- Mar 26, 2005
- 4,094
- 123
- 106
The following is concerning the Galaxy III S on AT&T and iPhone 4s on AT&T ONLY.
It's no secret that by many, the Galaxy S III is regarded as the best Android Phone out there right now, with the exception of maybe the Note II, which really, although awesome, is a niche product. So after constantly hearing high praise for the Samsung Galaxy III, I gave in, and bought one, even though I am still a year away from end of my contract with my iPhone 4s. I have been using the Galaxy for over a day now, and I admit, it's not a lot of time, but already I am trying to see how the Galaxy is an inferior device, when judged as an "all-around good-for-most-everyday-phone-tasks" phone.
I am trying to be as objective as possible when judging both devices, without being an Apple fanboy, but it's hard not to be one in this case. I was never an Apple fan in the past, and I still highly dislike Apple, but how can I deny the obvious? To deny the following is simply to be stubborn.
1)Body/weight/overall feel
*Samsung*
The Samsung feels as a cheaper device. It's super light, and plasticy. Although I suppose weight is important in a phone, there is a certain point beyond which, there's really no good reason for a phone to be any lighter. The Galaxy crossed that point. One might argue that my opinion is very subjective, but if you are a normal, healthy adult, you cannot be in you right mind, and claim that the iPhone is too heavy, and we need a lighter phone. Can you say that you could have a lighter phone because you can? Yes. Can you say you need one because you MUST? No.
The larger screen which so many are raving about is really more of a nuisance than a boon. The phone makes the pants pocket bulge beyond any reason. It's too big for any pants to be carried in a pocket, unless you wear one of those super baggy pants with bottomless pockets. It's completely impossible to carry to work, unless you plan to wear it on a belt with a belt clip/holster. Even in this case, it creates a huge problem when sitting down on the train or in a car. At best, the clip will bother you. At worse, it will just break off, as it did in my case. It's just NOT practical. Carrying it in a bag? C'mon.. I'm not a girl. I actually want to be able to pick up my phone fast enough to receive the call, not dig in my bag.
Carry it in my hand all day? Yeah.. Right... Carry it in my winter jacket pocket? Viable, yes, but what if it's summer?
It DOES feel too big in my hand when using it no matter how many times someone says that it doesn't. I dont have small hands at all. I am a 31 year old male.
*iPhone*
The device feels nice and just heavy enough not to feel cheap, yet never heavy enough to feel like a burden. The overall feel screams of quality, refinement, and luxury. The design is so damn good, and so.. refined, that even now after all these years, easily holds it's own when contrasted with ANY OTHER PHONE out there. If a Phone could feel more like a Lexus than a Toyota, that pretty much sums it up for Samsung and iPhone.
Because of the size, the phone is highly pocketable, and again, it's just big enough for a smartphone, yet, never big enough to be annoying.
This one is extremely subjective, but if you lost your charge cable and need to charge your phone, you can come up to any 5 people at work or at school, and ask them if they have an iPhone cable - 4 out of 5 will have it. In case of the Galaxy, this has a good chance to be not the case.
2)Screens
I though that a bigger screen would be great in every case, but in reality it is NOT so. When the iPhones screen is too small for you to be used for any serious reading, chances are, the Galaxy's screen will be too small too, even though it's much bigger. After a few hours, the size novelty factor wore off for me, and the phone now feels "not as big as initially thought" after all. Would I want it any bigger though? Hell no. It's a damn phone, not a tablet!
Somehow, I didn't notice the size of the screen to be a huge benefit at all. It's by far, not as bright or as clear as the iPhones screen, and if you deny that, grab a hold of both devices and use them side by side for a few minutes. If you disagree still, you're just denying the obvious. Where the Galaxy trumps the iPhone in size, the iPhone makes up for it is sheer quality.
On the Galaxy, in bright sunlight, the screen is almost unusable. The iPhones screen, although still affected significantly, is always visible enough to be used in sunlight.
Finally, here's the biggest point I want to make.
