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Samsung Galaxy S III review

8.5/10 AVG.
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Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
Samsung Galaxy S III
...


8.5/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy S III currently has an Informr score of 8.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 60 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The Samsung Galaxy S III is the third iteration of Samsung’s highly successful Galaxy S and is currently the most popular smartphone available anywhere in terms of sales. After nearly 3 months on store shelves across the world, Samsung has already sold over 10 million units. And no doubt it's going to sell millions more, mainly because of the phone’s outstanding hardware and software features that make it a cut above the vast majority of the handsets offered by the competition.

The III’s highlights in terms of hardware include a 4.8-inch 720p HD Super AMOLED touchscreen display that’s covered with a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 2, an 8-megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and 1080p video recording capability, plus a 1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex A9 processor with 1GB of RAM. All of this, along with many other hardware niceties such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and HSDPA data, makes it one of the most powerful and feature-rich Android smartphones ever.

Speaking of Android, the Samsung Galaxy S III comes with version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich pre-installed, and a free update to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is already in the pipeline. This should make it one of the first handsets on the market to run the latest version of the Android software. It also has a bunch of noteworthy software features like S-Voice, which takes a user’s voice commands then executes the necessary actions, and Dropbox integration, which gives users 50GB of free online storage space for backup. For most people, though, the best feature of the Samsung Galaxy S III software-wise is its built-in support for the world’s most popular social networking sites and Google services.

There’s a 2100mAh battery located underneath the Samsung Galaxy S III’s back over, which is said to be good for up to 12 hours of 3G talk time. That’s an impressive feat considering the fact that the overall thickness of the handset checks in at just 9mm. Whether or not you are a fan of Samsung’s design or manufacturing philosophies, it’s hard to deny that they’ve made a darn good phone with the Galaxy S III.

Need To Know: Samsung Galaxy S III

1. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is pre-installed as standard and a free upgrade to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is on the way. (The Good)

2. The 4.8-inch 720x1280 pixel resolution Super AMOLED touchscreen display is among the best in its class and provides excellent picture quality. (The Good)

3. The lack of support for 4G LTE networks is something that users in certain areas will surely miss. (The Bad)

4. An otherwise expansive built-in display is considered by some users as entirely too big and makes the phone somewhat difficult to operate in that it requires both hands to use. (The Bad)


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.5 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.5 GHz
4.8"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.8"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2100 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


TelecomTiger
TelecomTiger

With a large number of excellent features and functions, Samsung Galaxy S3 has set a benchmark for its close competitors - HTC One X and Apple. The only advantage HTC One X has over Galaxy S3 is its better screen resolution. The 1.5 dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 1 GB RAM has worked wel...

- TT Gadget Editor, TelecomTiger
Pocket-lint
Pocket-lint

For those of us outside the 4G coverage area, there's almost no point getting this phone at all, although it does have a good range of 4G frequencies, so you should see support for other UK networks when they launch 4G services. When they're on top form, in central London or the other cities the 4G...

- Ian Morris, Pocket-lint
Phonedog
Phonedog

There is no questioning the quality of the Galaxy S III. Top to bottom, it is a fantastic device. And while many would rather see Samsung begin to transition away from using an excess of plastic to something a little more classy and of higher quality, the S III holds it own, despite its frail-feelin...

- Taylor Martin, Phonedog
Sprint Users
Sprint Users

This phone is definitely one I will keep for a while. I feel very comfortable using it and showing it off. It's just a sweet device. It looks great and behaves professionally. If you're in the market for an Android device, this is the one. It's worth the wait.

- Juan, Sprint Users
IntoMobile
IntoMobile

The Samsung Galaxy S III is an impressive phone. The screen is lovely and the phone is full of software features that'll make your head spin. The camera is great and rivals that of the iPhone 4S. From a hardware-only perspective, it is the best Android phone Sprint has to offer at this time. It sur...

- Kelly Hodgkins, IntoMobile


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy S III user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy S III with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy S III has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
4.8"

The Samsung Galaxy S III's screen size is 4.8 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.5 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Update Available: 4.4.4 KitKat) operating system (OS).

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16/32 GB

Internal memory is 16/32 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
2100mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2100 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1300 minutes, 387 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy S III Specs

Overview
Release Date May 31, 2012
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (Update Available: 4.4.4 KitKat)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5 GHz
Internal Storage 16/32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.55 W/kg
Body: 1.49 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+ 21.1
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
variations
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HID, HFP, HSP, PAN
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC, aptX
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Geotagging, ISO, Panorama, Self-timer, Smile detection, White balance
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, DivX
Video Recording Parameters
Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 306 pixels
Size 4.8 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2100 mAh
Removable Battery Yes
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 567 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 387 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1300 minutes
Standby Time Up to 12.5 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Pebble Blue, Marble White, Garnet Red, Amber Brown, Sapphire Black, Titanium Gray
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.7 x 7.1 x 0.9 cm (5.4 x 2.8 x 0.4 in)
Weight 133 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key No
Home Key Yes
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Swype
Voicemail Key: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
TV Out Info: HDMI
DLNA Support: Yes
Audio Formats: AAC, AAC+, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, eAAC+, MP3, OGG, WMA
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, DivX, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: No
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Viewable document types: XLS, PPT, PPTX, DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable, Pre-installed
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Stop Watch, Timer, Calculator, Weather, Maps, NotePad, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA): Samsung Galaxy S3, SGH-T999
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy S III Reviews
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