Review and tests of Samsung Galaxy S3. The smartphone has reached the very heights

The long-established Samsung company launched its new development around the world, which became the third in the Galaxy S line. This stylish, attractive gadget instantly filled the world market with its capabilities. It's no secret that mobile phones today, one might say, one of the important elements of the life of modern society. It is hardly possible to imagine a person who does not have his own mobile phone. However, if the Samsung Galaxy S3 fell into the hands of the user, then it is unlikely that it will be so easy to part with it.
Why this model, you ask. It's no secret that Samsung has been fighting for dominance in the advanced technology market for years. It seems to me that the proof of this is their new devices, which every day more and more begin to penetrate the gadget market, where their developments take pride of place.
Do not forget that the top companies of modern society are fighting each other every day, some borrow the ideas of others, while the latter simply copy. However, some manage to combine all the indicators into one single one and at the same time get an almost perfect device, but we all know that the race for technology does not allow new products to hold out for a long time on the sales market, because after the release of one device, literally following it to conquer the open spaces, from the "hangar" they release a new miracle creation, in connection with which it turns out that companies are simply forced to fight each other.
It should be noted that the Samsung Galaxy S3 has become something similar, which still managed to get to the very top, where respect and popularity awaited it. The gadget received under its control all the new technology and features that only make work easier for a person: powerful, convenient, stylish. We dedicated this review to him - after all, the new product from Samsung was among those who were most expected - this is the third model in the Galaxy S family. We can talk a lot about it, but let's move on to the device itself and study its capabilities and technical characteristics in more detail .

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S3

Actually, let's start from the very beginning. The developers were not even too lazy to pack their miracle in a rather attractive box that does not take up much space.

We open it and here it is - a device that can enchant many. Let's open it, and there: a communicator, a battery, a Micro-USB-USB cable, a wall charger with a USB-compatible connector, a wired stereo headset with a set of spare tips, and documentation. There is one more highlight - if you turn the box over, you can see all the necessary information about the Galaxy S3 there. In other words, the developers have done everything so that the user gets everything necessary for work.

Let's move on to the specifications of the device:

Samsung Exynos 4412 processor (quad-core ARM Сortex A9, frequency 1.4 GHz) with ARM Mali-400 MP4 video core
Operating system Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Display SuperAMOLED HD, diagonal 4.8″, 720 × 1280 pixels, PenTile, capacitive, with multitouch
1 GB RAM, 2 GB main flash (512 MB available), 16 GB secondary flash (11.3 GB available)
GSM EDGE/GPRS communication (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
Communication 3G HSDPA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)
HSDPA 21 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Bluetooth v4.0+EDR
WiFi 802.11b/g/n
NFC, WiFi Direct, DLNA
FM radio with RDS
Glonass, GPS + A-GPS
Position sensor, accelerometer, magnetometer, barometer, RGB sensor
MHL 1.0, USB Host
8 megapixel CMOS camera, autofocus, LED flash, 1.9 megapixel secondary camera
Lithium polymer battery, 2100 mAh capacity
Dimensions 137×71×8.6 mm
Weight 133 g.

Elegant and individual Samsung Galaxy S3

Samsung's new flagship has become something new when compared to its counterparts. If the previous versions, one might say, took the features of the well-known iPhone, then the third generation in the Galaxy S line has become a kind of individual personality, which hardly anyone can find fault with, it has become itself.

Appearance is very attractive, once you pick up the device and you forget about all the problems, you just want to turn it on. The slightly curved body only adds to its external beauty, but let's not dwell on the appearance of the device. Of course, this is a rather important factor for some users and the convenience of using the gadget depends on it, but it is unlikely that Samsung has made any strong emphasis on this, all the main things are stored inside, not outside.

The screen of the device occupies almost the entire front of the device, where you can find only three buttons: to the left of the central key there is a button to call the program menu, to the right - to return to the previous screen. Working with one hand, it seemed to me, is very convenient. But it is worth noting that people who have short fingers are unlikely to be able to freely press their thumbs across the screen, but I do not think this will be such a big problem for users. It should be noted that the third generation in the Galaxy S line has most likely become a full-fledged communicator, which should be controlled not with one, but with two hands, which makes it much easier to work with the device.

There are also no superfluous things on the sides: an on / off button and a volume control.

On top of the Samsung Galaxy S 3 are a headphone jack and an additional microphone. The main microphone and Micro-USB-compatible connector are located on the bottom of the case.

Also, the device is equipped with two cameras. Sensors are located next to the additional camera. To the left of it is now an information LED, which can be noted as a huge step forward in terms of ergonomics.

Our gadget received a very attractive color - blue metallic, but there is one small drawback, the communicator should buy a case, because the back panel of the device quickly gets scratches that are invisible at first glance. But you should not miss one moment, that the assembly of the device is very professional, there are no protruding and staggering parts, the assembly was approached very seriously.

We open the back cover of the device and see a very interesting picture, the battery is located there, however, the place for the microSIM card and the memory card is no longer under it, which greatly simplifies their replacement, now you do not need to remove the battery.

After gaining access to the battery compartment, it becomes possible to replace the memory card without disconnecting the battery. By the way, if you look at the location of the battery and the microSIM card, then the question arises: what, in fact, caused the need to use a SIM card slot of this particular format? There is so much space that a SIM card of a regular size would fit freely. However, as I think, microSIM is not convenient enough, it is not clear why the developers came to such a decision to install it in their device, because there is enough space. What is most interesting is that getting a SIM is not so easy, it feels like putting it in once, pulling it back out is simply impossible.

To summarize the appearance of the Galaxy S 3, we can say that the novelty has become quite convenient and has received new forms that should be of interest to many users. Of course, there are disadvantages, but you should not stop your attention on these little things. In general, everything is wonderful.

Software stuffing Samsung Galaxy S3

So, let's move on to the main question - what is the new flagship phone Samsung Galaxy S3 fraught with? Under its control, the device received the latest version of Android OS version 4.0.4. Also, do not miss another important fact that the company installed the TouchWiz shell on its offspring.

The screen is unlocked by moving your finger. Immediately we have access to: ChatON, Camera, Samsung Apps, Play Store, phone, contacts, messages, browser. Also, do not forget that the developers have added quite interesting “buns” to the security methods of locking the screen - a face and a voice.

