Samsung Galaxy S3 Duos: review, specifications and reviews. Detailed review of the Android smartphone Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-i9300) Various sensors perform various quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that the mobile recognizes

Among the dozens of smartphone models produced annually by one of the market leaders - Samsung - the manufacturer's flagship devices attract special attention. As for the software part of Samsung flagships, here we can talk about the widest possibilities for its changeability. Let's consider the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III model in this aspect - the methods for flashing the device will be discussed in the material offered below.

A high level of performance and a large performance reserve, thanks to the use of the most advanced achievements in the industry, make it possible to easily use Samsung's flagship solutions for many years, without a critical drop in performance. Only the software part of the device requires some attention. However, for interacting with system software, up to its complete replacement, there are convenient tools and proven methods.

All manipulations according to the instructions below are carried out by the user at his own peril and risk. The author of the article and the Site Administration do not guarantee the achievement of positive results desired by the owner of the device, and are not responsible for possible damage to the smartphone as a result of incorrect actions!

To carry out the process of reinstalling system software in the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 as quickly and efficiently as possible, it is necessary to carry out several preparatory procedures. This issue should be given due attention, because only after proper preparation can you count on positive result firmware and quick elimination of errors that may appear when installing Android into the device.

Drivers

Almost all procedures that involve serious intervention in the system software of an Android smartphone require the use of a PC and specialized utilities as tools that allow manipulation. Therefore, the first thing you should take care of when you need to flash the Samsung GT-I9300 is the correct pairing of the device and computer, that is, installing drivers.

USB Debugging mode

In order for Windows applications to interact with the software components of the smartphone, a special mode must be activated on the device - "USB Debugging". This option will need to be enabled for almost any manipulation that involves accessing data in the phone’s memory. To enable the mode, do the following:

Root rights and BusyBox

Without obtaining Superuser rights, serious interference with the software of the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III is impossible. At the preparatory stage, root rights will make it possible to create a full-fledged backup, and in the future they will allow you to carry out almost any manipulation with the system software, up to its complete replacement.

To gain privileges on the model in question, one of the software tools is used: KingRoot or KingoRoot - these are the fastest and simplest tools that make it easy to root the device. The choice of a specific application is up to the user; in general, they work equally efficiently and are easy to use.

In addition to root rights, many operations with the Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 model require the device to have installed
BusyBox is a set of console utilities that allow you to perform manipulations that require connecting additional OS kernel modules. The installer that allows you to get BusyBox is available on Google Play Market.

Backup

Theoretically, after installing the drivers to perform manipulations with the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III through programs for interacting with memory partitions, there are practically no obstacles left, you can begin Android installation, but, as is known, this process may not always proceed without errors and can lead to damage to individual software components of the device, not to mention the fact that all user data will be deleted as a result of the procedure and everything necessary will need to be restored - contacts, photos, applications, etc. In a word, it is highly not recommended to start reinstalling Android without a preliminary backup.

User data

To save information accumulated in the phone’s memory during operation, the easiest way is to use Samsung’s proprietary Smart Switch tool, which was mentioned above when describing the driver installation process. We do only three simple steps and all information will be archived in a backup copy:

It should be noted that restoration from a backup created using Samsung proprietary software will only be possible on a smartphone running official firmware. If you plan to switch to a custom one or want to additionally insure yourself against data loss, you can use one of the instructions for creating backup copies offered in the material at the link below:

EFS partition

Extremely important system area smartphone memory is "EFS". IN this section contained serial number device, IMEI, GPS identifier, MAC addresses of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. Damage or removal "EFS" in the process of manipulating system partitions by various reasons will lead to inoperability of network interfaces, and in some cases to the inability to turn on the phone.

For the model in question, creating a backup "EFS" before reinstalling the system software is not just a recommendation, but a mandatory requirement! Ignoring the operation to create a dump greatly increases the risk of getting an inoperable smartphone!

In order to always be able to quickly restore the partition "EFS" V Samsung Galaxy S3, let's create an area dump using a specialized software tool – EFS Professional.

