Phones Your thoughts on the Galaxy S III

[onthecouchagain]

I'm not particularly blown away by the SIII, but this needs to be said:

If some of these features were presented by Apple in the iPhone, people here would be doing flips of glory, claiming Apple is once again pushing the standard and envelope with wireless charging, 300MB beam transfers, eye-tracking, pop-out video, direct dial via proximity sensor, etc.

 

[radiohead14]

Youre putting it down for the sake of it.

it's human nature to do so in order to justify their purchases

 

[matttye]

plastic is not required for elecromagnetic induction charging (it's just the cheapest and easiest to mass manufacture), nor is this an industry first. Look to HP and the Touchstone, as an example.

My bad, it was Samsung that claimed they were the first to do it, the filthy liars

 

[Jb07]

Image

"Not sure if serious... or hasn't seen the iPhone 4S yet."

No, I have, that's why I didn't get it...

 

[mark28]

Youre putting it down for the sake of it.

Have you never had to keep tapping the screen whilst reading something to stop a phone going to sleep? The eye tracking is useful, not a useless wow feature. Even the kindle app of all things doesn't keep my iPad awake.

And keep ranting about pentile, but Engadget had to zoom in something stupid like 140x to spot the difference.

Pentile is also more energy efficient. If the Samsung Galaxy S3 can outlast the iPhone 4S and the HTC One X, it's scoring. ( i'm guessing Samsung is aiming for battery life )

 

[DeusInvictus7]

Pentile is also more energy efficient. If the Samsung Galaxy S3 can outlast the iPhone 4S and the HTC One X, it's scoring. ( i'm guessing Samsung is aiming for battery life )

I sure hope the S3 can outlast the 4S and One X, it has a much larger battery, especially compared to the 4S. The new Exynos processor should be more efficient than the Tegra 3 as well, so we'll really have to see how battery life plays out later this month.

 

[Jb07]

Minor upgrade? What more could they possibly have done?

Hardware upgrades: -

• Quad core processor (double the performance of the sgs2 with 30% less power used up)
• 65% improved graphics over sgs2
• Larger hd screen with improved power efficiency
• Brand new camera and flash
• Much larger battery
• Vastly improved storage capacity
• Wifi performance is twice as good
• NFC chip
• Wireless charging - an industry first

Software upgrades: -

• S-beam - capable of transmitting data at 300mbps, can send a photo gallery in about a second. Revolutionary feature.
• S-voice - what vlingo should have been.
• Eye tracking + other intuitive gestures.
• Has ics out of the box, will most likely get jelly bean
• Vastly improved camera software with burst mode, zero shutter lag, best photo selection and more.
• Automatically recognises your friends in pictures and tags them in all future pictures.
• Better in call quality and volume.
• More codec support.
• Popout video.

And some software features Samsung didn't announce: -

• Improved lock screen (you can create shortcuts to apps like you can on htc phones)
• More toggles in the notification bar.

What did you expect exactly cause it looks like a big upgrade to me?

And what do I need Quad-core for? I don't even have apps on my computer that use 4 cores, what kind of phone app will? They are also using older A5 technology. I know that A15 architecture isn't out, but Qualcomm has a better, newer processor that is used in the HTC One X. And what good is NFC if nothing uses it? Having NFC in a phone right now is pretty much useless until more companies pick up the technology.

You also listed off tons of S- softwares that nobody will ever use, and we both know it. The main thing I really wanted to see in the GSIII was the use of aluminum or polycarbonate, not plastic. It makes it look like a big toy or one of my dumb-phones I had 5 years ago.

 

[matttye]

I think I like it so much because I'm a big fan of the S2 and this just improves on it in nearly every way.

And the "gimmicky" gestures are actually very useful.

Did anyone know you can also press and hold the lock screen and rotate it into landscape to launch the camera?

