How many are still using an S3 and why?

[jrsharp21]

How many of you guys are still using an S3 and why? My contract just expired on the 24th and have been looking at the Note 4 and iPhone 6 plus. But I just can't bring myself to spend $250 or so on one of those models right now. My S3 is still running fast. I just did some tweaks on it that made it even faster. I keep asking myself is getting one of those other phones going to make my day to day use that much better.

 

[Unforgiven]

How many of you guys are still using an S3 and why? My contract just expired on the 24th and have been looking at the Note 4 and iPhone 6 plus. But I just can't bring myself to spend $250 or so on one of those models right now. My S3 is still running fast. I just did some tweaks on it that made it even faster. I keep asking myself is getting one of those other phones going to make my day to day use that much better.

My wife is still using her S3 for those exact reasons. I did just buy her an extended battery as her old, original battery wasn't keeping an all day charge, though I suspect 6-8 hours of fakebook was the real issue there.

 

[dynomot]

@Unforgiven, are you sure your wife is not mine's twin?

Seriously, my wife uses an S3 - an international GT-I9300 model. It is her first smart phone proper. She loves it (as I did when I owned one). So far it is performing well, it is just stock BTU British firmware, unrooted and unmodded. However me getting it her for next to nothing may have backfired on me. I pay for our phones, they are on the same account and usually I get both upgrades for me (I usually unlock one and sell it - not strictly legal as really it is not mine until the term of the contract ends, but I shall never not pay a phone bill.) and this time she wants it, quite legitimately for herself. I look forward to the day she too gets excited by a shiny new phone.

 

[fdbryant3]

How many of you guys are still using an S3 and why? My contract just expired on the 24th and have been looking at the Note 4 and iPhone 6 plus. But I just can't bring myself to spend $250 or so on one of those models right now. My S3 is still running fast. I just did some tweaks on it that made it even faster. I keep asking myself is getting one of those other phones going to make my day to day use that much better.

Initially I was going to say no, it isn't going to change your day to day experience. Unless your pushing the hardware it really isn't going to change the experience. However I upgraded from an S3 to a OnePlus One and I love the larger screen size and that has changed the experience for me (honestly I wish the Nexus 6 was available - I might of gotten that instead at the time). So if you like the idea of larger screen - yes it is worth it but if you are like my wife and don't want a bigger screen, then no - your apps are going to be the same and honestly most app work, will continue to work, and be developed to work fine on the S3.

The truth is for the most part we've reached the point where the hardware (even mid-level) exceeds most software's needs.

 

[funkylogik]

Still using mine after over 2+a half years mainly because I can't afford anything new but also because it's still well supported by developers.
Official support for my model (international) ended at jellybean but I'm running a nice kitkat rom and things are looking good for the lollipop builds so I'm not overly concerned about getting something new (yet)
.... Although it would be nice.. I'd love a z3....

 

[BynoUK]

Nope because the Nexus 5 came out. Bought one at launch and love it so much I've not even given other phones much thought (and I'm always in the market for new tech )

Gave the S3 to my sister at Christmas and was sad to see it go though, great phone indeed.

 

[androidlover9]

Me because I'm on a contract.

 

[sopio]

How many of you guys are still using an S3 and why? My contract just expired on the 24th and have been looking at the Note 4 and iPhone 6 plus. But I just can't bring myself to spend $250 or so on one of those models right now. My S3 is still running fast. I just did some tweaks on it that made it even faster. I keep asking myself is getting one of those other phones going to make my day to day use that much better.

Been using my s3 for a little over 2 years. I'm with T-Mobile so I have no contract, but didn't see anything worth buying (plus at full prices). So now I'm just waiting for the s6, whenever that comes out

 

[funkylogik]

Been using my s3 for a little over 2 years. I'm with T-Mobile so I have no contract, but didn't see anything worth buying (plus at full prices). So now I'm just waiting for the s6, whenever that comes out

Should be out by this summer.
Sorry to put you in the spot lol but what are you hoping will be better in the s6 than the s3?
Personally I won't be buying another Samsung but if I was, I suppose I would like more ram and a (slightly) bigger display but that's about it

 

[androidlover9]

Should be out by this summer.
Sorry to put you in the spot lol but what are you hoping will be better in the s6 than the s3?
Personally I won't be buying another Samsung but if I was, I suppose I would like more ram and a (slightly) bigger display but that's about it

Yeah same I'm going to hTC next lol, how come you're not sticking to Samsung?