Recovery "EFS" tab is used "Restore" in EFS Professional. After connecting the smartphone in the same order as when creating a backup, and going to the recovery section of the program in the list "Select a backup archive to restore" you need to select a backup file, check for checkboxes in the field "Archive Backup Contents" and by pressing the button "Restore", wait for the procedure to complete.

Firmware

One of the notable features of Samsung flagship devices is the availability of simply a huge number of modified unofficial firmware for them. The use of such solutions makes it possible to completely transform shell software and get new versions of Android. But before you proceed to installing custom ones, you should study the installation methods official versions systems. In case of problems, this skill will allow you to restore the model software to its original state.

Method 1: Smart Switch

The Samsung manufacturer has a fairly strict policy regarding interference with work software own brand devices. The only thing it allows you to do officially regarding the Galaxy S3 firmware is updating the system version through proprietary Smart Switch software, which we already used above when installing drivers and creating backup copy information from a smartphone.

Install and launch Smart Switch. We connect the smartphone running Android to the USB port of the computer.

After the model is determined in the application, the version of the system installed on the phone is automatically checked against the version available on Samsung servers, and if an update is possible, a corresponding notification is displayed. Click "Update".

We confirm the need to start updating the phone system version - button "Continue" in the request window that appears with the revision numbers of the installed and available system software.

After reviewing the conditions under which the update is successful, click "Everything is confirmed".

Next, Smart Switch will carry out the necessary manipulations automatically, reporting what is happening in special windows with progress indicators:
After receiving confirmation that the OS update has been successfully completed in the Smart Switch window

Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 can be disconnected from the USB port - all system software components are already optimized.

Method 2: ODIN

Using the universal ODIN tool to replace system software and restore Android in Samsung devices is the most effective method of manipulation. The application allows you to install official firmware of two types - service and single-file, and installing the first version of the package is one of the few ways to “revive” a Galaxy S III that is not functional in terms of software.

Before using ONE to overwrite memory partitions of the Samsung GT-I9300, we recommend that you read the instructions for reinstalling the system software using the application in the general case from the material available at the link:

Service package

A special type of system software package used in service centers and intended for installation in Samsung Android devices via ONE was named "multi-file firmware" due to the fact that it includes several system component files. You can download the archive containing the service solution for the model in question using the link:

We transfer S3 to Odin mode. For this:
We launch ONE and connect the phone to the USB port. We make sure that the device is identified in the program in the form of a blue field filled with the number of the COM port through which the connection is made.

We add to the program the components of multi-file firmware from the folder obtained as a result of unpacking the archive downloaded from the link above.

To do this, press the buttons one by one and specify the files in the Explorer window in accordance with the table:

After loading all software components into the program, window ONE should look like this:
If you plan to re-partition the device’s memory, specify the path to the PIT file on the tab "Pit".

It is advisable to carry out re-partitioning only in critical situations and when errors occur during the work of ONE without a PIT file! Initially, you should try to reinstall Android by skipping this step!

Press the button "PIT" on the tab of the same name in ODIN and add the file "mx.pit", present in the catalog with the proposed package.

When using a PIT file during the process of reinstalling Android on a Samsung GT-I9300 in the tab "Options" ODIN must be checked "Re-Partition".

After making sure that all files have been added to the appropriate fields and the parameters are set correctly, click the button "Start" to start transferring files to the device’s memory.

We are waiting for ONE to overwrite areas of the smartphone’s memory. Interrupting the process is unacceptable; all that remains is to watch the progress indicators in the flasher window and, at the same time,

on the S3 screen.

After the display of ongoing processes in ODIN displays "PASS",

The device will reboot and the OS components will be initialized.

The Android installation is complete, and in the end we get it cleared of the remnants of the previous one. operating system device,

which demonstrates the same level of performance as when first turned on after purchase.

Single-file firmware

If you need to simply reinstall Android, update or roll back the version of the official Samsung GT-I9300 OS, a single-file package is usually used. Download latest version official OS for Russia, to install it via ONE, you can follow the link:

Installing such a solution is much easier than a service solution. It is enough to follow the same steps as in the instructions for working with a multi-file package, but instead of points 3 and 4, you need to do it using the button "AP" adding a single file *.tar, contained in the directory obtained as a result of unpacking the archive with single-file firmware.

