Samsung Galaxy S2 w/ NFC Indian Version Quick Review (UPDATE: No NFC [for now])

[Tanmay®]

Hey,

I finally got my SGS2 and its awesome!

https://picasaweb.google.com/tanmay.sonawane/SamsungGalaxyS2

I won't go into reviews and stuffs thats already been reviewed and said over 100 times.

I'll just jot down whatever the Indian version has different from its other brothers.

1. So apparently the Indian version ships with a Samsung Leather Case (as seen in the pic below among other standard accessories) :

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Rm_zEUrNlkE4djMA-JLVBg?feat=directlink

2. The Indian version seems to come pre-installed with the XWKE8 update. Correct me if wrong but afaik XWKE7 is the latest.

3. The NFC was so far the highlight feature but I'm still not able to find any mention of it anywhere. If our XDA Korean members can help me find out, that'd be great!

A test with an Application called ZDevice Test was unable to detect the presence of a NFC Chip.

4. Contrary to rumors I didn't find any 8Gb SD Card preinstalled.

5. No Music Hub.

I'll post more as and when I find any differences.

If you have any doubts of your own, feel free to ask! I'm prolly gonna be up all night

Cheers!


Edit:

I took a pic of the back. And I guess this is the NFC Sensor? Can anyone confirm this?

http://cl.ly/3Y2R080f3D0k1A392S0Q/NFC_.jpg

Edit 2:

Ok so I'm pretty sure (according to all comments) the Indian version DOES NOT have NFC. Samsung India gave us false dreams and broke our hearts!

Edit 3:

Ok I've done some initial tests with the battery and there are 2 scenarios:

1. (Yesterday) 1am to 10am (on Standby) : AirPlane Mode On : Battery Drain just 4% (from 60% to 56%)

2. (Today) 3am to 10am (on Standby) : Power Save Mode On : Battery Drain 26% (from 30% to 4%)

So inshort the Android System battery bug exists. Here's a screenshot of the battery tool for usage from 1pm June 3 to 10 am June 4 :

Edit 4 :

According to Letsbuy, the official retail partner for selling the SGS2 in India, NFC will be activated in the Future Ice Cream Sandwich update.

Samsung India Update 04-Jun-2011: All the handsets purchased from Letsbuy.com on pre-order shall be equipped with ON board NFC chipset,Which shall be usable after upgrade of OS Android 3.0 honeycomb(Code name Ice Cream Sandwitch).(Future Update)

Well the credibility of this post is not yet known. Check out the above reply made here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14446675&postcount=2411

Edit 5 :

According to this article. NFC Sensor is embedded onto the body in SGS2 as opposed to the backpanel in Nexus S.

So we still might stand a chance with Indian SGS2's having NFC.

http://www.nfc.cc/archives/588

 

[bharat_xda]

Do you see the yellow tinge on the left with a gray background and low brightness?

Edit: And congrats on being the first of us here to get the Indian version and making the rest of jealous

 

[Tanmay®]

Yes there is a slight yellow tint when you check it with this page : http://fiddle.jshell.net/qFxsC/1/show/

Looks like this is a global issue and every SGS2 produced so far will have it.

But let me add that this is in no way a major issue.

With normal phone usage I bet it's impossible (if at all) to notice.

I assure you, any normal user, if not told about this yellow tint will not even come to know. Its that unnoticeable!

 

[bharat_xda]

Thanks for the confirmation.

Was hoping against hope that they'd have fixed it in later production batches, however doesn't look like it.

Enjoy the phone!

 

[bharat_xda]

Yes there is a slight yellow tint when you check it with this page : http://fiddle.jshell.net/qFxsC/1/show/
....
But let me add that this is in no way a major issue.

With normal phone usage I bet it's impossible (if at all) to notice.

I assure you, any normal user, if not told about this yellow tint will not even come to know. Its that unnoticeable!

Yeah, I agree, looks like it's very minor in most of the cases reported here.

Hope you don't have any of the other possible defects being mentioned here.

 

[JSAHITA]

No yellow tint on my mobile

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

 

[Tanmay®]

Yea none as of now.

There's no dead or stuck pixel So I'm bit relieved about that!

 

[bharat_xda]

No yellow tint on my mobile

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

Maybe you're not able to see it(which is a blessing in disguise!).

People here are yet to see a picture of a screen without that issue although the severity seems to vary.

 

[Techvir]

Can u list the bands please.

Sent from my Dell Streak using XDA Premium App

 

[Aero]

Can you post a pic of the back and the back cover?

 

[Chronicles404]

Do you have the Pink Camera Spot problem?

And I don't think the i9100 will have NFC unfortunately, only the i9101.

 

[androidsos]

Hi Tanmay, Congrats! I want to know how does it feel in the hand - too big, manageable, will get used to? I know this has been done to death, but still would like to know.

 

[JSAHITA]

Hi tanmay for how much time you charged it

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

 

[hacksome]

Hi Tanmay!.. Congrats again
Can you post a pic of the backplate and battery?.. Then I can figure out (I've developed on NFC hardware earlier in my Job) if the NFC Antenna are there. Please do.

 

[Tanmay®]

I've posted a pic of the back. There's a tiny sensor which looks like the NFC sensor to me.

The back cover however, is all plastic and there's no mark or anything like that on the plastic back.

 

[kalpik]

I've posted a pic of the back. There's a tiny sensor which looks like the NFC sensor to me.

The back cover however, is all plastic and there's no mark or anything like that on the plastic back.

That's not the NFC sensor

 

[Tanmay®]

Ohh well. Then I'm afraid the Indian version too doesn't have NFC.

 

[AnDruid]

Is not having NFC a big issue? Would those NFC stickers be inferior in any way?
BTW just to confirm, are there any other known differences in the version being sold in India (I9100) and elsewhere(I9101 and I9103 etc)? I am planning to get it here in India.
This thread and other websites seem to suggest NFC chip is the only difference:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103256

BTW does anyone here have any feedback on the Indian mobile retail chain Univercell, they seem to have a pretty reasonable price (if along with a crappy website).

 

[Ghostbustersin]

Ohh well. Then I'm afraid the Indian version too doesn't have NFC.

This is how NFC is embedded in Nexus S,

Does your SGS2 posses anything similar on the back cover?

P.S.
To read more about NFC and how it is attached in Nexus S & how it works, heres an article that might help you,
http://www.anandtech.com/Show/Index...ndroid-23-review-gingerbread-for-the-holidays

 

[Ghostbustersin]

And, if you can't find this under settings -> Wireless & Network Settings, then we should get register a complaint against Samsung for cheating us,