Phones iPhone 4S vs Galaxy S3

[lilo777]

As far as I can tell, the iPhone does the following much, much better:
*Ease of use

That's subjective. I'd say that Android phone with a weather widget is much easier to use to get weather forecast than iPhone. What evidence do you have that iPhone is easier to use?

*Simple integration

This is achieved by limiting OS feature set. Then again some examples would help.

*Availability of accessories

True but the appeal is limited. On the other hand, while Android ecosystem offers fewer accessories it does offer way more phones. iOS - one phone model. Android - dozens of phone models. I'd say this is more important than limited selection of accessories.

*Quality of apps

Only anecdotal evidence. One could argue that some apps (like Maps and Navigation) are much better on Android. The major apps released by large companies are usually identical on both platforms. Besides, even if Android is still lacking in app quality it offers more types of apps (Apple does not allow many app types into App Store)

*Frequency of software updates

What about it? Android had two major updates (ICS and Jelly Bean) since iOS 5 and iOS had none. In just this year Android got major UI update (and reached iOS smoothness level) and Voice Interface update (Google Now) that gave Android better capabilities than what Siri offers.

 

[mattopotamus]

^ also, simple things like the flashlight widget just makes sense....why would i open an app to launch a flashlight

 

[NikeTalk]

Touchwiz is basically just swiping back and forth?? Is this what people are complaining about?

 

[nooaah]

What about it? Android had two major updates (ICS and Jelly Bean) since iOS 5 and iOS had none. In just this year Android got major UI update (and reached iOS smoothness level) and Voice Interface update (Google Now) that gave Android better capabilities than what Siri offers.

Didn't the Galaxy S2 just get ICS? The phones themselves don't get updates when Google releases them - that's the issue with fragmentation. Yes, my bullet points are subjective, but they seem to be subjective points shared by many in their buying decisions. I really don't see why it matters to certain Android users that a lot of people prefer iPhones.

 

[BaldiMac]

What about it?

Are we supposed to pretend that you don't know what he is talking about? Maybe we are supposed to pretend that the fact that 90% of Android users are on an almost two year old version of the OS is beside the point. Including high profile Android devices being sold now.

Android had two major updates (ICS and Jelly Bean) since iOS 5 and iOS had none.

Interesting way of counting there. ICS and iOS 5 were released the same month. Android has had one major update since then. And, again, more then 90% of Android users haven't had any major updates in the last two years.

 

[mattopotamus]

Touchwiz is basically just swiping back and forth?? Is this what people are complaining about?

It adds it's own custom UI. Most people would actually probably really like it, but i like simplicity and this is busy. Touchwiz does have some good things like picture in picture, if you have a contact open and lift it to your ear it calls them, and some other cool touch gestures.

Didn't the Galaxy S2 just get ICS? The phones themselves don't get updates when Google releases them - that's the issue with fragmentation. Yes, my bullet points are subjective, but they seem to be subjective points shared by many in their buying decisions. I really don't see why it matters to certain Android users that a lot of people prefer iPhones.

that is why i bought the nexus...always the first to get the update. The issue is the carries issue the updates (unless you have a nexus they come from google) and they want to add their own "bloatware" in before they release the update. It will be about 4-5 months before jellybean hits non-nexus phones

 

[nooaah]

S3 is still choppy compared to 4s. There have been multiple threads on why this os is choppy compared to ios. That's a deal breaker for me.

4s and IOS is way more chopy than the S3.

I'm thinking lag has more to do with how you guys have your phones setup. I don't really see much of a difference between both phones. The only time I've gotten lag with my S3 was when I put Chrome in landscape. The scrolling is extremely choppy but it's fine in portrait. Seems like a software issue. The OS itself has been smooth and the battery on 4G has been as good or better than the 4S.

On a side note:

Still can't tell if iOS is much more intuitive or if I'm still just too unfamiliar with Android. However, my girlfriend, who is the opposite of tech-savvy, got an iPhone recently as an upgrade from a dumbphone and immediately was using it with ease. She hates my S3 because it's too cluttered. FYI she's a very bright woman (nurse practitioner, 4.0 GPA in grad school) but she just doesn't have time nor does she care to be bothered with studying an operating system and tinkering with it to get it to work. She doesn't care about having freedom with her phone. At all.

