Today we have a review samsung galaxy S3 i9300. This is not an easy phone, but a super-sophisticated one. This is a smartphone - a descendant of two galaxies, dressed in a glossy look. Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300 is a gadget doomed to success. How is it different from the standard Samsung S3?
As for the appearance, this multifunctional smartphone is unlikely to turn its tongue with an ordinary device for calls. The phone, despite its size, does not feel heavy in the hand.
There are a lot of gossip and anecdotes about its design. One gets the impression that because of its hugeness it will simply not be possible to control with one hand, but in the situation with the GT i9300 this statement is absolutely wrong. It is easy and simple to use it even with a lady's pen, let alone men.
The body of the device is made of plastic, although the company originally promised ceramics. Outwardly, the device looks very unusual, but still it is slippery plastic, which, during operation, strives to jump out of your hand. Corrugated surfaces in this regard are more practical. But if you buy an additional cover, then this will not only save the C3 from scratches, but also protect it from slipping. Although about scratches, it is worth saying that even without an additional cover, the gadget does not scratch in your pocket.
The Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-i9300 has a removable back cover that needs to be removed very carefully. The reason lies in the fact that it has a large number of latches, and plus plastic is plastic. Although the cover can be replaced by yourself, even without a visit service center. Its prices are extremely low.
Under the cover, you will find a Micro-sim slot, but to be honest, there is enough space for a standard one. What guided the company in this case- unclear. And also under the cover is a slot for a MicroSD card, which will further expand the memory of the gadget.
Despite the material and its flexibility, the assembly of the device is on top, as befits a device from an A-company. No backlashes, gaps, nothing goes and does not twitch. Two colors are available: white and dark blue.
There are several indicators on the front. The left one, for example, will flash if a call is missed or an email has arrived. It's also worth mentioning that the S3 GT-i9300 has an interesting feature. If the owner missed a call or SMS, then when he picks up the phone, he, in turn, will begin to vibrate.
In addition to the alert indicator, there is also a light indicator, which, depending on the amount of light in the room, sets the screen brightness for eye comfort and additionally saves battery. True, some users complain that it does it too smoothly.
The right indicator recognizes the face in front of the screen, which is lame in implementation. For example, if the owner is wearing regular glasses, then the smartphone does not want to unlock, which creates problems.
At the bottom of the front part is the usual mechanical button in the center, with which you can return to the main menu or unlock the smartphone. For the latter case, there is also a special "Mode" button, which is located on the right side. Next to the mechanical button are located touch buttons- "fountains" of return and return to the context menu.
On the back of the device is an 8MP camera, an LED flash and a very powerful external speaker.
S3 GT-i9300 is sold in a beautiful blue box, which, in addition to the phone itself, also contains:
The characteristics of the C3 screen are as follows: diagonal - 4.8 inches; resolution - 1280 by 720 pixels. Super Amoled display based on active matrix organic light emitting diodes. These screens have a wide variety of advantages. The most important of them is a full viewing angle in all directions while maintaining color, brightness and contrast.
Second-generation Gorilla Glass will protect the screen from scratches and scuffs, but not always keep it from cracks and bruises.
The flickering frequency of the picture is 60 Hertz. The display supports multi-touch up to 10 simultaneous touches. Graininess is imperceptible neither when viewing pictures, nor when reading text.
The device has a quad-core processor Exynos 4412, which operates at a frequency of 1.4 GHz. Video accelerator - Mali 400 MP. RAM 1 GB, built-in 16 GB. There are competitors who provide more opportunities in this regard, but at the same time they ask for less at a price. If this memory is not enough for you, then you can choose versions of 32 and 64 GB or expand with cards.
Samsung Galaxy S3 GT i9300 runs under Android control 4.0.4. The interface of the gadget is represented by a proprietary "tachwiz". Square icons look great on an oval smartphone display. Locking and unlocking the device are accompanied by pleasant sounds.
Playing on this device is a real pleasure. None of the games cause the i9300 to lag, unless of course you try to run super-heavy games, so you have to lower the settings.
The gadget is equipped with a small 2100 mAh battery by modern standards.
With Wi-Fi on and under full load, the phone lasts all day. Very good result for a smartphone of this class.
The S3 i 9300 has a number of interesting goodies:
At Samsung Galaxy S3 The i9300 has two cameras as standard: the main one is 8 megapixels and the front one is 1.9 megapixels. Let's deal with both in order.
The main camera is just the best. With it, you can get good panoramic shots. In the functionality, you can find an interesting feature, like a series of pictures. The device takes 8 photos, and then you can choose the best one in your opinion. Very handy when shooting moving subjects.
A module from Sony is installed on the main camera, which is similar in quality to the module for iPhone 4S. The decision is controversial, especially if we recall the success of Samsung in developing its own matrices.
The flash here is simple, LED. There is no separate button to launch the camera. It is activated by an icon from the desktop or lock screen. The shooting speed is 3.5 frames per second. Improved image processing algorithm. There is image stabilization. It is possible to focus on given point and face recognition. The emphasis is on the convenience of the software component and its versatility.
Only one thing can be said about the front camera - it is simple, but you can take a selfie.
The camcorder shoots in 1080p resolution. During the shooting, you can also take a photo along the way. The quality of pictures and videos is decent.
Samsung Galaxy S3 GT-i9300 is a stylish and concise A-class smartphone that is easy and convenient to manage. By purchasing it, the owner receives good quality, a good camera, excellent sound, both with and without headphones, and a variety of features that make life easier.
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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From the above tests, we can safely say that the Samsung Galaxy S3 is undoubtedly at the very top.