As for the shell of the main screen itself, there haven’t been any special changes, and therefore, you don’t have to dwell on this place and go into details (the weather widget has been combined with the clock, a denser placement of icons has made it possible to place another icon in the list of main applications). Also, applications that received the S prefix are striking: S Memo, S Planner, S Suggest, S Voice. As for the latter, do not lose sight of it. We all know the well-known electronic assistant Siri, which became a kind of basis for building a new type of user interaction with a computer, and so, Samsung, in response to this application, released its own - S Voice. A very handy feature for a communicator, the voice is recognized very well, but do not forget that it is especially convenient for people who know English. It should also be noted that with the help of this program you can literally perform any action and your actions are not limited to calling a subscriber or, for example, typing a message.

Note that S Voice tries to be useful to the user and copies most of the functionality of Siri. It would not be surprising if both applications use the same knowledge bases. However, both systems still need to be improved. To date, in my opinion, they are not ideal.

However, you should not stop at one program, because the developers of Samsung have invested great efforts in order to create such a flagship model and managed to stuff the device with a huge number of different applications. Some are responsible for messaging (Chat ON), others allow you to remotely connect to the content of media servers via an Internet connection (various games, books, music, programs, and much more).

All applications work quite quickly, you even have the opportunity to turn on your imagination and customize the phone to your personal character, you can even install an application with which you can take measurements of the premises and take notes there, install a flashlight and much more. In a word - the developers have given great opportunities to their users, it remains only to learn how to use it wisely.
Do not miss one more thing - the device received another interesting application - Dropbox - a cloud storage and file synchronization service. Users of the third generation Galaxy S can use up to 50 GB of virtual disk space, and this is already quite serious.

If we draw a small conclusion, we can say that Samsung is not looking for easy ways and offers its users more and more advanced technologies. Everyone can make a choice, how and what he will use, it remains only to wait and think - which of the proposed ones will be of more interest to modern society, and which will not receive special attention, after which it is already possible to create something new.

Display features and sound

Display
If we compare the display of the device with other devices, then we can say that it is somewhat reminiscent of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy Nexus:

Matrix sizes 4.65 and 4.8 inches
Matrix type - HD SuperAMOLED
Resolution 720 by 1280 pixels

The AMOLED display of the Galaxy S 3 received a very high brightness, which is automatically adjusted. However, automation sometimes begins, if I may say so, to disappoint - the brightness often starts to switch, especially inconvenient when watching a video. The display sensor itself is very sensitive and is able to recognize multiple touches at the same time. However, let's focus on video playback.
The built-in video player works quite nicely and can even play Full HD. Of course, you can install third-party players that will work better, but I didn’t really need it. The factory video player is able to collapse into a window that hangs on top of other programs, and continue playing while the user goes about his business. There is also an opinion that regular video and audio players got the ability to stream to any DLNA device on the network (connect to a Samsung Smart TV, etc.), but I didn’t have such an opportunity.

Sound
As for the sound, almost everything is decent and there is enough of it. However, the headset that comes with the device did not particularly please me, at maximum volume it starts to “cut” the ears, however, this moment happens only when you turn on the radio receiver, which is a very curious fact, and when playing melodies from the player, everything is pretty decently. You can listen to calm music with great pleasure, but, in my personal opinion, there is not enough bass. As for the radio itself, it has the ability to support RDS and can record a signal in the form of 3GA files (very convenient, you can record your favorite music, or an interview or a radio broadcast into the device). Quite convenient to use and does not cause much trouble.

Connection

Samsung's flagship communicator received everything that was possible under its control, a complete set of wireless communication modules, the only thing missing is 4G support. I did not find any special problems with cellular communication, working on the Internet is a pleasure, especially if you connect to a high-speed connection via Wi-Fi.
Versions of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules:

Bluetooth 4.0
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n (Support: Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi Hotspot, DLNA, Kies Air).

Another great news should be noted, the third generation of the Galaxy S line supports Glonass. The user of the device can now determine their location, which is provided by the signal of our satellites.

Camera

Galaxy S3 received the same camera as its predecessor - 8 megapixels. You can record video in Fukk HD 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. (MP4 (H.264, AAC)). The camera also received an autofocus system and an LED flash, which can be used as a flashlight using the application. In a second, you can take several photos at once, which are of good quality.
Do not lose sight of the fact that the camera was able to recognize faces when shooting, plus all this - taking pictures right during video recording and an image stabilization system. The quality of photos and videos is very decent, here are a few options:

Click to enlarge

Speed and performance

Samsung's flagship, the Galaxy S3, received control of a chip developed by the company itself - Exynos 4412, and these are four ARM Cortex-A9 computing cores operating at a frequency of 1.4 GHz, and an ARM Mali-400 MP4 video processor. The amount of DDR2 RAM is 1 GB.

Performance tests:

Softweg Benchmark 1.03

Quadrant Standard test

Test in AnTuTu Benchmark 2.8

Calculating the number "pi" in the Super Pi program:

From the above tests, we can safely say that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is undoubtedly at the very top.

Conclusion

If you look at the overall situation, we can safely say that the Samsung Galaxy S3 managed to get its gold and rise to the very top of fame. It's a powerful communicator that few can compete with in 2012. Its main rival, most likely, will remain the iPhone 5, which also broke into the sales market. Of course, after some time something new and more modern will be released, but to date, this Samsung flagship has still managed to conquer a huge number of users. Perhaps many will say that the price for it is very high, it is hardly possible to disagree with this. However, this is better than numerous clones that have been roaming around the world for more than a year, the price and quality speak for themselves.

Positioning

The history of Samsung's Galaxy lineup is one of constant success, one successful model after another. The first flagship of the line set the bar for performance and was a year ahead of all competitors in terms of its filling - screen, processor, and overall capabilities. Even today, the Galaxy S is selling well almost two years after its introduction. Introduced in June 2010, this model has remained relevant today, as it offers excellent functionality and good value for money at a reduced price. In the smartphone market, one can count on the fingers of one hand models with a life cycle exceeding two years. In particular, such devices include the Apple iPhone and the flagships of the Galaxy line.

The follow-up to this successful device, the Galaxy S2 has become a cult classic among Android fans and is the best device on the platform, as evidenced by record sales. The life cycle of this model also promises to be very long, which characterizes the potential initially laid down by the manufacturer. With the arrival of the new flagship of the line - Galaxy S3, which was presented on the evening of May 3, 2012 in London, we will see a price reduction for the previous season's flagship and an explosive increase in its sales. Exactly the same scenario was with the release of the Galaxy S2, its appearance spurred sales of the first Galaxy. You can call it the word "seriality", when, like in a movie, a sequel comes out, and if it is successful, then people spend their time and money on it. Two companies, Apple and Samsung, are aware of this today, their flagship promotion strategies are very close. For example, HTC does not understand this, each season releasing a flagship that is actually equal in relation to Galaxy, HTC changes its name, which confuses all its users. At the time of the Galaxy S2, the HTC Sensation became a similar product, which then received various variations. In 2012, the analogue for the Galaxy S3 is the very successful HTC One X. But there is no continuity of names, which destroys the heredity of these models for a mass audience and makes it difficult to promote them.

