Anyone use a Galaxy S3?

[craig180]

Ok, the original iPhone geekoid is genuinely thinking of jumping ship......

My iPhone 4 has been out of contract for months now and I've been patiently waiting for the iPhone 5 release details but to be quite frank, I'm now bored of waiting.

Been looking for alternatives, and while I appreciate the S3 won't be as well built as an iPhone and Ice Cream Sandwich not as user friendly as iOS, the spec list looks good.

Has anyone any experience of the S3?

Opinions good and otherwise appreciated

[greyjasper51]

S2 beats iphone any day

S3 pwns iphones... And golf gti's :-) lool

[Viper]

Hi Craig.

[GolfJay]

I'm also in the exact same position. My contract is up next week and I'm bored of waiting for the new iPhone.

By the looks of iOS6 there won't be any huge changes to what we can do with our iPhones.

The S3 does look like a beast of a phone!

[craig180]

Agree Jay.

I can get £200 for my iP4 as it is.
Galaxy S3 is £400 on a 12 month contract at £30 a month so it would only really cost me 200. I can live with that.

If I want it on a 2 year contract I can get the same £30 a month deal but the handset price is £200

Tesco Value Tariff ftw

[haz_pro]

Agree Jay.

I can get £200 for my iP4 as it is.
Galaxy S3 is £400 on a 12 month contract at £30 a month so it would only really cost me 200. I can live with that.

If I want it on a 2 year contract I can get the same £30 a month deal but the handset price is £200

Tesco Value Tariff ftw

You can probably get it cheaper through redemption if you aren't scared of them deals, fair enough if you are as they can go wrong.

I got bored of ios after I had iphone for about 3/4 years. I got a galaxy s2 and haven't looked back since. Ics took a couple of days to get completely used to it but now I like it a lot more than ios. In time I may get bored though and switch to windows which looks like a decent choice too if you don't mind less apps.

[lewismonteith]

Jelly Bean is on its way, the S3 will be way smoother than the iPhone

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[0x90]

iPhones are like children's toys compared to high-end Android devices.
The S3 wipes the floor with the current iPhone, and will more than likely wipe the floor with the next iPhone too.

[craig180]

iPhones are like children's toys compared to high-end Android devices.
The S3 wipes the floor with the current iPhone, and will more than likely wipe the floor with the next iPhone too.

One of my biggest concerns if I'm honest is that all these supposed "high end" Android phones are actually built like children's toys, whereas the iPhone is actually properly built and feels like a quality product

[greyjasper51]

Look at it this way, for my s2 it was 6quid a month insurance, for the i phone it was 12... Kinda dont matter really...

[haz_pro]

One of my biggest concerns if I'm honest is that all these supposed "high end" Android phones are actually built like children's toys, whereas the iPhone is actually properly built and feels like a quality product

The s3 doesn't feel as high quality as the current iphone, but that doesn't mean it is going to fall apart. I have dropped my s2 numerous times out of a case and it's still fine. Up to you at the end of the day though, I am used to how my phone feels in my hand now.

[craig180]

Jelly Bean is on its way, the S3 will be way smoother than the iPhone

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

JB looks quite slick tbh, but I can't see any obvious advantage over iOS6

[mlawlan69]

I just got the s2 and even this is better than the 4. Few lads at work have the s3 slightly bigger screen and faster processor but other than that, nothing much in it! Make the swap you won't regret it!

[craig180]

Look at it this way, for my s2 it was 6quid a month insurance, for the i phone it was 12... Kinda dont matter really...
I've never had phone insurance and (touch wood) never lost or had a phone stolen, or broken one beyond repair

The s3 doesn't feel as high quality as the current iphone, but that doesn't mean it is going to fall apart. I have dropped my s2 numerous times out of a case and it's still fine. Up to you at the end of the day though, I am used to how my phone feels in my hand now.

