In 2012, Samsung released the Galaxy S3 smartphone - it became a hit of sorts and was the top device from the manufacturer at that time. Later in 2014, the company decided to update the hardware of the smartphone, adding another letter “i” to the name, as well as the prefix “Duos”, indicating that the device will come with two SIMs. The average price of the Galaxy S3 Duos at the time of this review is 156 USD.

The design of the smartphone does not shine. Over time, standards and the concept of “beauty” change, however, if you look at a vintage car, it evokes admiration. S3 Duos, on the contrary, its shape simply screams that this is an obsolete device. Moreover, the case itself is not practical. The glossy cover collects fingerprints and scratches very well. The rim on the edges wears off over time, and the phone looks “shabby.” Although, if the appearance of the device is not a priority for the user, you can turn a blind eye to all this.

In this review, we’ll look at what the “updated flagship” is and how it differs from the previous version.

The technical specifications of the device can be considered balanced, although they are far from the average level in 2016.

CPU

The 2012 model used an Exynos 4412 processor, this one has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226 (4 cores, 1.4 GHz). Video chip - Adreno 305. In the synthetic Antutu performance test, the device scores about 20 thousand points, while its predecessor scored 24 thousand points. In practice this difference is not noticeable. For everyday work, the hardware power is more than enough, but in 3D games it is simply necessary to optimize the graphics. For those interested, the “tanks” on this smartphone run perfectly and are quite playable (at lower graphics, of course).

Memory

The built-in storage capacity is 16 GB, with approximately 11 GB available for use. Memory cards up to 64 GB are supported. Official firmware does not make it possible to select an external drive as the main one, but 11 GB is not so little for installing all the necessary applications, there will even be room for games. The amount of RAM is 1.5 GB. The increased amount of RAM compared to the regular version of S3 is more of a necessity than a luxury: the proprietary shell is power hungry, so for stable operation of the device you need enough free RAM.

Autonomous operation

A removable battery with a capacity of 2100 mAh is responsible for ensuring autonomous operation. On the one hand, the capacity is small, but Amoled displays are remarkable in that under certain conditions they consume less energy than other matrices. Moreover, the display diagonal is modest by modern standards, and in conjunction with the hardware, which is not particularly demanding in terms of energy consumption, it turns out that the battery lasts for a whole day in moderately active use. A smartphone with a 100% charged battery will last about 13-15 hours if WiFi and synchronization are constantly connected, you make and receive calls from time to time, and periodically correspond on social media. networks, and other little things. The continuous video time at maximum screen brightness with a “full” battery is 9 hours 40 minutes.

Camera

You can take photos and videos using the main 8-megapixel photographic module. The photo quality is acceptable, however, it is far from flagship when compared with the capabilities of modern cameras. The device copes well with macro photography, night photos work fine with flash if you photograph objects at a short distance. During the day the best results are obtained, although there is some noise. Taking a quick photo of an important event, recording a schedule or other important information, scanning a QR code - these are the main scenarios for which the camera’s capabilities are quite sufficient. Of course, in the hands of a master you can take a good memorable photo.

Examples of photos onSamsung GT-i9300i (click on photo to see full size):

Selfie with front camera

The camera interface is good, there are many settings and modes. The video is recorded in the maximum FullHD resolution, the quality is pleasing, even higher than expected, under good shooting conditions. The front module is 2 MP, good for video calls.

Example of shooting with a camera:

Display

One of the main advantages of this device is the display. At 4.8” it has high HD resolution (1280x720). The matrix is ​​made using a technology called Super AMOLED: thanks to it, the image colors are more saturated than in conventional matrices, which many users like. The screen is bright and viewing angles are good. The touchscreen is very responsive, and in general, the display leaves only positive impressions.

Network communications

Slots for 2 SIM cards are located under the cover. The smartphone can operate in 2G and 3G networks. A GPS module with A-GPS support detects a sufficient number of satellites and determines the location extremely accurately. NFC module is present.

Sound

The main speaker is located at the top of the body, near the camera. The sound volume is sufficient both for watching movies and for hearing a call when the phone is in a bag or in another room. It doesn’t wheeze and behaves adequately at maximum volume levels. The speaker is moderately loud, the sound quality is not satisfactory. The sound of music tracks in the headphones is decent; even the supplied vacuum headphones produce fairly clear sound with pronounced low frequencies. That is, a smartphone can very well play the role of a music player.

Software part

S3 Duos 2014 runs on the Android operating system, the latest official version is 4.4.4. Craftsmen were able to port CyanogenMod, based on Android 5.1.1, to the device. On top of the official OS there is a proprietary shell from Samsung - TouchWiz. The Tachwiz interface is not very fast, however, this can be partially corrected by installing a third-party launcher. One of the nice things is that the shell has many smart functions, such as gesture control, for example. The front camera can follow the user and the display will not turn off as long as the user is looking at it. The S Voice feature allows you to perform certain actions using voice commands. For example, you can answer a call using your voice, or reject it. At the owner’s command, the smartphone can take a photo, or delay the alarm for another 5 minutes so that the owner of the phone “gets some sleep” during this time.

