When should I choose Samsung Galaxy S1?

Users specifically looking for a more compact 4.0-inch physical footprint. Collectors and vintage Android enthusiasts seeking the original Android 2.1 Eclair and TouchWiz 3.0 baseline hardware.

When should I choose Samsung Galaxy S2?

Demanding multitasking and mobile processing speed. Sharper visual clarity with full RGB stripe subpixel rendering. Higher-resolution photography with dedicated LED flash and 1080p video recording. Longer official software longevity and modern app compatibility. Slimmer and lighter chassis design with higher battery capacity.

What are the advantages of Samsung Galaxy S1 over Samsung Galaxy S2?

The Samsung Galaxy S1 features a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display offering baseline computing performance powered by a 1.0 GHz Hummingbird (Exynos 3110) processor.. The Samsung Galaxy S1 includes a 5.0 MP rear camera capable of capturing 720p HD video at 30 fps.. The Samsung Galaxy S1 comes equipped with a 1,500 mAh battery capacity..

What are the advantages of Samsung Galaxy S2 over Samsung Galaxy S1?

The Samsung Galaxy S2 features a dual-core 1.2 GHz Exynos 4210 processor and 1 GB of RAM, offering superior computing speed and multitasking efficiency.. The Samsung Galaxy S2 includes a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display utilizing a full RGB stripe matrix with roughly 50% more subpixels for sharper text and enhanced visual clarity.. The Samsung Galaxy S2 is equipped with an upgraded 8.0 MP rear camera with an LED flash and supports 1080p Full HD video recording at 30 fps.. The Samsung Galaxy S2 received extended software support across multiple major OS generations up to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz 4.0.. The Samsung Galaxy S2 features a slimmer 8.49 mm chassis, a lightweight 116 g build, and a larger 1,650 mAh battery..

AI comparison report

Samsung Galaxy S1 vs Samsung Galaxy S2

By CompareAI Editorial Team · Published 2026-08-27 · How we compare

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is a decisive upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy S1, delivering double the RAM, a dual-core processor, a sharper RGB display, 1080p video re…

Who wins: Samsung Galaxy S1 or Samsung Galaxy S2?

Samsung Galaxy S2 is the clear first choice across virtually every metric, delivering substantially superior computing performance, display sharpness, imaging capabilities, software longevity, and physical ergonomics over the Samsung Galaxy S1.

Based on our analysis across 5 dimensions with 20 sources, Samsung Galaxy S1 scores 5.6/10 overall while Samsung Galaxy S2 scores 8.8/10 overall.

Dimension	Samsung Galaxy S1	Samsung Galaxy S2
Processor, GPU & RAM	5/10	9/10
Display Size & Subpixel Matrix	6.5/10	9/10
Camera System & Video Recording	5.5/10	8.5/10
Software & OS Upgrade Path	4.5/10	8.5/10
Form Factor, Build & Battery Capacity	6.5/10	9/10
Overall	5.6/10	8.8/10

Should I choose Samsung Galaxy S1 or Samsung Galaxy S2?

Verdict: Samsung Galaxy S2 is the clear first choice across virtually every metric, delivering substantially superior computing performance, display sharpness, imaging capabilities, software longevity, and physical ergonomics over the Samsung Galaxy S1.

The Samsung Galaxy S2 is a decisive upgrade over the Samsung Galaxy S1, delivering double the RAM, a dual-core processor, a sharper RGB display, 1080p video recording, and extended software support in a slimmer form factor.

Across all validated dimensions, the Samsung Galaxy S2 significantly outperforms the Samsung Galaxy S1. Processing power jumps from a single-core 1.0 GHz processor with 512 MB of RAM on the Samsung Galaxy S1 to a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor with 1 GB of RAM on the Samsung Galaxy S2, doubling memory capacity. The display expands from 4.0 inches on the Samsung Galaxy S1 (using a PenTile matrix) to a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen on the Samsung Galaxy S2, featuring an RGB stripe matrix with approximately 50% more subpixels for superior sharpness. In imaging, the Samsung Galaxy S2 upgrades the Samsung Galaxy S1's 5.0 MP sensor (720p HD, no flash) to an 8.0 MP sensor with an LED flash and 1080p Full HD recording. Ergonomically, the Samsung Galaxy S2 reduces thickness from 9.9 mm to a slimmer 8.49 mm profile while weighing just 116 g and increasing battery capacity from 1,500 mAh to 1,650 mAh. Furthermore, while official software on the Samsung Galaxy S1 halted at Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread, the Samsung Galaxy S2 was supported all the way through Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, making it the superior device by every technical metric.

