The Samsung i9000 Galaxy S is a high end Android Smartphone with a very large 4 inch 800x 480 super AMOLED touchscreen and a 1GHz processor. As far as Android smartphones go, the Samsung Galaxy S appears to be at the very top of the pile.

In addition to the large screen and the fast processor, the Galaxy S boasts 3.5Gsupport with maximum download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps and uploads of up to 5.76 Mbps plus Wi-Fi connectivity with support for 802.11n networks as well as the more traditional b and g wireless LANs.

On the back of the Samsung Galaxy S is a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus, this can also record HD 720p video at 30 frames per second. Because this is a Samsung, there are obviously loads of goodies included with the camera including a panoramic shot, stop motion and cartoon shot functions.

Multimedia support on the Samsung Galaxy S is comprehensive, including all major formats including MP3, Windows Media, DivX, OGG, AAC and a whole lot more. There is also an FM radio player for listening to music or news on the go, on your favourite radio stations. GPS with A-GPS support and a digital compass are built in, with the large screen making it ideal for navigation purposes.

The reworked Android 2.1 user interface has been especially modified to give the Samsung Galaxy S a unique look and feel, whilst providing it with a highly customisable user interface. Loads of apps are available for download from the Android Market. Social networking features and some personal information management tools are provided in addition to the base Android OS you would find in other Android phones.

Because of the large screen size, it is obviously not the smallest handset in the world, at 122x 54x 9.9mm, but despite this, it is very lightweight at just 118 grams making pocket friendly and it will easily fit into a handbag. Its light weight also makes it comfortable to hold and use, and it is worth noting that it is certainly compact enough to be operated with one hand, with all areas of the screen within easy reach of your thumb.

A useful feature is the battery, which has a long standby and usage life, which is great news for those who have owned an Android phone before. Already hailed by many as an “iPhone beater”, it offers a great alternative to some of the more established smartphones which are available, thanks to its high levels of functionality and versatility.