Samsung Galaxy 3 Review
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The TouchWiz 3.0 interface on the Samsung Galaxy 3, as well as the menus and core apps are looking absolutely the same like the ones we explored in detail in the Galaxy S review. The only quirk we noticed at first look was a white instead of black background in the calendar, which aggregates events from your Facebook or corporate Outlook/Exchange schedules as well.
There are up to seven homescreens for widget, shortcut and folder placement. One of the good ideas in the making of TouchWiz 3.0 was to include connectivity switches right in the notification bar, which can be rolled down from every page. On the Galaxy 3 we have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and vibration toggle, and we found ourselves constantly using that function instead of the stock Android widget for which you have to navigate to a home screen.
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The interface of the Samsung Galaxy 3 | |||
The Activities tab in the Contacts app shows an aggregate view of all your communications history, regardless of the source and means of that communication – calls, texts, email, Facebook messages, etc. These communication stories are visible also in the history tab of each contact, but are restricted to your interactions with her or him only. You can even enter the media tab from a single contact view, and it will show you the latest albums they have uploaded on Facebook, for example. That's how deep Samsung's Social Hub goes – it is the company's response to Sony Ericsson's Timescape and HTC's FriendStream, and we'd dare to say we found it very useful.
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Contacts |
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Calendar | ||
The Email app coming with TouchWiz 3.0 still doesn't offer a way to setup the number of messages and their size to be downloaded. Typing messages on the Galaxy 3 is a bit uncomfortable on account of the 3.2” canvas, but the on-screen keyboard is quite good by default, so this is not a dealbreaker. The handset also includes Swype – a popular text entry method where you finger slides from one letter to the next without lifting it off and form words. It is quite speedy once you get used to it.
The TouchWiz interface as a whole feels silky smooth, despite the phone having a 667MHz CPU.
Internet and Connectivity:
The default WebKit-based browser renders even heavy pages quickly and reflows the text to fit on the small screen with ease. Kinetic scrolling on heavy pages is choppy, however, due to the hardware limitations (or software imperfections). When zoomed in, though, the page fluidly scrolls in all directions. The Galaxy 3 is getting updated to Android 2.2, as Samsung promised, so the browser will show Adobe Flash as well, which, of course, can't make up for the lag and meager WQVGA resolution beaming a pixelated webpage.
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The default WebKit-based browser renders even heavy pages quickly | |
The phone has a full range of connectivity options (3G, Wi-Fi b/g/n, GPS, FM radio), including Bluetooth 3.0. With A-GPS we locked signal quickly, and were using Google Maps Navigation mere seconds after we fired it up.
Camera and Multimedia:
There is no dedicated camera button on the Galaxy 3, and no flash of any kind to complement the 3MP shooter. The camera interface offers a range of preset scene modes, as well as useful shooting modes such as panorama, continuous shooting and smile detection. The 3MP snaps are actually not bad for the resolution since the camera captures enough detail with true colors and decent focus. The manual touch focus doesn't always lock the object properly, and the pictures often get blurry as a result.
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Camera interface | ||
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Outdoor samples | |||
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Strong | Medium | Low light |
Indoor samples | ||
Video capture is QVGA with the choppy 15fps, so the Galaxy 3 won't replace your standalone camera soon, but at least the colors are accurate.
Samsung Galaxy 3 sample video at 320x240 pixels resolution.
Some 3D effects in the gallery grid are present in the Galaxy 3, but indexing files and scrolling through pages with multimedia suffered because of the slower CPU. Pictures and videos, of course, don't look anything like on a Super AMOLED screen, though they still look fine.
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Some 3D effects in the gallery grid are present in the Samsung Galaxy 3 | |
The excellent music player we found in the Galaxy S is present here as well, and, what is more important, its 5.1 channel surround sound in headset mode was intact, too. The tabs on the top allow sifting through your collection by artist, album and playlists, or display all at once. Landscape mode brings along some eye candy like CD cover flow or an alphabetical wheel, to pick your music poison. Sharing the song via email or Bluetooth is done from the context menu while playing. The current song keeps going in the background when the screen is locked, and you can even pull down the notification area then to display the controls.
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Music player | |
Samsung is great in video format support, and the Galaxy 3 is no exception – it plays DivX/XviD out of the box. Videos run all the way up to the 720x480 resolution, and only afterwards the phone gave us a warning that it can't play the file.
