We loved the Samsung Galaxy S2. A gorgeous screen, super-fast processor and awesome camera made it a great competitor to the iPhone. So news that its follow-up is on the way has us giddy with excitement.
Samsung will announce the S3 at Mobile World Congress in February, BGR reports. As well as some pretty awesome specs -- including a 720p screen, quad-core processor, Ice Cream Sandwich and all the rest -- it's also rumoured to have 3D, which will integrate it with enabled TVs.
Since the launch of the LG Optimus 3D, new 3D phones have been rather scarce -- but if a handset as eagerly anticipated as the S3 were to pack it, it could spark a resurgence in interest. Then again, there's a reason why 3D phones never really took off in the first place.
While the phone is an inevitability, the specs, reported by Korean website ETNews are yet to be officially confirmed -- although they sound pretty on the money. We really do like the idea of a 720p Super AMOLED Plus screen (similar to that seen on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, but a lot smaller, obviously), 2GB of RAM, and Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
What is certain is that expectations are high for the S3. The S2 scored a spectacular four-and-a-half out of five stars in our review, and sold 3 million units in just 55 days, so we've high hopes for the follow-up. Don't worry if you're not quite ready to upgrade yet though, as the S2 will get the update to Ice Cream Sandwich at the start of next year -- hopefully before March, if Samsung sticks to its schedule. So while you won't have 3D or that amazing new screen, you will have the same software on an already rather excellent handset.
Would you buy a 3D phone? Or is the S3 missing anything? Let us know below in the comments, or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 33
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the dandy p 29 December, 2011 13:40
Why have you decided to use a senstionalist headline on this piece? If one were to read the headline independantly to the article, it would clearly seem to state 'Samsung Galaxy S3 here February with 3D, 720p screen'. You then decide to introduce that it might just all be a rumour, but not until the 4th paragraph of the article.
anonymous 29 December, 2011 13:53
uh... NFC?
anonymous 29 December, 2011 16:03
Put an effing question mark or [RUMOR] after that headline!!!! Geez. Youd expect better from this site!
Jed McInnes 29 December, 2011 18:56
@the dandy p
how long have you been on cnet? Most the stuff they report on is just a rumor, as is the way with all tech sites...
Mugen13 29 December, 2011 19:12
Its pretty hard to score legitimate stories with tech companies as they dont want their competition to know whats coming. Most of the time articles will be ran solely on rumors as eith this one. I woukd have liked if they had emphasysed that on the tittle as you click it very exited and then you finish with a realization that you have been taken for a fool. Had the s2, now the galacy nexus and hope the s3 is even better! Go sammy
Ash Wilson 29 December, 2011 19:14
At everyone who has commented apart from Jed,
Don't you have better things to do with your lives then analyse literatury devices and techniques? How about you put a "effing" apostrophe in "youd". I would "expect better from" what I assume is an adult, I'm 16 and your not setitng a great example and you've just deflated the whole zeal from this post. Move on.
anonymous 29 December, 2011 20:36
@Ash Wilson
Well I never, criticising “youd” for bad English and then typing “your” instead of you’re – what school did you go to?
anonymous 30 December, 2011 00:10
@anonymous - he went to the school of irony, mate. You should sign up.
It's the only school that teach'es the prpoer speeling of "setitng".
The comments wall of a tech news site can be a depressing and barren place. Let's move on.
3D screens, eh? Now there's a solution in need of a problem. What kind of breakthrough app, UI or feature would it take for them to become in demand? Decent 3D cameras or 3D video streaming could do it, obviously, but what else?
anonymous 30 December, 2011 00:49
I agree, by not putting a ? after that statement they are misleading people into their site for the traffic. Worst mistake a legitimate jounalist can make is bringing into question their integrity, bye bye cnet from favourites I really thought more of you guys.
anonymous 30 December, 2011 07:00
As someone wo doesn't use a mobile phone, but who is thinking about it, I'd like to hear from CNET readers what you use your phone for and how much time each day you spend using it.
P.S. Include what phone you use.
Naryan 30 December, 2011 19:30
IT'S COMING! IT'S COMING IF FEBRUARY AND IT'S GOING TO BE AAAAAMAAAAAZIIIIIIING!!!!!1!*
*May not actually be coming at all, story based on a rumour of a rumour of an unannounced story that an unannounced product MAY have said features if we're lucky.
When are you going to learn to stop LYING CNET? Put a goddamn question mark if you can't actually handle the TRUTH of any given story.
If you were a newspaper you'd be lower than The Sun by now.
Ash Wilson 30 December, 2011 19:43
Commenting is pointless if I'm going to turn out like this one of you should shoot me now. I was typing fast because I was annoyed - errors occur. What irritates me is those who have critiqued me on this are probably 50+ and really shouldn't be looking on this page because quite frankly you are passed it. This is further illustrated by not disclosing your name, don't worry Axa Health Insurance can't track you down to hassle you.
anonymous 31 December, 2011 00:10
which is the rumour?? the specs or the s3 itself(good article but we are not mind readers)?