Method 3: Mobile ODIN

Many users of Android devices are interested in the possibility of reinstalling the OS on the device without using a PC. For Samsung GT-I9300, this action can be carried out using the Mobile ODIN tool - an Android application that allows you to seamlessly install official single-file firmware.

You can get the tool on your device by downloading from Google Play Market.

Successful execution of Mobile One functions is only possible if the device is rooted!

The software package used in the example below can be downloaded from the link:

Install Mobile One and place the package that will be installed in the internal Galaxy memory S3 or to a memory card installed in the device.

We launch the application and provide Mobile ODIN with root rights.

We download additional MobileOne components, which provide the ability to install packages with system software. You will be prompted to update the first time you run the tool. Confirm the need to download add-ons by tapping the button "Download" and wait for the installation of the modules to complete.

Before installation, the firmware file must be uploaded to Mobile ODIN. Scrolling through the list of options on the main screen of the application, find and click "Open file...". Select the storage where the firmware was copied, then specify the file intended for installation.

If you are rolling back the system version, you must first clear the device’s memory partitions. To do this, check the checkboxes "Wipe data and cache", and "Wipe Dalvik cache".

In the case of an update, data cleaning may not be necessary, but performing the procedure is recommended, as it allows you to remove “software junk” from the system, and also prevents the appearance of many errors during the installation of Android and its further operation!
Click "Flash" and confirm the application requests that appear.

Mobile Odin carries out further manipulations without user intervention. The latter can only observe:

After the welcome screen appears, carry out initial setup OS parameters.

Everything is ready for using Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III running reinstalled official Android.

Method 4: Custom firmware

The above-described methods for installing official versions of Android in the Samsung S3 allow you to restore the device to its factory state and solve a lot of problems that arise for various reasons while using the smartphone. If the purpose of firmware for a device is to completely transform the software part, introduce new functions into the device and turn the phone into a truly modern device, at least in terms of the OS version, you should pay attention to the possibility of installing one of the custom firmwares.

Since the level of popularity of the model in question is extremely high, a large number of different unofficial system software solutions have been created for it, based on Android versions of KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and Nougat. The most popular modified shells for S3 are discussed below, and their installation can be divided into two stages - equipping the smartphone with a modified recovery, and then directly installing the unofficial Android.

Installation, launch, configuration of TWRP

In order for it to be possible to install a modified unofficial OS on the model in question, the device must be equipped with a special recovery environment - custom recovery. Several solutions are available for the device in question, including ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) and its updated version Philz Touch, but the most functional and convenient product today is considered TeamWin Recovery (TWRP), and it should be installed to get results, as in the examples below.

For all Samsung flagship solutions, the TeamWin team has officially developed and released recovery packages, which are installed using several methods. Two of them have already been described in articles on our website.

In an effort to get the Samsung GT-I9300 latest versions Android, many device owners ignore the possibility of using one of the most beautiful and functional shells for the device in question - MIUI. Meanwhile, this particular product is considered one of the best solutions, despite the fact that it is based on losing Android relevance 4.4.

MIUI packages intended for installation in the model in question are also available on the websites of well-known development teams miui.su and xiaomi.eu.

The legendary Samsung Galaxy S3 received an unofficial update to Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow in the form of custom firmware. It is under development, so the device may experience problems.

CyanogenMod releases Android 6.0 Marshmallow for Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300

Galaxy S3 has become the most popular and best-selling smartphone from Samsung. Even though it didn't have the same quality body as the iPhone, it had a number of other advantages, such as a large screen...

Samsung UK says Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S3 won't get Lollipop update

We are all wondering if Android 5.0 Lollipop will appear for the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2. And now Samsung UK reports on Twitter that this firmware will not appear for these smartphones after all.

Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo received full Lollipop firmware

Samsung is unlikely to ever introduce official firmware Android Lollipop for the Galaxy S3 Neo, but if you still want to install Android 5.0.2 on it, then there is already a stable unofficial firmware based on CyanogenMod 12.