Positioning of the Galaxy S3 coincides with the first and second devices of the line, no changes have occurred. The flagship implies that it is purchased by those who are chasing expensive and functional novelties. The secondary audience is technology fans. Finally, the residual audience in the first months of sales are practical buyers who choose a phone not for a couple of months, but for several years, they look at the price / quality ratio, as well as how long the device will remain relevant.

However, compared to a year ago, the Galaxy S3 has a rival within Samsung's line of phones - the Galaxy Note. The advantage of this device is the larger diagonal of the screen, the ability to use the pen to enter text or draw. A product of a different level, positioning, it is slightly cheaper than the Galaxy S3, which automatically makes it attractive. Samsung even delayed the update to Android 4 ICS for this model so as not to increase its attractiveness against the backdrop of the Galaxy S3. But I am sure that this will not stop buyers and they will choose their device based not only on the price, but also on the screen diagonal and additional features.

An important point regarding the Galaxy S3 is that the model goes on sale 2-3 weeks after its announcement. And in a fairly large number of countries. Already on May 4, all the largest operators in the world opened pre-orders for this device, they had pages with its description. This is a demonstration that the smartphone has attracted the attention of operators, and many are betting on it. The volume of initial sales of this model by Samsung is severely limited by the possibilities of production, there is a shortage of the device. At the same time, it has already exceeded 4 times similar sales for the same period of time for the Galaxy S2. On the one hand, this is explained by the fact that the model is simultaneously launched in a larger number of markets, on the other hand, the demand for it is heavy. I think that it will be possible to evaluate the success of this device based on the results of the first and second quarters of sales, I bet that it will surpass the Galaxy S2, and significantly. Comparing the sales of this device with the Apple iPhone is invalid, since Samsung has a large number of models and they distract buyers. Based on this, not a single device is able to compare with the iPhone in individual sales.

Bottom line - Galaxy S3 is one of the strongest models in 2012, which will compete with the next version of the iPhone, comparable to the HTC One X (due to the position of HTC on the market, sales of this device are much lower). This is a real flagship that will be relevant for a long time.

Design, dimensions, controls

In my opinion, before talking about technical characteristics, it is worth looking at the phone and its design. Several color solutions, a fairly thin body that fits well in the hand. It somehow subtly reminds me of Galaxy Note with one huge difference: using Note is hard even for me with my big hands. And this machine is much better. The size of the device - 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, weight 133 grams. As a comparison, here are the dimensions of other devices: HTC One X - 134.4 x 69.9 x 8.9 mm, 130 grams; Galaxy S2 - 125.3 x 66.1 x 8.5 mm, 116 grams. As you can see, the dimensions have grown slightly compared to the Galaxy S2, but quite at the level of a similar model, these dimensions are dictated by the screen.

Initially, two colors are available - white (Marble White), as well as dark blue (Pebble Blue). Other body colors will appear later, such as black.

The next point that caused fierce debate was what materials the apparatus should be made of. In February 2012, at an exhibition in Barcelona, partners were shown a Galaxy S3 prototype in a ceramic case (back cover, edging). The cost of manufacturing such a case was significantly higher than the usual plastic one, and it was abandoned. Interestingly, the argument that plastic is not the material that should be used in phones of this price segment remains an argument of the minority. Previous Galaxy sales prove that plastic appeals to many consumers. Moreover, the lack of sales of such a model as the Galaxy R (sales volume is very modest), made of metal, directly indicates that people prefer plastic analogues of this device. Therefore, it is worth leaving the debate about the material to those who vitally need proof that the Galaxy S3 is bad. Most consumers do not pay attention to this and do not require other materials. If the situation were different, then Samsung would introduce a metal or any other case, since the company has these technologies and has no problems in implementing them.

For select carriers, the Galaxy S3 is offered in a slightly modified design, but the differences from the original design are not too striking. Another thing is that the model may appear in a rectangular case, reminiscent of that of the Galaxy S2 (model for South Korea). But it is not worth expecting that a device of this design will appear in Europe in the near future.

The build quality is on the level of the Galaxy S2, the parts are fitted tightly, there are no gaps, the back cover is fixed until it clicks with the help of fasteners. At the same time, this cover is thin, but bearing in mind the experience of using the Galaxy S2, Galaxy Nexus, one should not expect problems here. Unlike the Galaxy S2, the cover was made glossy, this is a return to the ideas of the first Galaxy S. The main question is - is it scratched or not? Of course, it scratches, but not as much as someone imagines. My Galaxy S, after a year of very active use, was not scratched enough to say that it turned into trash. In bright light, small scratches and scuffs were visible. But the appearance of the phone did not become ugly. Exactly the same with the Galaxy Note, however, I use this device much less, so I can’t say for 4 months about the quality of the coverage.

Comparison with Samsung Galaxy S:

In blue, the edging around the screen is also made of plastic, but it has a metal texture. However, it is plastic.

At the top is a 3.5 mm jack, at the bottom - microUSB-connector. The right side of the device is the on/off button. On the left side is a paired volume rocker.

On the front surface you can see the physical central key, on the sides there are two touch buttons, no differences from the previous model. Above the screen are the front camera, as well as the light sensor, the proximity sensor.

Comparison with HTC One X:

Comparison with Apple iPhone 4:

Display

The screen has a diagonal of 4.8 inches, is made using HD Super AMOLED technology, but its resolution is 1280x720 pixels (16 million colors). The screen is capacitive, supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The screen quality is excellent, in terms of the number of dots per inch it is quite capable of competing with the Retina screen, which is on the Apple iPhone (with a larger diagonal, it looks more interesting than on the iPhone). A similar screen is used in the Galaxy Nexus, and it does not cause much criticism, except for those who have heard about what PenTile technology is.

In this technology, each dot on the screen is formed from a smaller number of subdots, which supposedly can be seen with the naked eye. In practice, microscopes are used for this, otherwise it is impossible to see the difference in the quality of the screen. Some people claim that they see the PenTile instantly and can tell it apart by eye. I amused myself by showing a device with an HD screen resolution and no PenTile technology, but I claimed that it was present. Reviews from such “experts” were as negative as one, they saw the dots that form the image, and their eyes “hurt”. When I got a similar device “without this terrible technology”, they immediately saw the difference and said that the second model was much better in terms of screen quality. It would not be superfluous to emphasize that in the second case, just PenTile was present.

Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One X screens in the sun:

For my taste, PenTile technology is a good example of how an elephant is blown out of a fly and created phobias. If you think you see sub-pixels, then buy phones where you can see more of them. At the same time, I can envy from the bottom of my heart that you can look at the world a little differently than most of humanity. To throw some more information into the firebox, I can say that the resolution of most modern TVs is the same or even less than the screen of this phone. I think that people who see PenTile have a very big problem watching TV, as it must be an excruciating experience for them. But stop talking about the placebo effect, which is present in technologies not less, and sometimes more than anywhere else.

The backlight auto-brightness is more aggressive than the Galaxy S2, dimming the brightness more. This is probably why I set the manual adjustment to the level that is comfortable for me. On the other hand, in this mode, the energy goes much faster, and this is noticeable.

One of the new technologies is called Smart Stay, the front camera catches your eye and automatically adjusts the backlight of the screen, for example, when reading. In my opinion, this is an additional feature that does not work perfectly and is not much needed, it is convenient in real life. But there is such an option.

For my taste, the screen quality is quite comparable with the Galaxy Nexus, it differs a bit in brightness, a little detail in the fonts in the browser, but this is almost not noticeable in the pictures. A good, high-quality screen that is above average for the market. There can be no particular complaints about him.

Screen comparison with Samsung Galaxy S2, Samsung Galaxy Note, HTC One X:

Battery

The phone uses a 2100 mAh lithium-ion battery (1650 mAh in the Galaxy S2).

A complete review of the battery and comparison with other models can be found in a separate article:

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbps. Checking the transfer of 1 GB of a file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbps within three meters between devices.

The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.

USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).

USB version - 2, data transfer rate - about 25 Mb / s.

When connected to a PC, simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable, the device requires Bluetooth to be turned off regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission, or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device is charged.

The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available from electronics stores) you can connect your phone to a TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks more preferable than a separate miniHDMI-connector on the case. However, if you still have an adapter from previous models, then it will not work for the Galaxy S3 - the connectors have been swapped here.

For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.

WiFi. 802.11 a/b/g/n is supported, the wizard is similar to that of Bluetooth. You can remember the selected networks, automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router with one touch, for this you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device's menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Of the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappears.

HT40 mode of operation is also supported for 802.11n, allowing you to double the Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).

WiFi Direct. A new protocol that aims to replace or compete with Bluetooth version 3 (it also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone starts searching for devices around. Select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.

S Beam. Samsung's proprietary technology, which allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes to another phone in a few minutes, is only presented in the Galaxy S3. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring and authorize phones, but the second is already used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much easier than using the connection on two devices, selecting files, and so on. At the same time, for non-Samsung phones, the use of S Beam is impossible, only Wi-Fi Direct remains to be content, which is understandable and understandable.

Memory, memory cards

The phone has 16 GB of internal memory (there is a version for 32 and 64 GB, the latter will appear later), initially about 14 GB is available to the user. Memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported.

The amount of RAM is 1 GB, after downloading about 800 MB is free. This is sufficient for all applications, although it would be interesting to get more RAM in 2012. Another thing is that there will be no sense in the quantitative increase in memory if it is not fully supported by the operating system.

Galaxy S3 versions offer 2 GB of RAM for a number of markets, this largely depends only on the country.

Performance

This is the first device from Samsung to use its own Exynos quad-core processor, the frequency of each core is up to 1.4 GHz (I am sure that the craftsmen will quickly overclock them to high values, as was the case for previous models).

In all synthetic benchmarks, the Galaxy S3 outperforms other devices on the market, with the exception of the US version of the HTC One X (using Qualcomm's dual-core chipset). The performance gain of Tegra3 is quite noticeable. In real life, the performance of the device is more than sufficient, as you can see in our videos. For those who love to measure the performance of phones in synthetic parrots, we offer the results of a number of popular tests, you can see for yourself that the Galaxy S3 shows more than decent numbers.

Quadrant Standart

Android 4.0 software features

The main and standard Android applications are described in a separate article, below we will focus only on those features of the Galaxy S3 that distinguish it from other devices.

Assistant - phone training

When you turn on the device for the first time, a setup wizard appears, you select the basic parameters and then get to work. There is nothing unusual in this, and it is familiar to most devices. It is quite another thing that when you open functions that are new to you, a picture appears with a brief explanation of what you can do. For example, it could be a hint about how you can flip through lists by patting the top edge of your phone. There are many tips, they are useful, and you can turn them off if necessary. Not annoying, which is already quite good.

S Voice

The first thing that upset me personally in the previous device was the voice functions assigned to the central key, which could not be turned off. The quality of the voice features was average and I didn't use them. The new device has S Voice, which to some extent resembles the "Remember everything" program. Dictate the alarm time, notes and so on with your voice. It's not a standard Android feature, but given that voice recognition is a year away, and way ahead, it works very well. Now there are no erroneous clicks on the central button, you can record up to 6 of your labels to call certain functions with your voice (in any language). Calling these tags does not require an Internet connection, including using the tag, you can unlock the phone, which, in my opinion, is pampering. All other commands require an internet connection.

The design of the program is clearly copied from Siri on the latest Apple iPhone. Yes, and the functionality at the time of launch was approximately comparable, for example, in S Voice it was possible to launch programs, but Siri at that time was not able to do this. With the update to Siri in iOS 6, it has more features and is back in the lead. I am sure that Samsung, in turn, will update S Voice and make it the same or a little more functional. It's a kind of competition.

At the moment, Russian is not supported in S Voice, the company promises to add it in September.

In the bottom line, we are dealing with another voice recognition system based on Vlingo. This system did not seem very convenient to me, just as Siri looks like a fun toy, but not an assistant in everyday affairs. While both systems are only at the beginning of their development, they are far from maturity.

AllShare Play

This utility was still in the Galaxy S2 and a number of other models, in the S3 we see its updated version. You connect to the same Wi-Fi network on different devices with this program (this can be a smart TV from Samsung, as well as a tablet or smartphone). Then you can view files on another device, download photos or videos. The only problem is that this requires an Internet connection, all data is transmitted via the network. This makes the program practically unusable for watching movies from another device, buffering occurs every few tens of seconds. And the speed of uploading photos of 3-4 MB is far from ideal, it is not instantaneous.

