Samsung Galaxy S3

[ToyotaNSaturn]

As a non-Apple fan boi, I can say that Apple put a lot of R&D into why it's a 3.5" screen size: single thumb swipe to do just about anything for small & tall people alike. That's why we haven't seen any other sizes come out of Cupertino. Until this year.

I really doubt we'll see anything larger than 4.3" across and really *really* doubt it will be wider.

If one is looking for a phone larger than these specifications, this is where the Androids shine...there's many options, good options, out there.

The afforementioned Galaxy Note, at 5.3" (aka 'the man phone') will never do a single thumb swipe unless you're Lebron James. The Galaxy S3 at 4.8" is also too big for the single-finger ...er....thumb... swipe. But if you don't care about that and use the device for video watching, need a large screen due to vision problems, well then they're going to be satisfied with these units.

Android 4, ICS, is key to the device being more fluid, usable GUI. The Note's 2.3, Gingerbread, OS is noticeably more clunky. With ICS on the S3 and other devices, fonts look correct/uniform, it's vastly better.

Personally, I enjoy the single-finger swipe but wouldn't mind an extra inch of screen real-estate, after all my eyes aren't getting an younger. Remote Desktop (RDP) sessions, ssh sessions, etc from a 3.5" phone work nicely but let's face it, the fonts are TINY. Larger screens make it easier for us I.T. guys to remotely administer systems (think Bluetooth keyboard attached for serious ssh work) from anywhere on planet earth.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

More on the S3, a teardown

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/01/chipworks-ifixit-tear-down-samsung-galaxy-s-iii/

 

[Colt45ws]

I think the 4 inch screen on my Atrix is the perfect size. A friend got one of those big phones, and I think it looks silly.

 

[JHZR2]

it probably is about perfect, though what TNS said is very plausible and a reason to stay smaller. Never thought about it from that angle, but it is something that I totally take for granted... And I have big hands...

 

[dishdude]

Having owned an iPhone, I personally prefer a larger screen. I really like the 4.5" screen on my Galaxy S2, and would even consider the Galaxy Note.

Isn't it great that we have all these choices in phones so each of us can get the device that makes us happy?

 

[VeeDubb]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Nick R
I'm quite happy with my SGSII for the time being, though I am still waiting on ice cream sandwich for it.



Originally Posted By: VeeDubb
JHZR2, I don't mean to pick on you but I hear this from iphone users all the time and I don't get it. While the iphone might have a smaller screen, it is thicker and heavier than some of the most recent high end androids. Why is it that so many iphone users single out the 3.5 inch screen as if it is some kind of a major virtue? Do they all like using a tiny screen and typing on a tiny keyboard. Try watching a movie or youtube on the iphone versus a 4.5 inch screen and the difference is pretty noticeable. In fact, I have never met an iphone user who likes big screens. Surely, iphone users can't be this homogeneous can they? This leads me to believe that this is probably post purchase fanboy rationalizations because the iphone has very few other feature advantages over top in androids. And yes, I have had an iphone and an Android and you get used to size differences within a week. It just isn't that big of a deal.


Honestly? The reason is because a lot of people that own iphones will defend to the death anything that apple does. Which is why it's hilarious that the new iphone will have a bigger screen, because all the apple *fans* who have been rabidly defending apples decision to use a smaller screen, citing all kinds of "good reasons" that they did. This happens with basically everything apple does, I see it all the time. Apple products can't possibly have any flaws, according to a large percentage of the ownership. they are "perfect". And that kind of attitude is a big part of the reason that I don't own and never will purchase an apple product.


Honestly? When I was upgrading to my iPhone 4S, I asked for thinner options and most ALL (maybe the sammy was a tad thinner) were NOT thinner.

Hopefully you are right, but form factor isnt a major benefit to most of these android products.

Why people (on either side, its not like the non-apple folks arent militant to this stuff) want to start wars on it is beyond me. The apple people like their stuff because it is well integrated, straightforward to use and well-made. The Droid folks like their cheaper gear with more customization and greater options. Great.

When we are talking size, just list the facts, and let them speak for themselves. Big screens make for larger phones and more power hungry devices, but also have more space for battery. Bigger batteries cost arguably more per individual part than the individual electronics gadgets for safe, high quality battery variants. I like smaller but good capability. I like the smaller screen. If an iphone 5 was 4.5 inch, would I want it? Likely not.

My conversation about the S3 was not that the S3 is lousy because it is android or samsung. It was that the screen is becoming impractical in size for people (business people who wear buttondown shirts or otherwise). When I saw the Sammy S2 in its big screen size, I already didnt like its size because it was too big to me. I prefer the 3.5" screen, and dont want much larger than that, regardless of manufacturer. How tough is that?


JHZR2,
Sorry I jumped down your throat. I wasn't trying to start a war but the issue you raise is one of iPhone fanboys' battle cries, taking a que from Steve Jobs a few years ago. Hard to know who is sincere and who is just closet flaming another platform these days so I probably reacted too strongly.

In any case, to answer your question, I just bought a Galaxy Nexus with a 4.65 inch screen. It is wider than my old iphone, feels about the same weight and fits easily in all my pockets, including my shirt pocket (though that is not where I carry it usually). To me, once the phone fits, then the next issue for me is weight. I don't like having heavy objects in my pockets, but the iPhone and Nexus balance out here. Also, I can still type one handed on the Nexus and my hands are about average size. Bottomline is, having owned both an iphone and a Nexus, I really don't see the size difference as a major hindrance. But Steve's Jobs words can echo for an eternity