Phones Your thoughts on the Galaxy S III

[Wrathwitch]

LOL at the risk of beating this thread to death I have to say that firstly I am a huge iPhone fan.

I went to the Telus store yesterday to get a hands on with an Android phone and chose the Nexus because it was their latest offering and it was a live demo machine.

I believe the screen is 4.5" which much to my surprise was manageable and if the porn site that someone had left on the web page was any indication, the picture is VERY clear haha!! I LMAO in the store.

I started thinking about the plastic vs the iPhone4 feel and while the iPhone4 (which is my current model) did have a more solid and heavy feel, it was kind of nice to handle the Nexus as it was CONSIDERABLY lighter and if one has to say cheap feeling, I have to disagree. It was not only thinner but lighter and the keyboard was MUCH nicer than iPhone4. Especially in horizontal view. Much more accurate, I could type much faster on it.

I digress here. What I am getting at is that the only thing holding me back from giving the SGX3 a try is screen size ( I WILL be going into the store to get a hands on). I really think you don't need more than 4.5 max (personal opinion here) and although some people say the phone design is ugly, I have been checking out the available pics and I do believe the design is growing on me. I think in hand, the device will be very pleasant. Where as fashion and design are NICE, overall the complete user experience, if as good as I have seen so far with the Nexus will trump the design.

 

[Certinfy]

Just checking UK contracts now and some look really good! That's what I love about other phones, the contract prices are always reasonable even at launch whereas with the iPhone they're nothing but absolutely ridiculous!

 

[Tarzanman]

There are different reasons to use different materials and there are drawbacks for most design choices.

Aluminum and glass - The phone looks great, but the glass is at risk. Metal bends, but is ultimately a harder material than glass and can scratch/crack it under the right circumstances. Metal also adds weight, which is a drawback in my book... less weight = easier to carry = less damage when my phone gets dropped. The real benefit to metal and glass is that the phone holds up much better over time for its intended use (antenna/signal problems notwithstanding).

Plastic and gorilla glass - The phone looks great... when you buy it. 8 months of living in pants pockets, handbags, next to car keys and exposed to UV light will take a toll on how 'new' the phone's softer parts still look. However, plastic sure can take a beating... as evidenced by the thousands of otterboxes iphone owners have purchased for their devices. The good news is that replacement battery covers are cheap (they are plastic, after all). The bad news is that the bezel can get beat up, and is much trickier to replace. All things considered, I would much rather drop a few dollars on a new phone back and battery that I lost (or got destroyed protecting my phone) than almost $50+ for a glass panel because I dropped my iphone more than 2ft onto a hard surface.

Given Apple's profit margins, it should be no surprise to anyone that they are selling you mediocre components at a premium price. That has been their MO for more than a decade.

 

[35683589]

There are different reasons to use different materials and there are drawbacks for most design choices.

Aluminum and glass - The phone looks great, but the glass is at risk. Metal bends, but is ultimately a harder material than glass and can scratch/crack it under the right circumstances. Metal also adds weight, which is a drawback in my book... less weight = easier to carry = less damage when my phone gets dropped. The real benefit to metal and glass is that the phone holds up much better over time for its intended use (antenna/signal problems notwithstanding).

Plastic and gorilla glass - The phone looks great... when you buy it. 8 months of living in pants pockets, handbags, next to car keys and exposed to UV light will take a toll on how 'new' the phone's softer parts still look. However, plastic sure can take a beating... as evidenced by the thousands of otterboxes iphone owners have purchased for their devices. The good news is that replacement battery covers are cheap (they are plastic, after all). The bad news is that the bezel can get beat up, and is much trickier to replace. All things considered, I would much rather drop a few dollars on a new phone back and battery that I lost (or got destroyed protecting my phone) than almost $50+ for a glass panel because I dropped my iphone more than 2ft onto a hard surface.

Given Apple's profit margins, it should be no surprise to anyone that they are selling you mediocre components at a premium price. That has been their MO for more than a decade.

Good comments. I have a Galaxy SII which has taken a beating and a few drops and is still in immaculate condition and I have absolute trust in its quality. I have a very slimline SGP Ultra Silke case which looks very attractive on it (you wouldn't even know there is the very good choice of polycarbonate beneath) and even with the case on it's still thinner and lighter than an iPhone, as well as faster, larger screened, and lower cost. It just feels like quality whereas when I hold an iPhone I just think of Chinese crap overpriced to maximise retail profit, with limited functionality and a cracked screen soon down the track, just like all the other billion iPhones. I have three friends who used to own iPhones that all broke and failed in some way or another within a year of owning it, and moved on to the Galaxy SII because it's just pure gold compared to anything Apple build. I've only ever seen one cracked screen on an Android phone, ever. By the way, the plastic casing on my phone feels solid, robust, and scratch resistance, it's fit for purpose and acts like a bumper for impacts, it's not faded, not scratched, not cracked, it's just like the day I bought it. To have the same level of protection on an iPhone you have to encase it in a slab of plastic/rubber (as many do) and add even more weight and size to what is already an abomination for such an impractically small screen and a "slip out of your hand" shape. It's a throw away item if even the battery fails. Here's a test for those keen and rich (I assume you have money to throw away since you bought an iPhone). Get an iPhone. Bend it. See how easily it shatters and fails. Now get a Samsung Galaxy S2 and try to do the same thing. There's videos of this on YouTube. You'll have a much hardertime breaking the Samsung. Apple ditched two of their three screen suppliers and kept Samsung because Samsung unquestionably has THE BEST BUILD QUALITY in their products. They're the most reliable part of the whole phone. Please, go on thinking your iPhone is pure quality and everything else is cheap (laugh)... I can do everything an iPhone can do and a million other things, as can nearly every Android user, plus I have peace of mind that my phone has never had a hiccup or damage and probably never will as long as I don't drive over it with my car. Plus I come away with enough change in my pocket to have half the next model paid for.

