Samsung Galaxy S2 gets Jelly Bean next month, not in UK yet

By Rich Trenholm on 16 January 2013, 1:18pm

Jelly Bean is coming to the Samsung Galaxy S2 in February. But when it's coming to this country -- and to your phone -- is anybody's guess.

Samsung told CNET that Android 4.1 Jelly Bean will be made available to owners of the S2 at the beginning of February -- in Singapore. The rest of the world? Cross your fingers.

At least we know the now-ageing S2 can run Jelly Bean. Released in 2011, the S2 is nearly two years old. In technology years, the thing's Joan Rivers.

Jelly Bean has already come to the S2 -- sort of. Last week the Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus was announced, loaded with the very latest Android 4.2.1 software. Currently not set for Britain, the S2 Plus is on paper the same as the S2, with no hike in the main hardware: it has the same specs for processor, camera and screen.

When -- or if -- that happens is unclear. I've contacted Samsung here in the UK, but haven't had any confirmation. Perhaps Samsung has learned not to write cheques its update schedule can't cash, after the original S2 was at the centre of a storm of controversy over the update to Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung certainly got Jelly Bean to the Samsung Galaxy S3 sharpish, so here's hoping we won't have to wait too long for the S2 to follow suit.

With 40 million S2s sold, there's bound to be a few people out there who would be excited to give their phone a new lease of life with an Android update. Would you like to see Jelly Bean on your S2? Does the S2 still hold its own against today's range of rivals? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our up to date Facebook page.

Comments 25

Add your comment

Chris Denton 'Ichi' 16 January, 2013 14:22

Hopefully the Jellybean update comes to the UK. The S2 is still a very good handset. Still a lot of support for it in the Android developer community.

anonymous 16 January, 2013 14:55

And what about the galaxy note n7000!!! Why the hell does cnet etc forget about the note FFS!!! i hate samsungs update policy. And when my contract ends i will NOT get another shitsung..
Screw the s2 this s2 that

anonymous 16 January, 2013 15:13

Yes yes yes, S2 is still more than capable device that's still being sold around the world. I got a S2 when the S3 came out for next to nothing, and I'll be getting a S3 when the SIV comes out.

anonymous 16 January, 2013 16:28

We already know that the S2 can run Jelly Bean. My friend installed CM10.1 which is Jelly Bean 4.2.1... He is using a Galaxy S which is has a single core processor, and that runs perfectly. I have also installed the leaked S2 XXLSJ rom and apart from a few minor bugs was a daily driver. I might take my friends advice, stop waiting around and jump ton 4.2.1 instead of waiting for an outdated update.

Damien2501 16 January, 2013 16:33

The Galaxy S2 is one of the best selling phones in the UK in December 2012, I doubt most people care about the updates. In its current form with ICS it offers a great range of apps and brilliant hardware. Nevertheless, I'd like to see Samsung endorse alternative methods of getting updates-I'd love to know how to root my Galaxy S1 and install ICS & JB on it!

anonymous 16 January, 2013 18:56

I'm running XXLSJ 4.1.2. On my S2 along with the Jeboo kernel for around a month now, its pretty flawless. The I9100 is made for Jellybean.

anonymous 16 January, 2013 19:59

Bear in mind, once the S2 plus comes out with 4.2.1 the devs will have no problem in copying the improvements between 4.1 and 4.2.x across, so should see very good S2 4.2 roms being built once the S2 plus sources are out.

Stuart Perchard 16 January, 2013 22:31

got fed up of waiting, Wasn't this promised last for November? Now got myself a Nexus 4 and well pleased. I wonder if Samy will keep there crown this year, with the likes of Sony Xperia Z, Huawei Ascend P2 and HTC M7 to name a few, should be interesting this year, somehow I think they have a real fight on there hands

anonymous 16 January, 2013 22:59

Age doesnt matter. I just got the phone and I really want the Jellybean update because the ICS update gives me bugs such as wifi issues. My dad has the S3 and I think it runs pretty smoothly just like the newer version

anonymous 17 January, 2013 02:23

I truly hope that Samsung gives the update to the S2 Skyrocket as well, If they don't that not only would be considered a huge rip off but would truly make me feel as though I'm done with Samsung. But I'm sure they'll come to their senses and give the update to the note and the Skyrocket as well.

anonymous 17 January, 2013 11:33

Samsung customer support is terrible. I have Tab 8.9 stuck on Honeycomb and an S2 on ICS. I will be rooting them both and sticking on CM10 at some point. When the contract is up Samsung can go whistle.

anonymous 17 January, 2013 20:18

Crap samsung...not releasing the jelly bean update to note n7000

anonymous 17 January, 2013 21:26

Samsungs update policy is awful,its never been good on updates and if we get jelly bean on the s2,it'll likely be the last update! For that phone,why the hell do people have to pay a fortune for a 2 year deal where your phone ends up being old and not updatable anymore,apple are not the best anymore but they keep updates on time and support their phones for longer!

anonymous 20 January, 2013 10:46

Hope my s2 skyrocket gets jellybean too
......

anonymous 1 February, 2013 12:18

Update samsung galaxy s ii with official jelly bean
http://easyandroidsolutions.blogspot.com/2013/01/update-samsung-galaxy-s-ii-i9100-with.html

anonymous 1 March, 2013 19:46

After this update my phone just didn't turn on anymore for a few days.. And now it turned on again but I can't use it becuase it's all the time stuck!!!!!:(

anonymous 7 March, 2013 06:21

Download the update manually from Sammobile and install via odin.

anonymous 7 March, 2013 20:28

looooooooooooooool "Shitsung"

anonymous 13 March, 2013 14:51

This is a world of nerds and dorms.

anonymous 26 March, 2013 14:30

recently my galaxy s2 was accidentally thrown out by someone in the cement floor with all its glory....unforuntelly yes the amoled was broken lots of cracks inside but replace it with the new one lcd worth 6,500 peso here in the philippines...but happy only the lcd was crush out...as in were forcefully thrown out with force...we check up; coz there was no power maybe due to its lcd were smashed out inside but the motherboard was intact and in good condition..buy now its still in good faith were using it and all was fine....unbelievable S2 ...galaxy is great inspite what happened!..

anonymous 26 March, 2013 14:30

anonymous 26 March, 2013 14:31

anonymous 26 March, 2013 14:32

anonymous 7 May, 2013 19:50

So 4 months on and still no Jelly Bean. "Jelly Bean is coming to the Samsung Galaxy S2 in February." Why this is an underestimation. I waited for over 2 months to get ICS. I have noticed that a friends S2 has Jelly Bean. This is on O2. I am a loyal Samsung fan, but at this rate I am going LG or SONY.