The Galaxy has a myriad features and bells and whistles iPhone doesn't have, but in the end, none of these things are necessary for everyday smart phone use, and end up being more of a nuisance when I just want to pick up my phone to make a call. I constantly get alerts about various phones features, and I am being asked if I want to turn them on or keep them off. Yes, I realize that I can go to the options and turn them off, but why should I waste my time or energy doing that, when I just want to pick up my phone and make a call? I am not sure how this is happening, but on the Galaxy I constantly end up flipping through 2-3 screens just to get to the dialpad, but on the iPhone, it's always right there in front of me! I constantly feel like the Galaxy needs to be configured for "optimal" use, but the iPhone is "configured" right out of the box for a very pleasant user experience.
The Galaxy fights me every step of the way like a Mathematics teacher who believes in tough love to get his point across, but the iPhone loves, pampers and caresses every step of the way with every task. I am not technologically challenged at all. I am a certified tech, who dabbles in some networking and programming too, and I have no problem using the Galaxy and finding out how to do something even if I dont know how to, but again, it all comes down to a phone which is a finished, perfect, refined platform versus a super cool prototype, which although super cool is still a prototype which constantly needs adjustments and tuning to function exactly as you want it too!
I really feel that the iPhone is really for EVERYONE, from a 7 year old kid to a 70 year old grandpha. (seen both use it) But the Galaxy is really for young people who have the time, and willing to put in the effort to customize their phone to be perfect for them.
And there is another important note for those that say that when it comes to signal strength, the phone is irrelevant and the service is all that matters.
Well, when using the elevator in my building to get to the 23rd floor I live on, the iPhone always functions perfectly and never drops the call. The Galaxy's signal is completely dead inside the elevator and the calls drop as soon as I get inside. Also, the iPhone often has at least one more bar indoors. I tested all this this extensively. (both phones are great outside though) Hows that for you, non-believers?
4G? Totally overrated, unless you are rich, need it for work, or just stupid and pay for a more expensive data plan. The super fast downloads are cool, but with a 200mb limit, it's actually BETTER to have 3g, because when you had Wi-Fi off and forgot to turn it back on before downloading something, with 4g, you lost at least a quarter of your monthly data limit before you could stop the download as opposed to 3g where you actually have a batter chance to do so with minimal loss. So far, I really haven't felt like I gained a lot by having 4g t my disposal. 3G may have been a lot slower, but it was GOOD ENOUGH, and never hindered me from using internet when I needed to.
Camera? Yes, it's really good on the Samsung and has more features. But still better on the iPhone indoors or at night.
When Apple reps implied that their device is "perfect" as is, and doesn't need a bigger screen, I hate to admit it, but they were kinda right! The Samsung may have better, faster hardware but in the end of things, none of it is truly necessary for basic every day phone tasks, and the iPhone still beats other phones when it comes to those specific simple tasks.
It is better when it comes to ease of use, design, and sheer quality. And lets face it, ease of use is very important in a phone when you use it for calling and not for experimentation or customization. The iPhone happens to have that perfect balance between never being complicated and still being much more than a basic "dumb phone".
No matter what anyone says, Apple has achieved something truly great, if they managed to remain so competitive in the face of overwhelming competition from all over the world. And if you ask me, they have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to competition from Samsung. Apparently, no matter how good the hardware is, it's still nothing, without perfect harmony with perfect software.
And before you rage at my post, please keep in mind that I do admit that the Galaxy S III is a great phone, and truly the best Android phone out there. It is finally smooth enough and fast enough. Just not nearly good enough to be compared to the iPhone. ; )
EDIT: After using the Galaxy for about a week now, I am even further convinced that the Galaxy SIII is in fact inferior to the iPhone. (And please, note that I am not forcing my opinion onto anyone else. This is only my personal observations)
1)Tested both phones inside various elevators. The Galaxy consistently fails and drops calls, while the iPhone is rock solid.
2)When using the headphones for a phone converation, the Galaxy outputs sound through it's speaked 1st few seconds and then starts using the headphones, while the iPhone never has this problem.
3)Sound is better on the iPhone. Not just for music, but for You-Tube and whatever else.