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55 Comments
1. umpalumpa (unregistered) posted on 20 Oct 2010, 01:55 0 0
hey. the i5700 has a better review that this one. should i bye the older one or whait for another test of the i5800? they cost nearly the same. the stores say it will come tomorow and some 5800 cost just 210€ in germany.
2. Adi (unregistered) posted on 19 Aug 2010, 13:44 0 0
Buy the Samsung Galaxy 3 (i5800).. the Galaxy Spica has a better screen but this phone has more RAM, Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi-n and it'll soon receive Android 2.2 (Froyo) update..
3. max (unregistered) posted on 20 Aug 2010, 04:58 0 0
Froyo is the only advantage it has. When I compared screen with spica(i5700)......spica resolution and clarity was way better. overall I liked spica, but with few more bucks u can get wildfire(n few more u will get motorla milestone: ) )....what a conundrum!
4. rajuking06 posted on 27 Aug 2010, 12:17 0 0
i want to buy the Samsung I5801 or I5800 Galaxy3 ( Apollo) I am from india i think in india they are calling Samsung I5801 Galaxy Apollo . i have seen that this mobile comes with Android OS 2.1 (Eclair) and it can update to Android OS 2.2 (Froyo) , Pleas give me the info that Samsung I5801 or I5800 Galaxy3 ( Apollo) Really upgradable to Android v2.2 "Help me in this "
5. binu (unregistered) posted on 30 Aug 2010, 04:49 0 0
in india only i5800 galaxy3 is available, it costs 11500rs(street price) in cochin. they promises about the upgradation to 2.2 froyo but no offical sites reported the same. anyways they have already announced galaxy s will be getting a upgrade by 4th quarter of 2010 so lets hope galaxy3 also get a upgrade along with it.
13. sreenath (unregistered) posted on 15 Sep 2010, 04:15 0 0
i just bought the samsung galaxy i5801 from bangalore for 12.2k. the only difference between i5800 is the touch sensitive buttons which i5801 has. its the best mid range android phone below 20k in the market right now. I am hugely satisfied with the experience. Only the camera doesnt do justice to the specs, rest all features are up there with the best.
6. Aman Sanghvi (unregistered) posted on 02 Sep 2010, 04:11 0 0
hey i have a problem with galaxy 3's messaging.... if i want to send a message of 4 or more den 4 pages...it automatically converts into a multemedia msg....it is not sent as a text msg but rather it is sent as a multemedia msg....wats d problem??? PLZ HELP
7. sahithi (unregistered) posted on 04 Sep 2010, 02:13 0 0
hey im from india...if ny1 who already bought dis galaxy 3 i5800 plz let me knw itz drawbacks...itz very imp 4 me plzzz...coz i jst lvd d look of dis mobile wanna buy if itz worthy nuf...
10. know (unregistered) posted on 12 Sep 2010, 04:02 0 0
its really nice phone, i bought it yesterday and it has everything.
57. Jayanta Kr. Bal (unregistered) posted on 09 Sep 2011, 15:27 0 0
I have also bought Galaxy 3 (I5801) in in last month but the battery back-up is bad. If I call continue for only 2 hrs then battery charge level decreases to 0% from 100%.
What about your set? you are facing the same problem?
Or it is only my fault? though I have change battery and also updated the software but the problem is still there.
Please let me as soon as possible
11. Newbytes (unregistered) posted on 13 Sep 2010, 07:20 0 0
Poor Battery Life. Otherwise great phone. I am also using Iphone 3G, so u can just think what a great phone would it be.
8. Srikanth G (unregistered) posted on 06 Sep 2010, 01:26 0 0
I purchased Samsung Galaxy 3 GT-I5801 model. To my shock it supports 3G but not video calling. By seeing 3G in the spec, I thought video calling is also there. I now feel I should have purchased samsung monte instead.
9. parik (unregistered) posted on 08 Sep 2010, 08:05 0 0
what are you saying man this is a smartphone you cant compare it with monte monte stands no chance against this
12. Srikanth G (unregistered) posted on 14 Sep 2010, 05:39 0 0
It is misleading to speak about 3G when they cannot provide video calling facility. What then is the use of a 3G phone? They should actually mention that they are not providing video calling. When monte can push emails and sync contacts, task list , appointments etc., what is so smart about a smart phone?