 

[Mac.World]

Didn't the Galaxy S2 just get ICS? The phones themselves don't get updates when Google releases them - that's the issue with fragmentation. Yes, my bullet points are subjective, but they seem to be subjective points shared by many in their buying decisions. I really don't see why it matters to certain Android users that a lot of people prefer iPhones.

Yes, the S2 did just get the ICS update, but it is pure and utter crapitude. First, it wasn't released by the carriers, you had to plug into your pc and run Samsungs 'keis' software(itunes equivalent) to get the update. This one was not OTA. And the update itself has caused all kinds of issues on so many S2's. My wife is using an S2 until I get her the next iPhone, and I had to downgrade the phone back to Gingerbread 2.3.5, which is not the last update for GB, just the last one that was flawless. 2.3.6 doesn't allow your soft buttons at the bottom to remain lit for more than 6 seconds.

Now that the S2 is back on this old OS version, it works as it is supposed to. There are many flaws with Android and it can be a pain on some phones with certain carriers and this is because of fragmentation. However, I see a company like Samsung moving to an Apple-esque type business within the Android world. I think we'll see Samsung still make cheapsmartphones for some parts of theworld, but only make 3 really good quality phones to rival theiPhone. (Note, Galaxy S series andthe Nexus for Google). I also hope that Samsung will start to tell carriers that they won't be allowed to do the updates anymore, since it takes them forever! Everything will be ota via Samsung direct, just like Apple does it.

 

[lilo777]

Are we supposed to pretend that you don't know what he is talking about? Maybe we are supposed to pretend that the fact that 90% of Android users are on an almost two year old version of the OS is beside the point. Including high profile Android devices being sold now.



Interesting way of counting there. ICS and iOS 5 were released the same month. Android has had one major update since then. And, again, more then 90% of Android users haven't had any major updates in the last two years.

You know the answer to this issue. If you want to get Android updates as soon as Google releases them, you buy Google phone (i.e. Nexus).

 

[daveathall]

I must admit that the update process (for me anyway) is far from ideal, I had one firmware update since I bought the phone (S3) just over two weeks ago, it was a minor update, but it was clear that my carrier (O2 in the UK) were quite slow on the uptake, I eventually got the update by an alert from Kies on my MBP, the update went fine but I did notice that there were apps installed by my carrier that were not there before the update. Deleting these was straightforward, but nevertheless, quite annoying.

I cannot comment on major upgrades as yet but as far as I am concerned Apple owns the update game, iOS updates are far smoother. Period.

 

[BaldiMac]

You know the answer to this issue. If you want to get Android updates as soon as Google releases them, you buy Google phone (i.e. Nexus).

That's just a cop out. Just because a small percentage of Android users get an update in a reasonable amount of time does not mean it isn't an issue for Android as a whole. (And of course, the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon shows even Nexus owners can have significant update delays.)

 

[lilo777]

That's just a cop out. Just because a small percentage of Android users get an update in a reasonable amount of time does not mean it isn't an issue for Android as a whole. (And of course, the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon shows even Nexus owners can have significant update delays.)

The fact that customers know that updates might be delayed and still buy Android phones other than Nexus clearly indicates that most people do not care about timely updates. This is simply a non issue. Most regular folks who buy iPhone do not care about updates either. And we are not talking about Android issues in general here. As a customer, one has an easy solution for Android "fragmentation". And customers really do not care about this issue in general (and most are not even aware of it).

 

[BaldiMac]

The fact that customers know that updates might be delayed and still buy Android phones other than Nexus clearly indicates that most people do not care about timely updates. This is simply a non issue. Most regular folks who buy iPhone do not care about updates either. And we are not talking about Android issues in general here. As a customer, one has an easy solution for Android "fragmentation". And customers really do not care about this issue in general (and most are not even aware of it).

This is nothing more than the rationalization that Apple fanboys are famous for.

It's funny how when it comes to feature and performance comparisons, pro-Android posters like to pick and choose individual models and throw the rest under the bus. But when it comes time to whip out who has the biggest market share, every device derived from the Android source code counts.

