A detailed review of the Android smartphone Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-i9300). Smartphone firmware Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III Which android on galaxy s3

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 variability. Consider this aspect Samsung model GT-I9300 Galaxy S III - the methods of flashing the device will be discussed in the material below.

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

All manipulations according to the instructions below are performed 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 and desired results by the owner of the device, and are not responsible for possible damage to the smartphone as a result of incorrect actions!

In order to carry out the process of reinstalling the 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 question due attention should be paid, because only after proper preparation can one count on positive result firmware and quick elimination of errors that may occur when installing Android into the device.

Drivers

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

USB Debugging Mode

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

Root and BusyBox

Without obtaining Superuser rights, serious interference with software part 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 almost any manipulations with the system software, up to its complete replacement.

To obtain privileges on the model in question, one of the software tools is used: KingRoot or KingoRoot are the fastest and simple means, with which it is easy to root the device. The choice of a specific application is up to the user; in general, they work equally effectively 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 the connection of additional OS kernel modules. An installer that allows you to get BusyBox is available from the 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 sections, there are practically no obstacles left, you can start installing Android, but, as you know, this process may not always be error-free 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 it will be necessary to restore everything necessary - contacts, photos, applications, etc. In a word, it is highly not recommended to start reinstalling Android without a preliminary backup.

User data

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

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

EFS Section

extremely important system area smartphone memory is "EFS". This section contains serial number unit, IMEI, GPS ID, Wi-Fi MAC address, and Bluetooth modules. Damage or removal "EFS" in the process of manipulating system partitions for various reasons, it will lead to the 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, 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 program recovery section in the list "Select a backup archive to restore" you need to select a backup file, check the presence of marks in the checkboxes of the field "Archive Backup Contens" and by pressing the button "Restore", wait for the procedure to complete.

Firmware

One of the notable features of Samsung's flagship devices is the availability of a huge number of modified unofficial firmware for them. The use of such solutions makes it possible to completely transform the shell and get new versions of Android. But before moving on to installing custom, you should learn how to install official versions of the system. In case of problems, this skill will allow you to restore the software of the model to its original state.

Method 1: Smart Switch

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

1. Install and run Smart Switch. We connect the smartphone launched in Android to the USB port of the computer.



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



3. We confirm the need to start updating the version of the phone system - the button "Continue" in the appeared window-request with the numbers of editions of the installed and available for installation system software.



4. After reviewing the conditions under which the update is successful, click "All Confirmed".



5. Further, Smart Switch will carry out the necessary manipulations automatically, reporting what is happening in special windows with progress bars:
   

   

6. After receiving confirmation of the successful completion of the OS update 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 the system software and restore Android in Samsung devices- the most effective method of manipulation. The application allows you to install official firmware of two types - service and single-file, and the installation of the first version of the package is one of the few ways to "revive" Galaxy S III that are not functional in terms of software.

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

Service package

A special type of package with system software used in service centers and intended for installation in Samsung Android devices through ONE is called "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 at the link:

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



3. We add the components of the multi-file firmware to the program 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 the software components into the program, the ONE window should look like this:

   

4. If you plan to repartition the device's memory, specify the path to the PIT file on the tab "Pit".

   

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

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

   

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



5. After making sure that all files are added to the appropriate fields and the parameters are set correctly, press the button Start to start transferring files to the machine's memory.



6. We are waiting for ONE to overwrite the memory areas of the smartphone. Interrupting the process is unacceptable, it remains only to observe the progress indicators in the flasher window and, at the same time,

   

   on screen S3.



7. After the indication field of ongoing processes in ODIN displays "PASS",
   
   

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



8. Android installation is completed, and as a result we get cleaned from the remnants of the previous operating system device,

   

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

   

Single file firmware

If you need to simply reinstall Android, update or rollback the version of the official Samsung GT-I9300 OS, a single-file package is usually used. You can download the latest version of the official OS for Russia in order to install it through ONE, using the link:

Installing such a solution is much easier than a service one. 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 a 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 done using the Mobile ODIN tool - an Android application that allows you to seamlessly install official single-file firmware.

You can get the tool in the device by downloading from Google Play market.

Successful execution of Mobile One functions is possible only if root rights are obtained on the device!

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

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



2. We launch the application and grant Mobile ODIN root rights.



3. Loading additional components MobileOne, providing the ability to install packages with system software. You will be prompted to upgrade the first time you run the tool. We confirm the need to download add-ons by tapping on the button Download and wait for the installation of the modules to finish.



