Google Nexus 4 vs Samsung Galaxy S III

Introduction:

For as long as we can remember, Samsung has proven itself as being the premier smartphone maker out of Korea, as Sammy’s renowned Galaxy smartphone handsets have seemingly been greeted with open arms by people worldwide. Sitting in the shadows, it wasn’t until recently that LG finally emerged from out of the depths with the impressive LG Optimus G, but without pausing for a moment, they’ve undoubtedly came out of nowhere with the one-two punch offering of the Google Nexus 4. With the mighty name behind its product, will LG’s Nexus branded smartphone pull ahead of the Samsung’s current pride and joy in the Galaxy S III?

Design:

Looking at the two, we can wholeheartedly agree that neither comes off as mighty stylish in design, but the Galaxy S III has a more natural feel in the hand thanks to its curvier feel. In contrast, the Nexus 4 definitely feels like the more premium device between the two, primarily due to the glass surfaces covering the front and rear of its casing. However, the glass surfaces tend to be more susceptible to smudging, and at the same time, it causes the handset to feel super slippery. Finally, build quality seems to be on par with one another, but again, the glass casing of the Nexus 4 exudes a sturdier finish over the plastic body of the Galaxy S III.


Even though the Galaxy S III utilizes a combination of capacitive buttons and a single homescreen, it doesn’t pose any issue with accidental presses. On the other hand, the Nexus 4 has its Android buttons incorporated with its interface – so it doesn’t have any impact.

Interestingly enough, the two have their dedicated power buttons and volume controls positioned in the same areas. At the same time, they’re distinctive enough to feel out and offer tactile responses when pressed. As for some of the other commonalities that they share around their trims, they include the following: 3.5mm headset jacks, noise-cancellation microphones, standard mics, and microUSB ports for charging/data/video-out connectivity. For video-out functionality, the Galaxy S III uses a non-standard MHL port, while the Nexus 4 opts for Slimport socket.

When it comes to snapping photos, they feature 8-megapixel auto-focus rear cameras with LED flashes, which can shoot video in 1080p. Meanwhile, when it comes to front-facing cameras, the Nexus 4 is packing a 1.3-megapixel snapper – while the Galaxy S III is sporting a slightly higher 1.9-megapixel one.

Easily regarded as the more flexible device between the two, the Galaxy S III is the one to feature a removable battery and microSD card slot for storage expandability, which aren’t offered by its rival in the Nexus 4.

Display:

Always a difficult thing to gauge, especially when it can vary between individuals, these two handsets feature displays that are undoubtedly quality in every aspect. Yes, we’ll agree that the 4.8-inch 720 x 1280 HD Super AMOLED display of the Galaxy S III has the initial wow factor with its overly saturated color tones and deep black reproduction. However, it doesn’t match the color accuracy and better outdoor visibility seen with the Nexus 4’s 4.7-inch WXGA 768 x 1280 True HD IPS Plus display. And even though the Nexus 4’s display uses the RGB pixel arrangement, as oppose to PenTile on the Galaxy S III, it doesn’t necessarily prove to be a significant improvement, seeing that both are still highly detailed in practical usage. In the end, it’s all about what’s preferable to you – whether it’s the flashy and vibrant colors put out by the Galaxy S III’s display, or the more realistic tones and better outdoor visibility of the Nexus 4 screen.