I'd probably case ot for a few months like a gheyer then end up taking it out and scratching the hell out of it. My iP4 is still immaculate even after nearly 2 years most without a case

[Harv]

My brother loves his S3, says its far better than his iPhone 4 although it is pretty big but I think thats to be expected. I don't think the Android interfaces are hard to use at all, it might not be as simple as the iOS from the iPhones but they have much more capabilities within them.

Also I should point out my bro has gone with e2save again on a cashback redemption deal (has worked for his passed 3 phones, you just need to be aware what months bills you send off etc). His was 24 month deal, free handset, 600 mins, unlimited texts, 1gb data for £24 a month after redemption - thats on Vodafone! Think his direct debit is about 30ish before cashback.

[craig180]

My brother loves his S3, says its far better than his iPhone 4 although it is pretty big but I think thats to be expected. I don't think the Android interfaces are hard to use at all, it might not be as simple as the iOS from the iPhones but they have much more capabilities within them.

Also I should point out my bro has gone with e2save again on a cashback redemption deal (has worked for his passed 3 phones, you just need to be aware what months bills you send off etc). His was 24 month deal, free handset, 600 mins, unlimited texts, 1gb data for £24 a month after redemption - thats on Vodafone! Think his direct debit is about 30ish before cashback.
Cheers man. Looks like the best all round deal I'll get is with Phones 4u

Handset £199 and 18 month contract at £36 a month for 18 months on o2

That includes 1gb data, unlimited texts and 200 minutes, although I rarely use more than that

Don't really want a contract longer than 18 months

[e8_pqck]

I have the us s2 version, the hercules and its a cracking phone, small is thin at the end of the day, the iPhone is too thick and feels bulky in the pocket. my s2 feels like good quality to me, its lighter yes, but still well put together, plus the micro sd expansion and seemless integration with any PC, both home and office makes it a much superior package.

[craig180]

I have the us s2 version, the hercules and its a cracking phone, small is thin at the end of the day, the iPhone is too thick and feels bulky in the pocket. my s2 feels without enough for me, its lighter yes, but still well put together, plus the micro sd expansion and seemless integration with any PC, both home and office makes it a much superior package.

Re the expandable memory, does the phone "file" things in different areas?

[Viper]

I haven't actually see anyone give REASONS for the S3 being better.

[craig180]

I haven't actually see anyone give REASONS for the S3 being better.

I've spent all night researching and looking at impartial reviews and on paper it's better.

Suppose I should get one on contract a week before the 5 is released and then use my stat rights to cancel the contract if not happy with it and then get a 5

[Simon]

A bit too soon for me, but I have also been looking at the s3 instead of the iPhone 5.
As a replacement for my iPhone 4.

If I stay with orange I can upgrade in sept (about when the 5 is due).
If I change networks it's nov.

So I've got at least a month before anything happens

[craig180]

I've been out of contract for almost a year now paying £12.50 a month for 1gb data, unlimited texts and 600 minutes. Never go over but been holding out for the 5 as I couldnt justify a 4s.

Seems I can but one unlocked for 400 do that might be my best option and continue on my current tariff. That way if I don't like it I can just flog it and buy a 5

[mlawlan69]

I haven't actually see anyone give REASONS for the S3 being better.

Much like the 4s was for apple, end of the day, nothing drastic regarding phone technology has hit yet.

Few things in the pipe line, but for now its not available in one complete package.

When the s2 was released it had lots of new tech, and for that won awards left right and centre.

The s3 is just keeping the technophobes happy and the Samsung bank balance sweet.

[haz_pro]

I haven't actually see anyone give REASONS for the S3 being better.

How about some reasons why the iPhone 4s / iPhone 5 will be better?

I can only think of one which is that there is no doubt it is built from nicer quality materials.

I'm waiting for "its simple to use" but that doesn't swing with me as I feel it's too simple now I've moved on to Android.

[greyjasper51]

How about some reasons why the iPhone 4s / iPhone 5 will be better?

I can only think of one which is that there is no doubt it is built from nicer quality materials.