Pros and cons of Samsung S3 Duos 2014

Advantages over SG S3 2012:

• it became possible to install 2 SIM cards;
• The amount of RAM has been increased from 1 GB to 1.5 GB.

General advantages:

• good screen;
• good GPS navigation work.

Disadvantages compared to SG S3 2012:

• there are no settings for contrast and color gamut of the display;
• no OTG support;
• there is no separate sound chip;
• Wireless charging is not supported.

General disadvantages:

• “antediluvian” design, impractical gloss and erasable edging;
• lack of official update to version 5 of Android.

Our review of the Samsung GT-i9300i S3 Duos smartphone

The characteristics and design of the smartphone are far from flagship ones. The smartphone is intended for those who are not particularly keen on games, and who need a high-quality, time-tested, but still relevant “workhorse” from a well-known brand. And of course, those who are used to the first version of S3 will be able to experience nostalgia by using its more current version.

You will also like:

Review of the quad-core smartphone Samsung Galaxy Core Prime G360
Review of the new budget smartphone Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace/Pop (SM-J110)

General characteristics

Type

Deciding on the type of device (phone or smartphone?) is quite simple. If you need a simple and inexpensive device for calls and SMS, it is recommended to choose a telephone. A smartphone is more expensive, but it offers a wide variety of options: games, videos, the Internet, thousands of programs for all occasions. However, its battery life is significantly less than that of a regular phone.

smartphone operating system Android OS version at the start of sales Android 4.3 Case type classic Housing material plastic Control mechanical/touch buttons Number of SIM cards 1 SIM card type

Modern smartphones can use not only regular SIM cards, but also their more compact versions micro SIM and nano SIM. An eSIM is a SIM card integrated into the phone. It takes up virtually no space and does not require a separate tray for installation. eSIM is not yet supported in Russia. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones

micro SIM Contactless payment yes Weight 133 g Dimensions (WxHxT) 70.6x136.6x8.6 mm

Screen

Screen type color AMOLED, 16.78 million colors, touch Touch screen type multi-touch, capacitive Diagonal 4.8 inches. Image Size 1280x720 Pixels per inch (PPI) 306 Aspect Ratio 16:9 Automatic screen rotation There is Scratch-resistant glass There is

Multimedia capabilities

Number of main (rear) cameras 1 Main (rear) camera resolution 8 MP Photoflash rear, LED Functions of the main (rear) camera Autofocus Face detection Recording videos There is Max. video resolution 1920x1080 Max. video frame rate 30fps Front camera yes, 1.9 MP Audio MP3, AAC, WMA, FM radio Headphone jack 3.5mm MHL Video Output

Connection

Standard GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G Interfaces

Almost all modern smartphones have Wi-Fi and USB interfaces. Bluetooth and IRDA are a little less common. Wi-Fi is used to connect to the Internet. USB is used to connect your phone to a computer. Bluetooth is also found in many phones. It is used to connect wireless headphones, to connect your phone to wireless speakers, and also to transfer files. A smartphone equipped with an IRDA interface can be used as a universal remote control. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones

Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB, NFC Satellite navigation

Built-in GPS and GLONASS modules allow you to determine the phone's coordinates using signals from satellites. In the absence of GPS, a modern smartphone can determine its own location using signals from cellular operator base stations. However, finding coordinates using satellite signals is usually much more accurate. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones

GPS/GLONASS DLNA support yes

Memory and processor

CPU

Modern phones and smartphones usually use special processors - SoC (System on Chip, system on a chip), which, in addition to the processor itself, houses the graphics core, memory controller, input/output device controller, etc. Therefore, the processor largely determines the set of functions and device performance. Glossary of terms for the category Mobile phones

Samsung Exynos 4412, 1400 MHz Number of processor cores 4 Mali-400 MP4 video processor Built-in memory capacity 16 GB RAM capacity 1 GB Memory card slot Yes, up to 64 GB Sensors illumination, proximity, gyroscope, compass, barometer Flashlight yes USB-host yes

Additional information

Peculiarities talk time: up to 1300 min. (2G) / up to 650min. (3G),
waiting time: up to 900 hours. (2G) / up to 750h. (3G);
You can take pictures while recording video, Wi-Fi standard IEE802.11n Announcement date 2012-05-03

Before purchasing, check the specifications and equipment with the seller.

In this article we will review the Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300. Samsung Galaxy SIII is a rather sensational model that is in demand despite the fact that it came out quite a long time ago. Let's take a closer look at this smartphone model.