4. Before installation, the firmware file must be loaded into Mobile ODIN. Scrolling through the list of options on the main screen of the application, we find and press "Open File...". We select the storage where the firmware is copied to, then we specify the file intended for installation.



5. If the system version is rolled back, you must first clear the device's memory partitions. To do this, check the checkboxes Wipe data and cache, as well as "Wipe Dalvik cache".

   

   In the case of an update, data cleaning can be omitted, but the procedure is recommended, as it allows you to remove "software garbage" from the system, and also prevents many errors during the installation of Android and its further operation!

6. Click Flash and confirm the application requests that appear.



7. Mobile Odin performs further manipulations without user intervention. The last thing left to do is to watch:



8. After the welcome screen appears, initial setup OS settings.



9. Everything is ready to use the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III running a reinstalled official Android.

Method 4: Custom firmware

The above methods for installing official Android editions in Samsung S3 allow you to bring the device into factory condition and solve a lot of problems that arise for various reasons in the process of using a smartphone. If the goal of the firmware of the device is to completely transform the software part, bring new functions to the device and turn the phone into a truly modern device, at least in relation to the OS version, the device should be paid attention to the possibility of installing one of the custom firmware.

Since the level of popularity of the model in question is extremely high, it has been created a large number of various unofficial system software solutions based on Android versions of KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and Nougat. Below are the most popular modified shells for S3, 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 TWRP

In order to be able 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 of Philz Touch, but TeamWin Recovery (TWRP) is considered the most functional and convenient product today, and should be installed to get results, as in the examples below.

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

In an effort to get on the Samsung GT-I9300 latest versions Android, many owners of the device 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 the outdated Android 4.4.

The MIUI packages intended for installation in the model in question are posted, among other things, on the sites of well-known development teams miui.su and xiaomi.eu.

Do you want to upgrade your Galaxy S3 smartphone to latest version operating room Android systems 7.1? In this article you will find several versions custom firmware based on Android 7.1 Nougat. New firmware promises amazing features, including CM14.1, as well as additional security patches.

Developers and users who have already updated the Galaxy S3 to Android 7.1 report that the smartphone is fast and stable. However, it is worth remembering that the firmware is under development, so some functions may not work properly.

On the official website of Android 7.1 Nougat firmware for Galaxy S3, you can read about new features and updates.

At the time of this writing, the most Last update Android 7.1 Nougat firmware for Galaxy S3 has been released January 23, 2017.

Training

• Back up your Galaxy S3 data because inner memory smartphone will be completely cleaned.
• Enable USB debugging. Read on how to do it.
• Galaxy S3 must have Root rights, unlocked and use TWRP recovery mode.
• The smartphone must be charged at least 60%.

Note: this instruction intended for Samsung updates Galaxy S3 I9300. If you have a different smartphone model, do not try to update it using this guide, otherwise you may experience problems.

How to update Galaxy S3 to Android 7.1 Nougat

Required files: Download AICP Android 7.1 firmware for Galaxy S3 and save it to your computer. Also download GAPPS, but do not extract the contents of the archive.

1. Connect your Galaxy S3 to your computer with via USB cable.
2. Copy zip file firmware to an SD memory card.
3. Disconnect USB cable and power off your Galaxy S3.
4. Boot your smartphone into recovery mode. You can do this by holding down three keys at the same time: Volume Up + Home + Power.
5. Back up the current firmware: go to Backup > Backup and restore.
6. Perform a hard reset: select data/factory reset. Then select wipe cache partition and wipe dalvic cache.
7. Next, select the menu item choose zip from sdcard, then go to the section where the previously downloaded android firmware 7.1 for Galaxy S3. Confirm the flashing process.
8. Return to the main recovery menu, and reboot your Galaxy S3.

How to returnformerfirmwareGalaxy S3: If you want to restore old firmware then go to recovery mode, as described above, click on backup and restore, then select the previous firmware from the list.

That's all! Now you know how to update your Galaxy S3 to Android 7.1 Nougat.

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

Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo received full-fledged Lollipop firmware

Samsung is unlikely to ever introduce official firmware Android Lollipop for 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 received one of the first AOSP firmware Android 5.0 Lollipop

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 feel like waiting and if you have a Galaxy S3 mini, then a test AOSP firmware for this smartphone has appeared. You can take the risk 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 of the Galaxy S3 mini VE smartphone. The firmware itself works on the same version of Android as before, and there are no new features. We only improved performance and optimization.

