Updated[13.2.12] Discuss all Samsung Galaxy S III rumors/release date/speculation/news

Mr. Ed said:

The processor is set in stone to be a dual core snspdragon. There is a reason I know that and you do not.

Those gs1 owners (god bless them for holding on to a phone so long) are exactly who i refer to as the market in my posts.

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OK. Even so, this new Snapdragon S4 is almost twice faster than sluggish S3 in phones like Skyrocket, Rezound from last year. It's only slightly behind quad Exynos at the same clock and most folks would be plenty happy with speed, battery and stable LTE.

Ok guys this might be a bit off topic so direct me to the right place if it really shouldn't be here..

I'm getting a bit confused here with HTC sense and TouchWizz.

I currently have a Desire running gingerbread. Its non rooted, uses Sense launcher, basically other than various accounts and a backdrop its factory.

My upgrade is due now and I'm looking at the SG3, partly on the reputation of the SG2 but also because of the storage capabilities. I have a 32gb ipod touch that I hate with a passion, so I'd like to ditch it and replace with the phone. I have around 35gb of music so if I got a big card I can put it on the card and carry it in the phone. The alternative is the HOX and I just deal with swapping music around in the limited storage (not really ideal).

Anyway, so I'm reading various different sites and some say that TW isn't that great, for example: Samsung Galaxy S III versus the HTC One X! | Android Central says:

Android Central said:

If you've listened to our Galaxy S III podcast, you know that I'm not crazy about the latest version of Touchwiz. As far as home screens and the launcher go, they're functional, but they're more of the same. But Samsung's camera app, and the S Voice and motion tweaks are pretty killer. We'll call that one a wash, perhaps, because a third-party launcher will cure some what Touchwiz ails. At the end of the day, though, it doesn't feel like you're using an Ice Cream Sandwich device like it does on One X.

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Engadget (Samsung Galaxy S III software impressions (video) -- Engadget) said:

Engadget said:

The base style remains unmistakably TouchWiz, but there are some extra twists. Unlike stock ICS, there's now a settings option immediately available in the drop-down menu, and there are new gesture menu and sharing options, but the remaining look and layout is largely unchanged -- save for little details, like on-off switches, that have been tweaked for Samsung's own design reasons. Samsung's added in Google's own ICS widgets alongside its own versions if you're picky about exactly which calendar app displays on your home screen.

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Also in the video its noted that there are some features that "bring it [the S3] closer to its cousin the galaxy nexus"

Which would make me think that its reasonably close to ICS but obviously with all the added Samsung extras. There is also a forum post here: What is with all the TouchWiz hate? | The Verge Forums (sorry for the x-post) where the author compares TW to a stock ROM (least as close as he can get), there doesn't appear to be huge differences.

The impression I've had until now is that TW used to smother android a bit but in more recent versions (especially for ICS) its been scaled back a little or should I say aligned with ICS.
I've had a very quick play with a HOX today and to be honest it doesn't feel radically different to my Desire - sure there are prettier widgets and all that good stuff but Sense doesn't appear to of changed very much, so does that mean it is covering up ICS pretty well ?

I'm guessing that people here will have some knowledge of TW on ICS and maybe have used Sense as well that could give their input ?
If TW is junk as some people claim maybe I'm better going for the HOX ?

ETA: Sorry this is so long I also had a quick play with a SG2 running TW on ICS, so it looks a bit different to Sense but it seemed to do the same basic things and I found my way around it easily enough. I guess it has its own little quirks and features but it wasn't as different as I had expected..

Sandroidfan said:

OK. Even so, this new Snapdragon S4 is almost twice faster than sluggish S3 in phones like Skyrocket, Rezound from last year. It's only slightly behind quad Exynos at the same clock and most folks would be plenty happy with speed, battery and stable LTE.

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I dont disagree with that

Only complaint here is the screen, by no means its a bad screen but it did not quite give me the wow factor as the S2 did. Was really digging for that 4.7 inch, high resolution, AMOLED plus screen. In all honesty probably they needed to make a trade-off in production costs, but I would have prefered a smaller screen with truely amazing image quality in that case.