Samsung Galaxy S3 mini was one of the first AOSP to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware

Samsung is only going to release Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware for the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3 at the beginning of next year. But if you don’t want to wait and if you have a Galaxy S3 mini, then a test AOSP firmware for this smartphone has appeared. You can take a chance and install it now.

The international version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini VE received a small update

Starting today, Samsung is releasing a new update for the international version Galaxy smartphone S3 mini VE. The firmware itself still works on the same Android versions, as before, and there are no new functions. The only improvements were performance and optimization.

Android 4.4.4 KitKat for Galaxy S3 GT-I9300, unofficial yet [Instructions]

Samsung is not officially going to release Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware for the Galaxy S3 GT-I9300, but this does not stop us and a ported version of the update from the Galaxy S3 LTE has already appeared. Not all functions work yet, but the firmware is working and can be installed on the GT-I9300. But it's better to wait until a stable build appears. We already offer you installation instructions.

Galaxy S3 LTE GT-I9305N receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Yesterday we noticed that Samsung had already released an update for the Galaxy S3 with LTE support, but only in South Korea. That is, Android 4.4.4 KitKat was released for the SHV-E210S model. Now in Europe you can get the same firmware for the Galaxy S3 LTE GT-I9305N smartphone. I think this is great news for all of you.

Galaxy S3 4G receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

Samsung today began updating the Galaxy S3 LTE to Android 4.4.4 KitKat. As you understand, for now this applies to the 4G version of the smartphone and the international Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 will remain on the firmware that is currently available for it.

Galaxy S3 Neo receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

We are all waiting for Android 4.4.4 KitKat at least for the Galaxy S5, although there are also those impatient who demand this firmware for their S3. Of course it's funny, but only partly. Today Android firmware 4.4.4 KitKat is now available for the Galaxy S3 Neo. Even the flagship would be surprised if he could.

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 are the most popular Android smartphones

Despite the fact that the Galaxy S3 has already celebrated its birthday twice, it remains the most popular Android smartphone, and even more popular than the Galaxy S4. We learned this thanks to OpenSignal research. Samsung is the most advanced smartphone manufacturer.

Installing Android 4.4.4 KitKat update on Galaxy S3 GT-I9300

Today simple model Galaxy S3 (not LTE) received stable CyanogenMod firmware 11 M8. Here you will get everything additional features, which are in Android 4.4.4 on Nexus 4 and Nexus 5. So, in principle, it makes sense to install CyanogenMod 11 M8 on Galaxy S3, and we suggest you use these instructions.

Exact copy flagship smartphone 2012 from Samsung with improved specifications and support for two SIM cards is the Galaxy S3 Duos. Despite the fact that quite a lot of time has passed since the start of sales of this device, its characteristics still continue to be relevant. It is they, as well as reviews about this gadget, that will be discussed in detail in this article.

Smartphone niche

In terms of performance, the Galaxy S3 Duos can easily be classified as an entry-level solution. But at the same time, it is slightly overpriced. But this significant drawback is easily compensated for by a number of characteristics (for example, an increased diagonal size of the touch display, impressive capacity of the integrated storage, improved parameters of the camera base). That's why this model smartphone is of greatest interest to those who want an entry-level device, but with slightly improved parameters compared to its competitors. Well, you will have to overpay for these improved parameters. But, on the other hand, this is completely justified, because you get a device that is much easier and more convenient to work with.

Equipment

The S3 Duos phone boasts standard equipment. It includes the following components and, of course, accessories:

Smartphone.
2100 mAh battery (it is located inside the gadget and is removable).
Advanced stereo headset with a set of attachments.
Charger.
Interface cord.
The quick user guide and warranty card are combined in one booklet.

The body of the device is mostly made of plastic. To avoid possible damage during operation, you will have to immediately buy a cover. Moreover, this device is an almost exact copy of the original flagship S3, and the covers from the latter are ideal for the S3 Duos. For the same reason, it is highly recommended to purchase and apply a protective film for the touch screen. This will also allow you to avoid possible damage during operation in the future. Another important accessory is a memory card. It is also not on the supply list, and therefore will have to be purchased separately. Although, in principle, the owner of this device can do without it. The capacity of the integrated storage allows this.

