Samsung Galaxy S III Hands-on
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Inspired by nature's beauty, Samsung has tried to recreate that kind of awesomeness with the design of the S III. The body of the device resembles a smoothly-curved pebble, while the interface features ripple-like lock screen animation. But it's not only that - some of the new features related to how you interact with the device are also inspired by nature, but more on that later.
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As we said, the shape of the device is curved - a radical departure from the S II's rectangular appearance. The back side is still plastic - none of the ceramics stuff that was rumored, although it still feels quite decent to the touch. It's a firm, glossy plastic – nothing out of the ordinary.
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The front is dominated by a large 4.8" HD Super AMOLED screen – significantly bigger than the 4.3" panel of the S II. As you've probably noticed, there isn't a "Plus" in the name of the screen tech, hinting that it's based on PenTile matrix. The good news is that with these HD resolutions that we now have, being based on PenTile really doesn't mean much – the image quality is still great! Of course, the display is so detailed that you can easily make out the smallest detail.
Camera-wise, the S III is equipped with an 8MP sensor, which is now BSI for superior low-light performance, and features zero shutter lag, allowing you to take lots of photos without delay inbetween. Naturally, we'll have to wait and see just how good the photos and video are, but we really have our hopes high for this camera.
Many of you are probably wondering what processor the Galaxy S III has, and the answer is as expected – a quad-core Exynos processor, although it isn't specified at this time exactly which model it is. The processor is clocked at 1.4GHz – enough to support everything you throw at it.
On the software front Samsung isn't surprising us. The Galaxy S III runs Android 4 ICS, covered with TouchWiz. There aren't that many differences between this version of TouchWiz and the previous one, but there sure are some very features added. For example, The Galaxy S III has S Voice – which is a Siri wannabe, so to speak. It will listen to your vocal input and will do the stuff you ask it for. For example, you may ask it what's the weather today, and it will respond with a forecast. Ask it to start the camera for you, because you want to take a picture – and it will. We'll see if it's good enough to beat Siri in a direct one-on-on fight!
Another example is the S Beam functionality, which allows you to transfer media like photos and vidieo between compatible devices using Wi-Fi Direct and NFC. Yet another bonus feature is AllShare, allows you to stream the same content on multiple devices.
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Galaxy S III vs iPhone 4S/4 | ||
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Galaxy S III vs Galaxy S II | ||
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Galaxy S III vs Galaxy Nexus | ||
There are some more special, usability-centric tweaks that we really find very intriguing. For example, the S III will have that strange habit of tracking your eyes using the FF camera. And, imagine that it's late and you're reading a book. You don't feel like sleeping yet, so you keep on reading. However, every once in a while the screen will go dark, forcing you to touch it in order to bring the book back. Well, with the Galaxy S III that shouldn't happen, as it will be looking in your eyes and since it will see that you're looking at the screen – it won't let it turn off. The same goes for the opposite situation – if you fall asleep, the Galaxy S III will notice that and will turn its screen off as well.
In addition, Samsung has concocted a nice little equalizer feature that will attempt to fix the frequency range of low-quality calls.
So, when you'll be finally able to hold the Galaxy S III in your hands? Relatively soon – starting May 29, the Galaxy S III will be available in Europe and Asia. Release dates for the U.S. carrier versions of the phone are yet to be announced, but this should happen sooner compared to what happened last year.
Finally, we'd like to say that the S III shapes up as a killer handset – both hardware- and software-wise. We're looking forward to reviewing it and bringing you even more details about its new features!
Samsung Galaxy S III screenshots Fullscreen
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How close did the rumor mongers get to the actual Samsung Galaxy S III 
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97 Comments
1. jordan30589 posted on 03 May 2012, 17:37 28 7
I love the new Galaxy, I admit the One X looks better but the S3 kills it on everything else. And btw, i like the white version better I dont know about you guys.
14. andro. posted on 03 May 2012, 18:03 17 0
I agreed the s3 in white white looks better, The htc one x is a better design also
32. taz89 posted on 03 May 2012, 19:45 8 5
Agree one looks better but I don't buy phones on the basis of looks.