4)Visual Voicemail interface is better on the iPhone. It shows numbers of people who left messages and doesnt require you to enter your password every time. Samsung always requires that I actually CALL the voicemail, and enter the pass. It will also shows numbers of those who left messages, but I have to go inside a menu to see this info. On the iPhone its right htere in front of me when I go into voicemail.
5)During the Christmas sales, dozens of iPhone apps and games are on sale for free or very cheap. In contrast, FEW Android apps are on sale, with even fewer free, and even fewer good ones. iPhone got Rayman on sale, Field Runners, Chaos Rings, Bastion, and many many more... Android doesnt even have Bastion, and all other games mentioned are NOT on sale. (What good is all that awesome hardware when there is no software to use? And please, lets not go into downloading Android software on "black market". Even if we do go there, there's is simply not as much available)
6)Battery life is abysmal. It's a new phone, and only lasts as long as my 2 year old iPhone. Possibly even less.
7)Samsung does in fact have much more camera shooting options than iPhone, but outputs pictures worse than iPhone, often signifficantly worse.
8)iPhones keyboard, by default, can be switched to other languages. Android's keyboard requires addon packs to be downloaded just so you can type with languages other than few included. My personaly experience with addon packs was that NONE of them worked for me. Maybe I just didnt have enough patience.
9)An afterthought, yes, but I did notice many cool things about Android that I liked a lot. Very deep levels of customization, different text fonts, etc, etc. Haptic feedback, usb cable that can be found easily everywhere. The phone can be used with flash drives, external hard drives, etc. Phone has better, faster hardware than iPhone. But how does any of that matter, when software, even thought it's now smooth as butter, still doesnt feel nearly as refined as iOS? All these bells and whistles are great, but they stop being interesting eventually, and what's left is a phone, which is inferior when judged purely as an everyday phone and not as a smartphone (where off course I am not denying that Samsung is in many ways a winner) Really, I am a lot more interested in Android on tablets as an experimentation platform to toy with, and do cool things with, while the iOS is for when it's time to get a little more serious and get thigns done quickly and efficiently.
It's no secret that by many, the Galaxy S III is regarded as the best Android Phone out there right now, with the exception of maybe the Note II, which really, although awesome, is a niche product. So after constantly hearing high praise for the Samsung Galaxy III, I gave in, and bought one, even though I am still a year away from end of my contract with my iPhone 4s. I have been using the Galaxy for over a day now, and I admit, it's not a lot of time, but already I am trying to see how the Galaxy is an inferior device, when judged as an "all-around good-for-most-everyday-phone-tasks" phone.
I am trying to be as objective as possible when judging both devices, without being an Apple fanboy, but it's hard not to be one in this case. I was never an Apple fan in the past, and I still highly dislike Apple, but how can I deny the obvious? To deny the following is simply to be stubborn.
1)Body/weight/overall feel
*Samsung*
The Samsung feels as a cheaper device. It's super light, and plasticy. Although I suppose weight is important in a phone, there is a certain point beyond which, there's really no good reason for a phone to be any lighter. The Galaxy crossed that point. One might argue that my opinion is very subjective, but if you are a normal, healthy adult, you cannot be in you right mind, and claim that the iPhone is too heavy, and we need a lighter phone. Can you say that you could have a lighter phone because you can? Yes. Can you say you need one because you MUST? No.
The larger screen which so many are raving about is really more of a nuisance than a boon. The phone makes the pants pocket bulge beyond any reason. It's too big for any pants to be carried in a pocket, unless you wear one of those super baggy pants with bottomless pockets. It's completely impossible to carry to work, unless you plan to wear it on a belt with a belt clip/holster. Even in this case, it creates a huge problem when sitting down on the train or in a car. At best, the clip will bother you. At worse, it will just break off, as it did in my case. It's just NOT practical. Carrying it in a bag? C'mon.. I'm not a girl. I actually want to be able to pick up my phone fast enough to receive the call, not dig in my bag.
Carry it in my hand all day? Yeah.. Right... Carry it in my winter jacket pocket? Viable, yes, but what if it's summer?
