Boost Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is mighty impressive, doing everything you'd expect of a smart phone, and doing it quite well.
The incredibly thin and sleek Samsung Galaxy S II runs Android 4 and measures 5.1" by 2.7" by .38". It weighs just 4.6 ounces, though it's a bit hard to carry in a pocket due to its dimensions. That rather large size gives you a 4.62" Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen that makes for magnificent movie and video viewing.
The phone's high-end 8 MP camera and 1080P HD camcorder don't disappoint, offering excellent photos and videos. It also has a 2 MP front-facing camera for video chat.
Its 16 GB of internal memory gives you plenty of space for installing all the apps you could want plus storing hundreds of photos. I recommend using Dropbox to effortlessly sync your phone's photos with your computer, so you never have to worry about emailing large files to yourself.
Games like Words With Friends, Bad Piggies and Angry Birds look phenomenal on the Galaxy S II, as do movies and videos. YouTube videos and HBOGO movies load quickly on Wi-Fi and play smoothly. Both sound and display impress when watching videos such as the outrageously popular "Gangham Style" YouTube video or HBOGO movies such as "Rio." Colors pop with vivid detail and offer a comfortable viewing experience.
The S II's onscreen keyboard offers dual-function keys so you can hold in a letter to get a number or symbol, which can speed your typing once you get used to it. You can also use voice commands for just about anything, including searching the Web and composing messages.
Emails and messages are easy on the eyes with the Galaxy S II's crisp, clear text, and I had no trouble setting up email accounts.
You should get decent battery life on the Galaxy S II, especially if you don't leave many programs running in the background. While Android 4 seems better at managing battery life than previous Android incarnations, I still recommend exiting programs before stowing the phone in a briefcase so that you don't unnecessarily exhaust the battery before you're ready to charge it.
Monthly unlimited talk and text plans with Boost Mobile start at $55 per month and can decrease to as low as $40 with 18 months of on-time payments.
Boost Mobile doesn't charge extra for going over their 2.5 GB monthly data allotment, but they do slow down the speed significantly. This won't affect the majority of users, especially if you use Wi-Fi when you can. However, you can easily check of your data usage under Settings, Usage, or download a free widget such as 3G Watchdog (which actually tracks both 4G and 3G usage).
Boost's Galaxy S II supports Sprint's 4G WiMAX network, but I've had trouble picking up a WiMAX signal on other Sprint-network phones I've tested. Also, Sprint has largely abandoned the old WiMAX technology in favor of building their 4G LTE network. The S II, however, does pick up WiMAX sometimes, but not consistently. When it grabs a WiMAX connection, it's definitely faster than 3G, though not as zippy as most Wi-Fi.
If you'll need frequent access to a reliable mobile network, I recommend trying a friend's phone that uses the Sprint network in your neighborhood to make sure you have adequate coverage.
Android 4 phones do seem to make better use of Sprint's 3G mobile network, though. The Android 4 phones I've tested pick up a strong 3G signal in places that other Android phones don't. Many people use Wi-Fi much of the time anyway, and would do so even if they had a 4G LTE phone with a two-year contract and a pricy, low-limit data plan.
The phone's main drawback is its $369.99 pricetag. While you'd still save money over the long term with a Boost Mobile Galaxy S II, you might also be happy with a less expensive Samsung phone on one of Sprint's prepaid carriers, such as the Samsung Galaxy Reverb or Galaxy Rush.
Virgin Mobile, another of Sprint's prepaid carriers, recently started offering the Galaxy S II for the same price, with plans starting at $35 per month for 300 voice minutes, unlimited texting and 2.5 GB of full-speed data.
Prepaid phones are a relatively painless way to save money on your monthly bills. They're also great for teenagers, since you won't have to worry about being charged extra for going over data, voice or texting limits. Boost Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S II is a fantastic phone that stands tall despite having a somewhat spiffier successor available with the major mobile carriers.
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