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Galaxy S3 vs Android rivals One X, 4X HD, Atrix 3 & Note

Although a release date for the Samsung Galaxy S3 (S III) has not yet been confirmed the current consensus is that this Android smartphone will appear in the first half of this year. We thought we’d take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S3 vs. Android rivals to see what some of the competition has to offer.

Many of us automatically assume that the biggest competition to the Galaxy S3 comes from the Apple iPhone 5 due later this year and to be fair that’s probably accurate. However although the Galaxy S2 was a massive success and virtually seems to guarantee big sales for its successor, we shouldn’t write off some of the other very decent Android smartphones recently launched or heading our way.

The Galaxy S3 specs and features are not yet official but highly-rumored are an Exynos 1.5GHz or 1.8GHz quad-core processor, 4.8-inch Super AMOLED Plus display and 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video capture (although 10 or 12-megapixels have also been reported). Other inclusions also hotly rumored include 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, NFC and LTE and there’s even been mention of 3D support. It is likely to run the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS.

One of its biggest Android rivals is bound to be the HTC One X, which could get a head start, as it’s thought to be due in April. Specs for the HTC One X are confirmed and include an NVIDIA 1.5GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor (except in the U.S where it will be the One XL and have a Qualcomm S4 dual-core processor and LTE connectivity). Other features and specs are a 4.7-inch HD touchscreen, 8-megapixel rear shooter with HD video capture, Android 4.0 ICS, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage and Beats Audio. This looks like a hugely impressive smartphone that we can’t wait to get a better look at and if the Galaxy S3 specs don’t live up to expectations many will turn to the One X instead (if they haven’t already purchased it).

The LG Optimus 4X HD is another smartphone that’s come to our attention and is due in the second quarter in Europe following to other regions. Confirmed features and specs include an NVIDIA Tegra 3 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 4.7-inch HD IPS display, Android 4.0 ICS, 8-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video support, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and NFC. In many ways there are an awful lot of similarities between the Optimus 4X HD and the HTC One X and also the Galaxy S3’s rumored specs.

Another smartphone that we’ve recently heard rumblings about is the Motorola Atrix 3, although this one is very much at the rumor mill stage. So far though leaks have suggested this could be a mighty smartphone capable of taking on almost anything. Rumored specs are an NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor, 4.3-inch HD display, 2GB of RAM, 10-megapixel rear camera, Android 4.0 ICS and a large 3300mAh battery. A release timeframe is shadowy and many were hoping to hear more at MWC about this handset but that didn’t come about. Nevertheless, if it does appear at some point it sounds hugely impressive.

The last of our considerations for now is another Android smartphone from Samsung, the Galaxy Note. This does not feature a quad-core processor but does have a whopping screen for those who want a large display and also can be used with a stylus. Another plus point is that it’s already out and has been a big hit so this one could appeal to those who don’t want to wait any longer for the Galaxy S3 or any other smartphone. Features and specs include a massive 5.3-inch WXVGA HD Super AMOLED screen, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel rear camera and 16GB of internal memory expandable to 32GB with microSD card.

To be fair all of these smartphones are notable and even if the Galaxy S3 comes with all the features we are hoping for, the others all have a huge amount to offer too. We’d like to hear from readers set on purchasing a new Android smartphone. Is your mind already made up for the Galaxy S3 even without the specs being confirmed? Could you be won over by the HTC One X or any of the others detailed here? Are you intrigued enough by the Motorola Atrix 3 to hang on for further information on that? Your comments are always appreciated.

Comments

16 thoughts on “Galaxy S3 vs Android rivals One X, 4X HD, Atrix 3 & Note”

  1. Droidguyuk says:

    I’m so stuck between htc one x and s3 , tbh the ceramic unibond chassis and the new imaging technology is also a massive plus, I think the s3 will be faster but it could be just a dual core as samsung want to wait for the new cpu architecture to come in the latter half of the year ? I hear that its going to be a massive step up ? If so htc will get my money , if Samsung do another plastic phone , htc here I come because having trialed the lumina for 2weeks that poly carbon ceramic unibody is amazing and feels iPhone Esq premium…plus throw in the mirroring feature and beats audio samsung will have to do a lot to get my money .

  2. qwertyuiop says:

    I fancy a Samsung S2.  I hope to get into the whole Samsung ecosystem (smart TV, smart camera etc).  I am almost tempted by the Samsung Nexus because of its screen, but the lack of expandable memory rules it out: I don’t know what future use I will have, but it’s likely to include wanting to travel with my video/audio/image collections.  I’m hoping that the S3 will have a higher res screen + memory card slot: if so, I may get one whatever the cost.  Otherwise, I’m happy to wait for it to come out, hoping that it’ll send the price of the S2 down. 