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

Samsung is not officially going to release the 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. While not all functions work, however, 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 gets Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Yesterday we noticed that Samsung has 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 started updating the Galaxy S3 LTE to Android 4.4.4 KitKat. As you understand, while this concerns the 4G version of the smartphone, the international Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 will remain on the firmware that is now available for it.

Galaxy S3 Neo receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

We are all waiting for Android 4.4.4 KitKat for at least the Galaxy S5, although there are those impatient who demand this firmware for their S3. Of course, it's funny, but only partly. Android 4.4.4 KitKat firmware is already available for Galaxy S3 Neo today. Even the flagship would be surprised if it 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 still remains the most popular Android smartphone, even more popular than the Galaxy S4. We learned this thanks to the OpenSignal study. Samsung is the most advanced smartphone manufacturer.

Installing Android 4.4.4 KitKat update on Galaxy S3 GT-I9300

Already today, a simple model Galaxy S3 (not LTE) received a stable firmware CyanogenMod 11 M8. Here you 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 this instruction.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile technologies and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.

Built-in memory

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Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

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Sensors

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rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.

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Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.

Bluetooth

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USB

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HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interface that replaces older analog audio/video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

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Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.

Battery

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Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Each year, Samsung traditionally holds one or more events called Samsung Unpacked, where key innovations for the company in the mobile phone segment are announced. 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 the presentation of the Galaxy S III, the Koreans for the first time managed to create a real stir: for almost half a year 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 novelty with such enthusiasm, as if Samsung was going to present 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 stronger the disappointment after its announcement. Like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S III was immediately dubbed a “disappointment”: they say that its design is not the same, and the body materials are not the same, and the camera is not the same ... Let's try to separate the wheat from the chaff and objectively deal with the merits and shortcomings of the new flagship line of Android-smartphone Samsung.

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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, touch (capacitive matrix).
• Camera: 8 MP, autofocus, geotagging, video recording (1920x1080/30p), LED backlight.
• CPU: Samsung Exynos 4212, four ARM Cortex A9 cores, clocked at 1.4 GHz; integrated video accelerator Mali 400MP.
• RAM: 1 GB.
• Flash memory: 16, 32 or 64 GB + microSDHC cards.
• Multimedia features: MP3 player, FM receiver, video player (MPEG-4, Divx, Xvid, H.264 support), video editor, YouTube integration, Find Music service (similar to Track ID in Sony phones Ericsson).
• Wireless technologies: WiFi a/b/g/n WiFi support Direct and mobile hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC.
• Specific Absorption Rate (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, support A-GPS, support Google Maps.
• Dimensions and weight: 137x71x9 mm, 133 grams.

Samsung Galaxy S III video review

Appearance and design features

I'll be honest: in promotional photos appearance I didn't like the Galaxy S III too much. Some indistinct rounded shapes, glossy plastic ... in general, three times fu. However, the phone looks much better live than in photos and renders: its shape almost completely repeats the Galaxy Nexus (including a 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 upper 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 size of the Galaxy S III, we can confidently say that the use of metal would significantly increase the weight of the device. By the way, about the size. If the Galaxy S III had been introduced a couple of years ago, it would have been considered obscenely large. However, the average screen size of a smartphone is growing every year, so today a 4.8-inch display seems completely normal and causes less rejection than a 3.5-inch one. Due to the minimal thickness of the frame around the screen, the dimensions of the smartphone can be called "reasonable" - unlike the Galaxy Note, SGS III fits easily into a jeans pocket.

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

There are no surprises under the cover: a battery with a pleasant capacity of 2100 mAh, a slot for a SIM card and a slot for a memory card. It should be noted that if hot swapping of memory cards was impossible in SGS II, then in SGS III this drawback was 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 located 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 have their place. I will list them briefly:

• overestimated minimum brightness;
• high contrast and "flashy", too saturated colors;
• dependence of color reproduction on screen brightness and white balance;
• thin parallel lines and dark spots visible on light gray and dark gray backgrounds;
• relatively rough gradients.

None of these shortcomings is critical, since they are only visible if you look closely. However, I must say that the main competitor of the Galaxy S III, HTC One X, is equipped with a higher quality screen. If you are interested in learning more about the features of AMOLED screens, I recommend reading my Galaxy S II review.

Sound

I hasten to inform you that in terms of the quality of the output to the headphones, the Galaxy S III overtook its predecessor. When using high-quality headphones (preferably rebar), listening to music on this device can and should be enjoyed, although it still falls short of the iPhone 4S. As for the call speaker, in my opinion, nothing has changed here: it is still not too loud and is still very easily drowned out by the fabric when the phone is in a jeans pocket. Use a vibrating alert, it helps not to miss calls.