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 a very successful device 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 the situation a year ago, the Galaxy S3 has a competitor within the line of phones from Samsung - this 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 can be explained by the fact that the model is simultaneously launched on more markets, on the other hand, and 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 next iPhone version, comparable to HTC One X (due to HTC's position on the market, sales of this device are much lower). This is a real flagship that will be relevant for a long time.
In my opinion, before talking about technical specifications worth a look 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 arguments that plastic is not the material that should be used in phones of this price segment remains a minority argument. 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 analogs 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 mindful of the experience Galaxy usage S2, Galaxy Nexus, don't 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 ugly appearance phone did not. 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:
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.
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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:
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:
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.
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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). From additional options it is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears with a weak or disappearing signal.
HT40 mode of operation is also supported for 802.11n, allowing you to double the Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).
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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.
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.
IN Galaxy versions S3 is offered with 2 GB of RAM for a number of markets, this largely depends only on the country.
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 Galaxy tests The S3 shows a win compared to other handsets 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
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Basic and standard applications Android are described in a separate article, below we will focus only on those Galaxy chips S3, which distinguish it from other devices.
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.
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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 center button, you can record up to 6 of your tags to call certain functions by 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.
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The design of the program is clearly copied from Siri to 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.
IN this moment Russian language 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 daily affairs. While both systems are only at the beginning of their development, they are far from maturity.
This utility was still in the Galaxy S2 and a number of other models, in the S3 we see its updated version. You are connected 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. Required to install separate program to work with him. In my case, on the Galaxy S3, this program caused terrible brakes, led to the fact that the device simply hung. Upload files to this cloud storage I didn't succeed even though 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.
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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 within the office.
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.
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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).
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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 phones Sony Ericsson, the feature 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 mode speakerphone 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.
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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.
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. WITH virtual keyboard everything is great in Samsung S3, you can select multiple languages, 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 complete analogue 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.
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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.
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One of typical applications modern smartphone are games, and it 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 of the Galaxy S3 everything 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.
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 deserves overview each machine and compare them so 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.
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.
desktop charger the device will fit to anyone who prefers to equip their gadgets with the help of 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).
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 total capabilities of the device are maximum, this is one of the best phones of those that can be bought 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 just have to wait 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.
Apple and Samsung - who would have thought 5 years ago that these two companies would compete for leadership in the smartphone market? That Nokia, Microsoft, Blackberry will be in the "catching up" category, that Symbian and Windows Mobile will go into the shadow of history, and their place will be taken by "super open" Android and "super closed" iOS?
No IT industry is changing as rapidly and as dramatically as the mobile technology industry. It is in communicators that most of the advanced inventions are first introduced, it is mobile computers that embody all the interesting developments.
A highly changing and growing market dictates its own terms to device developers. Only those companies that invest huge efforts in the development and implementation of new ideas and ideas “in hardware” can survive, and even more so take the lead. It is breakthrough technologies and bold ideas that can attract the attention of users, the general public. As practice has shown, they can even form new requests, market segments, change people's attitude to the imposed restrictions that they could not come to terms with before. Apple and Samsung have become such companies - each for its own reason, but there is still a connection between these reasons.
Another confirmation of the importance of the devices of both companies for the public was their presentation. Perhaps, the appearance of any new electronic device is not overgrown with such rumors, speculation, excitement, admiration and disappointment as the appearance of the new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S. The companies themselves are happy to stir up interest in the presentation and turn it into a show.
Both companies - friends and rivals, cooperate and simultaneously conduct dozens of lawsuits. Borrowing ideas from each other, legal and illegal use of technology - all this simultaneously divides companies and makes them dependent on each other.
This review is dedicated to the new flagship of Samsung, one of the most anticipated mobile devices of 2012, the third model in the Galaxy S family - Samsung Galaxy S 3 (we will use the Arabic numeral in the model name below, so as not to force you to distinguish between S III and S II).
Environmental friendliness - the creators of the communicator remind us of this, one has only to pick up a box with it. An indication of water-soluble paints is printed on one side of the package. Thick white cardboard surrounds the body of the communicator, battery and accessories, reliably protecting them. All helpful information about the mobile computer is printed on the back of the box: the main characteristics are listed, the model name is indicated and many logos of the technologies used are placed. Compared to the Galaxy S 2, the packaging of the novelty is slightly longer - just enough to accommodate the communicator that has grown in length.
The package contains: 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. Nothing fancy, just the essentials included.
The specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S III Pocket PC (GT-I9300) are as follows:
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The third model in the Samsung Galaxy S line has moved even further away from what is commonly called the “classic iPhone look”. If the first Galaxy was outwardly almost complete a copy of the iPhone 3G, which did not fail to use Apple in lawsuits, the second Galaxy resembled Apple's communicators only remotely. Of course, we have not yet seen the iPhone 5, but with a high degree of certainty we can say that the Galaxy S 3 looks like only itself and no one else.
One can argue about the advantages and disadvantages of the design of the third Galaxy indefinitely: some will call the communicator a “shovel” for its similarity to a thin and long blade of this tool, others will remember the hero of the review for the minimal thickness of the case and the extremely narrow rim of the huge display. In general, the design of Samsung devices should be the last thing to pay attention to: the company has always won the attention of consumers by no means with exterior frills, but with powerful filling and wonderful displays.
As soon as you take the Galaxy S 3 in your hands, you begin to feel the unusual thinness of the communicator case, and your eyes immediately turn to the picture on the screen - everything else in the physical shell of the communicator is secondary.