 

[iEnvy]

I want to know how does the plastic feel on Samsung phones. Is it really cheap feeling or not?

 

[Dmunjal]

Will you put a case or cover on it? If not, they're will likely be third party covers that fit the back with different textures.

 

[robanga]

For Android - I'd lean toward the HTC One X at the moment because of the screen. The NFC is nice but not enough to overcome the screen IMHO.

 

[ChrisTX]

I want to know how does the plastic feel on Samsung phones. Is it really cheap feeling or not?

Compared to an iPhone, very cheap. Theres a reason why Apple didn't choose plastic for the 4, and 4S, and a good reason why the next iPhone probably will have premium materials once again.

 

[Savor]

Compared to an iPhone, very cheap. Theres a reason why Apple didn't choose plastic for the 4, and 4S, and a good reason why the next iPhone probably will have premium materials once again.

Like what Apple did with the iPhone 3G/3Gs, right? Then they went glass and it had issues like shattering. Once Apple goes metal, it is like going back 5 years when they got it like that the first time. Only prob is reception. Metal is nice too but it has its flaws like denting. Ask HTC fans. People expect indestructible parts from Apple from their own carelessness and everything does diminish.

 

[iEnvy]

Compared to an iPhone, very cheap. Theres a reason why Apple didn't choose plastic for the 4, and 4S, and a good reason why the next iPhone probably will have premium materials once again.

Could these outweigh the choice to switch over to the S3?

 

[0m3ga]

Like what Apple did with the iPhone 3G/3Gs, right? Then they went glass and it had issues like shattering. Once Apple goes metal, it is like going back 5 years when they got it like that the first time. Only prob is reception. Metal is nice too but it has its flaws like denting. Ask HTC fans. People expect indestructible parts from Apple from their own carelessness and everything does diminish.

Carbon/kevlar weave is the answer. A bit costly, but 5 layers should be enough to allow people to sit on it without doing any damage. Drop it on concrete and you may see a little scratching. Doesn't interfere with the radio for cell reception and weighs the same as plastic at that thickness and has about the same thermal properties, if I recall correctly. plus, you can make it in just about any color and any shape. There is a reason F1 and superbikes use this, as do high end helmet manufacturers.

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I want to know how does the plastic feel on Samsung phones. Is it really cheap feeling or not?

It feels like plastic. The iphone 4 feels like glass and metal. My S2 is a lot larger than the iphone 4, but weighs less, plus I have 4G LTE.

So honestly, does the feel of a phone really matter? Do people say, 'Oh, the phone feels plasticky. Guess I won't buy it.' Most people put a case on their phone anyway.

 

[iEnvy]

It feels like plastic. The iphone 4 feels like glass and metal. My S2 is a lot larger than the iphone 4, but weighs less, plus I have 4G LTE.

So honestly, does the feel of a phone really matter? Do people say, 'Oh, the phone feels plasticky. Guess I won't buy it.' Most people put a case on their phone anyway.

Good point, we'll see how the S3 goes once it hits the US. Would ATT put bloatware on it?

 

[0m3ga]

Good point, we'll see how the S3 goes once it hits the US. Would ATT put bloatware on it?

Yes, att will add bloatware, they do for every Android phone. You just root the phone install Titanium Backup and then freeze the bloatware apps. They stay n the phone but are completey invisible to the user. You forget they even exist, sinse they don't show up anywhere and will never update.

 

[Faux Carnival]

Apart from its material, S III is perfect! I really want to try it out. Buttery smooth, 4.8" gorgeous screen, lightning fast browsing.

 

[ChrisTX]

Like what Apple did with the iPhone 3G/3Gs, right? Then they went glass and it had issues like shattering. Once Apple goes metal, it is like going back 5 years when they got it like that the first time. Only prob is reception. Metal is nice too but it has its flaws like denting. Ask HTC fans. People expect indestructible parts from Apple from their own carelessness and everything does diminish.

Fair comparison to the iPhone 3G/3GS. However I'm not a big fan of the cheap plastic removable back of these Samsung devices. However I'd have to see this one in person to make a fair judgement call.

Could these outweigh the choice to switch over to the S3?

Depends on if you don't mind he size of the phone, and the OS. If those are fair trade offs to you over beauty, aesthetic, and ease of use then sure. This is not a bad phone, but my gut tells me the next iPhone will be huge. Worth waiting for at least before you make your decision.