 

[joe71]

My s3 cease to work around the first week of August last year. I tried to get a replacement but at the time T-Mobile my carrier had no replacement units and was told they could possibly get one through a third party but it would void the warranty, instead i got a nexus 4, the first one was a dud and the second nexus 4 lasted about a month, died, rebooted after about two weeks ran great one week and then i knock it into the toliet . since then i have been using an LG optimus l 90 no comparison with the S-3, moving on to the nexus 6 either this week or next

 

[funkylogik]

Yeah same I'm going to hTC next lol, how come you're not sticking to Samsung?

I just think there are much better phones out there now since I don't use any of the Samsung features (i run an aosp rom anyway).
When the s3 was launched it was a big step up from any other phone out there (other than the HTC one X) but now there are a load of excellent phones out there and some at a fraction of the cost

 

[fdbryant3]

I just think there are much better phones out there now since I don't use any of the Samsung features (i run an aosp rom anyway).
When the s3 was launched it was a big step up from any other phone out there (other than the HTC one X) but now there are a load of excellent phones out there and some at a fraction of the cost

I agree - there is no value in locking into a brand or manufacturer. I bought and loved the S3 and really expected my next phone to be whatever Samsung was offering at the time. However when the time came - I went with the OnePlus One (and a Nexus 5 for my wife) because it was the value for us.

I wouldn't rule Samsung out as being my next phone, it even has a leg up for a past excellent experience but it isn't a lock.

 

[androidlover9]

I just think there are much better phones out there now since I don't use any of the Samsung features (i run an aosp rom anyway).
When the s3 was launched it was a big step up from any other phone out there (other than the HTC one X) but now there are a load of excellent phones out there and some at a fraction of the cost

Ah, for me I would say my experience with Samsung hasn't been the best really.

I really hate how poorly optimized their phones are to the OS, and how long OTA updates take to reach the device...

And well, the lag doesn't help either...

 

[lunatic59]

My wife has the S3, my son the S4. They seem to be TouchWiz fans. I did offer the wife the Nexus 4 (updated to lollipop) when I got my N6, but she shrugged it off as a downgrade.

As long as it continues to work, she's keeping it. She keeps hers in a Vera Bradley® pouch. *sigh*

 

[Unforgiven]

My wife has the S3, my son the S4. They seem to be TouchWiz fans. I did offer the wife the Nexus 4 (updated to lollipop) when I got my N6, but she shrugged it off as a downgrade.

Similar to mine. When I was looking to upgrade her OG Kindle Fire I asked if she wanted an N7 and she panned the idea. I got her a Galaxy Tab 4 8.1 and she was excited that it was the same interface and background image as her phone. Nevermind that it was lesser tech then an N7.

As long as it continues to work, she's keeping it. She keeps hers in a Vera Bradley® pouch. *sigh*

I know, right. My wife has umbrella's and lunch bags that match her phone case.

 

[Stuntman]

I've had my GS3 for 2 and a half years. A year ago, I was tempted to get the N5, but decided to hold off as my GS3 was still working very well for me. I was tempted again about 6 month ago by the OnePlus One, but again, I decided to hold of as my GS3 was still working very well for me. I ended up getting an extended battery for my GS3 instead. The last update I got for my GS3 was last month. It seemed to have improved the battery life of my phone as well. I'm sure any of the latest phones would be faster and smoother than my GS3. However, as there really isn't anything I am really unhappy about my GS3, I cannot justify spending hundreds of dollars on a new phone at this time.

The GS3 has really stood the test of time. It's been 2 and half years since I got it and I am still very happy with it. I think I'd still be happy with this phone for another year. My contract is up in 6 months and I will probably get a new phone around that time. I'm hoping to get on of the Project Ara phones when they become commercially available. If not and if there isn't anything that I feel is worth my money at the time, I think I'll be perfectly happy continuing to use my GS3. Project Ara phones are going to be very new and I may just wait for the technology to improve enough before I get one.

 

[Arjun1]

I've been on mine for two years now. rooted and all! loved it until it suddenly has a bunch of problems now with the battery. still trouble shooting to determine the problem. loved it when it worked though, but looking forward to start using my iPhone 6!

 

[pwd847]

I bought my S3 around January of 2014, and I paid $100 towards my G/F's S3. We love it. It was $300 and I didn't even wanna spend that much (I'm on cheap ass Virgin Mobile so there are no phone subsidies). I am glad I did. Shortly thereafter, I bought the Zero Lemon super ultra kickass largest battery ever. My phone easily goes 2 days on a charge, even with heavy 3D game usage. I have tried about 4 or 5 ROMs and I have settled in to Pac-Rom currently. Just got GPS working two days ago. I also have the Zero Lemon case and when I take my phone out of the case it literally looks BRAND NEW.