35. metoyou posted on 03 May 2012, 20:05 2 1
I was disappointed about the phone design as well...arrrgg but still gonna get this quad version of S3 :) the white version look nice tho
was considering OneX but two things drive me away is non-removable battery (i dont care what others think about!) and no expansive card support!
37. metoyou posted on 03 May 2012, 20:17 0 0
Oops
Expansion hehe
43. cheetah2k posted on 03 May 2012, 21:06 4 2
Looks nice, but after all the hype, I'm kinda underwhelmed to be honest. Looking at the initial benchmarks, I thought the Exynos would be faster than the global One X's Tegra III too, but instead its just on par or slightly slower.
I think the SGS 2's unveiling had a much larger impact.
Hopefully Samsung can introduce the i9800 with quad A15's later in the year :) Now that would be sweeeet!
51. Retro-touch posted on 04 May 2012, 00:41 2 0
Found the actual performance preview and yes confirms S3 is the fastest:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5810/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-performance-preview
91. darkknight posted on 09 May 2012, 16:57 0 0
No matter what you or we like or great, phonearena people will say copmaring to iphone the sgsIII is great but still IP is better.
2. good2great posted on 03 May 2012, 17:39 12 2
touch wiz is soooooooooooooo cheezy!!! aaaarrrghh!! haha
good thing android is big on custom ROMS...
but my god this phone is nice!
if i was up for an upgrade it would be hard to decide SGS3 or HTC OneX
i'm sure sammy will sell plenty!
11. rallyguy posted on 03 May 2012, 18:01 11 2
They will sell a lot. If the S3 and X One were even to me I would go with the HTC every time. Samsung sucks at putting out updates.
38. remixfa posted on 03 May 2012, 20:24 6 7
umm. samsung is beating HTC when it comes to ICS upgrades. The SGS2 already has it and is spreading it around. Wheres the Amaze/evo/sensation ICS upgrades?
44. wendygarett (limited) 4 days ago posted on 03 May 2012, 21:26 3 0
you mean galaxy nexus? lol
63. leftheodo posted on 04 May 2012, 06:46 0 0
The sensation (international version) got the update BEFORE the galaxy s 2. Where's the OG Galaxy S's update? Cause the DHD and Des S are getting ICS officialy :P
67. remixfa posted on 04 May 2012, 11:20 1 0
the sgs1 is 2 years old. talk to me when those other devices actually get the update not just a rumor of an update.
besides the sgs1 was one of the first devices ICS was unofficially ported to. I've been running ICS since early December and I waitied 7 versions before jumping on.
64. Hunt3rj2 posted on 04 May 2012, 11:02 1 0
You're wrong.
Amaze 4G, Sensation/Sensation XE, Vivid/Raider 4G, Rezound, and Sensation XL already got ICS updates or leaked updates.
Samsung has pushed updates only to the international SGS2.
HTC is supporting their Desire HD, Desire S, Incredible S/Incredible 2, Thunderbolt, and the Rhyme. The only phones not getting ICS upgrades are because they literally do not have the internal storage to hold ICS and be able to install applications. (OG Desire, Evo 4G, Droid Inc1, etc.)
66. remixfa posted on 04 May 2012, 11:17 1 1
hunter, I work for T-Mobile .. not a single tmobile HTC phone has the update officially.. in fact I don't think any American HTC device does.
all Samsung devices that are getting ics have unnofficial updates as well.. Samsung freely gives them to the community throughwww.samsungfirmware.com.
the difference is Samsung devices are already in official upgrade roll out stages for at least its flagship with the rest shortly behind where HTC is still in testing phases
71. Hunt3rj2 posted on 04 May 2012, 13:19 0 1
The Vivid already has ICS, the Amaze has a leaked build available, and the Sensation 4G can run the WWE release for ICS with everything but wifi calling fully functional.
Learn more about the products you sell.