Together with the program, Sugar Sync cloud web storage is offered, where they give you 5 GB of space. You need to install a separate program to work with it. In my case, on the Galaxy S3, this program caused terrible brakes, led to the fact that the device simply hung. I did not manage to upload files to this cloud storage, although I tried. In general, the impressions from AllShare Play are purely negative. While the program is exotic, there is no practical value in it. It is especially funny that you can not broadcast DivX, which is supported by the phone, it is impossible to play it inside this program.

General screen

With the help of Wi-Fi, GroupCast technology is also implemented, within the same Wi-Fi network, different users can broadcast images, drawings, office files. Editing mode is not supported, but you can draw directly on the screen and underline the desired places. Each user can have their own underline and highlight color. Pretty handy thing for a joint discussion of certain things inside the office.

Video player

When watching the video, a feature appeared that seemed far-fetched to me exactly until the moment I tried it in real life - it's called Pop up Play. It's akin to picture-in-picture on TVs where the video plays over windows in a small rectangle while you can browse the web or write SMS. It is convenient not to be interrupted for any actions. The window can be driven around the screen, do whatever you want. It's just that you can't stretch it.

photo editor

The gallery has the simplest functions for working with images, you can rotate the image, change its size. But to fully edit the picture, you need to download the photo editor from the Samsung App Store. In my opinion, the only reason why this program is not installed by default (it is free) is the need to increase the number of downloads from the company store. The program itself is very interesting, as it has a large number of filters, it overlaps the Instagram editor in terms of its capabilities (but there is no social component, this is a pure photo editor).

Any additional and small chips

With SMS, they came up with a function that seemed damn convenient to me. You dial SMS and at some point you realize that it is easier to call. You don't have to do anything, just bring the phone to your face, and it starts calling the person you wrote to (the feature is called Direct Call).

Another feature that is interesting is Smart Alert - a smart notification is responsible for missed calls or events. You take the phone in your hand, and only at that moment it vibrates, notifying you that you missed something. The number of settings for all kinds of warnings has grown by an order of magnitude, and by this parameter the phone looks fantastic.

Of the other unusual features - face recognition in the gallery, the ability to automatically send to the phone of another person all the photos where he is present (no need to select them from the gallery). Possibility to receive tags for photos. Play slideshows with a specific person only.

Of the very funny chips - the built-in vibrate editor (the function in the exact same form first appeared on the iPhone). You can literally knock on a melody so that it plays like a rhythm. You will have a personal and unique vibrating alert. The toy unexpectedly attracts attention, and you quietly have fun with it for a long time.

For calls, the device has implemented a number of settings that increase the usefulness of the phone in the bag. So, the maximum volume in a jeans pocket or in a bag can automatically increase, this is a nice feature, it is disabled by default. According to my feelings, this setting increases the volume of the device by about 20-25 percent. The melody is distorted, but it's not so important in a bag, is it? Is not it?

The handset has S-Memo application, it is similar to the one on Galaxy Note. Let me remind you that you can draw and write with a stylus in it, but there is no stylus in this device. It doesn't matter, you can draw on the screen with almost any object, I'm good at doing it with my fingernail. But you can take a stylus, it turns out no worse than on Note. With one caveat, the stylus is only supported with a metal tip, just a plastic one won't fit. The number of settings in S-Memo is much less.

I also like the calendar, it has a very high quality view of the year, months, as well as the to-do list. Of the unusual settings that pleased - a huge number of different pre-installed accounts for different programs, you only need to enter your data, and everything will work. This is a nice feature of the device.

Chat-On is Samsung's proprietary IM messenger. There is no special meaning in it, but it is possible that it will seem interesting to you. I do not know, as for me, this program is not so useful.

Music player and FM radio

Let's start with FM radio. Initially, the device had the ability to record the air (it will not be available in all countries), it is also possible to remember song tags if they are broadcast by a radio station. Otherwise, the radio has not undergone major changes compared to the Galaxy S2, although the reception level is much better, and there is less interference (compared in the same place and with the same headset on the same stations, the SGS3 win is obvious).

Musically, the SGS3 is a huge step forward. The first and main thing I want to note is the best volume reserve. Now the volume can not be twisted to the maximum, which is nice. About 20 different equalizers, the ability to set your own and adjust a lot of parameters. The device sounds very nice and good.

Another point is related to the fact that you can set up filters, which will be shown to you in the player's menu. For the first time for Samsung, the Music Square option appeared, this is a square on the sides of which various moods are indicated (you can set years on two sides). You select small squares and form a playlist in this way, it is sorted by mood. Something similar first appeared in Sony Ericsson phones, the function was called Sense, but required synchronization with a computer. Here, the analysis of all songs takes place right on the phone. Quite an interesting implementation, but it's just an additional feature, that's all.

In hands-free mode, the quality of music playback is surprisingly good, the sound is loud and clear even at maximum volume. For me, this came as a surprise.

Like the previous models, this device can play the maximum number of different formats out of the box, including unconverted video, for FLAC music.

The sound quality has been improved by using the Wolfson WM1811 chip, while the Galaxy S2 used Yamaha's solution. For my taste, this solution is quite comparable to the iPhone, especially if you choose good headphones. Subjectively, the device outperforms all other models, including HTC devices, which are equipped with Beats Audio equalizers.

Some settings and programs - keyboard input

One of the main points in any device is text input from the keyboard, as we often write SMS messages, type text in letters, even if these are not treatises several pages long. The Samsung S3's virtual keyboard is great, you can select multiple languages and cycle through them. Continuous text input mode is supported, when you, without lifting your finger, swipe sequentially through the letters that make up the word. This is a complete analogue of Swype, which was in the previous models of the company. Some words are guessed incorrectly, then you can select word options from the drop-down list. There are also no complaints about the full-sized keyboard in landscape orientation, it is convenient to work with it. Let me remind you that you can install almost any keyboard in Android, but the built-in Samsung S3 does not cause such a desire, you just work with it.

In default SMS messages, one conversation (messages from one user) is limited to 200 messages. You can set a limit of 5,000 messages. Of the other settings, it is worth noting the change in the design of the windows, the ability to set your own fonts, and so on.

Game component

One of the typical applications of a modern smartphone is games, and these can be both casual toys and something three-dimensional. For a touch phone in terms of gaming, the question rests on performance, screen size and speed. With all the parameters the Galaxy S3 is above average, this is one of the best solutions today. I suggest watching a video that tells about the game. It has answers to all questions.

