I went to a phone store today and showed my friend this phone. As soon as he saw it, he shot me a foolish grin and said, “This doesn’t even fit in my pocket…” Which smartphone is best? the smartphone wars UPDATE: Link fixed. Since everyone but me says iPhone 5 is out this September, we have to wonder if anyone will catch up to iPhone 4 — before iPhone 5 comes out. The Samsung Galaxy S II had a real shot. But, apparently, doesn’t quite live up to the hype. Charles Arthur has an extensive review of the *Samsung Galaxy S II *. Think amazing hardware and maddening software. But damn…amazing hardware. Imagine this device built with iOS 5 and iCloud. When you’re choosing a phone, don’t be seduced by the hardware. The software is what makes it useful, or not. In particular take some time to use the phone’s keyboard, and on apps and services that you like and use a lot. You really will save yourself a lot of heartache. And don’t be fooled into believing that a bigger number on the phone OS will necessarily be better. *Engadget >*, however, suggests that the Galaxy S II may, indeed, have surpassed iPhone: It’s the best Android smartphone yet, but more importantly, it might well be the best smartphone, period. Of course, a 4.3-inch screen size won’t suit everyone, no matter how stupendously thin the device that carries it may be, and we also can’t say for sure that the Galaxy S II would justify a long-term iOS user foresaking his investment into one ecosystem and making the leap to another. Nonetheless, if you’re asking us what smartphone to buy today, unconstrained by such externalities, the Galaxy S II would be the clear choice.»