 

[rjohnstone]

Yes, att will add bloatware, they do for every Android phone. You just root the phone install Titanium Backup and then freeze the bloatware apps. They stay n the phone but are completey invisible to the user. You forget they even exist, sinse they don't show up anywhere and will never update.

Get the paid version of TiBu... you can remove the bloatware completely.
Simply click to convert it to a user app and then uninstall it.

 

[0m3ga]

Get the paid version of TiBu... you can remove the bloatware completely.
Simply click to convert it to a user app and then uninstall it.

Need the bloatware for official os upates. Easier just to freeze it. If you don't have allthe official att bloatware, the update won't happen.

 

[lilo777]

I want to know how does the plastic feel on Samsung phones. Is it really cheap feeling or not?

Compared to iPhones it feels premium. After Galaxy SII, iPhone 4(s) feels like a brick. Literally. It's heavy as hell. With Galaxy, once you put it in the pocket you do not feel it at all. Galaxy has textured surface which feels great in the hand - unlike with iPhone where you feel that the phone can slip out of your hand at any moment.

 

[chambone]

After Galaxy SII, iPhone 4(s) feels like a brick. Literally. It's heavy as hell. With Galaxy, once you put it in the pocket you do not feel it at all.

So 133g feels like a brick, and 116g you don't feel at all? Rrrright. Doesn't sound like a between the ears thing at all

 

[Sedrick]

So 133g feels like a brick, and 116g you don't feel at all? Rrrright. Doesn't sound like a between the ears thing at all

Well, it's about 15% lighter, but it's a larger, more rounded device, so yeah, it makes the dense little iPhone feel like a brick.

 

[Pez555]

So 133g feels like a brick, and 116g you don't feel at all? Rrrright. Doesn't sound like a between the ears thing at all

ever heard of breeze blocks?

 

[Lindenhurst]

I want to know how does the plastic feel on Samsung phones. Is it really cheap feeling or not?

Go try one out. Mine is plastic and feels like .....plastic. Doesn't bother me at all. Heck...not too many tech gadgets aren't made from plastic today. It is durable.

Most use a case anyway, so all you touch is the glass screen anyway.

Apple products do have a premium feel to them because they are all aluminum and glass, but you pay for that premium feel by accepting less expensive components inside.

It all depends on what you want.

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Android is just such a tasteless OS.It simpy doesnt have the elegance and class feel to it like iOS.

Please explain what makes you feel that way. Are you talking about iOs or are you talking about the actual construction of the iPhone?

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Putting on my fire suit...

The phone looks like crap and most every tech site I've read has been underwhelmed, at best, by the GSIII.

Once again it appears to be a case of Samsung just throwing the whole box out and hoping something sticks. But they don't understand, you can have a phone with 8 cores and 32GB of RAM and all these top-spec features...it will still suck if the software doesn't cut it. And in my humble opinion, Android does not.

Remember when 4s was announced? Most all tech sites were also underwhelmed, yet the IPhone 4s sold very well.
I think people are expecting too much from a phone today.
And I haven't read any tech sites that say ICS sucks. Sure Froyo was bad, and Gingerbread wasn't awesome, but ICS gets rave reviews.
I use it and absolutely love it. Is it better than IOS for me, nope. I use it because I wanted a much bigger screen, and once I learned how to use it, I found out that it does everything my iPhone did, and it actually fits into the "Apple" ecosystem very well.
Lots of misleading info on this forum. I thought Android was horrible until i actually tried it out. I liken the comparison of Android to IOS to Mac vs Windows. It's just preference.

And Samsung makes many models for all tastes. Is that so wrong?

 

[MattMJB0188]

I know many people who have had the iPhone 3GS and switched to the GSII and said they couldn't be happier. My friend at work use to have a 3GS and got a Skyrocket a few months back and said she loves that this phone does so much more. Keep in mind she knows nothing about phones.

The iPhone is the most overrated piece of technology ever. I can't wait until AT&T gets its version of the GSIII so I finally get rid of my 4S.

Besides, I'm wanting to enjoy LTE now and can't because apple didn't think I need it until Q4 2012. AT&T is more than likely gonna follow Verizon and axe the nlimited plan once the LTE iPhone hits and I want to enjoy my 5GB of LTE data now for $30.

Yes I really dislike the iPhone but love how it plays nicely with my car stereo.

 

[ChrisTX]

unlike with iPhone where you feel that the phone can slip out of your hand at any moment.

Only if you're clumsy is this a possibility. The possibility is a reality with anyone phone iPhone included, has nothing to do with the phone. Granted the 3G/S plastic was a little slippery compared to other devices.

The iPhone is the most innovative piece of technology ever.

There fixed

 

[onthecouchagain]

The iPhone is the most overrated piece of technology ever.

The iPhone does some things wonderfully, otherwise, this is so so true. I said this even when I was a 4S owner. People would actually compliment that I got an iPhone, and I'd tell them it's not all it's cracked up to be. Its popularity has really taken on a life of it's own. That's a win for Apple, I guess.