It DOES feel too big in my hand when using it no matter how many times someone says that it doesn't. I dont have small hands at all. I am a 31 year old male.
*iPhone*
The device feels nice and just heavy enough not to feel cheap, yet never heavy enough to feel like a burden. The overall feel screams of quality, refinement, and luxury. The design is so damn good, and so.. refined, that even now after all these years, easily holds it's own when contrasted with ANY OTHER PHONE out there. If a Phone could feel more like a Lexus than a Toyota, that pretty much sums it up for Samsung and iPhone.
Because of the size, the phone is highly pocketable, and again, it's just big enough for a smartphone, yet, never big enough to be annoying.
This one is extremely subjective, but if you lost your charge cable and need to charge your phone, you can come up to any 5 people at work or at school, and ask them if they have an iPhone cable - 4 out of 5 will have it. In case of the Galaxy, this has a good chance to be not the case.
2)Screens
I though that a bigger screen would be great in every case, but in reality it is NOT so. When the iPhones screen is too small for you to be used for any serious reading, chances are, the Galaxy's screen will be too small too, even though it's much bigger. After a few hours, the size novelty factor wore off for me, and the phone now feels "not as big as initially thought" after all. Would I want it any bigger though? Hell no. It's a damn phone, not a tablet!
Somehow, I didn't notice the size of the screen to be a huge benefit at all. It's by far, not as bright or as clear as the iPhones screen, and if you deny that, grab a hold of both devices and use them side by side for a few minutes. If you disagree still, you're just denying the obvious. Where the Galaxy trumps the iPhone in size, the iPhone makes up for it is sheer quality.
On the Galaxy, in bright sunlight, the screen is almost unusable. The iPhones screen, although still affected significantly, is always visible enough to be used in sunlight.
Finally, here's the biggest point I want to make.
The Galaxy has a myriad features and bells and whistles iPhone doesn't have, but in the end, none of these things are necessary for everyday smart phone use, and end up being more of a nuisance when I just want to pick up my phone to make a call. I constantly get alerts about various phones features, and I am being asked if I want to turn them on or keep them off. Yes, I realize that I can go to the options and turn them off, but why should I waste my time or energy doing that, when I just want to pick up my phone and make a call? I am not sure how this is happening, but on the Galaxy I constantly end up flipping through 2-3 screens just to get to the dialpad, but on the iPhone, it's always right there in front of me! I constantly feel like the Galaxy needs to be configured for "optimal" use, but the iPhone is "configured" right out of the box for a very pleasant user experience.
The Galaxy fights me every step of the way like a Mathematics teacher who believes in tough love to get his point across, but the iPhone loves, pampers and caresses every step of the way with every task. I am not technologically challenged at all. I am a certified tech, who dabbles in some networking and programming too, and I have no problem using the Galaxy and finding out how to do something even if I dont know how to, but again, it all comes down to a phone which is a finished, perfect, refined platform versus a super cool prototype, which although super cool is still a prototype which constantly needs adjustments and tuning to function exactly as you want it too!
I really feel that the iPhone is really for EVERYONE, from a 7 year old kid to a 70 year old grandpha. (seen both use it) But the Galaxy is really for young people who have the time, and willing to put in the effort to customize their phone to be perfect for them.
And there is another important note for those that say that when it comes to signal strength, the phone is irrelevant and the service is all that matters.
Well, when using the elevator in my building to get to the 23rd floor I live on, the iPhone always functions perfectly and never drops the call. The Galaxy's signal is completely dead inside the elevator and the calls drop as soon as I get inside. Also, the iPhone often has at least one more bar indoors. I tested all this this extensively. (both phones are great outside though) Hows that for you, non-believers?
4G? Totally overrated, unless you are rich, need it for work, or just stupid and pay for a more expensive data plan. The super fast downloads are cool, but with a 200mb limit, it's actually BETTER to have 3g, because when you had Wi-Fi off and forgot to turn it back on before downloading something, with 4g, you lost at least a quarter of your monthly data limit before you could stop the download as opposed to 3g where you actually have a batter chance to do so with minimal loss. So far, I really haven't felt like I gained a lot by having 4g t my disposal. 3G may have been a lot slower, but it was GOOD ENOUGH, and never hindered me from using internet when I needed to.