Visual inspection

Packaging and delivery

The packaging of the smartphone, as always, did not surprise us with anything new. As for the delivery set, it is standard. The box includes a standard set: smartphone, headphones (with a set of spare earbuds), USB cable (USB-microUSB), charger and instructions. For those who don’t know, I want to say that the battery is not inserted into the phone, but is included separately in the package.

Design

Having taken this smartphone out of the box, I also did not see anything new, or rather, at least any changes in design, since the Samsung Galaxy S3 immediately reminded me of another gadget, but not its predecessor Samsung Galaxy S2 - no, but no matter how strange Samsung Galaxy Nexsus. The same shape, the same lines, even the side buttons are the same size and in the same places. I immediately asked myself: why make devices that visually do not carry anything particularly new, except for an internal upgrade.

As for the body, the large screen is impressive, but the fly in the ointment in all this is the back cover of the device, which is made of plastic, and also glossy. And it was precisely this cover that caused a negative impression on me, since with all confidence we can say that in the future, scratches will appear on its surface and become very noticeable. Therefore, initially you will need to buy either a case or a protective film if you want to protect the surface of the cover. The lid itself is thin and bends very much, so it must be removed very carefully.

At the top of the front panel there is a speech speaker in the center, on the right there are two sensors: proximity and light, as well as a front camera. On the back panel, the main video camera is located in the upper center, there is an LED flash to the left of the camera, and a speaker to the right.

Now let's look at the buttons. At the bottom of the front panel, in the center, the device has the same “Home” button. On both sides of this mechanical button there are 2 touch buttons: on the left – calling the context menu, on the right – the return key. On the left side panel there is a volume rocker. On the right side panel there is a button to turn on the smartphone.

At the top of the smartphone there is a headphone output, shifted to the left, and in the center there is a recess for prying and removing the back cover. An additional microphone is located on the right side of the top panel. On the bottom panel in the center there is a microUSB connector for connecting a charger and for connecting to a computer. To the right of the connector is the main microphone of the gadget.

Impressions from the design

Having made my first visual review of the Samsung Galaxy S3, I was left with mixed impressions. On the one hand, the device is quite large, all the buttons, sensors and speakers are conveniently placed on it - this is pleasing, but the lack of any visual design innovations and the plastic case are depressing. While smartphones from other companies are introducing some new materials, for example, HTC has a polycarbonate body that fits very well in the hand, and the glossy plastic body of the S3 is, let’s say, a thing of the past. Well, again, this is not an acquired taste, I expressed my subjective point of view in this review.

Device test review

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300

Before testing the gadget itself, let's go over its characteristics to understand what we will be dealing with. The Samsung Galaxy S3 display measures 4.8 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The Samsung Galaxy S3 processor has 4 cores with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz. The device includes 1 GB of RAM. There are three variations of device models with built-in memory: 16/32/64 GB. There is a slot for microSD memory cards. The main camera is 8 megapixels, includes autofocus, takes photos with a resolution of 3264x2448 pixels, and also records video in FullHD 1080p format at 30 frames per second. Front camera - 1.9 MP. The smartphone only supports MicroSIM cards.

The installed operating system is Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The gadget includes FM radio with RDS and TV output. Standards: GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, 3G. HSPA+ 21 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbit/s. Technology support: Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and GLONAS. Lithium-ion battery 2100 mAh. As for the dimensions, it has the following dimensions: 136.6 × 70.6 × 8.6 mm. Device weight – 133g.

The average price of a Samsung Galaxy S3 is from 19,000 rubles for a device with 16 GB of memory, from 20,000 rubles for a device with 32 GB of memory.

Overview of Galaxy S3 operation and features

After turning on the device, you are immediately impressed by the large and bright screen, image clarity and good sensor. There is no grain on the screen, that is, the pixels are not visible - it is very good that by increasing the diagonal of the screen, its resolution also improves. In general, it is worth noting the pleasant Android interface and its operation. It is very difficult to convey in words the operation of the device, so you can see it in the video below. Next we will describe the operation of specific functions.

Intelligent anticipation

Samsung boasted on its official website that it has an intelligent standby function. This function, when activated, is capable, according to the manufacturers, of capturing the user’s gaze and if he looks at the smartphone screen, the screen will not turn off and go into standby mode. Personally, I don’t understand why there was such a need to promote this function, especially to include it in the innovations and advantages of the gadget, if it is implemented, to put it mildly, poorly. Even if the function worked, in the end it was temporary and the screen went dark. For the function to work correctly, it is possible that you need to adapt to it, pointing the device at the desired angle - but this is stupid. I welcome the good intentions of introducing this feature as a user, but its implementation is very poor.