74. remixfa posted on 04 May 2012, 15:52 1 1
1) i dont sell the Vivid
2) I SAID OFFICIAL UPDATE, LEARN TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
3) 90% of actual customers have no idea how to root and install roms, so it DOESNT MATTER. If its not official, its not official.. period.
4) I have no idea what a "WWE ICS" is, but the sensation does not have an OFFICIAL release.
why do people always try to buck up to me with wrong info?? if your going to challenge me on something and throw some sass, please do your homework first.
76. Hunt3rj2 posted on 04 May 2012, 17:02 0 0
1. Then don't make broad generalizations.
2. They're functionally the same when you have a leaked ruu. Just up to the customer to download and run it at their own risk.
3. Those who care can get it without rooting or risking warranty as long as there is a leaked ruu.
4. The WWE is worldwide English rom versions, and the Sensation 4G is exactly the same as international variants with only changed antennas.
78. KParks23 posted on 04 May 2012, 20:53 1 1
Yea remixfa. enjoy making ur 10$ a hour and coming to phone arena acting like a hard ass throwing around ur knowledge on tmobile phones lmao!!
79. u-suck-more posted on 04 May 2012, 21:07 1 0
sensations already got the update before the update for the S2 was announced lol. my friend updated his Sansation XE in February
28. andro. posted on 03 May 2012, 19:21 6 0
Thats the beauty of android,you don't like one launcher or style,you can simply download a completely different launcher and ui for your phone
39. remixfa posted on 03 May 2012, 20:24 5 1
exactly. Thats why hardware is more important to me than anything else with android. I can change it however i want, but i cant change the hardware.
65. Hunt3rj2 posted on 04 May 2012, 11:04 0 0
Too bad the versions sold in the US will have S4 Krait anyway.
68. remixfa posted on 04 May 2012, 11:21 1 1
I'm not buying an Lte version.
nor am I buying an s4 downgraded version.
5. gwuhua1984 posted on 03 May 2012, 17:49 7 2
I think the UI looks way better than ever. I love the clock on the lock screen.
6. Non_Sequitur posted on 03 May 2012, 17:54 5 0
Look at Ray S. over here comparing the SGSIII to the iPhone 4S first. :P
7. matrix_neo posted on 03 May 2012, 17:54 4 4
I don't care if most of you disappointed coz it some or never met your expectations., I still like the new galaxy s 3. Samsung has done something that make it differentiate itself from other android phones.. each of us has its own preference and needs in a phone, added features in s3 really give a nice impression. Lets just wait once it is released, it might change your wrong impression. Nice job Sammy..
8. Saamic posted on 03 May 2012, 17:55 4 3
The UI of motorola's phones looks the nicest in my opinion.
I just like more edgy artificial futuristic UIs
10. Cosmo posted on 03 May 2012, 17:58 12 6
what an ugly phone.. disappointing.. HTC One X nailed it.. but nothing can still beat Apple and BlackBerry when it comes to hardware.. NOKIA's catching up too.. at the end of the day, it's not just the processor nor the OS because how the fone looks like still matter A LOT..
13. rallyguy posted on 03 May 2012, 18:03 7 0
The Iphone was passed awhile ago. Now it has to play catch up.
24. sun0066 posted on 03 May 2012, 18:55 2 5
what a foolish comment. after all it look really good and specs wise .
31. Mario1017 posted on 03 May 2012, 19:40 3 3
how is it a foolish question? 1. it isnt a question, 2. the s3 is really ugly, everyone can agree on that
33. taz89 posted on 03 May 2012, 19:47 5 0
Ugly to one person can be beautiful to another... Design and look is opinion based and not fact...So. E have said they like it and some said they don't.
45. chadrick0814 posted on 03 May 2012, 22:06 2 0
Thanks for speaking for everyone.