Compared to the Galaxy S 2, the body of the novelty has become a little longer, there are fewer straight edges, the transitions between them have become more rounded. The width and thickness of the communicator's body remained almost unchanged, it only stretched out following the increased diagonal of the display. The mass of the communicator has grown. If we compare the novelty with other flagships of the market in the summer of 2012, then it does not stand out from the general trend towards an increase in the weight of the device and an increase in the length of the case. Physical Galaxy parameters S 3 and its main rival HTC One X are practically the same.
| Device | Dimensions, mm | Weight, g |
| Samsung Galaxy S3 | 137×71×8.6 | 133 |
| Samsung Galaxy S2 | 125.3×66.1×8.5 | 116 |
| Samsung Galaxy S | 122.4×64.2×9.9 | 119 |
| Apple iPhone 4S | 115.2×58.6×9.3 | 140 |
| HTC One X | 134.4×69.9×8.9 | 130 |
The screen size of the novelty is such that the thumb covers only half of its area when working with the communicator with one hand. Even if you intercept the computer case in the middle, the thumb still does not reach all corners of the display. Only sacrificing the reliability of the grip, the author with great difficulty managed to reach all four corners of the screen at once with the finger of one hand. With its third version, Samsung Galaxy S has finally become a communicator that is convenient to operate with only two hands.
The computer came to the editor in a white guise. This option, subjectively of course, looks somewhat ordinary. White glossy plastic makes the smartphone even more like a personal hygiene item, with which the wits love to compare modern all-in-one communicators on online forums. The second variant of the communicator's color scheme, which is currently sold in the Russian Federation - metallic blue - looks more interesting.
The main advantage of white plastic is that fingerprints are invisible on it. They are not visible on the silvery material from which the keys and the stiffening rib are made, passing along the perimeter of the mobile computer case. Apparently, it is also plastic, although very durable. In general, there are no complaints about the assembly of the communicator: all structural elements are fitted very firmly and reliably. Creaks and backlash that disappeared even in the cheapest Chinese smartphones, are absent from the flagship Samsung.
Despite the size, the communicator is comfortable to hold in your hand. The width and thickness of the mobile computer's chassis provide a secure grip, while keeping your fingers directly above the sound and power keys. The situation is ambiguous with carrying the hero of the review in pockets: if he still fits in a trousers pocket, then you can safely forget about putting the communicator in a shirt pocket.
The arrangement of design elements has undergone changes in the Galaxy S 3 compared to the previous model of the communicator. The main key at the bottom of the front panel of the computer has changed its shape, has become narrower and wider. Subjectively, this had a negative impact on the convenience of managing the device. The secondary camera and sensors at the top of the bezel are now on the right side of the phone speaker. To the left of it is now an information LED - a huge step forward Samsung in terms of ergonomics. Now the owner of the communicator does not need to think and guess whether his satellite is charged, whether new calls and messages have arrived, whether there are any notifications from the system - just look at the LED. Surprisingly, it took Samsung 3 years and a bunch of devices to add one light bulb.
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The set of touch keys and their location has not changed: 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. They still tend to trigger randomly.
The location of the speaker on the back of the device has also changed. From the thickening at the bottom of the case, he has now moved up and is located next to the camera lens. The camera itself is located on a smaller ledge in comparison with the Galaxy S 2. In general, the back panel of the communicator has become more even.
The battery cover - it is also the back panel - now covers the entire area of the case and comes with its edges to its ends. Disconnecting it is not a problem, as well as installing it back. It has sufficient flexibility, but it should not be checked for fracture once again.
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.
The volume and power keys are in their usual places: the first - on the left side of the communicator, the second - on the right. There is still no separate button to control the camera.
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.
What did the Samsung Galaxy S 3 look like in the end? Everyone can decide this issue for themselves. In our opinion, the hero of the review is not a standard of design delights, but there are no objective complaints about the appearance of the novelty. Design features there are both negative and positive ones. The first ones include a narrow and uncomfortable central key, as well as an unmotivated use of the microSIM card format. The traditional absence of a camera control button and the touch buttons that work at an unnecessary moment can not be reminded at all. Pluses in the design of the novelty: the aligned rear panel of the communicator case and an extremely convenient information LED.
It's no surprise that the Samsung Galaxy S 3 is running the latest version. operating system Android, namely 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich). There is also nothing surprising in the fact that Samsung has installed a proprietary shell TouchWiz on the communicator.
It is most convenient to identify innovations in the software stuffing of the review hero by comparing it with its predecessor, which has Last update firmware from Android 4.0.3.
The Galaxy S 3 lock screen has learned to send the user straight to several applications: phone calls, Samsung ChatON, browser and camera. It also displays information about missed calls and messages. This achieves the functionality that appeared in HTC Sense last year. To access the communicator, you no longer need to move your finger across the screen at all, just touch it and tilt the device itself. All this is undoubtedly convenient, but it does not make sense from a security point of view. To the methods of secure screen lock (password, face recognition, pattern, PIN code), another one was added - face and voice (that's right, at the same time).
Changes in the shell of the main screen of the system are minimal: the weather widget has merged with the clock, a denser placement of icons has allowed one more icon to be placed in the list of main applications. The list of main settings of the communicator in the taskbar grew and began to scroll horizontally.
Most branded applications received the prefix "S" in the name: S memo, S Planner, S Suggest, S Voice. The first of these is a well-known application for creating notes, text and graphics, well known to Galaxy Note owners. The second is a calendar-scheduler with synchronization with Google. The third, as the name suggests, is a collection of applications that are worth downloading and installing on your device, according to Samsung. On latest application, S Voice, it is worth dwelling in more detail.
