Showdown: Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. iPhone 4S

This year’s PC Show is kicking into high gear, and among the many gadgets and gizmos on sale are the alluring modern smartphones. And while the iPhone 4S continues to rule Apple’s universe, Samsung has claimed the throne of the Android galaxy with its new Galaxy S3.

Just how different are these two phones? And if you have to buy a new smartphone now, which one should you pick?

Now, it may not be fair to compare these two phones, as one was released back in October 2011 while the other just showed its face to the world. Still, if you are in the market for a new smartphone and are choosing between these two kings of their own castles, knowing their key differences can help you make a better decision.

Hardware design

We all like pretty phones. In that respect, most tend towards the iPhone 4S and its delicate confection of glass and aluminum. It has a suitable amount of heft and is instantly recognisable in a crowd.

The Galaxy S3’s design, on the other hand, had a polarising reception from the get go. It doesn’t look radically different from the S2, and looks positively boring when placed next to phones with unique design such as Nokia’s Lumia 900 or the HTC One X. It’s also made of plastic, which gives it a less premium feel.
But there are also many people who like the S3’s pebble-like design, and its curved edges make it very comfortable to hold. At the end of the day, this comes down to personal preference, so it’s good to get a feel of both phones before jumping in.

Screen

Another major difference is the screen, and the winner here is clearly Samsung. The Galaxy S3 packs in a Super AMOLED screen, which displays more vivid colour and consumes less power. Its 4.8-inch HD screen is also a delight for playing games and watching videos.

The iPhone’s “Retina Display” is also stunningly sharp, but it’s starting to feel a little dated. The 3.5-inch screen is also starting to feel a bit cramped to many people, especially when screens larger than 4-inches are catching on.

Operating system

The iPhone runs on iOS, an operating system developed and owned by Apple. The entire system is smooth and fluid, and user-friendliness is right on top – you can’t get anything simpler than a static grid of icons! Plus, Apple has had an early head start in the apps game, and to date has the most number of apps in its app store.

On the downside, iOS hasn’t changed much in its appearance since version 1.0. As we humans are a rather fickle lot, many are starting find the OS stale and boring.

The Galaxy S3’s Android, on the other hand, is more versatile. It can display widgets with live information for Internet junkies, and is fully open to customisation for those up to the task. Heavy Google users will also appreciate Android’s tight integration with Google services, with excellent native apps for Gmail, Google Maps and more.

Samsung has also written some custom software for the Galaxy S3, which separates it from its other Android competition. For example, S Voice is a digital assistant similar to the iPhone 4S’ Siri, and Samsung’s own spin on Android’s user interface might appeal to some.

Once again, this comes down to preference. Android might have a steeper learning curve, but power users might view it more favourably. In the other corner, iOS is an easy to pick up system with plenty of apps to choose from.

Camera

Both the iPhone 4S and the Galaxy S3 come with an 8-megapixel camera, and that’s where their similarity end. Apple has put in a lot of work on the iPhone’s camera, and this is readily evident from the quality of the photos taken.

But the Galaxy S3’s camera is no slouch, and packs in other camera functions to make up for its less impressive image quality. It features burst shooting, face detection, best shot detection, and more.
It’s worth noting that many, if not all, of the Galaxy’s S3 camera functions are easily obtainable in iOS through various apps!

Verdict

Both the iPhone 4S and the Galaxy S3 are perfectly capable phones, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There’s really not much point trying to absolutely determine which phone is better.
As the saying goes, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Get a feel of both phones on the show room floor and then decide for yourself which of these two fit your needs the best!