Of course, you can’t help but test the S Voice function, which many call a prototype of the famous SIRI. But in my opinion, the comparison with SIRI is clearly not correct. Yes, the similarity of both voice systems is that neither one nor the other has support for the Russian language and it all looks rather strange. We will not touch on SIRI, although we will return to it later, but let’s talk about S Voice, or more precisely the logic of Samsung Corporation.

Russian is spoken in the largest country in the world - Russia, and in addition, it is known and even spoken by many in the countries of the former USSR, which is almost 15 republics. By introducing support for the Russian language with a voice assistant, it would be possible to cover countries with a population that is several times larger than those whose languages ​​are supported by S Voice. It may be difficult for South Korean “luminaries” to comprehend all the versatility of the “great and mighty”, much less implement it, but having a staff of specialists from Russia... but oh well.

After my disappointment from the lack of Russian language support, I was also disappointed by the availability of English. What conclusion did I draw after working with S Voice and asking it a few mundane questions? The device only understands a clearly asked question in English, and preferably without an accent. Therefore, if you speak English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and South Korean perfectly and without an accent, then S Voice will be useful to you. If you only speak Russian or “bad” English and the same other listed languages, then this function is of no use. Although at SIRI I was more successful in speaking “my” English.

Direct call

Another feature that Samsung boasted in the S3 is Direct Call. The function involves automatic dialing of a number that is displayed on the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. For example, you are typing a message or reading a received message from a certain subscriber, if you immediately raise the handset to your ear, then when this function is activated, this subscriber will be automatically dialed. It is impossible to say that this function is useful, since I consider it not particularly necessary, and besides, for this function to work, it is necessary to rehearse the movement that will trigger the sensor.

Smartphone operation

The operation of the smartphone itself gave me extremely positive emotions. His work can be described in one word – “fast”. The device works very quickly, without the slightest pause or hesitation. Launching games is very fast, and the same goes for the game mode itself. I was also pleased with the work with high quality video, without any stutters. Something else I would like to point out is the sound quality, both from the speakers and headphones. A large number of phone settings options, graphics and visualization - Android has done its best in this area. It is impossible not to mention the camera, which can easily replace a home camera and video camera. We will demonstrate visual information on the operation of the phone in a video review.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone

Surely each of you who chooses a new smartphone will want to compare it with its main competitor - the iPhone. Let's compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the existing popular iPhone models.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 4S

First of all, it is necessary to note the difference between the displays; it immediately catches your eye. The screen size in the iPhone is 3.5 inches, while the Samsung Galaxy S3 has 4.8 inches, and the most important thing is that having such a large screen, the Samsung Galaxy S3 boasts a screen resolution of 1280x720 pixels (which falls under HD parameters), compared to the iPhone 4s resolution of 640x960 pixels. Already, based on this, the iPhone 4S is significantly inferior in comparison with the Samsung Galaxy S3.

If we compare the technical characteristics, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a 4-core processor with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, while the iPhone 4S has only 2 cores with a frequency of 1 GHz. Samsung Galaxy S3 is equipped with 1 GB of RAM, while the “Apple” counterpart has 2 times less - 512 MB.

Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 5

Now let's compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 with the iPhone 5. The latest fifth iPhone model includes some improvements in technical specifications, but, nevertheless, it still loses to the Samsung Galaxy S3. The iPhone 5's screen measures 4 inches, compared to 4.8 on the S3. The iPhone 5's screen resolution is 1136x640, the S3's is 1280x720 pixels. As for the processor, the iPhone 5 has 2 cores with a frequency of 1.2 GHz each, compared to 4 cores and a 1.4 GHz clock speed in the Galaxy. In other parameters they are almost the same.

General comparison

It would be wrong to compare the Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 solely on technical characteristics, since they have some nuances, and very significant ones.

Of course, the most significant nuance is that the iPhone does not support memory cards, which means that you are initially limited by the available built-in memory. Some may refer to the fact that they say you can use cloud applications and thereby solve the issue with the memory card, but I will still revive it. It’s one thing when all the information is stored on the phone, and another when this information is stored on a server, to access which you need access to the Internet, and not EDGE, but preferably Wi-Fi or 3G. If your Internet speed is low, then there will be no point in using cloud applications. The issue can be solved by purchasing an iPhone with 64 GB of memory, but this is several times more expensive than the Galaxy S3.

Also among the advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is the ability to access and replace the battery. For many Internet surfers, it is worth mentioning the presence of a flash player, which is not available on the iPhone. And, of course, the price of the Samsung Galaxy S3 is lower than the current Apple product – iPhone 5, almost 4 thousand less.

The first thing that stands out in favor of the iPhone is the brand, and you can’t argue with that fact. We also cannot fail to note the convenience of updating iOS, which, unfortunately, is not the case with Android. The quality of the applications and the “philosophy” of iOS itself are captivating.