I'm waiting for "its simple to use" but that doesn't swing with me as I feel it's too simple now I've moved on to Android.

How about... No!! :-)

[Scott]

i have an ip4 as my personal phone and a galaxy s2 running latest ICS as my work phone.

Overall the phone hardware is decent, bro in law has the s3 and its a lovely phone, great big screen, fast etc...

However Android is pants. Slow and unintuitive and looks like a kids drawn it with crayons. Goodside is you have a lot more control over closing apps in the background which by the way is the stupidest thing ever, why the fuck do google force maps to run 24/7 gobbling up resources for no reason?!

Dont get me wrong Ios is faar from perfect before i get a fan boi attack. I run both on a daily basis and i prefer ios.

my 2p cast.

[haz_pro]

How about... No!! :-)

Ah, a very intelligent reply. I suppose you are one of those who blindly supports Android for no reason.

[haz_pro]

i have an ip4 as my personal phone and a galaxy s2 running latest ICS as my work phone.

Overall the phone hardware is decent, bro in law has the s3 and its a lovely phone, great big screen, fast etc...

However Android is pants. Slow and unintuitive and looks like a kids drawn it with crayons. Goodside is you have a lot more control over closing apps in the background which by the way is the stupidest thing ever, why the fuck do google force maps to run 24/7 gobbling up resources for no reason?!

Dont get me wrong Ios is faar from perfect before i get a fan boi attack. I run both on a daily basis and i prefer ios.

my 2p cast.

In regards to the maps thing, that shouldn't be happening. Not sure what would cause this but you may want to look into it.

Sorry about double post, am on phone.

[Scott]

i have had a gander into it and seems a common "problem", followed a few guides turning things off that shouldnt be on anyway and it worked for a day or so. I just force stop it every morning.

[haz_pro]

Hmm wierd, have never heard of that issue. Only wake lock I ever had was some sort of wifi sharing thing that was fixed with an update.

[Brettles1986]

I feel the widgets available for android make it so much cooler than IOS where you just have grids full of folders or icons

[0x90]

Although I am a fan of Android myself and not really too keen on iOS, each do have their pros and cons. Android offers a lot more customisability and control over your phone. You can install any launcher you want, you can add widgets, have live wallpapers, etc.
The problem is though, very few manufacturers actually use stock Android. Many manufacturers add their own bloatware and custom UIs.
Yes, I'm aware that jailbreaking your iPhone allows you to take a lot more control over your device, but the point is that you shouldn't need to jailbreak in the first place. We've been able to customise our devices with themes and the like since some of the earliest colour-screen phones.
To say the way Android looks is bad, childish or whatever else is impossible to say, as most manufacturers have customised the operating system.

There's also the problem with updates. When Apple releases an update for iOS, providing your phone is supported, you can download and install the update then and there. There's no waiting for individual manufacturer's testing and reskinning and no waiting for carriers to approve the update. Although Android has improved, iOS is still one of the easiest mobile operating systems to use. Everything is babied by Apple, which is useful for people who just want a phone that works and does everything that they need, but for people like me it's utterly useless.

Now, moving away from software for a bit, I'll talk about hardware.
Apple's phones might look 'sleek' and 'elegant' from the outside, but the hardware inside is seriously underpowered for how much they're charging.
For £493 on Amazon, you can get an iPhone 4S which comes with:

16GB of internal storage space - not expandable,
3.5" screen with a resolution of 960x640 @ 326 ppi
8MP camera with 1080p video recording and flash
Dual-core processor @ 800MHz (Which is made by Samsung)
No removable battery

Or for £447 on Amazon, you can get a Samsung Galaxy S3 which comes with:

16GB internal memory - expandable
4.8" screen with a resoultion of 1280x720 @ 306ppi
8MP camera with 1080p video recording and flash
Quad-core processor @ 1.4GHz
NFC
Removable battery

These are just the specs that stand out the most. The only area that I can see the iPhone excels at is the screen ppi.
Whilst the S3 (imo) has a fairly ugly design, I'd easily take it over the iPhone any day because if I'm going to spend near enough £500 on a phone, I want the phone with the best specs available for the price. Apple attempts to wow potential customers by claiming they are offering 'innovative technology', when as a matter of fact, all they're doing most of the time is taking technology from years ago, slapping a snappy name on it, and selling it on for a much higher price.

