fire up a graphically intense application or game, the difference is stark.

It is likely that iOS 5 will include many advanced features that require heavy lifting from the graphics department, and the iPhone 3GS simply won't cut it. Rather than going through a performance-based customer service debacle like Apple did when it released iOS 3 for the original iPhone or iOS 4 for the iPhone 3G, I think Apple will just leave the 3GS off the list of compatible iPhones for iOS 5.

What do you think? Should Apple keep the iPhone 3GS relevant with iOS 5, or move on and leave it in the dust? Let me know in the comments!