----------

And what do I need Quad-core for? I don't even have apps on my computer that use 4 cores, what kind of phone app will? They are also using older A5 technology. I know that A15 architecture isn't out, but Qualcomm has a better, newer processor that is used in the HTC One X. And what good is NFC if nothing uses it? Having NFC in a phone right now is pretty much useless until more companies pick up the technology.

You also listed off tons of S- softwares that nobody will ever use, and we both know it. The main thing I really wanted to see in the GSIII was the use of aluminum or polycarbonate, not plastic. It makes it look like a big toy or one of my dumb-phones I had 5 years ago.

How about because it's twice as powerful as the last generation galaxy and still manages to be more energy efficient? You know that four cores running at half power is more efficient than two running at full power, right? That's why multi core processors tend to be more efficient.

Why not have NFC? Your phone is future proofed with NFC.

I'll use the s voice a lot. I'm a driver.

If it had aluminium or polycarbonate it might not have been able to wirelessly charge (I say might because I'm not sure, just a suspicion).

 

[lilo777]

The main thing I really wanted to see in the GSIII was the use of aluminum or polycarbonate, not plastic. It makes it look like a big toy or one of my dumb-phones I had 5 years ago.

With both of these materials accommodating replaceable battery and memory card would probably be difficult.

 

[0m3ga]

I sure hope the S3 can outlast the 4S and One X, it has a much larger battery, especially compared to the 4S. The new Exynos processor should be more efficient than the Tegra 3 as well, so we'll really have to see how battery life plays out later this month.

Any current Android phone using LTE will not outlast the 4S on HSPA+ (except possibly the Note. I have no idea how long that thing lasts?) I have a 2050mA battery in my Skyrocket (basically what the s3 is going to have) and LTE eats it for lunch. Maybe the CPU and better screen will help the s3 get more than the 6 hours I get on LTE with heavy use, but to compare any phone on LTE to the iPhone using basically 3G+, is not a real comparison. I will be very interested to see what Apple does with the iPhone5 and battery life on LTE.

 

[saberz]

Till we can mess around with it in person at a store we cant really judge it. I myself was waiting for this announcement and now. Eed to see the iPhone 5 before i make a decision.

 

[Peterg2]

Any current Android phone using LTE will not outlast the 4S on HSPA+ (except possibly the Note. I have no idea how long that thing lasts?) I have a 2050mA battery in my Skyrocket (basically what the s3 is going to have) and LTE eats it for lunch. Maybe the CPU and better screen will help the s3 get more than the 6 hours I get on LTE with heavy use, but to compare any phone on LTE to the iPhone using basically 3G+, is not a real comparison. I will be very interested to see what Apple does with the iPhone5 and battery life on LTE.

The HTC One X (North American version) with the S4 gets quite remarkable battery life. This augurs well for the North American version of the SIII which will probably also have the S4.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5779/htc-one-x-for-att-review/3

 

[0m3ga]

The HTC One X (North American version) with the S4 gets quite remarkable battery life. This augurs well for the North American version of the SIII which will probably also have the S4.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5779/htc-one-x-for-att-review/3

Thanks for that chart. That is really encouraging news. In comparison the the One X and S3, my Skyrocket must be horribly inefficient on LTE!

 

[surjavarman]

If you ignore the ceramic or liquid metal back like rumored. And ignore the processor is twice as fast as the SII while using 20% less power then I completely agree with you.

Jokes on you now!

The CPU is hardly any better than the S4 krait and it has this hideous plastic body. I am just pulling my hair out why samsung time after time keeps releasing these cheap generic phone designs.

Seriously with their capabilities they can outperform apple any time! Yet they just dont understand it while apple does. It blows my mind. How hard is it to make a phone out of aluminum, stainless steel or glass.