Also, don't forget that as far as materials are concerned, Apple source their components from Foxconn and Samsung; the former of which is known for its inhumane working environment, causing many employees to commit suicide. Foxconn actually made their employees sign a contract to say that they would not commit suicide after attention was brought to them due to their rising employee suicide rate.

To summarize:
The iPhone is for people who want a phone that is easy to use and don't mind paying the premium price.
High-end Android devices are for people who want a phone that justifies the amount of money they're paying for it, and offers great customisability at the cost of being slightly harder to use.

I've probably left a lot of stuff out, but I really want to watch Alphas and I can't be bothered going any more in-depth than that.

[lewismonteith]

iOS is simple and boring. If you get bored of the S3 (which I highly doubt) you can root and install any custom ROM you like. This could be Samsung's TouchWiz, pure vanilla android, MIUI and various themed derivatives of them. Plus updates are ported way before the official release. You can remove all the bloatware and tweak it yourself. There's a whole community that mod the OS far beyond the jailbreak community!

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[Scott]

You maybe correct their is a larger community of people modding Android than iOS. Means jack shit though when most will not root or jailbreak a device and just want one that works out the box.

My S2 runs some vodafone firmware so maybe i need to look into rooting it and installing just a vanilla flavoured ICS on it. Its my work phone, i just need it to call and email and do it with battery life longer than half a day and not having to force stop apps in the morning!

At least with iOS you dont get bloatware from the carriers as standard and maybe one of the few benefits of the locked down OS from Apple.

Again can i just reinforce i am not a fan boi of either. They are both brilliant and suck ass in their own ways.

EDIT: rooting seems simple and installing new firmware also seems reasonably easy, any favored guides out there or pitfalls to watch for?

[haz_pro]

You maybe correct their is a larger community of people modding Android than iOS. Means jack shit though when most will not root or jailbreak a device and just want one that works out the box.

My S2 runs some vodafone firmware so maybe i need to look into rooting it and installing just a vanilla flavoured ICS on it. Its my work phone, i just need it to call and email and do it with battery life longer than half a day and not having to force stop apps in the morning!

At least with iOS you dont get bloatware from the carriers as standard and maybe one of the few benefits of the locked down OS from Apple.

Again can i just reinforce i am not a fan boi of either. They are both brilliant and suck ass in their own ways.

EDIT: rooting seems simple and installing new firmware also seems reasonably easy, any favored guides out there or pitfalls to watch for?

Just read into it a lot before you do it, there are a couple of things to watch out for (that I can't remember, haven't rooted for a while now).

For example ensuring you select the right buttons when using Odin, one of the buttons ( i think it is partition or something like that) will break the phone iirc.

[0x90]

The best place for rooting, custom roms and modding in general is xdadevelopers.
Also, if you wanted the stock Android experience, then go with one of Google's nexus range of phones and tablets. They use stock Android and afaik every nexus phone but the first one is made by Samsung anyway. The specs on it do not compare to the S3 though, but it still easily beats the iPhone 4S in the hardware department.

[Scott]

Also, if you wanted the stock Android experience, then go with one of Google's nexus range of phones and tablets.

Technically i dont want any Android experience :zainy: my work phone is an S2 with ICS and some shitty vodafone firmware. I want rid of it to just a vanilla plain, low power consuming firmware that does email, phone and very occasionally texting. Thats it

[tokyodrifte]

I love my S3, Very fast, Good value for money, Beautiful screen, best thing is when rooted, with the right rom, my battery life is seeing 2 days easily.

Girlfriends 4S on the other hand, needs charging twice a day most days