Consumer Reports gives top marks to Samsung Galaxy S2

Samsung Electronics` Galaxy S2 smartphone has won top honors in the latest edition of Consumer Reports magazine of the U.S.

The Galaxy S2 was rated the best smartphone for subscribers of the three main mobile carriers in the U.S. -- AT&T, Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile. For Verizon, the only major U.S. mobile carrier that did not release the S2, the consumer watchdog recommended Droid Bionic, an Android-powered smartphone made by Motorola.

The magazine lauded the S2 for its speedy 4G access, sleek design, large and brilliant display and long battery life. The smartphone received the top scores for its 4.3-inch high definition screen, quick messaging and comfortable Web browsing, enhanced camera function, deployment of front-facing camera, video chatting, 4G network and a host of Android-based functions.

The S2, however, received low scores for a relatively bigger screen, lower call reception quality, a virtual keypad with no physical buttons, and difficulty in accessing the memory card. On a scale of 100, Galaxy S was rated 80 for AT&T, 79 for T Mobile and 76 for Sprint.

Other Samsung smartphones also scored well, with Infuse 4G and Galaxy S 4G both ranking second for AT&T and T Mobile. Samsung had six of the 12 most recommended smartphones ranked in the top three of the four major U.S. mobile operators.

LG Electronics’ Revolution and Thrill 4G ranked third on the list of smartphones recommended to subscribers of Verizon and AT&T.

Apple’s iPhone 4S scored 73, ranking fourth on the list recommended to AT&T subscribers but failed to break in the top five of other mobile operators` smartphone lists. Consumer Reports gave the iPhone 4S props for its Siri voice activation technology and upgraded camera, adding the model is free of the call reception problem of its predecessor.

The magazine, however, said these pluses were not enough to allow the iPhone 4S to outscore the best new Android-based phones in the ratings because of lack of quick compose for messages and one-button quick dialing.

jaeyuna@donga.com