The final choice is yours: it’s either the branded iPhone 5 with its own “philosophy”, or the powerful and cheaper Galaxy S3.

Impressions of the Galaxy S3

To sum up the review, in principle, the gadget left me with extremely positive impressions. Among the advantages, I would like to highlight the speed of the device, the large and bright screen, the camera, as well as the overall operation of the device. Among the minuses, I’ll highlight the case, especially the plastic back cover, which, in my opinion, is very inconvenient and looks very poor, especially for a device that claims to be the first place in the field of smartphones. As for the price, after some time the price of the gadget became more or less adequate.

Answering the question, is it worth buying this smartphone model based on the “atomic” parameters of the device? It’s worth it, especially if you want to buy a Samsung device or with Android, or 2 in 1. The smartphone is perfect both as a phone and as a gadget for using Internet services.

Video review Samsung Galaxy S3 video review in Russian

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S3 Duos GT-I9300I - advantages, disadvantages, characteristics

Specifications

General characteristics
Type	smartphone
operating system	Android 4.3
Housing type	classical
Housing material	plastic
Control	mechanical/touch buttons
Number of SIM cards	2
Multi-SIM mode	alternating
Weight	132 g
Dimensions (WxHxD)	70.7x136.6x8.6 mm
Screen
Screen type	color AMOLED, 16.78 million colors, touch
Touch screen type	multi-touch, capacitive
Diagonal	4.8 inch
Image Size	1280x720
Pixels per inch (PPI)	306
Automatic screen rotation	There is
Multimedia capabilities
Camera	8 million pixels, 3264x2448, built-in flash
Camera functions	autofocus
Recognition	persons
Recording videos	There is
Max. video resolution	1920x1080
Max. video frame rate	30 fps
Front camera	yes, 1.9 million pixels.
Audio	MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, FM radio
Headphone jack	3.5 mm
Connection
Standard	GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G
Interfaces	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, USB, NFC
Satellite navigation	GPS/GLONASS
A-GPS system	There is
Memory and processor
CPU	1400 MHz
Number of processor cores	4
Built-in memory capacity	16.00 GB
RAM capacity	1.50 GB
Memory card slot	Yes, up to 64 GB
Nutrition
Battery capacity	2100 mAh
Battery	removable
Talk time	14 h
Waiting time	330 h
Other functions
Speakerphone (built-in speaker)	There is
Control	voice dialing, voice control
Airplane mode	There is
A2DP profile	There is
Sensors	illumination, proximity, gyroscope, compass
Additional information
Announcement date	2014-05-27

Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Duos GT-I9300I smartphone

Advantages

• - lighter than S3
• - more economical than S3
• - two SIM

Flaws

• PenTile

Comment
The Internet is already full of screaming cries: Who needs this junk? Who will buy it? Why is it?
I will answer: I need it! I bought it! It's for people like me!

This is a completely new phone! Outwardly, we are indistinguishable from the SIII, but it is newer from a technical point of view.
1) New Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226 processor: 28 nm, 1.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 + Adreno 305. This solution is head and shoulders above the energy saving of Exynos in the original device. At the same time, no decrease in performance was noticed. In power saving mode, the processor goes into 1 GHz mode, which can be felt.
2) RAM is now 1.5 GB (namely 1378MB), which is one and a half times more than that of S3.
It follows from this that the performance of the device is at the level of S4 mini. Those.
NOTHING STROKES!
3) Drive size 11.97 GB. This is 2.5 times more than in S4 mini. And this memory is not divided into pieces: it’s all for programs! There is a microSD slot for videos/photos.
4) Screen like S3. There are no differences here, but compared to the S4 mini there is again an advantage both in diagonal and resolution.
5) The device has NFC and a multi-colored status LED.
Those. On the face of it, this is the new flagship of dual-SIM devices with AMOLED.

If you need 2 SIM cards and AMOLED, then at the moment in Russia (06/28/14) this is the best phone!

The only disappointment was the lack of USB OTG. :(
SIM cards are now miniSIM. (average between regular and iPhone)

The S5 mini will be released in the fall. It will have a 4.5 diagonal and will not have PenTile. But there will be protection from water. The hardware will be exactly the same as in this S3 Duos. It is not known whether there will be a model with two SIM cards or not. And then the price will obviously be higher. So you can wait three months and compare...
Igor Agapov, 2014-06-28 Grade 5

Advantages

• Build quality, Processor, Screen, Performance, Ideal dimensions - not a shovel, Camera, Simple user-friendly menu and interface, Internal memory capacity

Flaws

• Speaker, Battery, Lack of display modes, When you start the camera, sometimes a pop-up window with the word weather pops up (I think it can be treated with firmware).