17. sonijd (unregistered) posted on 26 Sep 2010, 00:19 0 0
hi, I've bought galaxy 3 abt 10 days back...initially i faced issues with the battery but got used to save battery by closing apps that run in background.I'm facing problems with internet surfing...wifi automatically switches off :-( and samsung have a pathetic customer service. I have not been able to get the exact gprs setttings for vodafone - india. As per vodafone, GPRS is not committed for android devices..i'm able to acces a few applications using gprs..but android market and gmail app dsnt work.. if anyone facing any of these issues or any solution to this please email me at soni.jd@gmail.com
20. Aby (unregistered) posted on 16 Oct 2010, 23:36 0 0
Vodafone offers 2 types of GPRS(1 normal and extended), using extended GPRS you can access AndMarket and other GApps, but it is obviously expensive than normal 1 ...tested on MotoMilestone
14. bilal (unregistered) posted on 18 Sep 2010, 05:05 0 0
Does samsung galaxy 3 has games???......coz no there is no review for games on ne of d sites dat i visited. Can ne one plz answer my question? i'm thinkin of buying this fone...
15. heymark (unregistered) posted on 23 Sep 2010, 12:32 0 0
where can i buy galaxy 3 here in philippines?
47. jy (unregistered) posted on 12 May 2011, 01:28 0 0
on the store .. . . just joking try on the samsung store at SM Manila
16. Debashish (unregistered) posted on 25 Sep 2010, 20:37 0 0
this is great 3g android phone in the market within this range.itz features are great.worth buying.
21. Krishna Atreya (unregistered) posted on 18 Oct 2010, 08:40 0 0
can anyone suggest me which phone to buy... Samsung Monte or Samsung Galaxy 3 I5800. How do we come to know It is I5800.. Plz help me in this...
24. @$h!$h (unregistered) posted on 27 Oct 2010, 00:46 0 0
From India, Do consider Lg optimus One P500 (Not Yet Available....but can wait for....Big Bang over i5800/i5801 coz.....build with 512 RAM, 2.2 Froya, 320x480 resolution with capacitive sreen ..... Divx/Xvid...too. Lg Audio quality is always superior with samsung....Trust Me.... Approx INR 13500/- (+ - 200/-) ...Realeasing end of Nov'10... Need Full Details ....Google It. @ Ashish @
25. DUBAKKOOR (unregistered) posted on 27 Oct 2010, 08:05 0 0
Samsung Galaxy 3 GT-I5801
This phones battery performance is very very poor. It takes more than 3.30hrs to get fully charged. The power doesn't last even a day. When it reaches 50%, chances are that it may go down to 5% very shortly. Samsung has released the phone without proper factory testing. Samsung claims it is a powerful battery but what is the use. I have followed all battery calliberation methods while charging but of no use. Fresh buyers be cautious about this problem with the phone. I think samsung will stop production of this model all of sudden. It is better for samsung if they follow stringent factory testings before it reaches stores.
34. VP (unregistered) posted on 05 Nov 2010, 07:04 0 0
For prolonging battery life and battery meter calibration first time, you can switch off the phone and then charge for 3 to 4 hours one time and then switch it on. It really worked for me for longer battery life after doing it one time initially.
26. DUBAKKOOR (unregistered) posted on 27 Oct 2010, 08:06 0 0
Samsung Galaxy 3 GT-I5801
This phones battery performance is very very poor. It takes more than 3.30hrs to get fully charged. The power doesn't last even a day. When it reaches 50%, chances are that it may go down to 5% very shortly. Samsung has released the phone without proper factory testing. Samsung claims it is a powerful battery but what is the use. I have followed all battery calliberation methods while charging but of no use. Fresh buyers be cautious about this problem with the phone. I think samsung will stop production of this model all of sudden. It is better for samsung if they follow stringent factory testings before it reaches stores.
27. bose (unregistered) posted on 28 Oct 2010, 22:38 0 0
Samsung galaxy is better than other this type mobile
28. inglorious_engg (unregistered) posted on 28 Oct 2010, 23:54 0 0
I am going to buy this phone tomorrow.Guys please help me out with my following queries.
1)I am purchasing 16 gb card instead 2 gb (which is free with the phone). i know its supported to 32 gb but still Will it affect the performance of the phone if i full it wid approx 10-12 gb?
2) I use Idea GPRS. When i called them yesterday,whether they have GPRS settings for the phone,they seemed doubtful for that.So is there any possibilities that i cant use GPRS after purchassing the phone. Idea Users Please help.
3)For how long time i will have to charge battery initially?
4)Is there any special stylus available for this phone?
Please reply as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance..