I still have this phone because: 1) I LOVE IT! 2) Due to paying cash other phones are too expensive 3) I don't need a larger screen cause I have a Chromebook for that purpose. 4) I already invested A LOT of time and money in this phone. 5) I don't notice any lagging or slow loading so why upgrade?

 

[dynomot]

Unless Samsung pull a rabbit out of a hat and surprise us with a revamped, leaner TouchWiz, less bloat and redesigned hardware then I think the SGSIII will remain the biggest step up from it's predecessors in the Galaxy line up apart from the SGSII which was about the same step up from the original SGS. I when I use my wife's SGSIII (more accurately show her how to do something) I don't feel it is a major step down from my Note 3. I could happily use one again full time.

As for the concensus of current SGSIII users seemingly wanting away from Samsung, I could be with you. The Note 4 will be nearly a year old by the time I get an upgrade in July if my upgrade had been last November or earlier I would have jumped at it. The SGS6 will have to be really special for me to keep with Sammy. My other contact (my wife's actually, I pay) is due for renewal in October and once again it would have to be something much better than the Note 4 for me to try an convince my wife she doesn't need an upgrade. Since she got the SGSIII she had been partially bitten by the smartphone bug and is looking forward to an upgrade when one comes rather than letting me just take it.

 

[mydian]

I'm still using the S3 because it's a good phone and I can't afford anything better on prepaid. I refuse to sign a contract and get stuck paying too much for service. So until something better comes along for the cheap (maybe the 5S next Christmas) I'll stick with my S3 long as I can.

 

[wyelkins]

I have had my Boost S3 for a year and a half. Updates and Custom Roms have kept it relevant.

I have extra batteries that make power issues irrelevant. I have a Zerolemon battery that will last a very long time with heavy use, which I give it. Lots of screen on time.

My 64GB SD card makes storage issues irrelevant.

I don't play games so I have no problems with speed. My eyes are not too good so 720p is no problem for me. I have good Bluetooth Speakers and Headphones so sound is not an issue.

I don't expect that my town will get Sprint Spark any time soon, so no triband for me.

This phone does everything that I need. I love to read about the new phones and a larger screen might be nice. I can't help feeling that the net result on many new phones would be a net loss of functionality, mostly from no removable battery and no SD slot. I doubt I will stick with Samsung unless I can get a Note 4 on Boost and root it cheap. Doubt that will happen.

The only thing that would make me switch is if my radio was better at home so that I could pick up the weak LTE Signal I get there. Almost always on 3g. No WiFi at home so this is an issue. Most of my town has strong LTE, so this is just my bad luck. But, my hunch is that some newer phones might have stronger radios.

I don't use the camera much, but I think that I would see improvement on a new phone.


Edit

I will add that if I had to stick with Unrooted Stock for this year and a half. I probably would have long ago thrown this thing against a wall and be on a Moto G. But since it is rooted I have ran more roms and Kernels that I can remember and the dev community and forums on AF and XDA have been great. First Class group of people. I can't help but add that into my consideration when thinking about changing phones.

 

[javamann]

I have an unrooted stock but the phone still seems to fill my needs. I've been using the S3 instead of my ASUS tablet and it works a lot better (tho smaller!). Actually I use it for everything I need and it seems to fit the bill. I probably will go to a Note sooner or later because of the larger screen. I guess I'm still happy in my ignorance!!

JM

Old age is not for sissies.

 

[ScuroRaven]

I am still using my GS3, but plan on updating in march. According to what I have read the GS6 is supposed to be out by then. the rumored specs is a octo-core processor. I thought about getting the Nexus, but it's stats are bellow the GS5. I have also looked at the LG G3, which currently seems to have the best specs for AT&T, however it does not appear to be very well made. I have not found anyone that owns one and all the demo models I can find have broken screens. As for the HTC phones, I had the Vivid before the GS3 and I really liked it, However the people I know that have/had the ONE M8 have not liked them. Apparently the M8s have had lots of hardware issues, I have not read up on it but those that I know who have had one have had issues like random reboots and even factory rests.

My main issues with upgrading to these newer phones is the screen size. no need for the larger screens and they tend to make the more fragile.

 

[funkylogik]

Well. It turns out I spoke too soon lol... Came into a bit of money today and just pulled the trigger on a OnePlus One.
As i said in my initial post.. I'll look forward to having a bigger display and more ram/cpu.
The s3 will always have a special place in my heart though. I've had a lot of fun with it and it's served me well