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The Siri electronic assistant has become the basis for building a new type of user interaction with a computer. Various voice recognition systems have existed before and are developing now, but it was Siri who brought this technology on new level and attracted the attention of a wide audience - thanks to the huge army of fans Apple devices. Naturally, Samsung, as the manufacturer of the main competing devices in the segment mobile computers, could not leave the appearance of this program without attention. The answer to the emergence of Siri was S Voice.
It is worth noting that Samsung Galaxy S 2 has an application for voice recognition, but its functionality is limited to a set of primitive actions: call a subscriber, type a message, play a certain melody from the library. Also, do not forget that the Google search engine in almost all Android devices has a built-in voice recognition system that simply translates the phrase into a specific search query. Voice recognition is also built into a lot of Google apps, but taken together it doesn't compare to centralization and simplicity. using Siri, and now S Voice.
The appearance of the S Voice program is concise and extremely similar to the Siri interface. The owner of the communicator sees the button to call the assistant and the phrases of the dialogue with the virtual interlocutor. Like Siri, S Voice only works when you're connected to the internet and actively communicates with the server that's processing the requests. The program understands speech in several languages, Russian is not among them.
To work, the application needs access to a lot of data stored in the communicator's memory - including personal data. So before using S Voice, you should read the policy for handling them, which is available on the website of the program developer, Vlingo.
The iPhone 4S review mentioned above includes a chapter describing the features of Siri and a few phrases that were given to the assistant. It was interesting to find out how his competitor would cope with them (the questions were spoken in English).
Query regarding Samsung stock assistant relayed to search query Google system. Samsung Galaxy S 3 does not have a full-fledged application for working with quotes (only a widget), so this question can be considered correctly processed. The question about the current president of the United States did not make S Voice launch a search engine, the correct answer was given in a few seconds. The answer to the request to tell something about Barack Obama turned out to be completely unexpected: S Voice for some reason suggested searching the Internet for information about the British Prime Minister. Considering that Siri did not answer this question at all, S Voice can be considered a more advanced program in terms of abstract logic. The request for information about New York City banks was processed incorrectly - probably due to an error in the phrase itself. The question of whether I need an umbrella, unfortunately, remained unanswered - the second loss of S Voice to a competitor.
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The S Voice program tries to be useful to the user and copies the bulk of the functionality of Siri. It would not be surprising if both applications use the same knowledge bases. At the moment, both seem a little raw, but Siri looks like a more advanced development. Although, of course, Siri has more head start - the support of a powerful corporation and an abundance of developers. Whether S Voice catches up with the lag - time will tell, as it will show the relevance and viability of this way of interaction between the user and the machine as a whole.
Concluding the description of the S Voice program, several more of its functions should be noted: firstly, waking up the communicator and launching the assistant with a voice command, and secondly, interacting with various built-in applications, from the alarm clock to searching on Google maps.
In general, the developers of Samsung Galaxy S 3 have tried to make the communicator more intelligent and responsive. The list of possibilities is extensive, most of them are related to the computer's position sensor in space. For example, if you pick up your smartphone, it will vibrate when there are notifications of missed calls and unread messages. Or another example: the communicator will start dialing the number of the subscriber whose information is on the screen, if you bring the device case to your ear. Many of these features were in the previous Galaxy models S 2 - for example, zooming when tilting the communicator with two finger touches on the screen. Many do not really work - for example, jumping to the beginning of a long list by tapping on an additional microphone. But it is worth noting the desire of developers to maximize the use of various sensors built into the communicator to simplify the life of the owner of the device.
The Samsung Galaxy S 3 has found a place for many additional applications of the company itself. In addition to the above, these include: Samsung Chat ON- an analogue of Apple iMessage, messaging through an Internet connection, and not with via SMS, Samsung Apps- Samsung's own app store, AllShare Play- an advanced DLNA client that allows you to remotely connect to the contents of media servers via the Internet, game hub- a catalog of paid and free games from Samsung.
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Several well-known third-party applications were also found in the communicator's memory. dropbox does not need a special introduction - this is one of the first cloud storage and file synchronization services. Galaxy S 3 owners are provided with up to 50 GB of virtual disk space. Yandex.FilmAfisha And Yandex.Weather- two services of a well-known Russian company that implement the functionality obvious from their name.
There is only one method for entering text (other than voice) in the Galaxy S 3 - the Samsung keyboard. Previously seen in other Samsung communicators Swipe keyboards the hero has no overview. But the Samsung keyboard can recognize handwriting - if you practice, then almost without errors.
So, Samsung has done a great job of introducing new unusual technologies into the software firmware of its flagship. How much they will be in demand - time will tell, while the owners of new items should learn English and learn not to offend neighbors while waving the body of the communicator.
AMOLED matrices are exactly what has always attracted the attention of mobile device lovers to Samsung products, literally and figuratively. There is no need to describe the advantages of these matrices once again, it is better to dwell specifically on the display of the Samsung Galaxy S 3 communicator.
In general, in terms of its parameters, it is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus screen. Judge for yourself: the dimensions of the matrices are 4.65 and 4.8 inches, the resolution is 720 by 1280 pixels, the matrix type is HD SuperAMOLED. It is worth noting the absence of the “Plus” prefix in the name of the matrices - this means that they are made using PenTile technology, unlike the SuperAMOLED Plus matrix of the Samsung Galaxy S 2 communicator. However, the high resolution (in terms of dots per inch, the Galaxy S 2 had only 217 dpi, while the S 3 has almost 306), eliminates all the shortcomings of the PenTile matrix: the graininess of the picture is imperceptible, and the lines of text characters look smooth and clear, but not blurry. If you put the Galaxy of the second and third generations side by side and look at the image on the screen, it is difficult to detect the difference between the picture on the displays of the first and second communicators.
