I live in the UK. I can see the screen fine outside. Struggle a bit on sunny days but if I tilt the screen so its not refelcting the sunlight in my eyes, it is easy to see.

 

I agree... It's very hard to see outside....

 

I turn mine to full brightness when outside and have no issues.

 

indeed turn it to full brightness.
ive used multiple touch screen phones outside from the following
iphone
iphone3gs
samsung i7500
htc desire
iphone 4s
htc one x
samsung galaxy s3

i can catagorically tell you that out of all of them the i7500 and s3 have the best brightness outside. this is due to the amoled screen
lcd does not cut the mustard outside

EDIT: are any of you using screen protectors? it could be those causing the problem

 

I'm in the UK and today in London it was quite sunny. I compared my S3 ( at full brightness) with an iPhone 4 at half the brightness and the iPhone 4 was by far a lot brighter. is there anything to boost the brightness higher?? I'm a bit disappoointed by the brightness of the S3 out in the sun as well.

 

I was walking around Downtown LA in 100 degree weather at noon. It was blazingly bright outside. No shade from trees or buildings, not a cloud in the sky AND I had dark polarized sunglasses on. I turned up to max brightness and I didn't have a problem. It wasn't intensely bright and crisp looking like when I'm indoors, but I can still read things and make out what's on the screen.

 

One of the few disappointments to me is how dark the screen is when outside. It's not bad enough to make me change phones but it's annoying.

 

mine is on auto brightness - it works very well and screen is easy to see outside. I even read books in the sun whilst walking my dogs, the sun does not prevent this...
Don't see what the problem is?

 

This was my biggest concern when deciding whether to upgrade from my DroidX. I spent a week comparing the displays as best I could in the store. The DroidX is definitely brighter......but.....it too is difficult to read/use outdoors, as any lcd screen is. In the end it turns out the SIII is really just about as usable outdoors as the Droid and it is fabulous indoors, much better/richer colors and usability.

 

You can also turn so that your back is to the sun. Hold the phone in your shadow. That might help a bit...

 

Due to this thread I just took my S3 outside in the sun to compare it with my iPhone 4G and my HTC Incredible. I found them to be all about the same. FWIW I had the S3 on aoto-brightness, no screen-protector.

 

Automatic brightness does NOT go to full brightness. Try unchecking it, and move the slider to all the way to the right.

 

Have a screen protector on (HD Zagg) and I am currently in Canada. I have no problem reading it outside and I keep mine on auto brightness. I think its almost on par with my iphone 4s outside.

 

Same here!

 

Does the power saving feature inhibit the potential of full brightness? So If I have power saving mode enabled and I set the brightness to 100%....does that actually have the brightness to 100% or is it actually less than that? Could that be an issue why some people are reporting no problems and some are reporting problems?

 

I had trouble outside when I had the "anti glare" screen protector on. I tore it off and found I could see the screen better.

 

Its a bit dim but def readable and I don't bother turning it up on a normal day. I was taking pictures 2 weekends ago outside with no shade. I had no problem using the screen as a view finder. That day I did turn it up though....