Samsung Galaxy S III Review: Universally Excellent Android Smartphone Discussion

[Jamison Cush]

The Samsung Galaxy S III launches a hype level typically reserved for the Apple iPhone -- and for good reason. Samsung has earned its reputation for delivering some of the best Android hardware, most recently with the Galaxy Nexus and both the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II. Also, reviews of the international Galaxy S III have been near universally positive.

Read the full content of this Article: Samsung Galaxy S III Review: Universally Excellent Android Smartphone

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[Varjak]

Very nice review. Apparently Pogue at the Times also raved about this SIII.

Quibbles:

1. I don't think you've had it long enough to evaluate how it physically takes wear and tear
2. You're not really supposed to hold the phone touching your face at all. It's hard to break the habit though.
3. I may have missed it; but did your review mention the 'cover' feature, where if you hold your hand over the display, it will mute the call or stop the phone ringing? (for meetings and such). Very cool.

[Varjak]

Wow. No other comments? I'm shocked. I wonder if this post slipped through somehow. I read the Pogue review and he RAVED about it; and considering his Apple-bias, you could multiply that by a factor of 2 or 3. It must be some kind of phone. I only REALLY regret that they made it look even more like a toy in that it comes only in white or blue so far. I know that's a bit different; but somehow the photos I've seen seem to trivialize what a powerhouse it is.

[weegie]

Lot's of people rave about it, I've looked at 4 different ones and wouldn't give you tuppence for any of the screens, that's been my overwhelming impression above it's good points.

[Mitlov]

All the reviews I've seen have been stellar. It seems pretty much free of significant flaws and is both tremendously powerful and tremendously competent. Somehow, though, it doesn't excite me on a subjective front. Maybe it's the bland hardware design, or maybe it's the kitchy "inspired by nature" user interface, but I find the One X far more subjectively appealing on the Android front, even though I can't explain why.

So there's my totally emotional, irrational explanation of my apathy toward the S III.

On the plus side, I have to hand it to Samsung for making it available on US Cellular. We don't normally get cool hardware. Like on the Windows Phone front, AT&T has the Titan II and the Lumia 900, and we get...the 7 Pro (aka Arrive)?

[Drillbit]

I own one now for nearly two weeks. The phone is just phenomenal. I think its better than the One X but its only a decision victory, not like the knockout the SGS2 handed on the Sensation. The One X is good enough a person may want over it for subjective reasons.

I can tell you the phone is really really *smooth*. I can't fault it for anything other than the battery cover. The battery is good, the signal is good, the voice is good, the camera is good. The OS is rock solid and I can't find any glitches. The screen is incredible. Even though the Galaxy Nexus has the same screen by the same manufacturer using the same technology and resolution, the S3 is still better and its that obvious to the eyes.

[Drillbit]

I can't say what experiences people are going to have with the US editions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X. Since both have the same Qualcomm S4 processor, this even things somewhat. The SGS3's advantage is more muted here and the race more equal. One of the most distinctive advantages of the top end Galaxy line at least in the international field has been the outstanding Exynos processors. If I were in the US mainland market, I would think things a bit more thoroughly between the two and probably go with my emotions.

I can only say that the Exynos in the international S3 may have given an edge over the Tegra3 on the One X. Though both are very powerful CPUs, and both devices are darn fast, if you play between the two a bit, the S3 feels a little bit smoother, though I suspect the overlay and the way Samsung did their animations to make better use of the Exynos's GPU might also have something to do with it. But I also have my Transformer Prime with me too, which has a quad core Tegra3 and ICS, and I feel the SGS3 is still smoother and quicker than the TP which by any means is hardly a slouch on its own.

I have heard some say that the quad core versions of the SGS3 and the One X is slightly smoother than the US editions, but its hard to tell from the Youtube videos. This might also be the residual impression left last year when some people are saying the Exynos powered S2 has an edge in smoothness over the US edition Qualcomm powered versions.

[Drillbit]

I suppose the 2Gb of RAM on the US edition Samsung Galaxy S3 may have some difference over the HTC One X but to what degree I'm not sure, as Android tends have its memory management optimized around the 512mb to 1Gb mark.

[Varjak]

Weegie, what were your objections to the screens?

[weegie]

Whites are ghastly, they aren't even white.
Banding.