 

[cwwilson]

I cannot comment on major upgrades as yet but as far as I am concerned Apple owns the update game, iOS updates are far smoother. Period.

you must have forgotten the 5.1 debacle. That thing was a disaster I remember the servers being down for days and I had to torrent the update.

 

[BaldiMac]

you must have forgotten the 5.1 debacle. That thing was a disaster I remember the servers being down for days and I had to torrent the update.

Not being perfect does not mean they aren't the best.

 

[cwwilson]

Not being perfect does not mean they aren't the best.

Yep, that one incident aside they have a very solid track record.

 

[depths]

How would you rate Android updates to the GSM Nexus compared to IOS updates?

 

[Technarchy]

How would you rate Android updates to the GSM Nexus compared to IOS updates?

iOS is still better.

This harsh reminder will certainly appear once SIII owners start the waiting game for JB, and wont see Key Lime at all unless they buy an S4.

 

[depths]

What does the s3 have to do with my question?

Do you think IOS has a better update system than the Nexus?

 

[batting1000]

What does the s3 have to do with my question?

Do you think IOS has a better update system than the Nexus?

Yeah. iOS updates are more consistent and planned out, if you will. Galaxy Nexus updates are inconsistent; sometimes they come out with a new phone, sometimes at Google I/O, etc.

 

[lordofthereef]

That's just a cop out. Just because a small percentage of Android users get an update in a reasonable amount of time does not mean it isn't an issue for Android as a whole. (And of course, the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon shows even Nexus owners can have significant update delays.)

Personally, I don't view it as a cop out. If you want to compare Google's updating of their OS to Apple's, it stands to reason that you would compare their official devices. Apple launches one new official iPhone a year. Google launches one new official Nexus Phone a year.

I realize this is an SGS3 thread. I also realize that if a phone doesn't launch with stock Android, it won't be getting an update quickly, if at all. It always baffles my mind when people buy a device without stock Android knowingly and then complain when an update doesn't hit. That's like me complaining that iOS won't let me change my keyboard. It's just not happening.

 

[Allegrotechie]

Hi Guys and Girls,

I am after some advice as to features that are on the new Galaxy S3 and what the alternative is on iPhone 4S...

S-Talk = Siri
Direct Call =
Smart Stay =
Smart Alert =
Social Tag =
S Beam =
All Share Play =
Buddy Photo Share =

If there isn't a direct alternative a similar alternative would be ok!!

Honestly after using both the iPhone 4S and Galaxy S3 I fell the Galaxy S3 is better in everyday.
Better Camera, screen, look/design, battery, features, OS. Go ahead down vote me, but it's just an honest comparison.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110918152646?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

 

[Vegastouch]

True but the appeal is limited. On the other hand, while Android ecosystem offers fewer accessories it does offer way more phones. iOS - one phone model. Android - dozens of phone models. I'd say this is more important than limited selection of accessories.

And to add to that, ...yes there are less accessaries but i have everything i need. I have a GS3 and i have a car charger, a screen protector, a bluetooth device on my car visor and a holster if i need/want to use it for work, and i have a case on the back with many more i can choose if i want another and they have different battery back covers that come in metal but then the NFC wouldnt work if i use one of those.

What else do i need?

 

[depths]

Yeah. iOS updates are more consistent and planned out, if you will. Galaxy Nexus updates are inconsistent; sometimes they come out with a new phone, sometimes at Google I/O, etc.

That's not really an issue though is it?

They both update at essentially the same rate, does it matter if the update is released with a new model or at an event like I/O?

Not trying to start an argument but I think with their Nexus devices Google is doing well with updates.

Hopefully as the line grows people will be able to find a Nexus to suit their needs. The Galaxy Nexus is great but there's a few things that could be improved as Technarchy likes to point out. S3 specs with pure 4.1 would be amazing.

The mess with other carrier phones is a different story and deserves every bit of criticism it gets. Even the Verison Nexus got screwed.

 

[Sensamic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsF02hBBK_I&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Just look how fast JB will be in the SGS3. Seems even faster than the Galaxy Nexus plus having a bigger screen and better camera and all.

And... it looks a lot more faster than iOS (in the web browser, opening folders, moving through the app drawer, etc).

Who says know iOS is still faster and smoother?