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 a single new electronic device is not overgrown with such rumors, speculation, excitement, admiration and disappointment as the appearance of a 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).
Delivery set and specifications
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 useful 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.
Inside the package are: 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:
- 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;
- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n;
- NFC, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA;
- FM radio with RDS;
- Glonass, GPS + A-GPS;
- Position sensor in space, accelerometer, magnetometer, barometer, RGB sensor;
- MHL 1.0, USB Host;
- 8 megapixel CMOS camera, auto focus, LED flash, 1.9 megapixel secondary camera;
- Lithium-polymer battery, capacity 2100 mAh;
- Dimensions 137×71×8.6 mm;
- Weight 133 g.
Design and appearance
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 a complete copy of the iPhone 3G, which Apple did not fail to use in lawsuits, then the second Galaxy only remotely resembled Apple's communicators. 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's body, 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 practically 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. The physical parameters of the Galaxy 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. From the third Samsung version 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. The creaks and backlashes that have disappeared even in the cheapest Chinese smartphones are absent from the Samsung flagship.
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 wonder if 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.
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 are both negative and positive. 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.
Software
There is nothing surprising in the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S 3 is running the latest version of the operating system. Android systems, 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 the latest firmware update 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 is combined with the clock, a denser placement of icons allows you to place another icon 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. The last app, S Voice, is worth a closer look.
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 that brought this technology to a new level and attracted the attention of a wide audience - thanks to the huge army of fans of Apple devices. Naturally, Samsung, as a manufacturer of the main competing devices in the segment of 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 the centralization and ease of use of 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).
The assistant relayed the request for Samsung shares to the Google search query. 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.
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 this moment both seem a little raw, but Siri looks more advanced. 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 a 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 model Galaxy S 2 - for example, zoom 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 using 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.
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. The review hero does not have the Swype keyboard, which was previously found in other Samsung communicators. 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.
Display and sound
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, 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 next to the Galaxy of the second and third generations 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 communicator.
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 saving 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. Managed to connect the communicator to Samsung TV Smart TV and play both video file 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 headset included in the kit 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. On the sides of it are buttons for quickly searching for a station. 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.
Wireless interfaces and communication
Communicator Samsung Galaxy S 3 has a complete set of wireless modules, lacking only support for 4G networks. The maximum data exchange rate in the cellular network for the hero of the review is 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.
It was possible to connect a wireless headset to the communicator. 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 high-definition digital signal receivers, USB On-the-go is the good old USB Host that allows you to connect USB devices such as mouse and external storage devices such as flash drives and hard drives to your communicator. The last two interfaces are implemented in a Micro-USB-compatible connector on the bottom end of the communicator.
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.
Camera
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 resolution 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. On the left are icons for various camera settings. 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.
Battery Life
The increased capacity of the battery in the Galaxy S 3 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 battery life tests were carried out with the communicator, and here are their results. Reading an 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.
Speed and performance
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 a frequency of 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.
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:
conclusions
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 ad infinitum, most of them can provide the owner with everything necessary for mobile life, but if you need exactly the “most” 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. Is it worth the owners of the previous Samsung flagships change your 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 infinite increase in the number of cores and display resolution - does this make sense when the size of the pixels is already indistinguishable to the naked eye, and there is nothing to do with 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?
Hello again everyone on my blog! This time we will again do a comparison with you, namely, we will compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Samsung Galaxy S4. Their fundamental differences, as well as advantages and disadvantages, will fall under the object of our consideration. After analyzing all this, we will conclude which smartphone is better and which one is worth buying.
The question of this topic arose for a reason, it seems that you want to buy the latest novelty, since most of us buy a smartphone for several years, but on the other hand, is there any point in overpaying!? Samsung is releasing updated smartphone models at a brisk pace, and if you buy the same S4 today, in a few months it will already be in the background. So let's find out if it makes sense to buy S3 and not S4 or vice versa.
In this article, I will not particularly focus on the parameters and features, but only briefly go over their fundamental differences, both in terms of appearance and in terms of components. For a more detailed study of both models, I recommend reading my past reviews: Samsung Galaxy S3 review and Samsung Galaxy S4 review.
Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S4 and Samsung Galaxy S3
Comparing these two devices, of course, you need to start with the parameters, but in principle they are quite different from each other.
Difference in technical characteristics
The Galaxy S3 has a quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz per core, while the S4 has an eight-core processor clocked at 1.6GHz per core.