The brightness of the AMOLED display on the Galaxy S 3 is very high. It is adjusted automatically, but not always optimally. In most cases, the display seems very dim regardless of the power save settings: apparently, keeping the brightness level low when automatically adjusting is the design of the developers. In addition, the constant switching of brightness is annoying.
The display sensor recognizes many simultaneous touches, up to 10 simultaneous signals were checked - there were not enough fingers for more.
Let's see how things stand with the playback of videos of various formats in the Samsung Galaxy S 3.
| File characteristics (container, video codec, resolution, video bitrate, profile, audio codec) | Playback results on a regular video player | Playback results on MX Video Player | Playback results on Dice Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKV / H.264 / 1920×1080 / 9569 Kbps / [email protected]/DTS | Only video plays, no lag | plays normally | |
| MKV / H.264 / 1920x1080 / 39.1Mbps / [email protected]/ No | not playable | only video is played, with noticeable delays | Only video plays, no lag |
| MPEG-4 / H.264 / 1280×720 / 6063 Kbps / [email protected]/AC-3 | Only video plays, no lag | Only video plays, no lag | plays normally |
| MKV / H.264 / 1280×720 / 6478 Kbps / [email protected]/AC-3 | plays normally | plays normally | plays normally |
| MKV / VC-1 / 1920×1080 / 17.5 Mbps / Advanced [email protected]/ AC-3 + E-AC-3 | only sound | plays with noticeable delays | not playable |
| MKV / XviD / 640×346 / 17.5 Mbps / [email protected]/AAC | only sound | plays normally | plays normally |
| MKV / H.264 / 1280x720 / 3875Kbps / [email protected]/ AC-3 + AC-3 (web-dl-rip) | plays normally | plays normally | plays normally |
The regular video player coped with video up to Full HD, but it is highly dependent on the hardware support of a particular format. Third-party players that can play video in software mode did a better job. Almost all the videos have been watched.
It is worth noting an interesting feature of the Galaxy S 3: he knows how to "play along" sound track using vibration. When the sound volume at low frequencies reaches a certain high level (it doesn't matter whether the sound is played through the speaker or headphones), the communicator starts to vibrate to the beat - such is the mobile subwoofer.
The video player is able to minimize into a window that hangs on top of other programs, and continue playing while the owner of the communicator is doing other things. What is the practical use of this feature on a mobile device is an open question. But unusual, indeed.
Regular video and audio players have the ability to stream to any DLNA device on the network. I was able to connect the communicator to a Samsung Smart TV and play both video and music.
The volume of the built-in speakers in the Samsung Galaxy S 3 is sufficient: in the phone one - for trouble-free communication with the interlocutor, in the main one - for playing ringtones, alarm clocks and navigator tips. The volume level is changed both with the help of a button on the left side of the communicator's case, and programmatically. The built-in audio player does not understand Cyrillic MP3 tags, but allows you to "improve" the sound in various ways.
The included headset has a good sound, but, unfortunately, it is not separable: the headphones are not detached from the control unit, which includes a microphone, volume and call control buttons.
Once you connect a headset or headphones to your device, you can use the Galaxy S 3's built-in FM radio. The receiver control program looks unusual, but it is very convenient to use. In the center of the screen there is a virtual knob for analog frequency tuning, by rotating which you can find the desired station. There are buttons on the sides. quick search stations. When they are touched, the program automatically searches for the nearest frequency with a sufficiently high-quality signal. The radio receiver supports RDS, has good sensitivity and allows you to record the signal in the form of 3GA files. The frequency of any station you like can be stored in the communicator's memory, the sound is output both to the headphones and to the speaker.
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Communicator Samsung Galaxy S 3 has a complete set of wireless modules, lacking only support for 4G networks. Maximum data transfer rate in cellular network the hero of the review has 21 megabits per second for reception and 6 megabits per second for transmission.
There were no problems with cellular communication with the Galaxy S 3. The communicator successfully performed the role of a mobile phone and provided Internet access at a speed corresponding to the area and the capabilities of the cellular network.
Versions of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi modules are the latest: Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n. There were no problems with their work. The following additional technologies are supported: Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, DLNA, Kies Air.
Connected to the communicator wireless headset. The titles of the tracks were correctly displayed on the headset screen, but the subscriber's number was not displayed during a phone call. A single press of the call key on the headset led to the launch of the electronic assistant S Voice, double - to repeat the last call.
The Galaxy S 3 has many communication technologies that are rarely found in other mobile devices. Judge for yourself: Near Field Communication (NFC) in two forms at once - S Beam and Android Beam, both involve fast data exchange between two devices at a short distance, MHL is an HDMI-compatible video output option for wired connection to digital signal receivers high resolution, USB On-the-go - good old USB Host that allows you to connect USB devices such as mice and external drives data - flash drives and hard drives. The last two interfaces are implemented in a Micro-USB-compatible connector on the bottom end of the communicator.
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But, of course, the main feature of the Galaxy S 3, at least in Russia, is the support for Glonass. Yes, now the owners of the flagship Samsung communicator can determine their location based on the signal of domestic satellites, which sometimes come to the aid of American colleagues from the GPS network. The A-GPS technology contributes to the rapid correct determination of coordinates.
The CMOS resolution of the Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy S 3 is the same - 8 megapixels. As a result, the maximum resolution of images that can be obtained on both devices is 3264×2448 pixels. Video is recorded in Full HD 1080p at 30 frames per second. The video format is MP4 (H.264, AAC).