Comparison with other models - iPhone 4s, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note, HTC One X

A detailed comparison of the flagships of the smartphone market is the topic of the next “Buyer's Guide”, I have no task to fully describe it within the framework of this review. On the other hand, this material is quite worthy of a brief review of each device and a comparison between them, so that you know the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Therefore, I propose to choose the video that interests you on the device being compared and watch it.

Accessories for Galaxy S3

Samsung has been focusing on accessories in recent years, and the Galaxy S3 has a plethora of them, from a stylus to wireless charging. I do not aim to describe all the accessories available for this device, I will focus only on some of them.

Clamshell case. This is a regular flip case, with a thin leather front surface. Different colors, very nicely made, there are similar cases for Galaxy Note.

Wireless charging requires replacing the back cover, but in return you get the ability to charge the device without inserting a charger. There will be such a charge in the fall.

The desktop charger is suitable for anyone who prefers to equip their gadgets with additional accessories.

A stylus is not a very necessary thing, but someone might need it to use it with S-Memo.

There are NFC tags for this and other devices, with their help you can set up various actions on the phone - bring the tag, and it automatically changes settings, calls programs, and so on (tags are used in the same way in Xperia S).

Impression

The connection quality is at the level of Samsung models, no obvious shortcomings were noticed. The call is loud and well audible. The vibrating alert is at the level of the Galaxy S2, it is not sharp, rather soft. I really liked the mode of increasing the volume of the call in your pocket or bag.

With a model price of 30,000 rubles (550 euros), this device comes out on the same level as the Galaxy S2 or Galaxy Nexus. The model turned out to be successful, a direct competitor is HTC One X, which has a one-piece body, which looks like a plus. The screens of these devices are quite comparable in quality, there is parity. And in terms of performance, I would say that these are decisions of the same order, Samsung's insignificant gain should not be taken into account, the difference is small. In my opinion, the situation is repeated for HTC Sensation and Galaxy S2, these devices were very close, but in the end, the product from Samsung won by a huge margin in sales. I think that in 2012 there will be a repetition of this situation, simply because the difference between the companies is huge.

Successful device or not? The unequivocal answer is yes, the model was a success. As someone who uses the Galaxy S2 all the time, I refused to switch to the Galaxy Nexus just because of the camera, the 5-megapixel camera with average characteristics was not enough for me, everything else about this device, by and large, was fine. This shortcoming in the new model is leveled. Screen update is nice, reinforced battery, a number of software chips. This is quite enough to change your device to a new one. At the same time, for example, Galaxy Note is a bit too big for me, I try not to carry it with me.

In 2012, there are two most important models for the market - the new Apple iPhone, which will tentatively appear in October, and the Galaxy S3. Moreover, the flagship from Samsung has already been sold in quantities that can be safely called a record for the Android platform. A more functional model does not exist on this platform today, it is possible that not all functions will be in demand by you, many of them are additional and optional. But the overall capabilities of the device are maximum, this is one of the best phones that you can buy today. Considering how many copies have already been broken around this model and what discussions it causes, we can definitely say that it is guaranteed success. For example, I have already replaced my SGS2 with a new device, and so far my impressions are only positive. For a month of using the phone (I have a blue device), I did not notice any serious shortcomings. Compared to its predecessor, the model is definitely winning and pleasant. Even after a month, I can say that I like the device and it is very difficult for me to get the Galaxy S2 to do something, since the new model has everything you need, and even a little more. Now it remains to wait for the new iPhone to compare these models, and before its release, this device has no real competitor yet.

P.S. In the first week of retail sales, this phone set a record for sales in all countries where it was introduced. The sales volume is 4 to 7 times larger than for the Galaxy S2. I think that this is an excellent illustration of the demand for this model.

During 2012-2013 there will be many variants of this device, just like it was for previous flagships. Updates will be with other chipsets, with a different design and even with different screen sizes, although it's hard to say whether such devices can be called analogues. In any case, the Galaxy S3 is the ancestor of the current generation of Android smartphones, and many other devices will appear based on it.

Body and appearance

Using this smartphone, I completely changed my outlook on design, ergonomics, quality of materials and the materials themselves. During the presentation, I was a little perplexed, why plastic again, also glossy? In fact, when you pick up a smartphone for the first time, you understand that everything is as it should be. Why is the case collapsible? It's simple - it should be so if you know how to make a smartphone strong and durable. The Samsung Galaxy S 3 is just like that, I couldn't get any crackling even with a lot of effort. Even the HTC One X had a small slide on the back, if you press it, everything is gorgeous. The collapsible design has a number of advantages, for example, you can always put a larger battery or buy a spare if you go camping, and if the cover is scratched, you can always replace it. Here the situation is even better than a year ago, where the lid did not cover the entire back, which means that if the smartphone flops back on the asphalt, its non-replaceable part will also be scratched. Of course, a year ago, I called this design an improvement, because in the original Galaxy S, the lid covered the entire back and had a habit of creaking from this. But in the “troika” they were able to make the fasteners reliable, I can’t imagine how something can creak in a year.

Why plastic? Again, I quickly found a reasonable explanation for myself. If the body were made of aluminum, it would most likely be non-separable, moreover, with a hard fall on the asphalt, the metal deteriorates more, and the traces then do not polish off on their own. If the case were glass, then I don’t even want to imagine what would happen if the smartphone fell even on a flat tile.

Why is plastic glossy? Again, I'm quick... No, it's still a question. There is no feeling of cheapness, contrary to expectations, it looks quite nice, but such material as in Nokia 808 PureView would be more practical, I think. There, too, the design is collapsible and the plastic looks better.

But keep in mind, it cannot be said that the smartphone is made of glossy plastic, only the cover. If you want, change it to something else, I'm sure the Chinese will rivet it.

So, with materials and construction sorted out, what about the design in general? The shape of the smartphone almost repeats the body and I like it. At least it's no longer an iPhone, as was the case with the first generation Galaxy S, but it's not a featureless square piece of plastic, like last year's flagship. Here you can see that they worked on the design, the smartphone looks nice in the hands and, moreover, lies comfortably in the hand.

SGS3 will be available in two color options - white and blue. Again - the absence of black - like some kind of destroyed stereotype, because any phone is primarily produced in black! I did not keep the blue, but I dare to suggest that it is as beautiful as the white.

I can't call the SGS3 a shovel, it can even be used with one hand, although I almost dropped it a few times. The smartphone is noticeably larger than the iPhone and just as noticeably smaller. Carrying a smartphone in the front pocket of jeans does not cause the slightest inconvenience, as well as using the phone every day. But, this is already a matter of taste and palm size, for many a smartphone may seem too big.