  3. Pete says:

    I’d be interested in the Motorola Atrix 3 if the screen was closer to 5 inches. The 3300mAh battery would be awesome. Samsung make nice thin phones but I would be happy to sacrifice a mm or two of thickness for better battery life.

  4. Impatient says:

    I think Samsung are shooting themselves in the foot by waiting on releasing specs. A lot of people are going to jump ship to the HTC One X as mobile users are generally an impatient lot! If they know what’s in the phone, they should say and give a release date, otherwise this impatient user will be jumping ship to HTC.

  5. Anonymous says:

    iOS and Android are significantly different in their basic operating paradigms, that I think it is silly to directly compare them as if one is going to be the ‘winner take all’.

    People who prefer the ‘sea of floating static icons’ of iOS are unlikely to want Android (and others) that require deciding where to manually placing live widgets/tiles and static icons, and vice versa.

    Playing these comparisons out as if it is some religious war that only one is allowed to win, is just as silly as the real thing.

    The market is huge enough to handle both and they have basically hold half the smartphone market each. That is good. We have choice. That is what our free will is for.

    However, too many seem to think that their phone is critical to their sanity and they are the ones who are truly losing it big time.
    You are not you phone, for you will survive without it.
    You are not the phone brand, as you will survive if it folds.
    And you are definitely not your phone OS, as that is as mutable as the wind!

  6. Smallaxe616 says:

    i have made up my mind about the galaxy s3 simply because of samsung’s fantastic designs and am gonna wait till its launched. can you let me know when its launched pls ta. Nana is my name.

  7. I currently have a HTC Mozart WP7.5 and I’m dying to get my hands on a handset with:
    ICS 4
    Dual-core 1.2GHz>
    720p screen (non pentile)
    Back 8MP>
    Front 1.3MP>
    Bluetooth 4.0
    NFC
    Gyro
    MicroSD card slot
    All Day Battery Life

    The best device so far is the ONE X, but I can’t see that tiny 1800mah battery lasting long and I won’t be able to upgrade the battery because it’s sealed.
    The lack of a microSD slot is puzzling, but 32GB on-board might persuade me.

    I also have to consider the release date the HTC ONE X is due for release in early April, the announcement date for the GS3 is expected to be in May with a release in June, that’s a long time to wait considering I was eligible for and upgrade in January.

    When the HTC ONE X is available I’ll see what people say about it’s battery life, if it’s good then I’ll pop into a store and check it out, if I like it then I’ll get it, but if the battery life isn’t good or I don’t like something, then I’ll wait for the GS3.

  8. Steven Marshall says:

    I want to wait and see the s3, but I would be just as happy with the one x. The quad core technology seems impressive, but who knows how it will translate in the real world. It may not be much faster than the dual core phones. My main concern with the one x is its battery life. Other than that issue the phone looks awesome.The HTC sense is a nice upgrade over the vanilla ICS interface. I am tried of waiting for Samsung to at least give a release date. They are not Apple and as nice as their phones are, they will never have the coolness of the Iphone.  

  9. I have the note and came from the atrix. the note is beautiful but slow and poor on battery life unless you turn on the power saver in which it slows farther down. all in all, the note is nice but i now wish i had waited for the one xl. i had the original galaxy with all of it’s problems and now the note that feels like a big atrix and not really an upgrade (except screen, just wow). i for one, am done with samsung. two flagships, and neither “wow” me (except the note’s screen). just my opinion.

  10. Si says:

    The tech is leveling out, waht is starting to matter more is the Customer Service, HTC’s service is shocking. The main @HTC Twitter
    account won’t even answer customer questions about updates! What hope of getting any kind of good service if
    things go wrong? I’m switching to Samsung after been HTC for 4 years, good riddance, 🙂

    1. Pete says:

      Thanks for the info. I will be upgrading soon and had some misgivings about HTC’s customer service as they don’t even have a service centre near where I live.
      Samsung have one nearby so I will probably get a Galaxy S III when it is released.

      It amazes me HTC and some others don’t care about customer service and warranty support. Non-performance in this area is a sure way to destroy brand reputation.

  11. Jdandy says:

    If Motorola will get the Atrix 3 to AT&T before the end of the 2nd quarter, I will likely hold off on a Samsung purchase.  I want the Atrix 3 longer battery life, and the 4.3 inch screen is far more preferable to me.  The larger screens are getting to be too much to handle and carry.  Android ICS right out of the box is a must.  If the rumors are true, the Motorola Atrix 3 will be the perfect smartphone for me.  Hurry up Motorola.  Get the Atrix 3 to market.

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