Design

In terms of design, the gadget is completely identical to its predecessor Galaxy S3 Duos. An overview of the appearance of these devices even allows you to distinguish them from each other. The only difference is in the inscription on the front panel, at the end of which the word Duos was added. The front panel of the gadget, as expected, has a 4.8-inch diagonal display. Below it there is a familiar control panel, which consists of a central mechanical button and two outer touch ones. Unlike most similar devices, in this case the buttons are backlit, which greatly simplifies the operation of the smartphone in low light levels. Above the screen there is an earpiece, a front camera “eye” and light and distance sensors. On the top edge of the smartphone there is only a 3.5 mm wired audio jack. There are buttons for volume control on the left side of the device, and lock buttons on the right side. At the bottom there is a micro-USB connector and a speaking microphone hole. On the back cover, in addition to the manufacturer's logo and the DUOS inscription, there is also a hole for the main camera and LED backlight. The main speaker is also located here, which is hidden behind a metal mesh.

CPU

Galaxy S3 Duos uses a time-tested and very reliable chip as a computing platform - the Snapdragon 400, developed by Qualcom. It consists of 4 computing models of the Cortex A7 architecture. Each of them can accelerate to 1.4 GHz at maximum load. It is also manufactured using a 28nm process technology. All this allows it to combine an acceptable level of computing performance and high energy efficiency. For majority decision daily tasks this semiconductor crystal is more than enough. This list includes playing videos, listening to music and radio, reading books, browsing the Internet. But the most demanding games of the latest generation will certainly not run on this device. Most of them are optimized for 64-bit computing, and this chip can only process 32 bits in one clock cycle. Hence the problems with their launch.

Device display and graphics

Very high quality display in the Galaxy S3 Duos. Its characteristics are as follows:

The matrix manufacturing technology is “Super AMOLED”.
Resolution - 1280x720.
Display diagonal 4.8 inches.

Such technical specifications require a good graphics accelerator. In this case, “Adreno 305” is used. Of course, it certainly cannot boast of a sky-high level of performance, but one certainly cannot expect this from an entry-level device. However, for solving most everyday problems its presence is quite enough.

Cameras

Simply excellent main camera in Duos. It has an 8 megapixel sensor. Autofocus technology is also implemented, and there is digital zoom. Well, in the dark, you can get a high-quality photo, albeit with a single LED backlight. As a result, the photo quality is very good. Everything is fine with video recording too. The resolution of the videos can reach 1920x1080. In this case, the image will be updated 30 times per second. The front camera has more modest parameters. It has a 1.9 megapixel sensor. Therefore, a high-quality “selfie” in this case is out of the question. But for video communication this is more than enough.

Memory

1.5 GB is the amount of RAM in the Galaxy S3 Duos. 16 GB is the capacity of the integrated storage. For the average user this will be quite enough for work and leisure. If for some reason you need to increase the amount of memory in the device, you can install an external flash drive. However, its maximum volume can be 64 GB. For greater reliability, it is recommended to store the most valuable information on cloud services. This will avoid its loss in the event of theft or breakdown of the smart phone.

Device autonomy

The S3 Duos cannot boast of high autonomy. The main reason here is the battery capacity of 2100 mAh. In a case with a thickness of 8.6 mm bigger battery difficult to put. We add to this the presence of two SIM cards and a display diagonal of 4.8 inches. To a certain extent, the problem is solved by an energy-efficient processor, but this is not enough to fully solve this issue. As a result, all the previously mentioned factors lead to the fact that under maximum load this smart phone can last a maximum of 12 hours. If you reduce the load, you will get 2-3 days of reliable work on one charge battery. If this is not enough, then we buy an additional external battery. Of course, this is not a completely elegant solution, but your phone will not let you down at the most inopportune moment.