29. inglorious_engg (unregistered) posted on 28 Oct 2010, 23:55 0 0
I am going to buy this phone tomorrow.Guys please help me out with my following queries.
1)I am purchasing 16 gb card instead 2 gb (which is free with the phone). i know its supported to 32 gb but still Will it affect the performance of the phone if i full it wid approx 10-12 gb?
2) I use Idea GPRS. When i called them yesterday,whether they have GPRS settings for the phone,they seemed doubtful for that.So is there any possibilities that i cant use GPRS after purchassing the phone. Idea Users Please help.
3)For how long time i will have to charge battery initially?
4)Is there any special stylus available for this phone?
Please reply as soon as possible.
Thanks in advance..
30. Arun s (unregistered) posted on 31 Oct 2010, 02:09 0 0
1) The phone takes ages to scan through even a 2 gb card(almost full) on startup, but after that it doesn't take anytime whatsoever to access the files.
2)U may ask them for manual settings, which u can easily setup.
3)Battery charging takes atleast 3 hrs or more depending on the amt of charge left
4)No stylus needed, its got a capacitive touch screen.
32. VP (unregistered) posted on 05 Nov 2010, 06:56 0 0
1. 2 GB or 16 GB or 32 GB, performance does not affect. During every boot scanning may take it longer. It does it in back ground. So it does not matter.
2. GPRS setting basic or advanced of Idea should work with out any hitch. I'm using Vodafone GPRS with out any issue of any setting. Switch to GSM instead of WCDMA
3. For prolonging better battery life and battery meter calibration first time, you can switch off the phone and then charge for 3 to 4 hours and then switch it on. It really worked for me for longer battery life after doing it one time initially.
4. Stylus is not needed. You can use the screen in landscape mode for better typing.
All the best...
33. VP (unregistered) posted on 05 Nov 2010, 07:02 0 0
For prolonging better battery life and battery meter calibration first time, you can switch off the phone and then charge for 3 to 4 hours one time and then switch it on. It really worked for me for longer battery life after doing it one time initially.
35. asp (unregistered) posted on 21 Nov 2010, 05:59 0 0
I bought samsung galaxy 3 (I5801) during September in India. To my great dissatisfaction, battery life is VERY poor...with minimal calling time, battery drains out within a day (in fact within 12-13 hrs)...despite repeated visits to samsung service center there is not much help. In fact service center guys misled me with phone usage at times. Service support is pathatic. BTW: does anyone know if GPS function in I5801 require data plan to be active with mobile service provider OR is GPS receiver integrated & can be used despite not having 3 G connect or data plan / GPRS with service provider?
36. asp (unregistered) posted on 21 Nov 2010, 06:01 0 0
I bought samsung galaxy 3 (I5801) during September in India. To my great dissatisfaction, battery life is VERY poor...with minimal calling time, battery drains out within a day (in fact within 12-13 hrs)...despite repeated visits to samsung service center there is not much help. In fact service center guys misled me with phone usage at times. Service support is pathatic. BTW: does anyone know if GPS function in I5801 require data plan to be active with mobile service provider OR is GPS receiver integrated & can be used despite not having 3 G connect or data plan / GPRS with service provider?
37. Tabrez (unregistered) posted on 22 Nov 2010, 12:23 0 0
I have this phone and I give 6 out of 10 this because samsung feedback is worst than indian government they forgot about this phone to updates for froyo ... So buy lg optimus one 10 out of 9 to the lg optimus one go for it
And there is no live wallpaper...believe me it will never get froyo android 2.2
38. Tabrez (unregistered) posted on 22 Nov 2010, 12:30 0 0
Sorry I made mistake there is 9 out.of 10 to lg optimus one
39. sabby (unregistered) posted on 25 Nov 2010, 11:24 0 0
Can anyone tell me that do we get charged by using GSM/WCDMA mode in galaxy 3 GT-I5801. I was charged 30 paise two times, but couldn't find ot the reason why I was charged..???
Should i use the GSM mode only...??
Pls do reply...
40. Dijje (unregistered) posted on 07 Dec 2010, 00:16 0 0
I bought Samsung G3 a month back and suffering even today.
Since a month I am running behind Univercell (where I bought the cell) and Samsung service center. The battery backup is worst.
There are too many software problems as wifi suddenly stops working. Bluetooth doesn't connect properly.
Worst experience in 10years of my mobile usage.....
Strongly recommend no one to get into trouble like me....
