HTC Sensation vs Samsung Galaxy S2

If you're looking to make sure the next phone you buy is the very best available then you've likely shortlisted a few devices and, given the current market, the HTC Sensation and Samsung Galaxy S II should be foremost on that list. But which one takes the crown as the current king of the Android smartphone? Well let's do some digging and find out!

Display

HTC's super new device sports a 4.3-inch Super LCD display that operates at a resolution of 540 x 960.  The screen is responsive and will allow you to enjoy all your media as nature intended, with vivid colours, deep blacks and pin sharp clarity, and if you tend to drop your device in your pocket with your keys, fret not, because the device comes protected with Corning's Gorilla Glass.

The Samsung Galaxy S II features the next generation of Samsung's stellar AMOLED screens, namely a Super AMOLED Plus, measuring up at 4.3-inches and also fronted by Gorilla Glass. This type of screen boasts more sub-pixels than any other on the market, which makes for a peerless level of clarity and sharpness that even the iPhone 4 and its vaunted Retina Display can't compare to.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy S II

Power

Both of these devices boast a huge amount of horsepower, and their 1.2GHz dual-core CPU's do a great job of thrashing labour intensive tasks without even breaking sweat, though the Samsung does take the tape first in terms of RAM, with 1GB installed compared to the HTC's 768MB.

That minor difference may be all that separates these two great devices but it may turn out to be critical as Android and its apps and games become more labour intensive, so don't write it off as inconsequential.

Winner - Samsung Galaxy S II

Optics

If you like to snap photos while you're on the go you'll be well catered for whichever of these devices you choose. Both come with nearly identical 8-megapixel shooters with geo-tagging, touch-focus, face detection and image stabilisation. Though the HTC boasts a dual-LED flash, over the Samsung's single LED. The Samsung evens the score with its front-facing camera though, which is 2-megapixel compared to the Sensation's VGA offering.

Both shoot 1080P video at 30FPS too!

Winner - Draw

Software

As we previously mentioned, both of these super smartphones run on Google's ubiquitous Android OS (version 2.3.3) but they are fronted by unique custom UI's which bring new apps, widgets and eye-candy to the table.

The Samsung Galaxy S II, with its TouchWiz 4.0 UI, expands on the natural good looks of Android, and offers some new features like Samsung's Hubs (for buying content such as eBooks, music and periodicals) as well as pretty tight social networking integration, supporting Twitter, Facebook, MySpace(?) & LinkedIn.

The HTC Sensation, however, comes packed with the next iteration of HTC's super smooth Sense UI (version 3.0) which, apart from being easy on the eye, offers great social networking integration, new widgets and apps. Samsung has come close with this latest version of TouchWiz, but SenseUI is still streets ahead.

Winner - HTC Sensation

Build

HTC Sensation - 126.1 x 65.4 x 11.3 mm, 148g
Samsung Galaxy S II - 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm, 116g

Coming from well respected and established companies like Samsung and HTC its pretty safe to assume that these devices will be well designed and crafted.

The Samsung Galaxy S II is made from lightweight plastics and is unbelievably thin at just 8.5mm, which may appeal to some people who don't like lugging around bulky devices but there are just as many people that will be put off by what could be construed as a 'cheap' feel.

The HTC Sensation has no such drawbacks though and is made from top quality, premium materials and weighs-in at a reassuring 148g which, while 32g heavier than the Samsung, is by no means heavy.

Overall we feel that this category comes down to personal taste. Some will prefer the thin, light and sleek feel of the Galaxy S II, while others will doubtless be drawn the HTC Sensation, for its premium good looks and more solid feel.

Whichever way you go though, you can be certain of getting a fantastic device.

Winner - Draw

So the Samsung Galaxy S II just pinches it! That wee bit of extra poke may not seem like a gulf of difference but it could be pivotal in the long-term success of the device and other than that the Samsung ticks every box in terms of features and performance. The HTC Sensation is a stunning device though, and if you're more inclined to opt for the premium looks and feel of the Taiwanese firm's device you can rest assured that you won't be sacrificing too much. In short, if you're one of the lucky ones who ends up with one of these devices gracing their pockets this summer, be prepared to be amazed!