Comment
I was looking for an ideal for a long time, but there was no complete ideal among smart phones :) I selected models only with a removable battery, this is a big plus for a smart phone, you can add it. Buy a battery and remove it yourself if necessary. The assembly is excellent, no play, no squeaks, the lid fits tightly and lies pleasantly in the palm of your hand. Glossy plastic doesn’t matter; it’s still better to immediately hide all smart phones in a case. They were scared by the toxicity of Amoled, but there is none here, except that the red and yellow tones are a little oversaturated, the rest are just right, and my personal photos sparkled with new colors on the phone screensaver, which cannot be compared with the laptop screen. True, I did not find a screen mode switch from bright dynamic colors to natural ones; the simple S3 had them - this is an omission. The speaker is quiet, but not fatally, although you can miss a call if the smart phone is hidden. I was pleased with the menu against a velvet black background. The charge lasts a day for sure, this is with moderate calls and average wi-fi during the day. I liked the design, smooth, very light and thin, thin screen frames. You don’t even need to touch the screen, it flies and switches from half-touch, oleophobic touch and Gorila voice are present (the screen is as nice as varnished). The camera for the phone is adequate, the menu is a little cut down compared to the regular S3, the pictures are better viewed on the Amoled display, they are more beautiful there, the colors are more vibrant, but on the laptop they look very faded, like faded. The Internet is beyond praise, it flies and opens with lightning speed, does not slow down at all, with such a percentage this is understandable. I don’t know why Samsung smart phones are so popular on forums, as if there is something diabolical in them, an excellent modern powerful device for relatively little money. Take it, you won’t regret it, for simple unpretentious users - it’s close to ideal with such a filling, well, if you don’t like it, choose something else. Everything in the world is not perfect, but this phone is definitely not second-rate, the company is still well-known and time-tested, you can immediately pick up a branded case and other things, not like for all the Chinese.
Anonymous, 2014-10-02 Grade 4

Advantages

• * Enough 16G built-in memory and 1.5G RAM
• * quite productive processor
• * contrast screen, black as black
• * there is a light sensor, I don’t know why, but sometimes they don’t install it, for example in LG, and it has +/- adjustment
• * normal camera for video calling
• * an 8MP camera will do just fine, for me it’s better than the ultrapixel HTC
• * hardware button on which you can set the answer and end of the call, relevant for winter
• * in saving mode it limits both the processor frequency and screen consumption, I liked it, and the performance is enough for me
• * removable battery
• * there is an LED indicator

Flaws

• I believe that only obvious problems should be listed as disadvantages, but I didn’t find any, so everything written below is just annoying compromises:
• * The firmware is littered with all sorts of rubbish, but you can turn it off, so it’s a small minus
• * removed OTG, not critical, but sometimes desirable
• * The IR port was removed, it’s also not particularly critical, it would just be interesting
• * Its body is very slippery, I ordered a silicone casing
• * The speaker is on the bottom, so in the case and when lying down it closes and the call is heard more quietly.

Comment
The battery, as usual, borders on lightness and design, so I won’t minus this, it would be thicker and more brutal. The interlocutors said that they could clearly hear me better compared to the old O2x. The firmware has many useful settings such as adjusting auto brightness, various vibrations, and an event indicator. Built-in memory has its own peculiarities; usually the memory is divided into system + programs + user_data, but here it is simply divided into system + programs/data. Those. There is no separate program section, this increases the ability to install applications, but there is a problem with resetting the settings - this erases ALL data on the internal memory, this must be taken into account.
Anonymous, 2014-10-21 Grade 4

Advantages

• + Quality (plus a time-tested brand)!
• + Performance (on Android 4.3) - excellent processor and 1.5 GB of RAM (there is always enough memory, the processor handles any video content perfectly)!
• + Screen (including diagonal, but this is subjective) - I also love IPS, but this Super AMOLED is something (although it’s far from S5, of course): contrast (black is just black) and color rendition!
• + Very sensitive sensor (but this is one of those operas that you don’t pay attention to at all - it’s set up perfectly)!
• + MicroSD support up to 64 GB!
• + Excellent and fast GPS + Glonass (in Crimea it sees about 20 satellites, most of which within 4-5 seconds)!
• + Stable communication and connection speed to the Wi-Fi network (3-4 seconds from the moment Wi-Fi is turned on in this device)!
• + Very bright flash LED (illuminates perfectly in the dark and hardly drains the battery)!
• + Removable battery!
• + Well, of course - 2 SIM cards (be careful - there are several different modifications - with only two GT-I9300I)!
• + Mechanical Home button (very convenient when unlocking - I only use the side one to turn off the display, they can also be configured to accept and reject calls, respectively, which is very convenient! For complete happiness, we should also make the Back button mechanical, because I often accidentally touch it, but it’s the same on my other phones)!
• + As a result, the device is excellently balanced, including its cost (definitely better than any of the Chinese, even for the same money and with more powerful hardware - here it’s good-excellent, but more excellent, everything works, and no matter what and when, well and no reboots - forget about it)!
• + Availability for sale (even in Russia, and not on order from China) of various accessories, including larger batteries of various capacities (up to 7000 mAh) with various back cover options (including a book and a rubber case in different colors)!
• + Whoever needs it has a radio! Good standard software shell (4.3)!