Interface kit

Samsung Galaxy S3 Duos boasts the following interfaces:

"Wi-Fi" - fast loading to a smartphone of data from the Internet in any volume.
GSM and 3G - with their help you can download information from the global web, make calls and send or receive SMS.
GLONASS and GPS allow you to accurately determine your location or plot a route.
NFC - this wireless interface makes it possible to download files of any size to a similar gadget in a matter of minutes.
BLUETOOTH allows you to do the same thing as NFC, but the amount of data must be much less.
The 3.5 mm audio jack allows you to output sound from your smartphone to external sound sources (speakers or headphones).
The battery is charged using micro-USB. This wired interface also provides synchronization with external devices(PC, laptop).

Software

This smartphone uses Android as the system software. Initially, version number 4.3 was installed on it. But after the first connection to the Internet Galaxy firmware S3 Duos will be updated to a more recent version - 4.4. Owners of this gadget do not have to wait for further updates to the system software. The smartphone has been on sale for a long time, and the manufacturer has not released updated software for it for quite some time. On top of the operating system, as in any other device from this manufacturer, the proprietary TouchWiz shell is installed. It is also necessary to highlight the impressive amount of pre-installed software. First of all, this is Polaris Office. That is, this smartphone can work with various electronic documents(*.doc, *.xls, *.pdf and so on). There are also familiar programs from Google. Korean programmers have not forgotten about social networks. Well, to top it off, there is a full set of utilities built into the OS. So the smartphone out of the box is completely ready for use.

Price of the gadget today

As noted earlier, compared to direct competitors, the Galaxy S3 Duos is slightly overpriced. Its current price is $180. But, on the other hand, this can be justified by improved technical specifications. This includes an increased display diagonal, a better organized memory subsystem, and a more powerful computing platform. Therefore, the higher cost of this gadget is offset by a number of advantages.

Every year, Samsung traditionally holds one or more events called Samsung Unpacked, at which key new products in the segment are announced for the company. mobile phones. Usually, for a couple of months before these events, the public is systematically warmed up with “random” leaks and non-random teasers. However, this year, before Galaxy presentation S III, the Koreans managed to create a real stir for the first time: for almost six months the Internet was filled with the most incredible rumors about the new device, and the pique vests of the gadget world discussed the yet unannounced new product with such enthusiasm, as if Samsung was going to introduce new iPhone. A significant role in this was played by the fact that last year's flagship - Galaxy S II - was so good that everyone wanted to look at its successor.

However, the more long-awaited the device, the greater the disappointment after its announcement. Like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S III was immediately dubbed a “disappointment”: they say, its design is not the same, the body materials are not the same, and the camera is not the same... Let's together try to separate the wheat from the chaff and objectively understand the advantages and disadvantages of the new flagship of Samsung's line of Android smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy SIII in person: Galaxy Nexus on marketing steroids
New benchmark: comparison of cameras in Apple iPhone 4S, HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III smartphones

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S III

Ranges: GPRS/GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSPA 850/900/1900/2100.
Form factor: keyboardless monoblock.
Operating system: Google Android 4.0.4 with TouchWiz UX interface.
Display: 4.8 inches, Super AMOLED HD, 1280x720 pixels (pixel density 306 ppi), 16 million colors, touchscreen (capacitive matrix).
Camera: 8 MP, autofocus, geotagging, video recording (1920x1080/30p), LED backlight.
CPU: Samsung Exynos 4212, four ARM Cortex A9 cores, clock frequency 1.4 GHz; integrated Mali 400MP video accelerator.
RAM: 1 GB.
Flash memory: 16, 32 or 64 GB + microSDHC cards.
Multimedia capabilities: MP3 player, FM receiver, video player (supports MPEG-4, Divx, Xvid, H.264), video editor, integration with YouTube, Find Music service (analogous to Track ID in Sony phones Ericsson).
Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n supported Wi-Fi Direct and mobile hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC.
Specific absorption rate of electromagnetic energy (SAR): 0.21 W/kg.
Battery: lithium-ion, replaceable, capacity 2100 mAh (7.8 Wh).
Interface connector: microUSB, 3.5 mm headphone output.
GPS: yes, A-GPS support, Google Maps support.
Dimensions and weight: 137x71x9 mm, 133 grams.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy S III