As for RAM, the S3 has 1 GB and the S4 has 2 GB. The RAM memory in both devices is the same, depending on the model configuration.
Screen S3 - Super AMOLED, with a diagonal of 4.8 inches, resolution - 1280 × 720 pixels (306 ppi). The screen in S4 is Super AMOLED HD, with a diagonal of 4.99 inches, with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels (441ppi).
The S3 has an 8MP camera, while the S4 has a 13MP camera. As for the video, it is the same for the two 1080p gadgets.
S3 is running Android 4.0 and S4 is running Android 4.2.2.
The S3 has a 2100mAh battery while the S4 has a 2600mAh battery.
Now let's summarize everything that has been listed. So, we see that the processor of the four is 2 times superior to its predecessor, the same applies to RAM. And therefore, the novelty will be 2 times faster than the previous model, which will surely please the messengers for the latest and most powerful Hi-Tech devices. Of course, one cannot but say about the display, which from 720 turned into 1080 pixels. This is a real paradise for fans of watching movies on a smartphone, as well as for avid gamers. Good news for photographers too: the image quality on the S4 will be noticeably better than on the S3. As for the operating system, in the Galaxy S4 it is noticeably fresher - Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, while in the Galaxy S3 it is Android 4.0 ICS, forgotten by many. It is worth noting that a new one will be available for the Samsung Galaxy S4 android firmware 4.4, but S3 will surely bypass such happiness, at least in the near foreseeable future for sure. For radio fans, it's worth saying that there is no FM receiver in the S4, so you have to listen to 3G radio only and pay money for it.
The difference in visual characteristics
In general, the design of the two Samsung flagships is almost the same: the same placement of buttons, almost the same shapes and lines. If we study in more detail the appearance of the two devices, then they still differ in some details. S4 looks more solid and presentable than S3. It is worth canceling the presence of a side frame on the S4, stylized as metal, which is not in the S3. The novelty is slightly thinner than its predecessor, while weighing a little less, but if you take both gadgets in your hands, then the difference in these parameters is not noticeable.
Well, we can not say about the difference in price between the two gadgets. If we compare average prices, then S4 is 4,000 rubles more expensive than S3, and this is a fairly significant difference, since with this money you can buy a 64 GB memory card, a case, as well as top up your account for the Internet, and still enough to buy required apps on Google Play.
Which is better to buy Samsung Galaxy S3 or Samsung Galaxy S4?
After analyzing all of the above, we can conclude that, as such, there is no point in buying a Samsung Galaxy S4. Yes, it is worth paying tribute to the manufacturers that they have assembled a super powerful model that has left its competitors far behind, but not all users need such parameters. In addition, if we analyze 2 devices in terms of innovations, then the new model does not bring anything new except for an upgrade.
The owners of the Samsung Galaxy S3 claim that they have enough smartphone parameters for all tasks, including working with resource-intensive applications and games. They note that the phone does not have the slightest hang and slowdown, and therefore, why overpay money if you have enough S3 parameters. There is no point in overpaying for something that you will not use in S4.
If you need a phone for status, and you plan to buy a gadget for a very long time, then, of course, the most reasonable option in this situation is the Samsung Galaxy S4. Firstly, the latest models are always more prestigious than the previous ones, especially in the telephone world. Secondly, South Korean manufacturers who have stepped 2 steps forward enable Samsung Galaxy S4 buyers to make a good investment in a promising smartphone, which for 2 years, and maybe even 3, will be able to “pull” modern programs and games.
If you are a happy owner of the Samsung Galaxy S3, then there is no point in buying a new product, and absolutely. You will notice the difference in performance only in comparison, the same applies to the screen and camera. Otherwise, there are no differences.
As for me personally, I preferred the Samsung Galaxy S4, because I like to test various games, programs and other “gadgets” of manufacturers, and this requires powerful components.
This is actually all. By and large, if you have an extra 4,000 rubles, then it’s better to buy an S4, but if you buy an S3, you won’t lose much, since I didn’t notice any significant differences.
Samsung's Galaxy S3 is one of the most popular smartphones of 2012, but let's see how it compares to the new Galaxy S4?
We will compare the flagship in Samsung's smartphone lineup with its predecessor in this short review. The anticipation for the Galaxy S4 has been great and it finally arrived. If you're a Galaxy S3 owner, you might be wondering if it's worth upgrading to a newer model, or if you'll save money by opting for the well-received Galaxy S3. We hope this comparison will help you make a decision.