41. abhey (unregistered) posted on 29 Dec 2010, 21:33 0 0
In dis phn u cant dwnload. Anroid application after phn memory is gull u hd to delete the installed applications. This really sucks...
42. Pallav Rustogi (unregistered) posted on 27 Jan 2011, 06:54 0 0
Hi.. How do we pickup the call??? buy the time i try to pickup the call, the call ends..
PLs help..
43. punk (unregistered) posted on 27 Jan 2011, 09:45 0 0
i have one samsung gt i5801.i want to know if i can connect the phone to my wi-fi d-link modem to access internet.i have bsnl broadband connection which uses an username and password to connect.now the phone connects successfully to the wi-fi modem but cannot assess the net.i want to know how to work it up and where to enter the username and password so that the phone can connect to the net.please help.one more thing can i access the android market through the wi-fi connection and not through the edge/gprs connection. please help.
44. Arun_sh (unregistered) posted on 14 Feb 2011, 02:56 0 0
This phone has call drop issue. if gsm network fluctuate it drops your call (it seems). Its doesn't work as a phone rest is fine.
45. asp (unregistered) posted on 16 Feb 2011, 03:04 0 0
this is the worst phone I have ever used in last 6-7 years. poor battery, poor after sales service, low voice quality, call drop. don't ever waste your money on such flimsy product.
46. Ajith (unregistered) posted on 11 Apr 2011, 00:15 0 0
Hi ,
I have activated 3 G in my Galaxy 3 phone , but i am not getting video call option in phone . Is there any application to be installed in it or is it an issue with the software .
Cheers
Ajith
54. Apollo (unregistered) posted on 01 Aug 2011, 09:14 0 0
I am owner of SAMSUNG GALAXY 3 APOLLO GT-I5801. I upgraded my device to Android 2.2 Froyo by authorised service centre 2 times. But each time, my Android internet browser as well as any other browser like Skyfire, Opera Mobile, Dolphin and Miren are unable to show plugin content even after enabling plugin content in settings. For example, 'www.cavernsofblood.com', 'www.millaj.com' could not be viewed with animated content after Froyo upgrade. With Android 2.1 Eclair, these websites were easily viewed with animated content after enabling plugin content in settings in Android browser. Most of the websites and links in them now could not be opened after froyo upgrade. All this was perfectly working in Android 2.1 Eclair. In Froyo, while browsing internet websites, a blue coloured box with question mark sign appears in place of plugin content which is annoying. Kindly help me by providing a proper solution.
55. InternetManagedServiceProvider (unregistered) posted on 22 Aug 2011, 23:36 0 0
Running application in backgrounds results in battery drains with all smart phone. please switch it off when not in use.
56. ankit singh (unregistered) posted on 06 Sep 2011, 04:23 0 0
it hangs a lot in 2.2 and consumes more battry also so i have to degrade it to 2.1 now its better
58. Jayanta Kr. Bal (unregistered) posted on 09 Sep 2011, 15:28 0 0
I have also bought Galaxy 3 (I5801) in in last month but the battery back-up is bad. If I call continue for only 2 hrs then battery charge level decreases to 0% from 100%.
What about your set? you are facing the same problem?
Or it is only my fault? though I have change battery and also updated the software but the problem is still there.
Please let me as soon as possible
59. Jehnavi2432 posted on 24 May 2012, 23:50 0 0
guys if you think the battery is bad either get a higher power one or you can download advanced task killer to stop apps opening and using up your battery
60. Jehnavi2432 posted on 25 Jun 2012, 00:16 0 0
The Samsung Galaxy S III does not include any shutter lag and offers a bit less than per second shot-to-shot time. You can use the camera phone to click images even when the video recording is on.
61. dfund69 posted on 06 Nov 2012, 18:40 0 0
Do not buy the Galaxy S3. I had read that the phone felt flimsy and cheaply put together after I purchased an Iphone 5. I should have listened to that before I bought my wife the S3. 3 days after purchasing the S3 the screen developed a crack that slowly spread up one side and across the top of the phone. The phone had not been dropped or abused in anyway, and had been in a very good case from the time of purchase. It was left in the front seat of my car overnight, and the temperature didn't get close to freezing. The next morning the screen cracked. Apparently the Samsung factory warranty is worthless. After complaining to AT&T I was told by a warehouse supervisor that the Galaxy S2s and S3s are returned 3 to 1 over the Iphones and HTC's for cracked screens and broken back covers. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of the S3 no matter how great it looks on the TV commercials.
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