An autopsy of the communicator by craftsmen showed that the Galaxy S 3 uses a Sony BSI sensor. The same, or very similar, is installed in Sony communicators and Apple iPhone 4/4S smartphones.
The main camera of the review hero is equipped with an autofocus system and is complemented by an LED flash. The start of the camera control program is fast, the time until the first picture is taken is short. The only thing missing new product - a separate key to control the shooting.
The interface of the camera control program is similar in all Samsung communicators. In the center is the sight of the focusing system, its location can be changed manually by touching the corresponding area of the screen. On the right are: the button to start shooting, the switch for photo and video modes, a miniature copy of the last picture or video, which also plays the role of a link to the photo album program. Icons are on the left various settings cameras. Their set can be changed independently, you just need to hold the touch and hold the icon. There are a wide variety of shooting options available, from white balance and ISO to scene shooting and automatic insertion of GPS location tags.
The interesting features of the Samsung Galaxy S 3 camera include face recognition when shooting, taking pictures right during video recording, and an image stabilization system.
You can record video and take pictures using both the main camera and the additional one located on the front panel of the communicator. In the latter case, photos have a maximum resolution of 1280 × 960 pixels, videos - 720p, autofocus is not available.
The quality of photos and videos on the Galaxy S 3 is remarkable by the standards of mobile devices. You can verify this yourself.
Increased capacity battery in Galaxy S 3 it is compensated by the increased load on it from the hardware stuffing. So in the world of mobile devices has always been, is and, it seems, will be until a radically new compact mobile power source is invented. The standard battery capacity of the novelty is 2100 mAh, which is a very impressive value for communicators. It is also worth noting that the battery of the Galaxy S 3 is not easy, it has an integrated NFC chip antenna.
Let's get straight to the point. Several standard time tests were carried out with the communicator battery life and here are their results. Reading e-book in the FBReader program with 50% display brightness - 11 hours, with automatic adjustment- 12 hours. Listening to music with the display turned off - 27.5 hours. In the first test, the result of the Galaxy S 3 coincided with that of the Galaxy S 2, in the second, the novelty worked almost one and a half times longer. This means that the hero of the review is more energy efficient than its predecessor, but you need to constantly take care of the optimal level of screen brightness. As mentioned earlier, the automation itself does this, sometimes setting the display brightness too low.
The minimum battery life of the communicator is 6 hours. The value is more than worthy. But the recharge of the battery goes very slowly, within the same 6 hours from the USB port of the computer.
The hardware basis of Samsung's new flagship is the company's proprietary Exynos 4412 chip. It includes four ARM Cortex-A9 cores operating at 1.4 GHz and an ARM Mali-400 MP4 video processor. The amount of DDR2 RAM is 1 GB. If we compare the hardware bases of the Galaxy S 2 and Galaxy S 3, then the difference between them is insignificant: the chip manufacturing process has been changed from 45 to 32 nm, two more processing cores have been added to the two computing cores, and the frequency has increased by 200 MHz.
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The theoretical part is followed by a practical one, namely a standard set of performance tests.
| Samsung Galaxy S3 | Samsung Galaxy Advanced | Huawei Honor | Samsung Galaxy S2 | HTC Sensation | Samsung Galaxy S | |
| CPU | 4×1.4 GHz | 2×1 GHz | 1.4 GHz | 2×1.2 GHz | 2×1.2 GHz | 1 GHz |
| OS | Android 4.0 | Android 2.3 | Android 4.0 | Android 2.3 | Android 2.3 | Android 2.3 |
| Graphics | ||||||
| total graphics score | 28.598434 | 26.031881 | 74.65942 | 34.054173 | 63.32414 | 30.028656 |
| Draw opacity bitmap (MPixels/sec) | 8.4698105 | 9.300636 | 26.701435 | 11.17294 | 22.188517 | 8.854302 |
| Draw transparent bitmap (MPixels/sec) | 9.022026 | 6.621403 | 18.962963 | 9.655823 | 16.542812 | 9.512309 |
| CPU Whitstone | ||||||
| Total CPU score | 4053.831 | 3108.2927 | 3200.6553 | 3261.4143 | 2500.6213 | 1571.6143 |
| MWIPSDP | 257.73196 | 205.33882 | 195.69472 | 181.4882 | 162.86644 | 97.84736 |
| MWIPS SP | 347.22223 | 230.94688 | 257.73196 | 296.7359 | 190.4762 | 108.813934 |
| MFLOPS DP | 21.832079 | 40.426186 | 17.900549 | 12.005697 | 26.03444 | 6.510691 |
| MFLOPS SP | 52.480152 | 48.453373 | 46.086174 | 34.02756 | 34.39461 | 14.372471 |
| VAX MIPS DP | 211.25217 | 170.15817 | 190.61703 | 156.00337 | 143.94771 | 111.43894 |
| VAX MIPS SP | 235.84428 | 168.32018 | 181.2764 | 225.92809 | 137.0819 | 97.69196 |
| Memory | ||||||
| total memory score | 987.88153 | 389.28192 | 550.8008 | 782.7169 | 792.86743 | 647.3529 |
| Copy memory (Mb/sec) | 897.6661 | 353.73187 | 500.5005 | 711.23755 | 720.4611 | 588.2353 |
| Filesystem | ||||||
| Total file system score | 468.00586 | 211.17836 | 279.8356 | 325.3547 | 213.823 | 74.25825 |
| Creating 1000 empty files (sec) | 0.276 | 0.285 | 0.338 | 0.256 | 1.342 | 13.402 |
| Deleting 1000 empty files (sec) | 0.073 | 0.167 | 0.129 | 0.13 | 0.408 | 25.047 |
| Write 1M into file (M/sec) | 227.27272 | 112.35955 | 128.20512 | 99.0099 | 13.513514 | 37.037037 |
| Read 1M from file (M/sec) | 714.2857 | 312.5 | 434.78262 | 555.55554 | 416.66666 | 112.35955 |
| SD card performance | ||||||
| Creating 250 empty files (sec) | 1.324 | 3.3 | 4.556 | 9.34 | 8.588 | 3.444 |
| Deleting 250 empty files (sec) | 0.36 | 4.82 | 5.076 | 12.42 | 4.772 | 3.0 |
| Write 1M into file (M/sec) | 20.0 | 54.347828 | 57.471264 | 23.364487 | 26.88172 | 16.10306 |
| Read 1M from file (M/sec) | 86.95652 | 322.58066 | 400.0 | 312.5 | 357.14285 | 344.82758 |
The Softweg Benchmark 1.03 test showed the complete superiority of the review hero over its rivals in almost all categories. Low scores in the graphics subsystem test are due to the specifics of the test (only two-dimensional graphics) and the increased screen resolution compared to other devices.