We haven't got our hands on the Galaxy S4 yet, so this article is based on a Galaxy S4 vs. Galaxy S3 spec comparison, and of course based on our opinions.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Design
As you can see in the picture above, the Galaxy S4 looks very similar to the Galaxy S3 in terms of design. Simply put, it's just an enlarged version. The corners are also rounded, but it looks more boxy, more similar to the Galaxy S2. The back cover is still removable, the Home button has slightly changed its shape. According to Samsung's specifications, the Galaxy S4 is marginally smaller than the Galaxy S3 despite the larger screen. The height is the same - 136.6mm, but the Galaxy S4 is narrower - 69.8mm versus 70.6mm. It's also thinner and lighter than its predecessor at 7.9mm and 130g versus 8.6mm and 133g. Impressive work from Samsung if those numbers are correct.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Screen
The rumors have been confirmed - the Galaxy S4 has a 5-inch screen, which means it will be slightly larger than the 4.8-inch display in the Galaxy S3. Both use Samsung's familiar SuperAMOLED screen technology. The size matches a large number of smartphones shown at CES this year, including Sony Xperia Z, Huawei Ascend D2 and ZTE Grand S. The resolution has increased from 720×1280 to 1080×1920 Full HD. Which greatly increased the pixel density from 306ppi to 441ppi.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Processor
Samsung used its own Exynos 4 Quad processors for the Galaxy S3 with a quad-core chip. It operates at 1.4GHz and is based on the ARM Cortex-A9 architecture. The Galaxy S4 surpasses it with the new Exynos 5 Octa processor that Samsung announced at CES. This is the first smartphone to boast an 8-core chip. It consists of four Cortex-A15 cores clocked at 1.9GHz for basic tasks, while the remaining four Cortex-A7s clocked at 1.2GHz are used for less demanding tasks and power saving mode. The amount of RAM has also been doubled from 1GB to 2GB, so we expect the Galaxy S4 to take the top spots in our tests.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Memory Capacity
Samsung has been generous with storage space on the Galaxy S3 to match iPhones with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of storage, plus a microSD card slot. The situation does not change with the advent of the Galaxy S4. So there is no reason to worry.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Cameras
The Galaxy S3's 8MP camera was pretty standard resolution for 2012, except for a few phones. Samsung equipped its flagship Galaxy S4 with a 13MP main camera and a 2.1MP front camera. This is marginally higher than the Galaxy S3's 1.9Mp, but it's important to remember that the Galaxy S4 can record video in Full HD 1080p, not 720p like its predecessor. We can't say if the image quality is even better, but the claimed specs already look pretty good.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Software
The Samsung Galaxy S3 now runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, one of the most up-to-date versions of Android in the world. The Galaxy S4 will ship with version 4.2.2, which has no significant difference, and both phones have Samsung's TouchWiz interface. The Galaxy S4 introduces new features including Smart Scroll, Smart Pause and Air Gesture. Rumor has it that some of the new features will be added to the Galaxy S3, but it's not yet clear which ones.
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Galaxy S3: Battery
We expected the Galaxy S4's battery to be larger than the Galaxy S3's 2100mAh battery - and indeed it is - 2600mAh (both removable). Whether the battery life will be longer will become apparent when we run the right tests. Obviously the power consumption is higher as the screen is bigger and has a higher resolution, but the Exynos 5 processor has power-saving cores that can make a big difference. (According to the latest information, Galaxy S4 with Exynos power-saving processor may not be available in all regions.)
Tonight hosted the world's new flagship Samsung smartphone Galaxy S4. Now that its characteristics have become known, let's compare it with the previous generation of the model to understand how much better the novelty has become.