Flaws

• They also exist (nothing critical - I’m writing for maximum objectivity):
• The capacity of the original battery - nothing at all - was almost immediately set to 4200 mAh (now it’s enough for the whole day, charging only at night, and the thickness is now comfortable, otherwise I was still worried that I’d drop it)
• Sound - this does not apply to the native headset at all (although it has comfortable in-ear headphones, it is only suitable for conversations) - with good acoustics, instead of detail, you hear a mess and incomplete dynamic range, although without obvious failures, and generally at the level of integrated ones ( into motherboards for computers) sound chips, so MP3 lovers may even be pleased with the sound (but FLAC even here sounds noticeably better, and even in native headphones), and I’m just very picky and demanding)))
• Camera - I put it in minuses, because I expected more from it after various reviews (although there is a suspicion that, relative to the original S3, not only the functionality of the camera software was cut) - I will give it 4 with a small minus, but I note that it still completely refused to work from a separate camera (I design mainly interiors)
• In a lying position with the screen facing up (especially on soft surfaces), you can miss the sound of a call, since only the speaker at the back sounds (I solved the problem myself by replacing the same battery with a book cover with a stand).
• The eye tracking sensor does not work at all, so it does not affect the blocking in any way! Well, I also don’t use the light sensor, even though it has a 5% adjustment, but I only have to set the brightness to maximum on a very sunny day in direct sunlight (and everything is readable well), otherwise I completely forget about it - the screen helps out!
• Cut down relative to the original S3: no OTG (and I don’t need it, but that’s a fact), no MHL and even banal HDMI as a way to output to an external screen!
• The native video player does not always reproduce sound (you can’t do without MX Player) - not all codecs...
• BUT all this is uncritical!

Scope of delivery:

• Telephone
• Battery Li-Ion 2100 mAh
• Charger with USB cable
• Wired stereo headset
• Instructions

Positioning

There are not many models on the market that can be called real long-lived. The active life of a modern phone on store shelves is at most a year, then new products come to replace it, and you can only find a relatively old device in certain retail outlets - its life expires. With flagships, the situation is somewhat different - each manufacturer invests significant budgets in them, they gain popularity, and, as a result, their lifespan becomes longer. Sometimes it reaches several years. For example, the 2012 flagship Galaxy S3 is still selling quite successfully today; many consider it a balanced and modern model. Formally, one can compare such a device with second-tier manufacturers, and on paper, the latter outperforms the old man in everything - larger screens and their resolution, more megapixels for the camera. But as soon as it comes to actually comparing these devices, a completely different picture emerges. The flagship of a large company at the start of sales had the best characteristics, that is, one of the best cameras, performance, and software features. For several years, performance has been deteriorating, this is an objective parameter that directly depends on the hardware used - the market has moved ahead. But, for example, the quality of the pictures has not deteriorated - the market has grown, the new flagships have better pictures. But previous flagships were also marked down. Therefore, it turns out to be a fair deal - the old flagship costs much less, but in its segment it outperforms many new products, since the components and their quality are disproportionate.

Especially in order to extend the life cycle of the Galaxy S3, Samsung released an updated version of this device with support for two SIM cards (this is what we would like to see initially - a flagship comes out, and then a version for two SIM cards, two years later This is a completely different story and not for everyone). They updated the hardware, added RAM, but by and large, left the rest as is. The result is a mid-segment model, which has the design of the Galaxy S3, the hardware is a little more powerful and is positioned for those who do not buy the latest new products, but want to get the maximum quality of images in their price group. It's by no means a huge market, but it's noticeable. First of all, the S3 Neo Duos will compete with the Galaxy S3 - the difference in the price of these devices is 15-20 percent, which is noticeable. But, as already said, it is described not only by support for a second SIM card, but also by updated hardware. Let's take a look at what has changed and how this device feels.

Design, dimensions, control elements

It will not be possible to find at least one difference in appearance from the original S3. The size is the same – 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm, weight – 133 grams. The device feels great in your hands, this makes it stand out from phablets; you can operate it with one hand. There are only two color options - blue metallic and white, the same colors were originally available for the S3, others are unlikely to appear for this model, after all, this is a niche solution.

The case is plastic, it is glossy with a varnish coating. After two years, we can say that this material is quite practical; in the first year of use you will not notice any abrasions, then the plastic ages beautifully, the damage is invisible. Such plastic has been tested on many models, and this device is no exception.

