Samsung 2000 mAh extended battery pack for Galaxy S II
Samsung released a 2000 mAh battery for the Galaxy S II some time ago, and I got myself one and have been monitoring its battery life since.
The original battery that ships with the S II packs already quite impressive 1650 mAh, but that's not enough for some people. It gives you a decent battery life, but only if you let it sit on your desk. So, how did the 350 mAh bigger battery perform? Really well, actually.
Specs and retail box content
Many people who are familiar with batteries, know the bigger the mAh, the thicker the battery. The battery is 1.2 mm thicker than the original one, and it requires a roomier back cover. Kindly enough Samsung decided to include it in the box. The speaker on the back in the bottom of the phone bulges out with the standard battery and back cover, but with the bigger battery and new back cover, the treshold between the back and speaker bulge is gone.
S II with old back cover - with new back cover
This makes the phone feel different, but most of all it also makes it easier to hold in hands. The super thin phone is hard to hold in hands when, for example, taking pictures. The phone becomes a little heavier, but don't worry. Just a little. Only 8 grams, actually.
Also another thing, too, I think Samsung should've thought about during designing the phone, is that the camera lens isn't recessed in any way. The camera department protrudes from the back, and the camera lens glass is on the same level as the camera module body. That makes the lens really voulnerable to scratches, which I already have noticed. Well, now I'm really happy. The new back cover recesses the camera module and thus protects the lens from scratching.
Daily performance, compared to the original battery
I must say that I wasn't too convinced about the battery life improvement, as the battery is only about 20 % bigger than the original. Having a prejudice about that, the actual improvement kind of hit me in the face. The battery life is amazing.
If I ever used my phone more than I usually did, I would be standing at 30 % or so at the end of the workday. With the bigger battery, I'm running strong with more than half left. In fact, I haven't managed to deplete the battery, or then again, I just haven't used the phone enough.
Having this bigger battery in addition to the original one gives you the advantage of being able to replace a dead battery and don't need to hang around a power outlet with a charger all the time. If your battery says kaput, just switch batteries and you're good to go. This, because I believe there are people who use their phone way more intensively than I do.
There's really nothing bad I could say about the purchase, since the price is quite reasonable at 29.90 euros, considering it is a high quality Samsung battery with a back cover. I've seen battery covers for the S II sold for 20 euros, so that's a quite nice deal.
My rating
My rating is based on how the battery also makes the phone feel different, not only increasing the battery life.
Battery life improvement
The battery life improvement is great, but there's always room for more. That's why 4 stars.
Hardware changes
Perfect.
Overall rating
Please share your opinions and experiences with this battery!
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Nikosite