Characteristics | Samsung Galaxy S3 | Samsung Galaxy S4 |
Type of | Smartphone | Smartphone |
Type of shell | monoblock | monoblock |
Standard | GSM 850/900/1800/1900, WCDMA 850/900/1900//2100 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS 850/900/1900/2100, LTE |
High speed data transfer | GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA (up to 21 Mbps), HSUPA, LTE (depending on market) | |
Dimensions (mm) | 136.6×70.6×8.6 | 136.6×69.8×7.9 |
Weight (g) | 133 | 130 |
Processor (for smartphones) | Exynos 4212 (32 nm, ARMv7), 1.4 GHz (quad-core) + GPU Mali 400 MP4 | Exynos 5410 Octa 1.6 GHz Quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 and 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 or Snapdragon 600 1.9GHz Krait 300 + GPU PowerVR SGX 544MP3 or Adreno 320 |
Memory | RAM 1 GB + 16/32/64 GB internal memory | RAM 2 GB + 16/32/64 GB internal memory |
Expansion slot | microSD (up to 64 GB) | microSD (up to 64 GB) |
Main screen | Super AMOLED (Pen Tile), 4.8″, 1280 × 720 pixels (306 ppi), 16 million colors, touchscreen, capacitive, multi-touch support, Corning Gorilla Glass | Super AMOLED HD, 4.99″, 1920×1080 pixels, 16.7 million colors, multi-touch, multi-touch, Corning Gorilla Glass |
Accumulator battery | Li-Ion, 2100 mAh | Li-Ion, 2600 mAh |
Communications | USB 2.0 (micro-USB), Bluetooth 4.0 (A2DP), Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (DLNA), NFC | USB 2.0 (micro-USB, USB Host, MHL), Bluetooth 4.0+LE (A2DP), NFC, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GLONASS, Wi-Fi hotspot, infrared port |
Photography | 8 MP (with BSI sensor), autofocus, face detection, geotagging, image stabilization, 1.9 MP front camera | 13 MP, autofocus, face detection, geotagging, image stabilization, Dual Shot, Cinema Photo, 2 MP front camera |
Video filming | 1920x1080 pixels, up to 30 fps, image stabilization | 1920x1080 pixels, 30 fps |
Flash | LED | LED |
Operating system | Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean) + proprietary interface TouchWiz | Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) + original TouchWiz interface |
FM radio | Yes | No |
Additional features | media player, video telephony, S Voice (voice control), Pop up Play (picture in picture function), Google services, position sensor (G-sensor), gyroscope, barometer, digital compass, proximity sensor, light sensor, module a-GPS/Glonass, social media applications | video telephony, media player, a-GPS/GLONASS receiver, Google services, accelerometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, gyroscope, electronic compass, thermometer, barometer, Smart rotation eye-tracking, Smart pause, Smart school, S Health, Air Gestures |
As you can see, the novelty has become better than its predecessor in everything, even the weight and size indicators have decreased, despite the increased screen diagonal. Also surprising is the fact that a 25% more capacious battery was placed in a thinner case, and neither he nor the screen made the smartphone heavier, on the contrary, he “lost” 3 grams. This is reminiscent of the automotive industry, where until five years ago, manufacturers made it a rule to present new models lighter than previous ones. Exactly the same situation with the sixth generation of the iPhone, which is 20% lighter than its predecessor. The trend is good, because not everyone likes to carry devices weighing 160 grams or more in their pocket. It remains only to wait for the first reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S4 to understand whether Samsung managed to make the smartphone not only better in terms of performance, but also improve ergonomics and its software capabilities, as well as battery life and camera quality.
Official video showing all the features of the Samsung Galaxy S4
Due to the sharp change in the exchange rate, the issue of acquiring flagship smartphones of past years has become relevant.
In this comparison, we take a look at the updated flagship, scary to think, 2012 - and the representative of the new line - .
To begin with, we note that S3 NEO is two models at once: 9300i and 9301i they differ only in the number of slots for sim-cards - two and one, respectively. The Galaxy A3 (A300) also has a rather interesting solution regarding sim cards, it is simultaneously for one and two sim cards, but more on that later. Judging by megahertz and gigabytes, the S3 NEO is slightly ahead of the A300, but it is worth remembering that these are just numbers and a huge number of other parameters that are not written in the specification affect the real performance.
Frame
S3 is the same as in 2012: easily soiled glossy plastic in the form of a bar of soap or, as the manufacturer assures, coastal pebbles... However, like many Samsung devices, appetite comes with eating. The more you use your smartphone, the more you like its design.
If someone has not yet seen the Galaxy S3, then:
- on the left side there are volume rockers
- on the right - on / off / block button
- bottom micro-usb connector and microphone
- top - 3.5 headset jack
- on the front part above the display is the front camera and light and proximity sensors
- below the display are classic touch buttons for return and menu, as well as a physical home button
- on the back is the main camera, LED flash and speaker
- under the cover are located: a removable battery, a slot for a SIM card and a slot for a memory card
The A3 case doesn't look quite original either. The design of the smartphone strongly resembles the 2011 flagship Galaxy S2.
Although this is more a matter of taste, but in our opinion this is the right decision. Plus, a metal frame was added to the excellent design, which creates a feeling of a premium class device. The layout of buttons, cameras and sensors is similar to S3.
The only difference is the location of the 3.5 headphone jack.