 

[DeusInvictus7]

Any current Android phone using LTE will not outlast the 4S on HSPA+ (except possibly the Note. I have no idea how long that thing lasts?) I have a 2050mA battery in my Skyrocket (basically what the s3 is going to have) and LTE eats it for lunch. Maybe the CPU and better screen will help the s3 get more than the 6 hours I get on LTE with heavy use, but to compare any phone on LTE to the iPhone using basically 3G+, is not a real comparison. I will be very interested to see what Apple does with the iPhone5 and battery life on LTE.

Yeah that's true. I wonder if Samsung is using a first gen LTE chip or a second gen. If it's a first, then it'll definitely eat battery life like to tomorrow, but if it's a second gen, then it'll cope much better with battery usage.

By the time an LTE iPhone comes out, LTE chips will be much more friendly to batteries, and I'm sure if anyone can find a way to balance battery life and LTE, it'll be Apple. They semi did it with the iPad 3 by cramming a massive battery into it, but that's mainly because it's using a first gen LTE chip (and of course the screen)...

 

[Walter Bell]

Youre putting it down for the sake of it.

Have you never had to keep tapping the screen whilst reading something to stop a phone going to sleep? The eye tracking is useful, not a useless wow feature. Even the kindle app of all things doesn't keep my iPad awake.

And keep ranting about pentile, but Engadget had to zoom in something stupid like 140x to spot the difference.

I don't think you understand my point here. I wanted this phone to be good. I want every flagship phone to be amazing. I have used every type of phone available today and have a respect for all. I've had Symbian, palm OS, windows mobile on both old HTC touch phones with slide out keyboards and Nokia phones, Motorola, android, nexus, note, etc. I appreciate technology.

With that said I think one reason you and I will never see eye to eye is that you and I won't have the same device. When the phone comes to the US, a lot of the cool features will be different or stripped away. Keep in mind how they are reporting battery life. The SG3 can't be compared to the Att One X as the is always connected to 4G LTE when available. Battery life on LTE is different than HSPA. Attach LTE to the SG3 as it stands right now and I bet it will have horrible battery life.

Dual core 28nm > quad core 32nm in a mobile phone. This alone ins why I'm going One X. Its available now, where as we have no clue on the LTE variant of the SG3. This also spells bad news for Verizon customers.

 

[Walter Bell]

In fact I think it would have been way smarter for samsung to have waited to put out a phone with a LTE and the new 28nm technology that would be available for order right away than toss us an IOU. I would have had no problem waiting for that. But that's not what was said today.

 

[Lindenhurst]

I don't know how samsung do it, but their android phones seem to operate so much more smoothly than all the others

the SGS2 is totally lag free

So is my Samsung galaxy note which is note running ice cream sandwich.I've had the phone for two months now and the more I learn about Android, the more I love this phone. I came from iPhone 4 and tried the note out figuring I'd probably return it within thirty days but to my surprise it really grew on me. I'm someone who likes customizing my phone, and Android is made for me. Can't say anything bad about my iPhone experience though. What prompted me to try something else was the big screen. Heck, I don't even use my iPad anymore.

 

[onthecouchagain]

And what do I need Quad-core for? I don't even have apps on my computer that use 4 cores, what kind of phone app will? They are also using older A5 technology. I know that A15 architecture isn't out, but Qualcomm has a better, newer processor that is used in the HTC One X. And what good is NFC if nothing uses it? Having NFC in a phone right now is pretty much useless until more companies pick up the technology.

You also listed off tons of S- softwares that nobody will ever use, and we both know it. The main thing I really wanted to see in the GSIII was the use of aluminum or polycarbonate, not plastic. It makes it look like a big toy or one of my dumb-phones I had 5 years ago.

I wonder if you would be singing this same tune if Apple were releasing these specs.

Well, if and when Apple releases a quad-core iPhone or any of these similar features, I fully expect you to have the same response, because as we all know, you're being intellectually honest. And if Apple should release an iPhone that features even more features than the SIII, I expect you to really laugh at them and easily pass on upgrading due to utter lack of necessity.

