It's a sad fact of life that not all tech is born equal, and so it happens that now and then a phone comes along that's of a sufficiently high pedigree, even hardened tech reviewers need a moment to take stock. And so it is with the Samsung Galaxy S3.
The budget and mid-range Android hoi polloi can only gaze on in awe, knowing that while they may be perfectly decent and good value for money, they will never be quite as powerful, quite as shiny. The S3 is a true king among smart phones -- see for yourself by hitting play on the video review above.
The S3's slick lightweight design has divided opinion, but I'm inclined to say that the moment you hold it in your hand, you'll be mesmerised by the aura of luxury it seems to emit. The screen is a 4.8-inch 720p glistening mill pond, that literally ripples at the touch, and will display videos and photos in vivid sploshes of colour.
Packing Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and a quad-core processor, the S3 has specs you wouldn't want to mess with. The snazzy new version of TouchWiz, Samsung's Android software, and Siri rival S Voice are tucked away inside the phone, and you'll also find a 8-megapixel camera and microSD card slot on board.
The obvious drawback to all this glorious technology is that it comes at a price -- you can pick the S3 up SIM-free for between £500 and £520.
For more on the S3, head over to the full review, or see it give the HTC One X a beating in a benchmark battle of the quad-core beefcakes. Is the S3 your ideal phone, or do you think it's unnecessarily powerful and expensive? Let me know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page.
To get all the latest phone reviews, news and features beamed straight to your Android device of choice, head to the Google Play store and download the free CNET Android app today.
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Comments 25
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anonymous 25 May, 2012 19:42
Good review, but why didn't you mention - as you did when reviewing the HTC One X - that perhaps a quad core processor is not necessary in a phone and overkill?
Seems you are being unfair and biased towards Samsung over HTC.
anonymous 25 May, 2012 20:00
This review is horrifically biased. Almost every review struggles to split the HTC one X from the S3 or objectively compares the two. I wonder how much Samsung paid for this review.
srsk03 25 May, 2012 20:23
The Galaxy S3 is beast phone!
all the iSheeps are chewing on some iGrass right now looking up the sky at the Galaxy
anonymous 25 May, 2012 20:35
Looks and feels luxurious and premium? You gotta be kidding me. It looks like some kid made it in arts and crafts class using the top of a well known butter brand lol
anonymous 25 May, 2012 20:55
Natasha just had to mention the iPhone as the better fit for small hands!! Why oh why does Natasha insist on doing this? Are there not smaller android devices or even nokia devices?
As for Samsung bias, not convinced that the review was more enthusiastic about this product than the review was about the one x when that was launched.
Will Samsung launch a similarly beastie phone with smaller real estate? Would suit all sizes of hands then!
Craig
anonymous 25 May, 2012 22:26
dont get the hoopla about android or galaxy s2/3. All android phones experience lag and many, many 'force closes' regardless of specs at least in my experiences anyway. think that the public should all go back to using nokia 3310's and the business types can have the 6310. LOL :)
flyingacedude 26 May, 2012 00:09
Good review, looking forward to getting mine on Wednesday. I don't think this is particularly biased, there is no mention of the HTC and the performance tests show that this is quicker, has better battery life, more features and who cares if the HTC has a back made of some fancy material. I don't buy a phone to look at the back.
anonymous 26 May, 2012 03:13
I'm mainly an Apple user, I have an iPad and an iPod Touch 4G and was hoping to get the new iPhone this year, only I felt a little scared of being bored of Apple iOS. I have owned many types of phone, none exactly amazing, other than my HTC Mozart, which I admit is a slight change from iOS and Android. My old android experience was an utter nightmare, and I felt like throwing the phone at a wall as it simply would not respond to what I wanted, this let me down, and led me to Apple, which guided me in the right direction of finding a little more sense, so as my contract on my Mozart ends, I can only help but think, is the S3 worth a try, or do I wait for Apple to give us something old, but reinvented? I want to give android another shot, so I'll head for the S3, simply because it looks pretty slick, it's current, and let's be honest, its going to give the next Apple phone a massive run for its money!
anonymous 26 May, 2012 09:55
terrible review. She says the Samsung has a premium, luxurious feel. She must of been thinking of the HTC One X when she said that lol
anonymous 26 May, 2012 11:21
The Samsung Galaxy S3 has a metallic trim which the HTC One X does not have.
So the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a more premium feel compared to the HTC One X which actually feels cheap.
Samsung Galaxy S3 also comes with 2GB RAM which will be much faster than the HTC One X's 1GB RAM.
anonymous 26 May, 2012 11:38
anonymous 26 May, 2012 11:21
Mate what have you been smoking? The Sony Ericsson k700i have a metal back would you call that premium lol. You obviously have not used or felt the One X because it feels well built and it feels expensive due to the polycarbonate and also it just looks better. The pebble shape on the S3 just looks like it was designed 10 years ago. I've actually used the Samsung S3 and can honestly say it does not feel well built and even though it says it uses polycarbonate, it just feels like plastic you would get on your milk.
2gb ram is overkill, it's just not necessary as most apps don't even come close to using 1gb neither mind 2gb of ram
anonymous 26 May, 2012 12:26
woman this is not full HD as it isnt 1080p! Get a new presenter she is very dry and does not do the phone justice
anonymous 26 May, 2012 13:13
THE HTC ONE X BATTERY IS PAP WERE DOING A GALAXY S3 REVIEW HERE NO PAP PHONES SO SHUT UP
anonymous 26 May, 2012 13:31
anonymous 26 May, 2012 13:14
Looks like someone has already ordered the S3. Hope you bought the official brown paper bag to cover the ugly phone while in public lol
anonymous 26 May, 2012 23:20
GS3 is 1gb and not 2gb it looks and feels amazing lighting quick. You carnt knock the HOX tho as its a good phone let down slighty by the battery life but still a good phone. GS3 is the highest pre-ordered android phone ever and that is fact. So somebody is getting it me included didnt go for the HTC because had them before. Bottom line if you like it get it if you dont buy another phone simple.
anonymous 27 May, 2012 10:05
The S3 uses polycarbonate just like the one x... Just sayin'
anonymous 27 May, 2012 18:34
What are you idiots crying about. Just buy the phone you like and be happy.
BTW, the GS3 is indeed polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is to plain plastic as Gorilla Glass 2 is to plain glass.
anonymous 27 May, 2012 20:55
720p is not FULL HD as the review says
anonymous 28 May, 2012 21:14
720p is not 'Full HD' ......1080p is ..So the S3 is half the pixels of full HD, so that was technically incorrect...
anonymous 31 May, 2012 17:28
hahhaa all the HOX owners are now kicking themselves and posting stupid comments about biased reviews etc... coz they bought HOX ages ago and didnt wait for the S3... S3 kills every other smartphone on the market at the moment + its design is way better than HTC's htc looks and feels like cheap piece of crap
anonymous 2 June, 2012 11:01
Galaxy s3 has an awful look.
Has pentile screen, still no LTE, and no black colour.
The European version has 1Gb Ram, not 2Gb
I saw it the other day in carphone warehouse and I was unimpressed with the pentile screen to be honest.
I better keep my bucks for the upcoming LG optimus 4X or keep my samsung galaxy s2 for a while, until I see something worth the upgrade
Lee A Dorney 2 June, 2012 17:14
I really hate reviews that; 'mention the idrone' - you've got to be a total jerk to have 1 = they cost a huge amount to buy AND you've got to pay for your music....I've an app. that lets you download music free. As for the size issue - she has small hands - it looked MASSIVE in hers... She mentioned its more comprehensive OS compared to ifone - christ even a child could use my android (2.3)...she's obviously an 'iSheep' - must be on a good wedge ? Obviously this womans an apple convert !
True, it doesn't look very sturdily built quite plastic'y...HTC have models with better coverings to hold them by.
4.8" for a screen is too big imo - 4.3 MAX is all thats necessary - 4" for all round use.
As for the colours White & a Blue'ish - are ok...and that 'Pebble phrase...another one to impress the 'i' jobs..as thats all apple users/fans are 'all screen and nothing else' !
anonymous 4 June, 2012 20:30
Ice Cream Sammich
anonymous 13 June, 2012 10:07
It's no good having a go at Natasha, she probably needed lessons just to turn it on. She's reading from an autocue (badly) it's not here script and certainly looks like she'd struggle to use any of the phone features.
LOL IOS is looking more and more dated and is now being sold as a benefit to the technologically infirm. The reality is that the mobile phone population is becoming more and more comfortable with menu's etc. Strange how a person will struggle with ICS customisation and is perfectly happy having to drill down at 3 levels of menu just to turn bluetooth on??
Cascianini Luca 18 June, 2012 04:09
I got the S3 yesterday, since I owned a iPhone 4S here the comparison:
DESIGN: Galaxy S3 design is stunning, the feeling on hands is incredible. The ergonomics makes all the difference. The iPhone 4S is very squarish and definitely more solid but heavier too (way heavier);
SCREEN: Galaxy S3 screen is wonderful with vivid colours and sharp imaages, 4,8 inches vs 3.5 of the iPhone, after you make the transition you wont never come back, impossible.
OPERATING SYSTEM: S3 usability is a boom. iPhone is good but never at the level of the S3, way way slower.
BATTERY: S3 gets full day + 30% remaining battery, iPhone last till four or five PM;
GPS: Galaxy S3 gets locked in less than 10 seconds inside a building, iPhone searches and searches with no success;
CAMERA: they are very similar, S3 is faster and iPhone is may be a bit better in term of quality. No dramatic difference.
S-VOICE vs SIRI: they are both very basic and more fun than usefull.
USB-BLUETOOTH: iPhone only works with iTunes, no Bluetooth, no radio. Galaxy S3 can be usb-connected to computers and flashmemory, it has easy bluetooth connection and yes ... it has an amazing radio :)
APPS: to be sincere, all relevants apps in iPhones are present in Android. They have better design but they are at payment while in Android are always free. No mayor differences.
Galaxy S3 is an extraordinary good purchase. Recommended for all ex-iPhone users. You wont regret, there is a world outside iTunes :)