The quality of assembly and fit of parts is excellent, there are no childhood diseases and there cannot be, this device has been sold with a total circulation of more than 50 million copies, taking into account all variations. In a word, a verified model.

There is a 3.5 mm jack at the top end, and a microUSB connector at the bottom. The right side of the device is the on/off button. On the left side there is a paired volume key.

On the front surface you can see a physical central key, on the sides there are two touch buttons, no differences from the previous model. Above the screen there is a front camera, as well as a light sensor and a proximity sensor.

Display

The screen has a diagonal of 4.8 inches, is made using HD Super AMOLED technology, but its resolution is 1280x720 pixels (16 million colors). The screen is capacitive and supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The quality of the screen is excellent for its class, it outperforms most competitors, losing only in resolution, some models have FullHD. But otherwise the screen is good and will completely satisfy the consumer. The screen fades in the sun, but remains readable.

Battery

The phone uses a 2100 mAh lithium-ion battery (exactly the same as the original S3). The operating time of the device is on average about one day of daylight with an hour of calls, up to two hours on the network - a total of about 3-3.5 hours of screen operation with the backlight at 80 percent. The time to fully charge the battery is about 2 hours. Separately, I note that the use of a second SIM card has practically no effect on the operating time compared to the original device - this is due to a different hardware platform and the presence of a larger amount of RAM. And the fact that the device still has one radio module.

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbit/s. Testing the transfer of a 1 GB file showed a maximum speed of about 12 Mbit/s within three meters between devices.

The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.

USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).

USB version – 2, data transfer speed – about 25 Mb/s.

When connecting to a PC, simultaneous operation of USB and Bluetooth is unacceptable; the device requires you to turn off Bluetooth regardless of the current state (whether there is a connection and transmission or not), this is extremely inconvenient. When connected via USB, the device is recharged.

The microUSB connector also supports the MHL standard, which means that using a special cable (available at electronics stores), you can connect the phone to the TV (to the HDMI output). In fact, the standard describes the ability to connect via microUSB to HDMI. This solution looks preferable to a separate miniHDMI connector on the case. However, if you still have an adapter from previous models, then it will not fit the Galaxy S3 - the connectors have been swapped here.

For GSM networks, EDGE class 12 is provided.

WiFi. The 802.11 a/b/g/n standard is supported, the operation wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember selected networks and automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router in one touch; to do this, you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). Among the additional options, it is worth noting the setup wizard; it appears when the signal is weak or disappearing.

802.11n also supports HT40 mode, which doubles Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).

Wi-Fi Direct. In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone begins to search for devices around. We select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in the file manager you can view files on another device, as well as transfer them. Another option is to simply find devices connected to your router and transfer the necessary files to them; this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.

NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.

S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes in size to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring up and authorize phones, but the second is used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much simpler than using a connection on two devices, selecting files and so on. At the same time, for non-Samsung phones, using S Beam is impossible; you can only be content with Wi-Fi Direct, which is understandable and understandable.

Memory, memory cards

The phone has 16 GB of internal memory, initially about 14 GB is available to the user. Memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported.

The amount of RAM is 1.5 GB, after downloading about 900 MB is free (previously the memory capacity was 1 GB). This is enough for all applications, the speed is quite good for this price class.

Performance

Inside there is a quad-core Exynos processor, the frequency of each core is up to 1.4 GHz. The increased amount of RAM has a slight impact on the performance of the device - however, look at the test results for yourself.

Camera

The camera module has not undergone any changes - for its class it is one of the best cameras, even today.

You can find a full review of the camera and comparison with other models in a separate material:

You can also see examples of pictures taken with this camera.

Working with two SIM cards

There is only one radio module in the device, as a result, you cannot call two cards at the same time. But there is proprietary technology here, which is also used by Nokia (Lumia 630). You can enable constant availability of the second card in the menu - this will not create a second radio module at all. But the phone will automatically register an unconditional forwarding from the operator to another card. It will turn out that if you are unavailable on one SIM card, the call will be forwarded to another. Unfortunately, for each forwarded call you will have to pay the operator (one or another), it is not cheap at all, so for many this option seems unnecessary. I won't recommend using it.

The set of capabilities for SIM cards is standard - selecting an icon for a card, selecting a card for data transfer, sending default messages, and so on. In all menus you can select a card for an action, for example, when viewing contacts you can choose which card to call or send an SMS from. Extremely simple and clear. The call lists indicate which card the call was received on, and so on.

Software Features

Version Android 4.3, all the features that the company's latest 4.4 devices have are not here, this is the main difference. It’s not worth waiting for this model to be updated to 4.4, if possible. In any case, this device will not receive all proprietary programs and UI features. This is the right decision from a marketing point of view. In order not to list things that have long been known, I will repeat the description of the functions from the Galaxy S3 review, you can find them at the link - everything is exactly the same here.

Review