 

[Dmunjal]

All these tests prove nothing. Until we get a working PRODUCTION model into the hands of reviewers, all of this is to be taken with a grain of salt.

For one, this isn't even an LTE phone. I mean seriously? Sure you are selling to the rest of the world also which doesn't have LTE, but consumers here in the US do. What processor are they going to go with then? How will the phone be after the carriers get there dirty hands on it? Also, why use old 32nm technology for there new 'flagship' device? The AT&T One X is performing amazingly well in battery life, processing power, and LTE speeds with this new 28nm tech.

I think the US version of the SGS3 will have the same 28nm, LTE-equipped, dual core Snapdragon as the One X.

 

[Peterg2]

I wonder if you would be singing this same tune if Apple were releasing these specs.

Well, if and when Apple releases a quad-core iPhone or any of these similar features, I fully expect you to have the same response, because as we all know, you're being intellectually honest. And if Apple should release an iPhone that features even more features than the SIII, I expect you to really laugh at them and easily pass on upgrading due to utter lack of necessity.

What is it with some people and fixations with specs? You cannot compare specs across different platforms. Have some of you tried win phone 7/7.5 devices and compared it with say Android for fluidity prior to say ICS? I doubt it. Yes, some higher end Android phones from the latter end of last year running Gingerbread, eg the HTC Amaze, were pretty fluid but, overall, until ICS, many Android phones were still hardly the most smooth experience in browsing especially.

 

[Dmunjal]

Any current Android phone using LTE will not outlast the 4S on HSPA+ (except possibly the Note. I have no idea how long that thing lasts?) I have a 2050mA battery in my Skyrocket (basically what the s3 is going to have) and LTE eats it for lunch. Maybe the CPU and better screen will help the s3 get more than the 6 hours I get on LTE with heavy use, but to compare any phone on LTE to the iPhone using basically 3G+, is not a real comparison. I will be very interested to see what Apple does with the iPhone5 and battery life on LTE.

RAZR MAXX gets better battery life than the 4S even with LTE.

 

[0m3ga]

I think the US version of the SGS3 will have the same 28nm, LTE-equipped, dual core Snapdragon as the One X.

This is what all the experts are saying. North American version will be dual-core because of LTE. Europe, Asia, and ME with get quad-core.

 

[onthecouchagain]

What is it with some people and fixations with specs? You cannot compare specs across different platforms. Have some of you tried win phone 7/7.5 devices and compared it with say Android for fluidity prior to say ICS? I doubt it. Yes, some higher end Android phones from the latter end of last year running Gingerbread, eg the HTC Amaze, were pretty fluid but, overall, until ICS, many Android phones were still hardly the most smooth experience in browsing especially.

Huh?

My point is, if Apple was releasing an iPhone with similar specs and/or features, I highly doubt people would be saying things like "that's so unnecessary" etc.

I'm not even that impressed with the SIII announcement, but eye-tracking, direct dial due to proximity, facial recognition, pop-out videos, quad-core processors, and a few other things are pretty incredible and some of them relatively new, and to get people like Jb07 saying, "Why would I need some of these features?" reeks of intellectual dishonesty because if it was Apple announcing similar things, I'm positive certain people would be touting how Apple is pushing the standard and changing everything once again, or future proofing the device in some way. But if someone else does it, "we don't need quad-core. Nothing uses it. We don't need NFC. Nobody uses it." (neither of which are even necessarily true.)

 

[mackinmike]

I'm not particularly blown away by the SIII, but this needs to be said:

If some of these features were presented by Apple in the iPhone, people here would be doing flips of glory, claiming Apple is once again pushing the standard and envelope with wireless charging, 300MB beam transfers, eye-tracking, pop-out video, direct dial via proximity sensor, etc.

so true. and if apple put out a phone that size, the tune will then change to, wow, that's revolutionary. thanks apple to giving us a bigger screen.. yadda yadda.