FOR this issue of LIFT, I tried to seek out the most up-to-date technological device.  Impossible, you say?  Well I found it: the Samsung Galaxy SII.

Weighing next to nothing, with a slimmer casing and a larger screen (4.3 inches), the Samsung Galaxy SII is the newest smart phone put out by the mobile phone giant. 

The phone was inaugurated in mid-2011 and launched in Cambodian markets two weeks ago, poised to compete with other smart phones such as the iPhone 4, HTC and Sony’s Xperia.

The logical successor to last year’s Samsung S, the Galaxy II is the company’s first dual-core phone, with more than two million applications available for download.  

Holding the Samsung Galaxy SII in your hand, one is immediately reminded of the iPhone 4.  They have similar shapes, and both have one big button centered at the bottom of the phone.

There are also two touch-sensitive buttons next to the main one, marked Menu and Back.  During my tests, I was surprised and impressed by how sensitive the SII’s touch-screen was.

I was also impressed by the all-plastic design, which helps cut down on the phone’s weight.  

This smart phone stands out for its high resolution screen and the ability to display multiple images at once.  Worried about the weather, interested in the news, stalking your friends?  You can see the forecast, those crazy pictures from last night, and CNN top news all on the same display.

Similar to other smart phones, the SII contains two cameras each with an LED flash.  The camera on the back of the phone has eight megapixels, the one on the front has two.  The Galaxy SII uses an 1650 mAh battery, which has a longer life than the original Galaxy S.

In my opinion, the SII’s large screen is fairly bulky.  But for those who enjoy movies or HD games, the 16GB storage capacity will be helpful.  You also have the opportunity to add up to 32GB of internal storage.  

The phone seems ideal for men to use, but the size of the phone is bigger than the average woman’s palm in my opinion, and may pose some inconveniences in that respect.

Priced at around $620, the SII is considered a fairly reasonable buy, especially when compared to other popular smart phones nowadays.  Still, that’s a huge amount of money for young people still being supported by their parents.  

But if you can afford it, everyone should experience the outstanding features of the Samsung Galaxy SII.