Appearance and design features

I'll be honest: in promotional photographs appearance I didn't like the Galaxy S III too much. Some vague rounded shapes, glossy plastic... in general, three times ugh. However, in real life the phone looks much better than in photographs and renders: its shape almost completely replicates the Galaxy Nexus (including the slight bend of the protective glass on the front panel), and the plastic has a very good quality. In the gray-blue version of the device, under the top transparent layer there is a “striped” texture that imitates scratched metal. The white phone is made of the most ordinary white plastic without any visual effects. In general, I understand the desire of a certain part of buyers to have an “iron phone”, but given the rather large Galaxy sizes S III, we can confidently say that the use of metal would significantly increase the weight of the device. By the way, about the sizes. If the Galaxy S III had been introduced a couple of years ago, it would have been considered obscenely large. However, the average smartphone screen size is growing every year, so today a 4.8-inch display seems completely normal and less objectionable than a 3.5-inch one. Thanks to the minimal thickness of the frame around the screen, the dimensions of the smartphone can be called “reasonable” - unlike the Galaxy Note, the SGS III easily fits into a jeans pocket.

The controls on the Galaxy S III are exactly the same as those on the Galaxy S II. Below the screen there is a mechanical Home key, as well as touch-sensitive “Menu” and “Back” buttons (their disadvantages include a very dim backlight). The volume rocker is located on the left side, and the lock button on the right.

There are no surprises under the hood: a battery with a pleasant capacity of 2100 mAh, a slot for a SIM card and a slot for a memory card. It is worth noting that if in SGS II hot swap memory cards was not possible, then in SGS III this disadvantage eliminated.

Screen

The screen in the Galaxy S III is made using Super AMOLED technology and has a diagonal of 4.8 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Subpixels are arranged according to the PenTile scheme, but with such a pixel density (306 ppi), the main drawback of such screens - poor rendering of small fonts - is invisible. Unfortunately, all other disadvantages of SAMOLED screens exist. I will list them briefly:

increased minimum brightness;
high contrast and “screaming”, too saturated colors;
dependence of color rendering on screen brightness and white balance;
thin parallel lines and dark spots visible on light gray and dark gray backgrounds;
relatively coarse gradients.

None of these flaws are critical, since they are only visible if you look closely. However, I should note that the main competitor of the Galaxy S III, HTC One X has a higher quality screen. If you're interested in learning more about the features of AMOLED screens, I recommend reading my Galaxy S II review.

Sound

I hasten to report that the quality of the headphone output of the Galaxy S III has surpassed its predecessor. If you use high-quality headphones (preferably reinforced ones), you can and should enjoy listening to music on this device, although it still does not live up to the iPhone 4S. As for the call speaker, in my opinion, nothing has changed: it is still not too loud and is still very easily muffled by the fabric when the phone is in a jeans pocket. Use a vibration alert, it helps not to miss calls.

Software and interface

Samsung Galaxy S III runs under operating system Android systems 4.0.4, on top of which the proprietary TouchWiz UX shell is installed. Unlike TouchWiz 4, used in SGS II and SGN, the interface here is closer to the “native” Android 4 shell. There is no permanent dock with icons for the most frequently used applications in SGS III, which, in my opinion, is a minus. But the preservation of many of the “tricks” of ICS (in particular, the interface for switching between applications and dividing the main menu into applications and widgets) can be called a plus. At the same time, Samsung has added a lot of its own useful widgets and additions to the phone, for example, all sorts of buttons and switches in the drop-down status panel in TouchWiz UX are much more convenient than in bare ICS. The SGS III's music player and FM receiver with broadcast recording capabilities continue to be one of the most convenient on the market. The built-in browser deserves a special mention. According to the old, but not at all good “Samsung” tradition, it is equipped with its own screen brightness adjustment, which is also hidden in the second-level menu (!). Calling such a solution ergonomic simply boggles the mind. As a result, during testing I installed Dolphin on my smartphone and used it only.

Many applications that debuted on the Galaxy Note migrated to SGS III, in particular, S Planner And S Memo. The phone also has its own analogue of Siri from iOS 5: in the English interface it is called S Voice, in Russian - “Voice conversation” (obviously to distinguish it from conversations using sign language). But if Siri understands my “mixture of English with Nizhny Novgorod” without any problems, then S Voice has a problem with this, so our conversations were most reminiscent of a conversation between a mute and a deaf person. Perhaps if Samsung still gave preference to sign language, it would have turned out better.