Camera? Yes, it's really good on the Samsung and has more features. But still better on the iPhone indoors or at night.
When Apple reps implied that their device is "perfect" as is, and doesn't need a bigger screen, I hate to admit it, but they were kinda right! The Samsung may have better, faster hardware but in the end of things, none of it is truly necessary for basic every day phone tasks, and the iPhone still beats other phones when it comes to those specific simple tasks.
It is better when it comes to ease of use, design, and sheer quality. And lets face it, ease of use is very important in a phone when you use it for calling and not for experimentation or customization. The iPhone happens to have that perfect balance between never being complicated and still being much more than a basic "dumb phone".
No matter what anyone says, Apple has achieved something truly great, if they managed to remain so competitive in the face of overwhelming competition from all over the world. And if you ask me, they have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to competition from Samsung. Apparently, no matter how good the hardware is, it's still nothing, without perfect harmony with perfect software.
And before you rage at my post, please keep in mind that I do admit that the Galaxy S III is a great phone, and truly the best Android phone out there. It is finally smooth enough and fast enough. Just not nearly good enough to be compared to the iPhone. ; )
EDIT: After using the Galaxy for about a week now, I am even further convinced that the Galaxy SIII is in fact inferior to the iPhone. (And please, note that I am not forcing my opinion onto anyone else. This is only my personal observations)
1)Tested both phones inside various elevators. The Galaxy consistently fails and drops calls, while the iPhone is rock solid.
2)When using the headphones for a phone converation, the Galaxy outputs sound through it's speaked 1st few seconds and then starts using the headphones, while the iPhone never has this problem.
3)Sound is better on the iPhone. Not just for music, but for You-Tube and whatever else.
4)Visual Voicemail interface is better on the iPhone. It shows numbers of people who left messages and doesnt require you to enter your password every time. Samsung always requires that I actually CALL the voicemail, and enter the pass. It will also shows numbers of those who left messages, but I have to go inside a menu to see this info. On the iPhone its right htere in front of me when I go into voicemail.
5)During the Christmas sales, dozens of iPhone apps and games are on sale for free or very cheap. In contrast, FEW Android apps are on sale, with even fewer free, and even fewer good ones. iPhone got Rayman on sale, Field Runners, Chaos Rings, Bastion, and many many more... Android doesnt even have Bastion, and all other games mentioned are NOT on sale. (What good is all that awesome hardware when there is no software to use? And please, lets not go into downloading Android software on "black market". Even if we do go there, there's is simply not as much available)
6)Battery life is abysmal. It's a new phone, and only lasts as long as my 2 year old iPhone. Possibly even less.
7)Samsung does in fact have much more camera shooting options than iPhone, but outputs pictures worse than iPhone, often signifficantly worse.
8)iPhones keyboard, by default, can be switched to other languages. Android's keyboard requires addon packs to be downloaded just so you can type with languages other than few included. My personaly experience with addon packs was that NONE of them worked for me. Maybe I just didnt have enough patience.
9)An afterthought, yes, but I did notice many cool things about Android that I liked a lot. Very deep levels of customization, different text fonts, etc, etc. Haptic feedback, usb cable that can be found easily everywhere. The phone can be used with flash drives, external hard drives, etc. Phone has better, faster hardware than iPhone. But how does any of that matter, when software, even thought it's now smooth as butter, still doesnt feel nearly as refined as iOS? All these bells and whistles are great, but they stop being interesting eventually, and what's left is a phone, which is inferior when judged purely as an everyday phone and not as a smartphone (where off course I am not denying that Samsung is in many ways a winner) Really, I am a lot more interested in Android on tablets as an experimentation platform to toy with, and do cool things with, while the iOS is for when it's time to get a little more serious and get thigns done quickly and efficiently.
Last edited:
, so I take your opinion as a grain of salt as well!
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