Location of everything on the sides of the device

Items have not been added. Probably the only thing I would like to see else is the camera key. Although not always, but very often it is more convenient to take pictures with its help. I'll start with the main one - from the display. It in the Galaxy S 3 has a diagonal of 4.8 ″, is made using Super AMOLED technology and the pixels are placed according to the PenTile scheme. By the way, this is the first question for a smartphone, for me it is even more relevant than gloss. Yes, many will say that at this resolution, namely 1280x720 pixels, the graininess is not visible, but this is not so. Yes, when viewing photos, videos, scrolling desktops, there are no questions. But when reading the text, the ribbing of the letters is noticeable and a pity. After the world community expressed their "fa" about this, Samsung reacted, allegedly PenTile was used due to the longer display life. But given that we are talking about terms that are not comparable with the duration of using one smartphone, it becomes obvious that the manufacturer saves money on displays with the “Plus” sign.

The rest of the screen is fine, and if you're already familiar with AMOLED technology and you like it, the display on the Galaxy S 3 won't disappoint. It is bright enough to maintain readability in the sun, but this can no longer be called a trump card, since, in the same LG Optimus L7, the screen is not Super AMOLED, but its maximum brightness can even be higher. I, as before, do not like the too high level of the minimum brightness of the backlight, in the dark you have to squint your smartphone.

Incredibly pleased with the presence of an LED indicator, which, moreover, can be configured.

It is located above the display, to the left of the speaker. When there is nothing to notify about, you will not even know about the existence of the notifier! To the right of the speaker are light and proximity sensors, as well as a 1.9 MP camera. By the way, it can record video in 720p, the pictures are also good.

Below the display we see a standard "Samsung" set of buttons: a mechanical home key and two touch buttons on the sides of it. I am glad that they retained the purpose of the touch keys, but they could have made a multitasking key, as everyone does. Honestly, I don't see the point. Much more convenient, it seems to me, to hang the management of open applications on the central key, which will need to be held down for a second. So it's done here!

Yes, in the case of the control keys, beauty prevailed over convenience. If the location of the buttons almost from the bottom cannot even be called beautiful, then the shape of the hardware key is nicer than in SGS2 or SGSNote, but it is too narrow, you will have to get used to using it.

Unlike, the headphone and headset jack is placed on the top of the smartphone. Here we see the second microphone. Below is a conversational microphone and a MicroUSB connector.

On the left is the lock and power key, on the right is the paired volume button.

Removing the cover reveals slots for MicroSD and MicroSIM cards, as well as a 2100 mAh battery. Autonomy is enough for a day, but with more or less moderate use. I think, as in the case of the Galaxy S 2, a software update will arrive in a month or two and autonomy will increase.

Camera

One of the main "chips" of the first two generations of "galaxies" was the camera - one of the best in its time. Galaxy S 3 is no exception, it has an 8 MP camera, the video is recorded up to 1080p. So far, nothing surprising, but the quality has become a little better than in Galaxy Note, the difference with SGS2 is more noticeable. The video is written with excellent sound, before SGS3 this title belonged to HTC Sensation XL (from Android smartphones). The fact is that, having tried to record a video at a concert, with almost any smartphone you will get a video track and a noise track, instead of sound. In the Galaxy S 3, even drums played a meter away from the device recorded perfectly.

It is possible to take continuous shooting at a frequency of 3.5 frames per second, then the smartphone itself offers the best photos from the series. You can, of course, save all the photos.

You can see examples of photos in, or, in full size.

Soft

This time, Samsung did everything as correctly as possible - they didn’t bulge cores, megahertz and everything else, but made a fairly powerful smartphone with an emphasis on software. I keep repeating that pieces of iron are just a tool, you can’t take anything from them, except for a guarantee of the good work of the software. If all the software I need will work on a certain hardware, you don’t even have to say how many cores there are and whose they are. Android smartphones are starting to show really good interface smoothness and the Galaxy S 3 is yet another confirmation of this. Starting from the little things like scrolling through desktops, contacts or long menus, I didn't notice any fps drops or stutters.

The smartphone has the latest version of Android 4.0.4, on top of which they pulled the proprietary TouchWiz shell, which here received the Nature UX prefix. The bottom line is that locking, unlocking, the sound of keystrokes and more, are accompanied by sounds from nature. Cool, not cool - I don't know. Not usual, but so be it.

The interface has become nicer than in previous versions of TouchWiz, but it is still far from HTC Sense in terms of beauty and convenience. But in the speed of work, it seems to me that TW has already bypassed the opponent. It's good that many chips from bare Android 4.0 are observed, this is a multitasking interface, and a menu consisting of applications and widgets, and deleting elements with swipes in some menus. It's a pity that they forgot about creating a folder by dragging one icon onto another.

But now I realize that I can no longer say: "Put your shitty shell away", I'm starting to like it. Change the icons and you can rejoice! The fact is that Samsung didn’t just say: “Here’s a new version of TW with an unusual name and gurgling water, clap!” They brought a lot of unique things here, which were the main focus of the presentation. Eg, S Beam, because they were able to accomplish what I dreamed about and once talked about in a video blog, now you can transfer files via Wi-Fi, but connect devices to each other using NFC. Just hit your smartphones and don't worry about anything. Or what about face recognition in photos, with the ability to add them to contacts and then call directly from the photo! Or Function Smart Stay, which prevents the screen from going blank when you are reading some text. There are many other innovations, for example, S Voice, which, in fact, is a competitor to Siri. But even the advanced S Memo and the planner I like here.

SamSiri

This woman, who is actually called S Voice, still has a lot to learn in life. Too early she was sent to the people, I think. The voice assistant is called by double pressing the center key, after which you can speak. In principle, the simplest questions, asked at the right time, you will get an answer, for example, if you want to know the weather. After receiving the result, the woman goes to rest, you can wake her up by saying "Hi Galaxy". But in practice, our woman is strong, sometimes you can’t wake up with requests alone.

There is also a character, for example, the dialogue below is reminiscent of the children's game "Buy an elephant" (thanks to the reader on Twitter for the association).

I note that it was not me who asked stupid questions, such as “I would like to see”, I wanted to finish the phrase, but my aunt just interrupts in mid-sentence and, without listening to the end, is talking nonsense. And there are simple misunderstandings.