Present on the phone interesting feature entitled Pop Up Play. It allows you to play a video file in a separate small window and place it anywhere on the screen. It looks great and causes admiration at first, but in practice, again, it’s not entirely clear in what situations this opportunity can be really useful.

Pay attention to the Pop Up Play widget

It is worth mentioning this interesting function, How SmartStay. When activated, the Galaxy S III begins to follow the user's gaze using the front camera and, if the user is looking somewhere in the wrong direction, turns off the screen backlight. In my sample phone, this function worked through a stump, but in any case it can be called an innovation of dubious usefulness. Another proprietary feature of the Galaxy S III is called S Beam. This is a technology that allows you to quickly share files between compatible phones. Files are transferred via Wi-Fi Direct, but the initial pairing of phones occurs via NFC. Of course, phones from other manufacturers do not support S Beam. By the way, taking this opportunity, I would like to ask Samsung a question: gentlemen, when will you add Russian/Ukrainian T9 when dialing a number? In general, it should be a shame, after all, it’s 2012.

Performance, autonomy, heating

As befits a top-end smartphone of 2012, the Galaxy S III is equipped with a 4-core processor. Samsung abandoned the use of Tegra 3 (and did the right thing, in my opinion) and chose its own Exynos 4212 chipset, built on ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked at 1.4 GHz and a Mali 400MP graphics accelerator. Volume random access memory the device is 1 GB.

I think it goes without saying that the Galaxy S III absolutely flies and delivers excellent performance both in benchmarks and in real life. Even scrolling text in the very problematic official Twitter client does not slow down at all. Apparently, there are still benefits from four egg cores. At the same time, unlike the Galaxy S II, the device hardly heats up. If SGS II individual games (in particular, the popular Robo Defense) were simply red-hot, then the third “galaxy” remains a little warm. Back cover It only gets noticeably warm when the battery is charging. Finally, I must say that new flagship differs from the previous one by a noticeably increased time battery life. Who is to blame for this - a more capacious battery, new processor or Android 4.0 - I don't care, but the result is pleasant. Galaxy S III confidently survives until the evening, and if it is not tormented with special frenzy, then you can count on two days of work.

Camera

SGS III is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, LED backlight and video recording in Full HD resolution. The diagonal of the matrix is 1/3.2 inches, the matrix is made using BSI (back illuminated) technology. The lens aperture is f/2.6. The main innovations compared to the SGS II were the burst shooting mode (3.5 fps, maximum 20 frames per burst) and the HDR mode. In addition to photos, the Samsung Galaxy S III can also shoot video with continuous autofocus. The maximum resolution is 1920x1080 pixels with a refresh rate of 30 fps and stereo sound (for audio track AAC codec with a bitrate of 134 Kbps is used). The camera interface in the SGS III remains virtually unchanged from the SGS II. However, you can judge this for yourself based on the following screenshots:

Examples of photos and videos

Samsung Galaxy S III

Bottom line

Personally, I have no doubt that the Galaxy S III is destined to become a bestseller. Already, pre-orders for the device worldwide have exceeded 9 million units, so it will most likely not just repeat Galaxy success S II, but will also surpass it. And this, in my opinion, will be completely fair, because the Galaxy S III is exceptionally good. It offers the user all the best that is on the market: better performance, best camera, excellent screen and good battery life. The TouchWiz shell in its current incarnation has almost completely gotten rid of childhood diseases (except for the absence of the Russian T9 when dialing a number), so you can safely use the device out of the box. The only disadvantages of the Galaxy S III include the body, which does not quite correspond to the status of a flagship and the estimated price of $900 for the 16-gigabyte version. In general, in my opinion, the main competitors of the Galaxy S III will be its own “stable neighbors” - the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note already mentioned above. Both have weaker hardware, but at the same time offer comparable equipment, and their cost is this moment much lower than the cost of SGS III, and will continue to decline. 5 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy S III: