Anyone dislike their S3?

[monkeyluis]

Thanks Jontalk and I love your Max Headroom avatar btw Well I'm an IT Manager by day and tech geek by night as my wife likes to lovingly remind me I spent the last month and a half or so since they announced the S3 reading up on the device and Android in general. Obviously there's a lot to take in so it's easier to start with specific tasks and apps that you already use day-to-day and read up on how they're done and if they're available on Android. Lurking on Android forums helped a lot of course, and finally there's nothing like reading the manual which I must say is quite good. Here's the AT&T version of the S3 User Manual for you. They've also got the following helpful pages:

Galaxy S III Starter Guide
Tips & Tricks: Galaxy S III

It probably also helps to spend a few days just to get accustomed to the included Samsung & Androids apps and the TouchWiz UI, and if you find something isn't quite up to your liking then start looking for apps that'll give you the functionality/features you're looking for. And when in doubt, these and other Android community forums are a great resource full of helpful people so if you search and don't find an answer start a new thread and you'll get lots of helpful feedback!

Best of luck to you with your transition

Lol. Nerd! I did the same thing. Reading up on everything I could. Luckily I also bought the Galaxy Tab 2 a couple of months ago so I sort of had a dress rehearsal. I read through some of the user guide you posted also. Definitely has a lot of good information for someone new.

There are a lot of helpful people, there are also the less than helpful. But that's just the way it is.

 

[cgardnervt]

I have had more just over a day sens its been activated and I love it so far! HOX has a better screen...Otherwise its been great!

 

[jcp007]

I'm going back to the GSM Gnex and returning my s3. It's still a great phone but miss the feel of the Gnex, and want the first phone to have jelly(Belly)bean. And with the recent price drop of the gnex to $350 through google... no brainer.

Best of luck to you. There are some things that I miss from my BB9810, believe it or not. I am willing to give my GS3 more of a chance. Eventually, the GS3 will get Jelly Bean. Possibly it is due to the fact that I am coming from RIM and haven't had much exposure to the Android OS but like everything else, it takes getting more familiar and realizing what I have been missing on the BB OS.

 

[jcp007]

Maybe it is because I have never been exposed to an Android device that does not have a UI like TouchWiz layered on top. I have found the combination of the two more seamless, functional and intuitive making my first Android experience more enjoyable and the transition from RIM far less difficult than I could have imagined.

 

[Gdauti1981]

Nothing really to dislike, other than a few of their special features don't work too well, ie S-Voice. That being said, the S III is easily the best phone I've ever owned.

 

[jontalk]

So all you GNex lovers.. I can understand your point, but there are those of us that don't want to switch to Verizon for a number of reasons, so the best choice is really the GS3. And am sure the Jelly Bean update will come at some point too.. I also think the camera on the GS3 is far superior to the GNex not to mention it's much faster too.

Also, thanks for Farcrow for the tips.. Always welcome for us noob's!

 

[robstunner]

So all you GNex lovers.. I can understand your point, but there are those of us that don't want to switch to Verizon for a number of reasons, so the best choice is really the GS3. And am sure the Jelly Bean update will come at some point too.. I also think the camera on the GS3 is far superior to the GNex not to mention it's much faster too.

Also, thanks for Farcrow for the tips.. Always welcome for us noob's!

The galaxy s series phones always triumphed over the nexus versions. The only plus to the nexus phones is aosp, dev support and faster updates.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Eric Kane]

Define "triumphed". I still have my S3, but I'm switching back to the Galaxy Nexus (unlocked for AT&T). If you consider the hardware, the S3 is superior. If you break it down on a software level, the Nexus is superior. Build quality is subjective. Jelly Bean in it's unaltered state is easily enough to compete with the S3 and TouchWiz, regardless of the advantage in hardware. I'm running both side by side next to one another and my Nexus is just as fast, if not a little faster than the S3 thanks to their changes to vSync and triple buffering.

The S3 will sell more units, so in that instance it has 'triumphed' over the Nexus. Other than that, it's not a clear winner versus the Galaxy Nexus anymore, even though it's almost a year old. And for those that bought the unlocked version, it has a huge advantage because it's not subjected to carrier interruptions as far as updates. I don't hate AT&T, but I'm willing to bet it's a while before you get the Jelly Bean update on your S3 and AT&T has a lot to do with that.

 

[robstunner]

If you consider the hardware, the S3 is superior. If you break it down on a software level, the Nexus is superior. Build quality is subjective.

This is exactly what I said. Hardware wise, the nexus phones have always underperformed against the Galaxy S counterparts most notably in the cameras. And like I also said the software and timeliness of updates is where the nexus excels. However, Dev support for the SGS3's isnt bad either.

 

[Eric Kane]

This is exactly what I said. Hardware wise, the nexus phones have always underperformed against the Galaxy S counterparts most notably in the cameras. And like I also said the software and timeliness of updates is where the nexus excels. However, Dev support for the SGS3's isnt bad either.

Agreed. Anyone who hasn't checked out Jelly Bean on the Nexus yet needs to, though. It's so fast and responsive. Google Voice Search is ridiculous, too.

 

[jjb70]

After a few weeks, here's what I don't like:
LED notifications are far from working to potential. Probably one of my favorite features on the phone and they barely do anything out of the box. Software update will fix.

Protruding camera lens. Why would anyone make a phone where you set it down on a table and it rests solely on the camera lens? And no, I shouldn't need to use a case because of it.