Best for Samsung Galaxy S1

Users specifically looking for a more compact 4.0-inch physical footprint
Collectors and vintage Android enthusiasts seeking the original Android 2.1 Eclair and TouchWiz 3.0 baseline hardware

Best for Samsung Galaxy S2

Demanding multitasking and mobile processing speed
Sharper visual clarity with full RGB stripe subpixel rendering
Higher-resolution photography with dedicated LED flash and 1080p video recording
Longer official software longevity and modern app compatibility
Slimmer and lighter chassis design with higher battery capacity

When not to compare directly

Avoid direct performance comparisons when evaluating the Samsung Galaxy S1 strictly as a historical collector's device or legacy testing platform representing the earliest generation of Galaxy hardware rather than an everyday smartphone.

What are the key differences between Samsung Galaxy S1 and Samsung Galaxy S2?

Processor, GPU & RAM

The Samsung Galaxy S2 provides superior multitasking and computing performance over the Samsung Galaxy S1 by upgrading from a single-core 1.0 GHz processor with 512 MB RAM to a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor with 1 GB RAM.
Samsung Galaxy S1: The Samsung Galaxy S1 is powered by a single-core 1.0 GHz Hummingbird (Exynos 3110) processor paired with 512 MB of RAM, delivering baseline computing performance suitable for 2010 mobile workloads.
Samsung Galaxy S2: The Samsung Galaxy S2 features a significantly more powerful dual-core 1.2 GHz Exynos 4210 processor and doubles memory capacity to 1 GB of RAM, offering superior computing speed and multitasking efficiency.
Scores — Samsung Galaxy S1: 5/10, Samsung Galaxy S2: 9/10
Hardware architecture dictates responsiveness, multitasking efficiency, and overall computing speed for applications and the operating system.
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy S (1st generation)
Display Size & Subpixel Matrix

The Samsung Galaxy S2 upgrades to a larger 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a full RGB stripe subpixel matrix, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S1 uses a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a PenTile layout.
Samsung Galaxy S1: The Samsung Galaxy S1 features a 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display with a PenTile subpixel matrix layout, resulting in lower effective subpixel density and slight fringing around fine text.
Samsung Galaxy S2: The Samsung Galaxy S2 features a larger 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display that utilizes a standard full RGB stripe matrix, increasing subpixel count by roughly 50% for sharper text and enhanced visual clarity [18].
Scores — Samsung Galaxy S1: 6.5/10, Samsung Galaxy S2: 9/10
Screen size, panel technology, and subpixel layout directly affect visual sharpness, color accuracy, and user immersion.
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Launches Faster, Clearer, and Thinner Galaxy S II
Camera System & Video Recording

The Samsung Galaxy S2 upgrades imaging performance with an 8.0 MP sensor and 1080p Full HD video recording with an LED flash, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S1 offers a 5.0 MP camera limited to 720p HD recording without a flash.
Samsung Galaxy S1: The Samsung Galaxy S1 features a 5.0 MP rear camera capable of capturing 720p HD video at 30 fps, but it lacks a dedicated LED flash.
Samsung Galaxy S2: The Samsung Galaxy S2 upgrades the imaging hardware to an 8.0 MP rear sensor with an LED flash and supports 1080p Full HD video recording at 30 fps.
Scores — Samsung Galaxy S1: 5.5/10, Samsung Galaxy S2: 8.5/10
Imaging sensors and video encoding capabilities determine the quality and resolution of captured media.
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy S (1st generation)
Software & OS Upgrade Path

While the Samsung Galaxy S1's official software upgrade path peaked at Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 3.0, the Samsung Galaxy S2 spanned multiple major OS generations to reach Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean with TouchWiz 4.0.
Samsung Galaxy S1: The Samsung Galaxy S1 launched with Android 2.1 Eclair and TouchWiz 3.0, receiving official operating system upgrades that concluded at Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread.
Samsung Galaxy S2: The Samsung Galaxy S2 debuted running Android 2.3 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0 and received extended OS support through major upgrades up to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean.
Scores — Samsung Galaxy S1: 4.5/10, Samsung Galaxy S2: 8.5/10
Operating system support and user interface enhancements impact feature availability, security, and long-term usability.
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Galaxy S (1st generation)
Form Factor, Build & Battery Capacity

The Samsung Galaxy S2 provides a slimmer 8.49 mm chassis and a larger 1,650 mAh battery compared to the Samsung Galaxy S1's 9.9 mm profile and 1,500 mAh battery capacity.
Samsung Galaxy S1: The Samsung Galaxy S1 features a 9.9 mm thick body and houses a 1,500 mAh battery.
Samsung Galaxy S2: The Samsung Galaxy S2 features a slimmer 8.49 mm chassis, a lightweight 116 g build, and a larger 1,650 mAh battery.
Scores — Samsung Galaxy S1: 6.5/10, Samsung Galaxy S2: 9/10
Chassis dimensions, weight, and battery size affect device ergonomics, portability, and operational battery life.
Sources: Samsung Galaxy S II, Samsung Launches Faster, Clearer, and Thinner Galaxy S II

What are the pros and cons of Samsung Galaxy S1 vs Samsung Galaxy S2?