Processor, RAM, Battery no complains there though. I also like the touch wiz on first sight.

Htc one x and the S3 are both great phones, probably going for the most cheapest of the both.

matttye said:

IF they have any sense we will still be able to use Android Beam, in addition to S-Beam.

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Hopefully that is the case. If not maybe someone will make an apk for Android Beam.

Some more interesting stuff on the S3 (32nm process, battery life, exFAT support):

AndroidNZ: Samsung Galaxy S3, secrets revealed: Battery life, exFAT, Apt-X (bonus scandal: the iPad2 buyers lottery)

NZtechfreak said:

Some more interesting stuff on the S3 (32nm process, battery life, exFAT support):

AndroidNZ: Samsung Galaxy S3, secrets revealed: Battery life, exFAT, Apt-X (bonus scandal: the iPad2 buyers lottery)

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That worries me a bit, he part about the chip. Is the S4 the same metal and die size? If not will the dual core US version be a battery hog while the Euro sips?

So, apparently someone got hold of an S3 and did back to back camera shots with a HOX

Michael's Album: GALAXY III v One X [Photos]

Full size here: Photo Comparison Samsung Galaxy III and HTC One X

My first thought was the S3 looks horrendous, washed out colours, not sharp, flare from lighting... but on second look its better at some pictures - the roses in the hallway and the apples are sharper than the HOX and less saturated. The image looking down a road with cars parked either side the HOX white balance is off (cold) and slightly underexposed.
Some shots show camera shake and/or loss of focus. Both of these could be user error (My HTC Desire can be a little awkward sometimes).

Note there is no EXIF data on any of these images, someone removed it.

Its also odd that Samsung let someone wander off with an unreleased phone that from what I read is still on pre-production software. I looked on a map and found the outside locations are up to a mile from Earls Court, but all reviews etc that I've seen no-one got allowed to be out of the building with the phone.
In the outside pictures there are no cars or people, which would indicate early morning ? I wouldn't expect that area of London to be that quiet in daylight hours.

The HOX uses the same sensor as the SG2, I don't know about the lens, but at any rate the S3 having a worse lens than the S2 or HOX doesn't really make sense.

What do we think guys ? I posted here because until I actually see some confirmation I'm treating this as rumour.

Edit: also just found this that has a few detail pictures from an S3 vs S2 which would be more what I'd expect : xda-developers - View Single Post - Samsung Disappoints & HTC Steals The Show!

Crafty said:

So, apparently someone got hold of an S3 and did back to back camera shots with a HOX

Michael's Album: GALAXY III v One X [Photos]

Full size here: Photo Comparison Samsung Galaxy III and HTC One X

My first thought was the S3 looks horrendous, washed out colours, not sharp, flare from lighting... but on second look its better at some pictures - the roses in the hallway and the apples are sharper than the HOX and less saturated. The image looking down a road with cars parked either side the HOX white balance is off (cold) and slightly underexposed.
Some shots show camera shake and/or loss of focus. Both of these could be user error (My HTC Desire can be a little awkward sometimes).

Note there is no EXIF data on any of these images, someone removed it.

Its also odd that Samsung let someone wander off with an unreleased phone that from what I read is still on pre-production software. I looked on a map and found the outside locations are up to a mile from Earls Court, but all reviews etc that I've seen no-one got allowed to be out of the building with the phone.
In the outside pictures there are no cars or people, which would indicate early morning ? I wouldn't expect that area of London to be that quiet in daylight hours.

The HOX uses the same sensor as the SG2, I don't know about the lens, but at any rate the S3 having a worse lens than the S2 or HOX doesn't really make sense.

What do we think guys ? I posted here because until I actually see some confirmation I'm treating this as rumour.

Edit: also just found this that has a few detail pictures from an S3 vs S2 which would be more what I'd expect : xda-developers - View Single Post - Samsung Disappoints & HTC Steals The Show!

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It looks like he had the flash on for the SGS3 and not the HOX.

Anyone else feel the same way? Maybe I'm wrong.