The gap between the review hero and its competitors in the Quadrant Standard test is even greater. The Samsung Galaxy S 3 knocked out its main rival, the HTC One X, from the top spot in the performance rankings.
The fact that the Galaxy S 3 is a leader in mobile computing leaves no doubt, but for the sake of completeness, let's do a few more tests.
Test results in AnTuTu Benchmark 2.8
Testing the graphics subsystem in NenaMark 2.2 showed a result of 58.7 frames per second.
Calculating the number "pi" in the Super Pi program:
What can be said about the Samsung Galaxy S 3? Here it is - the most advanced and powerful communicator of 2012. You can compare it with competitors indefinitely, most of them can provide the owner with everything necessary for mobile life, but if you need exactly the “very very” communicator, then the choice is obvious, and this review is dedicated to it.
| Samsung Galaxy S3 | HTC One X | Apple iPhone 4S | Samsung Galaxy Nexus | Sony Xperia S | |
| Screen | 4.8″ Super AMOLED HD PenTile | 4.7″ SuperLCD2 | 3.5″ IPS Retina | 4.65″ Super AMOLED HD PenTile | 4.3″ TFT TN |
| Permission | 720×1280 (306 dpi) | 720×1280 (312 dpi) | 640×960 (330 dpi) | 720×1280 (316 dpi) | 720×1280 (342 dpi) |
| OC | Android 4.0.4 | Android 4.0 | iOS 5.1 | Android 4.0.4 | Android 2.3.7 |
| CPU | Exynos 4412 (quad-core based on Cortex A9) 1.4 GHz | NVIDIA Tegra 3 (4 cores + 1 auxiliary, based on Сortex A9) 1.4 GHz | Apple A5 (dual-core based on Cortex A9) 800 MHz | TI OMAP 4460 (dual-core based on Cortex A9) 1.2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM8260 1.5 GHz (2 cores, Scorpion) |
| RAM | 1 GB | 1 GB | 512 MB | 1 GB | 1 GB |
| Camera | frontal 1.9 MP, rear 8 MP | frontal 1.3 MP, rear 8 MP | frontal 0.3 MP, rear 8 MP | frontal 1.3 MP, rear 5 MP | frontal 1.3 MP, rear 12 MP |
| Battery | 2100 mAh | 1800 mAh | 1432 mAh | 1750 mAh | 1750 mAh |
| Average retail price | $164() | $480() | $156() | N/A() | $123() |
Samsung Galaxy S 3 is the result of a gradual evolution of Android devices and modern communicators in general. It is by no means a "discovery" or "revelation", its parameters and characteristics could have been predicted even a year before its appearance. Should owners of previous Samsung flagships change their smartphones? The answer for those who have a Galaxy S 2 in their hands is no. The answer for those who have the Galaxy S and its many clones is not so clear, it all depends on the balance of financial capabilities and mobile needs.
Speaking of price: as is customary in Russia, the initial price for “white” devices is sky high. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the start of sales of the communicator in our country coincided with its appearance around the world. This means that the price of a smartphone is still high abroad, and also that the suppliers of "gray" devices, which are usually the main discounters in the market, do not have the opportunity to seriously reduce its cost. There is only one advice in this situation - enjoy the summer, relax and wait for the price of the Galaxy S 3 to become reasonable.
Until the advent of the iPhone 5, the hero of the review will remain the most perfect communicator - perhaps even after. However, the development of modern smartphones raises one question, which, it would seem, has already been answered. It sounds like this: “And then what?” An endless increase in the number of cores and display resolution - does it make sense when the size of the pixels is already indistinguishable to the naked eye, and there is nothing to do with the extra cores? Extensive development will sooner or later hit the limit of energy consumption. Communicators in the usual sense, it seems, are reaching their limit and ideological dead end, as it was in their time with their brothers based on Windows Mobile. We need a new powerful push and a paradigm shift - the same as the release of the first iPhone. But will he, and when?
In my entire history of using mobile phones and smartphones, somehow I had never used mobile phones before. Samsung devices. Until recently, of all the variety of different companies that produce smartphones, I was most attracted to HTC communicators. Yes, and my last gadget, which I used for about 2 years, was. By the way, a good device, in every sense of the word. By the way, in general, I was not going to change my smartphone, everything seemed to suit him in his work.
But seeing in world wide web the flagship Samsung Galaxy S 3, after looking at its characteristics, reading reviews and reviews, I simply could not resist the temptation to purchase this newest, most functional smartphone to date.