Software and interface

Samsung Galaxy S III is running Android 4.0.4 operating system, on top of which is installed proprietary shell TouchWiz UX. Unlike TouchWiz 4, used in SGS II and SGN, the interface here is closer to "native" Android shell 4. There is no permanent dock with icons of the most frequently used applications in SGS III, which, in my opinion, is a minus. But the preservation of many "chips" of ICS (in particular, the interface for switching between applications and the division of 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 add-ons to the phone, for example, all sorts of buttons and switches in the drop-down status bar in TouchWiz UX are much more convenient than in bare ICS. The music player and FM-receiver with the ability to record the air, implemented in SGS III, are still among the most convenient on the market. The built-in browser deserves a separate discussion. According to the old, but not at all good “Samsung” tradition, it is equipped with its own screen brightness control, which is also hidden in the second-level menu (!). To call such a solution ergonomic simply does not turn the tongue. As a result, during testing, I installed Dolphin on my smartphone and used it only.

Many of the applications that debuted on the Galaxy Note migrated to SGS III, in particular, S Planner and S memo. Appeared in the phone and its 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 is bad with this, so our conversations most of all resembled a conversation between a dumb person and a deaf person. Perhaps if Samsung still gave preference to sign language, it would have turned out better.

The phone has an interesting feature called Pop Up Play. It allows you to start playing a video file in a separate small window and place it in any part of the screen. It looks great and at first is admirable, but in practice, again, it is not entirely clear in what situations this opportunity can be really helpful.

Pay attention to the Pop Up Play widget

It is worth mentioning this interesting feature, how smartstay. When activated, the Galaxy S III begins to follow the user's gaze with the help of front camera and, if the user is looking somewhere in the wrong place, it turns off the backlight of the screen. In my sample phone, this function worked through a stump deck, but in any case, it can be called an innovation of dubious utility. 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, I would like to take this opportunity 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, 2012 is in the yard.

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 rightly so, in my opinion) and chose its own Exynos 4212 chipset, built on ARM Cortex-A9 cores with clock frequency 1.4 GHz and Mali 400MP graphics accelerator. The RAM of the device is 1 GB.

I think it's needless to say that the Galaxy S III simply flies with a whistle and demonstrates 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 is still a benefit from four eggs of cores. At the same time, unlike the Galaxy S II, the device is almost not heated. If SGS II individual games (in particular, the popular Robo Defense) simply glowed red-hot, then the third "galaxy" remains a little warm. The back cover noticeably heats up only during battery charging. Finally, I must say that the new flagship differs from the previous one in significantly increased battery life. Who is to blame for this - a more capacious battery, a 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 particular frenzy, then you can count on two days of work.

Camera

SGS III is equipped with an 8-megapixel autofocus camera, 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 technology (back-illumination). The lens aperture is f/2.6. The main innovations compared to the SGS II are the continuous 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 in this case is 1920x1080 pixels with a refresh rate of 30 fps and stereo sound (the AAC codec with a bit rate of 134 Kbps is used for the sound track). The camera interface in the SGS III hasn't changed much compared to the SGS II. However, you can judge for yourself from the following screenshots:

Sample photos and videos

Samsung Galaxy S III

In the dry matter

Personally, I have no doubt that the Galaxy S III is destined to become a bestseller. Already, pre-orders for the device around the world have exceeded 9 million pieces, so it will most likely not only repeat the success of the Galaxy S II, but 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, the best camera, excellent screen and good autonomy. The TouchWiz shell in its current incarnation has almost completely got rid of childhood diseases (except for the absence of the Russian T9 when dialing), so you can safely use the device out of the box. The disadvantages of the Galaxy S III can only be attributed to the case, which does not quite meet the status of a flagship and an estimated price of $ 900 for a 16-gigabyte version. In general, in my opinion, the main competitors of the Galaxy S III will be its own "stall neighbors" - the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note already mentioned above. Both have weaker hardware, but offer comparable features, and their cost is currently much lower than the cost of the SGS III, and will decrease in the future. 5 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy S III:

• large screen with HD resolution;
• high-quality camera (perhaps the best among 8-megapixel camera phones);
• excellent performance;
• long battery life;
• slot for memory cards (missing in many competing models).

2 reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy S III:

• the design of the case does not correspond to the status of the device;
• lack of Russian T9 when dialing a number.