(The last screenshot was provided by our reader, obviously taken on a different smartphone, but still)

Performance

Perhaps many were waiting for even more powerful hardware, but the one installed in the Galaxy S 3 makes the smartphone the most powerful Android device on the market. This is facilitated by the Exynos 4212 quad-core processor, with a frequency of 1.4 GHz and the Mali-400MP graphics accelerator. The RAM is 1 GB, although it was possible to install two already, there is never a lot of RAM. Built-in memory can be 16, 32 or 64 GB, but remember, there is also a slot for a memory card!

With great performance, you can even open Full HD video in a separate window while doing other things. This window can be moved around the screen and the interface does not even think about it!

Conclusion

We got another star among all smartphones in general. Not a revolution, but a really cool device that you want to use and, most importantly, convenient to use. But, if last year the Galaxy S 2 simply had no alternatives until the Galaxy Note and then the Galaxy Nexus came out, now you can safely look at at least three models from other manufacturers:, and, they are all good in their own way. I can’t even single out a strong favorite from them, so I recommend that if you are going to buy such a smartphone, look at all these new items. But the competent promotion, which I spoke about at the very beginning, has done its job - the Samsung Galaxy S 3 is already the most anticipated smartphone. To date, about 10 million devices have already been ordered by operators and it is very possible that sales of SGS3 in the first few days will set a new record in the market. After talking with the new flagship of the company for a little less than a week, I can safely recommend the new product to you!

The world has changed and if earlier a smartphone with a display diagonal of just over 4 inches looked like a shovel, now, picking it up, it may seem that this is exactly what you need. Korean developers presented their flagship with a capital letter, focused on software and autonomy.

Frame

At first glance at the phone, it becomes clear that Samsung did not reinvent the wheel and it is unlikely that it will be possible to discover something new in the design concept. You can catch yourself thinking: "Somewhere I have already seen this." It is understandable, because the device is very similar to its younger brother Galaxy Nexus.

The smartphone is available in 5 colors: pebbles, titanium gray, garnet red, white marble and black sapphire. The body of the Galaxy S3 is made of glossy plastic, which, as far as we remember, provoked a number of indignations due to the dirtiness of the case and its predisposition to scratches. But take the device in hand, you are unlikely to feel cheap, uncomfortable or unaesthetic. The build quality is at its best, nothing crunches or creaks, the rear removable cover, although thin, is very flexible and durable. Even if it gets scratched, you can always buy a new one for some very little money. In addition, plastic is more resistant to impact when dropped, which cannot be said about glass. The case is only 8.6mm thick and weighs 133g.

Screen

When getting acquainted with all the attention involuntarily switches to the HD Super AMOLED display with a diagonal of 4.8 "and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The image on it turned out to be very lively, contrasting and juicy, the viewing angles are wide, but the PenTile technology, on the basis of which the screen is made, is more is a disadvantage rather than an advantage, because graininess, although barely noticeable, is still there.But, nevertheless, watching movies or photos, surfing the Internet or just playing on such a device is pleasant and very comfortable.The developers are clearly not mistaken , betting on a large screen diagonal, and you will understand this when you touch it.

Camera

The main camera with a resolution of 8 megapixels is a new generation matrix with back illumination, which in poor lighting conditions allows you to take photos or videos of very decent quality. The camera is fast and allows you to click at 3.5 frames per second. By the way, the device can recognize faces, which can be useful if, for example, you want to send a few photos to your friend, which depicts him. The smartphone is capable of recording HD video and taking photos at the same time.

The front camera with a resolution of 1.9 megapixels is equipped with Smart stay technology (we will discuss it below).

What is inside

Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300 has a processor with 4 cores with a frequency of 1.4 GHz, 1 GB of RAM and 16, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory. The memory can be expanded with microSD cards up to 64GB. The smartphone works quickly and without freezes, as far as possible on Android devices, the smoothness of the interface is almost iOS-like. The Android 4.0.4 operating system is installed on board.

Although performance tests show high marks, it is still a mistake to believe that the smartphone is a cut above the Iphone 5. The iOS optimization is so well done that even with quad-core muscle, the Galaxy S3 often loses (see Iphone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S3 video review). But again, this is most likely an Android problem, but certainly not the device itself.

A removable battery with a capacity of 2100 mAh is able to provide autonomous operation of the device for about 1 day in active mode. With an average load, a smartphone can live almost 2 times longer.

Functions

The device is equipped with many functions, some of them can be really useful and in demand.

Smart Alert- a function that will notify you of missed events as soon as you take the phone in your hand.

direct call- the ability to call a subscriber at the time of reading SMS, for this you just need to bring the device to your ear.

smart stay- Captures your gaze and automatically adjusts the screen backlight for comfortable use and saves power. For example, if you are reading, the screen will not turn off, but if you look away from it, it will turn off after a while.

social tag- the ability to link the faces of your friends in the photo album with social networks. For example, looking at a friend's photo, you will see his status on the network.

S Voice- Allows you to control your phone with your voice. For example, you can use voice commands to unlock your phone, answer or reject an incoming call, control music volume, or take a picture.

Pop up play- Now you can do two things at the same time, for example, watch videos and read SMS.

I would also like to note a special editor that allows you to independently create a vibration rhythm for alerts.

conclusions

The phone justifiably deserves all the ratings and praise. It turned out to be very balanced, thanks to an excellent screen, a solid camera and software equipment. If at the start of sales at a cost of about 30,000 rubles. glossy plastic and the PenTile screen caused controversy, but now, at a fairly affordable price, passions have subsided a bit. Like any other modern smartphone, it is very functional, but at the same time it stands out from the general range of models, thanks to the new intelligent approach of developers in its design. The device seems to be trying to predict your thoughts and desires, and you know, it really succeeds.

Check out the video review section for more.

Samsung Galaxy S3 price

Compare prices for Samsung Galaxy S3 in online stores, choose the best offer.

Review and tests of Samsung Galaxy S3. The smartphone has reached the very heights

Samsung's flagship Galaxy S3

Let's move on to the specifications of the device:

Elegant and individual Samsung Galaxy S3

Software stuffing Samsung Galaxy S3

Display features and sound

Connection

Camera

Speed ​​and performance

Performance tests:

Conclusion

Design, dimensions, controls

Display

Battery

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Memory, memory cards

Performance

Android 4.0 software features

Assistant - phone training

S Voice

AllShare Play

General screen

Video player

photo editor

Any additional and small chips

Music player and FM radio

Some settings and programs - keyboard input

Game component

Comparison with other models - iPhone 4s, Galaxy S2, Galaxy Note, HTC One X

Accessories for Galaxy S3

Impression

Related links

Body and appearance

Location of everything on the sides of the device

Camera

Soft

SamSiri

Performance

Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy S3 price

Speed and performance