And so, having virtually appreciated all the functionality and appearance of the Samsung Galaxy S 3, I went to the Euroset salon to take a look, feel, and possibly immediately purchase this miracle. The only thing that I didn’t like was that out of the colors available on the Russian market at that time, Samsung Galaxy S 3 was presented in only three colors: white (white), blue (blue) and red (red). The black color option, this particular color was more preferable for me, was not on sale at the moment. But when I arrived at the salon, I saw a black Samsung Galaxy S 3 in the window, as the sales consultant told me, the black smartphone went on sale only today, which made me very happy.
Taking this flagship in my hands, I immediately decided to purchase this device. On samsung photos Galaxy S 3 looked somehow different, many people write about it on the Internet and call it Galaxy case S 3 "remnant". But live, the smartphone looks very different, I was pleasantly surprised.
As mentioned above, the Samsung Galaxy S 3 struck me with an absolute dissimilarity, in the photo on the Internet, and what I saw and felt live. In real life, the phone turned out to be very attractive and stylish.
Naturally, due to its size, it was somehow not very comfortable in my hand, although before that I used HTC HD2, and it is also not one of small smartphones. But literally after a few hours of use, I got used to the communicator, everything became convenient and easy, I just didn’t want to let this gadget out of my hands.
The thickness of the Samsung Galaxy S 3 is only 8.6 mm, it was immediately felt in the hands, and caught my eye. This is the thinnest of all mobile devices that I had to hold in my hands. Of course, it is not easy to manage such a voluminous phone out of habit. But I got used to it pretty quickly. If at first I had to use my other hand, now I can freely manage with one hand without any fear that the phone will fall out of my hand. In general, I even somehow liked such a volume of the phone, in a word - “shovel”, which is now even kind of fashionable.
If we talk about the management of the Galaxy S 3, then I want to immediately say that it is worth getting used to every smartphone. It's a matter of habit, the longer you use any device, the more you get used to it.
On the left side there is a volume control button, on the right side there is a power button. At the bottom of the screen is a button to exit to the main screen of the smartphone. To the right and left of the exit button to the main screen, there are touch buttons: accept a call and a back button.
The display of the Galaxy S 3 is HD Super AMOLED. The screen diagonal is 4.8 inches, and the resolution is 1280 × 720 pixels. In my opinion, the AMOLED technology itself speaks volumes.
The color rendition of the screen is on top, at least I like it. In addition, there are four profiles in the smartphone screen settings, where everyone can choose and customize any device screen setting for themselves.
The flagship is equipped with an 8 MP camera. In principle, I have never used a camera with such a resolution before. So there is not much to compare with.
The camera on the Galaxy S 3 has the ability to take 20 shots in a row, which will surely please photography enthusiasts. Many people write in reviews about the camera that the phone's camera is very good. I don’t consider myself to be one of those people who love to take pictures, but there are situations when you can’t do without a good camera.
When shooting a video, it is possible to take pictures right during the recording.
There is also a 1.9 MP front camera, very useful when using video calls.
Built-in player Samsung Galaxy S 3 plays almost all formats. I did not go only videos shot in QuickTime format. But after downloading MX Player from the Android market, the video started without problems. Also, this phone plays FullHD video without any problems.
The speaker of the smartphone is loud, of course, it also depends on the files themselves being played. When listening to music on headphones, the quality of the reproduced music is very decent, the bass sounds just superb, I have not heard anything better. The built-in player has an excellent equalizer, you can achieve excellent sound.
Well, as they say, everything is visible to the naked eye. The most powerful quad-core processor Samsung Exynos 4412, 1400 MHz. 1 GB of RAM, although RAM could be added up to 2 GB.
Built-in memory 16 GB. Map support microSD memory up to 64 GB. I immediately purchased a 32 GB memory card, and now I have 48 GB on board my device.
What can really be considered a breakthrough is the battery in the Samsung Galaxy S 3. The battery capacity is 2100 mAh, the standby time is 900 hours. With a decent load (music, surfing the Internet, games, calls, etc.), the battery keeps the day without straining.
Galaxy S 3 comes with Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) with proprietary Samsung shell touchwiz.
Intelligent waiting
The phone screen stays on as long as you look at it. The smartphone determines whether a person is looking at it, and therefore does not go into sleep mode.
Direct call
If you communicate with someone, for example, via SMS. You are simply tired of writing sms, and if you bring the phone to your ear, the device will automatically dial the number of this contact.
Musical pause
Just place your palm on the screen, or turn your smartphone face down during a call, video or music playback, and the phone will pause playback or mute the ringer.
Screenshot
Swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right and the phone will take a screenshot.
Operating system: Android 4.0
Processor clock speed: 1.4 GHz
Random access memory (RAM): 1 GB
Built-in memory: 16 GB
Memory card type: microSD, microSDHC
Max. memory card capacity: 64 GB
Diagonal/Resolution: 4.8"/1280×720 pix
GPS receiver: Yes
GLONASS support: Yes
Camera matrix resolution: 8 MPix
Talk time: up to 20 hours
WiFi support: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
Built-in bluetooth module: 4.0
Battery capacity: 2100 mAh
In one review, it is simply impossible to tell about all the features, goodies and lotions of the Samsung Galaxy S 3. But one thing can be said - here it is the most advanced, powerful and unique smartphone at the moment.
Of course, the price of the phone may seem overpriced at 22,000 rubles. on average, and many can not afford, but it's worth it. If you are thinking of buying a smartphone for such an amount, do not even look at other devices.
Of course, you can compare it with competitors, they have something in common, there are also differences. But in my opinion, at this time, the Galaxy S 3 is out of competition, all sorts of iPhones there: iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 - "nervously smoke on the sidelines."