The color is just not my cup of tea. Sometimes it looks blue, sometimes silver/gray, sometimes purple. Would much prefer black. Got a fix for that coming in the mail very soon though.

Autobrightness. Samsung basically doesn't know how to implement this on any phone from what I've seen. Brightness app takes care of it but I wish it worked on its own.

Small lag from clicking the home button to wake phone up until you can actually swipe to unlock. Press, wait, swipe. I'm used to press, swipe almost instantly.

S-Voice. Well that's all I need to say about that!


Ok, so they all sound pretty nit picky? Yep, that's because it's been really really hard to find anything that's not completely awesome on this phone. Easily the best phone I've ever had the pleasure of owning.

 

[XChrisX]

Coming from an iPhone, I must say i really love the idea of a home button here on the SIII. It really takes away much of the learning curve many of us iOS users would otherwise have with this Android device. Other than that, finding out that every app has it's own setting menu via the button to the left of the home button has taken some getting used to. Also finding out that no apps have a back button but instead everything is done via the capacitive back button was a little weird at first. Finding out the mic, and volume controls on my Power Beats don't work was also a big pain, but otherwise I absolutely LOVE my SIII.

The Galaxy Note was the first Android device that got me thinking about the switch, but it's overall size was a turnoff. The Galaxy Nexus was the perfect fit but didn't originally launch on AT&T, and I didn't have an upgrade at the time. However when the Galaxy SIII was announced as coming to the states as soon as June, I knew this was the device for me. Totally loving this device, and the overall Android experience. Never looking back!

 

[Issemann]

Has anyone tried a 3rd party launcher, like Apex or Nova?

 

[oldmanjenkins]

Am loving mine. I have great LTE here in Pinellas. Battery has been great. Camera great. Screen great.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Android Central Forums

 

[johnb0072]

I love nova

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Android Central Forums

 

[p3unit32]

You really think so? Apple never ads anything to their phones and people just keep buying them. Don't forget not everyone tries out different phones or reads forums like us. If anyone is going to touch apple they need mass advertising to brainwash people like apple has...unfortunately I can't wait to try the G3!!


Sent using Tapatalk

Lol! You have made some valid points. I currently have an iPhone 4S, and have had iPhones since the 3G. The only Android phone I had was the Inspire 4G, didn't workout by the way. But I recently jailbroke my iPhone, and what a difference it made. I can finally do things that you all do naturally on an Android device.

However, iPhone for the most part has more, and better content. It's more secure obviously, all the restrictions and rules. It works, it does what it is suppose to do consistently. I think this is why iPhone is so popular, plus there are some many other devices compatible with it.

But! I'm started to find iOS to be boring, and as you stated nothing's changing really. Which is why I ready Android forums. I was thinking about buying the GSM version Galaxy Nexus, but I want LTE capabilities. Between the HOX, and GS3, I think I would go for the GS3. It's fluid has memory expansion, and more features. Plus touch-wiz doesn't create the problems I've read about with the HOX, although the HOX has a better design. Updates are important, timely updates that is, and I know I will be sacrificing that should I decide on getting the GS3. But it's time for a change, and like everyone else, I use a lot of Google's services.

 

[p3unit32]

Let me preface this with the fact that I think the S3 is an amazing phone and have zero complaints about it. I know I'll be sacrificing some things with this decision (namely camera), but I'm returning it and getting an unlocked Galaxy Nexus from the Play Store. Seeing the improvements that Jelly Bean has just made me realize that I can enjoy stock android and have a lot of the same features I like with the S3. Voice Search is just awesome. The notification bar is incredible. The triple buffering should make Jelly Bean feel just as buttery smooth as the S3. I don't dislike TouchWiz, but I prefer stock android and Jelly Bean closes the gap enough for me.

At the end of the day, you'll all still have the superior phone. The S3 is the standard now, but for me I have to go with the stock experience.

Interesting! I would like to try stock Android myself, but not have to use the GSM version Nexus. I'd rather have version, but I would have to switch carriers and I have unlimited data with AT&T. I wonder if Google with release another flagship phone this year that is compatible with AT&T's LTE network?

 

[p3unit32]

Guys I need some help. I want a stock android phone. Verizon has what I want, but it isn't an option. I want LTE capability& stock Android for prompt updates and software support. I can get the GSM version of the Galaxy Nexus but it isn't compatible with AT&T's LTE network. However the GS3& HOX are. What are your suggestions?

 

[steve dave]

Guys I need some help. I want a stock android phone. Verizon has what I want, but it isn't an option. I want LTE capability& stock Android for prompt updates and software support. I can get the GSM version of the Galaxy Nexus but it isn't compatible with AT&T's LTE network. However the GS3& HOX are. What are your suggestions?

Sounds like your only option is to unlock, root and flash a stock ROM to either the S III or One x.

 

[steve dave]

I have a few issues with my S III. The keyboard SUCKS. It might be because I have an invisible shield, but I have never had such problem with any other phone with one. I am taking the it off tonight and will try it for a little while. If that isn't the issue, this phone is going back and I will unfortunately have to go back the the 4S.

Other smaller issues are the lack of lock screen controls for the music app or spotify and the fact that I can't find a way to access my music library by using the music player widget... only through the app icon. Also, some things just seem unneccesarily laborious like changing dock icons or creating folders.