Eryl Flynn said:

That worries me a bit, he part about the chip. Is the S4 the same metal and die size? If not will the dual core US version be a battery hog while the Euro sips?

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huh?

AnandTech - The HTC One X for AT&T Review

xtop said:

huh?

AnandTech - The HTC One X for AT&T Review

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I appreciate that but not a guaranteed accurate comparison. They are not using the Exynos quad in the EU version of the HOX. It may be similar or the same end results but I do not see how we would know they compare.

Android26 said:

It looks like he had the flash on for the SGS3 and not the HOX.

Anyone else feel the same way? Maybe I'm wrong.

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Could be any number of things, since all EXIF got removed we can't tell, which is one of the reasons I'm suspicious. We don't even know they are from an S3...

Eryl Flynn said:

I appreciate that but not a guaranteed accurate comparison. They are not using the Exynos quad in the EU version of the HOX. It may be similar or the same end results but I do not see how we would know they compare.

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i posted it to prove it wouldn't be a battery hog like you suggested. the s4 one x was in 2nd place in nearly every test.

Sandroidfan said:

Tegra2 and Exynos had some issue with LTE radios last year, but still Samsung managed to make LTE tab 10.1 with tegra2. So that doesn't mean they will have the same issue with LTE this year going forward. I heard Samsung said last year that their next versions of Exynos will fully support LTE radios. They also reconfirmed it unofficially recently.

Given how big deal LTE is even in Asia, I think these big guys are well aware how important it is to make sure their chips are LTE compatible, and it will be silly to make processors working with only 3G these days.

As for SGSIII on verizon, I feel your concern as they are using CDMA. So it remains to be seen if new Exynos can also support verizon CDMA/LTE network. They might go with Krait S4 for verizon, but that's still giant leap from S3 snapdragon of last year.

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Regardless, a VZW version is likely waaaaaaay down the road.

rushmore said:

Regardless, a VZW version is likely waaaaaaay down the road.

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Maybe so if they try to do Exynos/LTE combo on Verizon version. But if it's S4 Krait (which seems more likely now), I don't think it will take too long.

BTW, isn't verizon also getting Razr HD? I wonder what kind of processor/radio it might have. There was leak that indicates S4 krait but I don't think it's confirmed. And verizon doesn't seem to be getting One X anytime soon.

Any guesses on the price this will be? I'm due for an upgrade in July and I'm debating between getting the Sony Xperia Ion SGSIII and the Skyrocket, which one?

Attain???????? said:

Any guesses on the price this will be? I'm due for an upgrade in July and I'm debating between getting the Sony Xperia Ion SGSIII and the Skyrocket, which one?

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i would take the skyrocket off of your list and leave it between the s3, ion and one x. but it'll be the usual $199 on contract, $550+ off contract

I'm not interested in the One-X i want an SD slot and a removable battery...

Attain???????? said:

I'm not interested in the One-X i want an SD slot and a removable battery...

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ok?....

different ends of the spectrum, but the inc4g sounds enticing...

Attain???????? said:

I'm not interested in the One-X i want an SD slot and a removable battery...

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this

HTC One X is ugly in my taste. SGS3 surprised me a lot in a positive meaning. I have I9000 now so changing into SGS 3 will be a big upgrade for me. Im waiting for it. Hey guys, did you see Han Solo somewhere here last time? BTW hello after a long time again. ;]

This will come with a removable 2100 mah battery

Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) Review - Watch CNET's Video Review
Nice review.

+ I found this interesting doing a side by side comparison to the EVO 4G LTE

Samsung Galaxy S III VS HTC EVO 4G LTE - Phone specs comparison

Does anyone know if the US model will have the physical home button or is it too early to tell? I like the button but like the s2 the US model didn't use it. Kinda of hoping that they don't do that again.

nascar01 said:

Does anyone know if the US model will have the physical home button or is it too early to tell? I like the button but like the s2 the US model didn't use it. Kinda of hoping that they don't do that again.

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All of the U.S. models will have 4 capacitve keys. I'll be buying the UK version. I love having a home button.