The S3 has it on top, while the A300 has it on the bottom. In our opinion, the decision to make the connector at the bottom is more reasonable, but for most smartphones this connector is located at the top, so this will not be convenient for many users, because. you will have to get used to the new location of the connector, learn a special grip and an exclusive technique for putting the device in your pocket.
Also on the right side of the smartphone are two slots for SIM cards.
More precisely, one slot for nano-sim, and the second slot is universal (either nano-sim or a microSD memory card). The solution is a little strange, because many users want to have everything at once, but here you have to choose. However, the A300 supports fourth-generation networks, and given the development of cloud services, the presence of a memory card is not so relevant.
The battery of the device is non-removable, and the back is made of metal with a matte finish.
In terms of the thickness of the case, both devices are quite compact and it makes no sense to measure hundredths of millimeters. A3 is more compact, but this is achieved due to the smaller diagonal of the display. So here to each his own. A funny detail in the design of the A3 is the rather protruding camera, which is most likely done so that the speaker does not close when lying on the table.
Verdict: In our opinion, the A300 wins in almost all respects.
Display
Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo has a 4.8-inch display with a resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels and a density of 305 pixels per inch.
Galaxy A3 has more modest parameters: display diagonal - 4.52 inches, resolution - 960 × 540 pixels, density - 245 pixels per inch.
But you should not believe the numbers, just put both devices side by side and it immediately becomes clear that the S3 grandfather, although he went to a sanatorium and rejuvenated a little, can in no way compete with the young A3.
Samsung Galaxy A3 looks much better: sharper, brighter, etc. Moreover, this can be seen both with the standard settings for automatic brightness control and when setting the maximum value manually.
Verdict: A clear win for A3
Performance
Samsung Galaxy S3 NEO has very good technical characteristics for its price segment. The system is powered by a 1.4 GHz quad-core processor and 1.5 GB of RAM. Galaxy A3 also has a quad-core processor, but the clock speed is only 1.2 GHz, and the RAM is 1 GB. However, we did not trust the numbers and tested the performance of the devices using the antutu benchmark.
Result: the performance of the old man, although a little, is still inferior to the new one - 20254 benchmark parrots against 20646.
Verdict: The A3 outperforms the S3 by a tiny bit, but still outperforms, so the A3 wins again.
Camera
The main camera of both devices has an 8 megapixel matrix, but we are already accustomed to not trusting the numbers, especially since everyone has long known happiness not in megapixels. If you look at the cameras from the display of the devices themselves, the camera of the A3 seems to be better, either because the display displays the picture more clearly, or because we first forgot to remove the film from the S3 camera ... after removing the film from the camera, according to personal impressions, the s3 camera is slightly -slightly inferior to a3, however, you need to look at the cameras from the finished pictures and here are examples of several photos:
On the left is a photo taken with the A3 camera, on the right - S3 NEO.
It is immediately noticeable that ... the camera of the Samsung Galaxy A3 is almost no different from the Galaxy S3 Neo. The first photo was taken at close range in our office under standard fluorescent lighting, the second one was taken with the lights turned off using a flash, the third shot is a long shot in standard lighting, the fourth is an enlarged fragment of the third. The fifth, sixth and seventh shots were taken outdoors during the day in cloudy weather, the eighth is an enlarged fragment of the seventh frame. In our opinion, the A3 shoots a little clearer, which is best seen in street shots.
It is also worth noting the capabilities of the front camera, because. the meaning of the word "selfie" is known even to pensioners and babies. So, for self-photos, Samsung Galaxy S3 can offer a 1.9 megapixel camera with a fairly good quality, but nothing more interesting about the front camera could be found.
The Galaxy A3 immediately pleases with the number - 5 megapixels, but as we have already seen, the number of megapixels is far from the most important parameter, so the first thing that catches your eye is the possibility of retouching, making the face thinner and the hit of the season, which amused us the most, eye enlargement.
Verdict: The A3's cameras are a bit ahead, mostly due to the front-facing camera.
Outcome
As expected, the novelty bypasses the old man in all respects, but there is one parameter that cannot be ignored - the price. Buy Samsung Galaxy S3 NEO at the beginning of April it is possible for only 11-12 thousand rubles, and Samsung Galaxy A3 cost is 16-17 thousand rubles.
In our opinion, the difference in price is quite justified, for the most part due to LTE (4G) and stylish design, but in the end, these parameters are not important for everyone, and whether it makes sense to pay more or not, everyone will decide for himself.