Ash Wilson 31 December, 2011 14:47
The specs :)
anonymous 31 December, 2011 21:34
So is the S3 really coming out in february?
Sebastien Ramsamy 1 January, 2012 10:44
can't keep packing these awesome hardware technologies without upgrading battery life...why not working on a battery that could last a day without having to worry about charging one's phone...that would be ground-braking!!!
anonymous 1 January, 2012 14:37
what it does need is bigger flash storage I'm fed up with 16gb, and the promise of a so called 32gb version that never gets released..... 64gb inside or higher plus micro sd expansion!!!
anonymous 1 January, 2012 17:12
Very loose use of the word here also. implies available to the public but its just an announcement. terrible journalism joe i hope u get the sack
Thomas Riley 2 January, 2012 00:47
You're kidding. I waited six months for the SGS2 to be released in the US, got it on October 2nd, and THE S3 IS ALREADY COMING OUT?
Thank you, backwards US tech laws. Thank you.
welshblood 3 January, 2012 19:01
I'd like to see a built-in fm transmitter. Would also like the phone companies to provide better signal coverage!!
anonymous 3 January, 2012 19:52
Infared so as to control most of the AV Tech i.e TV, Amp, Cable, Sky and so on that still use it.
Latest and upgradble codecs.
Buit-in projector to show off your latest media.
anonymous 3 January, 2012 21:24
Walter Musa,
Galaxy S3D is already out in Nigeria and my S2 is better than it.
ponyman 6 January, 2012 20:06
I expect Apple is working hard to think up what they can sue Samsung for this time.
Gyre8 10 January, 2012 15:53
::FAIL::
Passed it = handed it on.
Past it = over the hill.
(over 50 with AXA insurance).
anonymous 12 January, 2012 11:02
looking forward to this s3, but just got used to my s2 though.... which is dynamite!! doubt it will be ready for February... maybe in the far east, as they are usually 6 months ahead of the rest of the world... If they go with the quad core chip, it should have no problems with the 3D capabilities, which I'm hopeful for as it would be a good reason to grab this phone on launch day, hopefully around the beginning of April when my upgrade is due :D . LG have shown that 3D doesn't work all that great with just a duel core, even if its the best duel core out at the moment (debatable). battery life is great on s2 & I'm sure it will be fine on the new device.. Any1 who has battery issues should try charging their phones properly or stop gaming so much :p . good info c-net, but surely this is all rumour at present, bloody clever secretive Koreans!!
anonymous 12 January, 2012 11:04
apple can suck my eggs and perish, hopefully.... lamb shank cr@p!
anonymous 15 January, 2012 12:15
confirmed official specs now released here http://www.squidoo.com/samsung-galaxy-s3-specs-and-release-confirmed - should be a good phone...the Galaxy S2 was based off the iphone 4 but thankfully the S3 isnt it looks like a mix between the S2 and a nexus
anonymous 16 January, 2012 23:51
Another one for Apple to see off........ho hum...
anonymous 21 January, 2012 20:19
Im waiting patiently for the S3 - but there are rumours on other sites that Samsung may drop the SD card slot - the only reason I don't have an iphone is because it doesn't have an SD slot. So, if the S3 doesn't have one, then that's gonna be a deal breaker for me.
welshblood 22 January, 2012 18:31
Re. SD Card slot: I agree wholeheartedly. Samsung have already lost (many) a sale by not incuding this on their latest 8.9" Galaxy Tab, which I refused to buy for this very reason. Samsung may be avoiding lawsuits by re-designing their products to appear less "Apple-esque", but they will lose thousands of customers with this design mistake. I really hope this is a case of mis-reporting.
welshblood 22 January, 2012 18:50
When enquiring with Samsung UK, as to why the 8.9" Tab had no SD Card slot, I goth the following reply:
"We have noted these suggestions. The decision was taken by our developers as adding an SD slot to certain machines and software isnt as easy as simply adding on the slot. But this approach may change again with future releases"
Save your money until they heed our request!
anonymous 25 January, 2012 05:31
I do like to buy a smasung 3d smart phone. i want know the price & how could i get deliver the phone in dhaka,bangladesh?
aliward15 27 January, 2012 18:23
I have an iPhone 3G which is due to be swapped in May and I would love it if my next phone could be this. I have always been an iPhone lover and despite the S2 being a great phone, I never had too much desire to have it but I really do think that when this is released, it will be the best phone out, even better than the iPhone 4S. That is until Apple release the iPhone 5 anyway!
But yes, I would love to get this phone. The speed, screen and the 12MP camera is what excites me the most. I want it so bad!