The Motorola Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S II are two smartphones from 2011 that target very different users: the Pro is a QWERTY business phone with a modest 3.1-inch display, while the Galaxy S II is a flagship multimedia phone with a large 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen and a much faster dual-core processor. In short, the Galaxy S II outperforms the Pro in nearly every hardware category, but the Pro offers a physical keyboard and a more compact, productivity-focused design.
Design and Build
The Motorola Pro (also known as the Motorola Pro+ in some regions) features a candybar design with a slide-out four-row QWERTY keyboard. It measures 119.5 x 62 x 11.7 mm and weighs 134 g, making it relatively compact and easy to type on with two thumbs. The keyboard is the main selling point: keys are well-spaced and provide tactile feedback, which appeals to people who send a lot of emails or messages.
The Samsung Galaxy S II, by contrast, is a slim touchscreen slab with dimensions of 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm and a weight of 116 g. It has no physical keyboard; all input is via the 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen. The phone feels premium for its time, with a plastic battery cover that mimics brushed metal. Its larger size makes it better for media consumption but less pocketable than the Pro.
Display and Multimedia
The Galaxy S II features a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a resolution of 480×800 pixels (WVGA). The Super AMOLED Plus technology uses a traditional RGB subpixel layout, which results in sharper text and more accurate colors than the older PenTile AMOLED screens. It is bright, has deep blacks, and offers wide viewing angles, making it excellent for watching videos and browsing photos.
The Motorola Pro has a 3.1-inch TFT LCD display with the same 480×800 resolution. While the pixel density is slightly higher (about 301 ppi vs 217 ppi on the S II), the screen is much smaller and less vibrant. Colors are less saturated, and sunlight legibility is worse. For any media consumption, the Galaxy S II is clearly superior.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Galaxy S II is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz Samsung Exynos 4210 processor with a Mali-400 MP4 GPU and 1 GB of RAM. This combination was one of the fastest in 2011, handling heavy games, multitasking, and HD video playback with ease. The Motorola Pro uses a single-core 1 GHz TI OMAP 3630 processor with a PowerVR SGX530 GPU and 512 MB of RAM. It is adequate for basic tasks like email, calls, and light web browsing, but it stutters with modern apps and struggles with multitasking.
Storage options also differ: the Galaxy S II comes with 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32 GB (officially). The Motorola Pro has 4 GB of internal storage (about 2 GB user-accessible) and also supports microSD cards. If you plan to store music, movies, or apps, the S II is the better choice.
Software and User Experience
Both phones launched with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). Samsung added its TouchWiz 4.0 skin, which introduced features like motion gestures, a customizable notification bar, and a robust media hub. Motorola used a near-stock Android interface with some business-oriented additions, such as a unified messaging app and a document editor (Quickoffice).
The Galaxy S II received official updates to Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and later to Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) in some regions. The Motorola Pro was updated to Android 2.3.6, and an official Ice Cream Sandwich update was announced but never widely released. This means the Pro is stuck on an older, less secure version of Android, while the S II can run a slightly more modern OS.
Camera and Battery
The Galaxy S II has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash, and 1080p video recording at 30 fps. It also has a 2-megapixel front camera for video calls. The camera performs well in daylight and produces detailed, color-accurate photos for its era.
The Motorola Pro has a 5-megapixel rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, capable of 720p video recording. There is also a VGA front camera. Image quality is acceptable but noticeably noisier in low light. The Pro’s battery is rated at 1550 mAh, while the Galaxy S II has a 1650 mAh battery. In real-world use, the S II’s more efficient processor and larger battery give it slightly better endurance, though both phones may need daily charging with heavy use.
Connectivity and Business Features
Both phones support HSPA+ (21 Mbps), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, and microUSB. The Galaxy S II adds Wi-Fi Direct and MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) for HDMI output via a special cable. The Motorola Pro emphasizes enterprise security: it supports Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, device encryption, and remote wipe, and it includes a dedicated push-to-talk button in some versions.
The Pro’s physical keyboard and smaller size make it a better fit for one-handed typing and quick email replies. However, the S II’s faster processor and larger screen allow for more efficient document editing and web-based productivity tools. For heavy email users, the Pro’s keyboard is a genuine advantage; for everyone else, the S II is more versatile.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose the Motorola Pro if:
- You send a high volume of emails or messages and prefer a physical QWERTY keyboard.
- You want a compact phone that is easy to use with one hand.
- You need basic enterprise security features and don’t require high-end performance.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy S II if:
- You want a large, vibrant screen for watching videos, playing games, and browsing the web.
- You need fast performance for multitasking and heavier apps.
- You plan to keep the phone for a while and want better software update support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Motorola Pro run modern apps? No. The single-core processor and 512 MB RAM are insufficient for most current apps, which often require at least Android 4.0 and a dual-core CPU. You will experience frequent crashes and lag.
Is the Galaxy S II still usable today? As a phone, yes—calls, texts, and basic web browsing work. However, the old Android version lacks security patches, and many apps no longer support it. It is not recommended for banking or sensitive tasks.
Which phone has a better keyboard? The Motorola Pro, obviously, because it has a physical QWERTY keyboard. The Galaxy S II only has an on-screen keyboard, which some users find less accurate for long typing sessions.
Can I replace the battery in both phones? Yes, both have removable batteries. This is a plus for users who want to carry a spare or replace an aging battery.
Do these phones support 4G LTE? No. Both are 3G HSPA+ devices. If you need 4G LTE, you would need to look at later models like the Galaxy S III or newer.
Is the Galaxy S II worth buying in 2024? Only as a collector’s item or for offline use. Its hardware is outdated, and the lack of security updates makes it unsafe for internet use. The Motorola Pro is even less viable due to its weaker specs.
Related
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