46. ananya22 posted on 03 May 2012, 22:16 2 0
You fool do you even know what hardware is? Guessing from your stupid comment i am guessing by hardware you mean the body and the looks of the phone. hardware means the screen,processor,camera, ram , memory. i dont know why people like you who dont know a thing comment. The only people who come anywhere close to the hardware on samsung phones is htc and motorola. and apple is ok but nokia and blackberry put s**t hardware in there in their phones. this is in response to comment no. 10 by a stupid jack***
12. andro. posted on 03 May 2012, 18:02 5 1
Im actually not that impressed with the design,it very so-so. The features and the spec are very impressive though. I'll have to wait till i have it to test in my hands in a couple of weeks before i make my judgement.
One thing i do wish they had made made better were samsungs icons,however the beauty of android is you can change icons to any style you like!
16. deeoh1084 posted on 03 May 2012, 18:13 2 9
wow it looks better than i expected to be i really didn't
expect much about the looks but wow this really blew my mind
i love it!!! June here i come!!! i hope at least one of the US
Versions will come with Quad Core that's really all i care about
at least ONE CARRIER has to carry the awesome Quad Core
Exynos processor at least ONE!! please!!! I like it much better
than the One X to be honest (i'm sick and tired of HTC phones'
design they all look a lot similar recently IMO) i'm not bashing HTC
b/c i own Sensation 4G!!!
17. TROLL posted on 03 May 2012, 18:15 7 4
What an ugly nast looking curvy phone yuck
i love the s2 design more it dosent look
modern stylish or neat or sexy ....
18. intos posted on 03 May 2012, 18:23 1 1
i really want to know who the f... tell them that the galaxy nexus s have nice and sexy shape that they copy to galaxy s3 ???... finally i will keep my sweet bold 9900 ...
19. CivicSi89 posted on 03 May 2012, 18:28 0 0
So. This new Exynos Chip. Can it do LTE? I know the Tegra 3 couldnt thats why we got the Dual Core version in the states. But no one has said that the ExynosX4 cant do LTE. If it can. then oh boy.... This is decimate all by just powering on!
21. cheeseycheeser posted on 03 May 2012, 18:42 1 1
SOOOO exacited for this phone!! but it's just meh. Nothing super exciting. The UI looks worse then before IMO. But I need to see it in store. And I don't feel so great about the One X after being burned by the TBolt.
23. remixfa posted on 03 May 2012, 18:49 2 0
look.. its one of the nicer sgs3 articles of the day..
and its by ray S! maybe that will quell some of the ray hate... lol
25. som posted on 03 May 2012, 18:55 0 0
Whoever complaints about design and looks go ahead buy a different brand if it is better than Samsung's components and features.
26. xtian1103 posted on 03 May 2012, 18:58 0 0
i think taco and remixfa should instead bet on the 1st week sales of the galaxy SIII against apple's 4s. since many are saying this phone will break record sales. whatcha think?
40. remixfa posted on 03 May 2012, 20:27 3 1
thats a bad bet. Breaking record android sales are not breaking record sales over all. It will break android sales. When you want the top of the line iphone, you have 1 choice. when you want a top of the line android, you have like 10 choices.
However unless something drastically changes, my prediction is the galaxy4 is the first phone to beat an iphone (5 or 5s) in head to head sales.
27. protozeloz posted on 03 May 2012, 18:59 0 0
I wish the contact and call app could look better, i can change those tho.
29. nikhil.agrawal88 posted on 03 May 2012, 19:21 4 3
definitely the most powerful..but still one the worst looking..
30. andyboi_ph posted on 03 May 2012, 19:22 1 0
wow! , another first.. awesome feature from S3. >> "it will be looking in your eyes and since it will see that you're looking at the screen – it won't let it turn off."
52. SherlockHolmes posted on 04 May 2012, 01:00 0 0
It will drain more battery as camera would be up all the time !!
58. andyboi_ph posted on 04 May 2012, 03:42 1 0
i don't usually read for long hours on e-book so it won't be an issue to me though you're correct.
34. NovaRift posted on 03 May 2012, 19:58 1 0
Im loving this phone, one thing i am concerned about is the fact that we will probably be getting the S4 qualcomm dual core processor here in the states... Also that phone arena hates mobile browsing. Fix your ads so that i can actually close them while browsing on my nexus or i will stick to phonedog lol
