Galaxy S III - has it won over the Pocket Gamer crew?

The rumours and the waiting are finally over - Samsung's latest flagship Android handset, the Galaxy S III, is available now across Europe.

Packing in a quad-core processor, a massive 4.8-inch screen, and more extra bits of software than you'll probably ever use, the Galaxy S III is a fierce statement of intent from the world's second-largest phone manufacturer.

With both HTC and Sony picking up their game with some stonking smartphones recently, and Apple beavering away on its next-generation iPhone, has the new Sammy blower got enough under the bonnet to persuade the notoriously negative worker drones in Pocket Gamer Towers to part with their cash here and now?

There's only one way to find out - let's mass debate!

Unfortunately, thanks to half the office being iPhone owners and almost all the rest using Android (with a few Windows Phone fans in the mix, too), the debate soon disintegrated into an OS fight, which I have had to cut due to strong language and threats of violence against kittens.

Will
The Galaxy S III is more powerful than the iPhone 4S, it's a little cheaper, has a much larger screen, and runs the most modern version of the most popular mobile OS. What's not to get excited about?

Keith
I think the launch of a new iPhone is probably still the only 'event' that genuinely excites the masses - even those folk that don't buy one.

Will
9 million pre-orders for the Galaxy S III suggests that may be changing, though...

Jonathan
That 9 million pre-order figure apparently includes orders placed by the networks and distributors. The phone will probably still sell very well, but the way Samsung reports pre-orders differs from the way Apple does (I believe that The Big A only counts orders from real people in its pre-order figures).

Keith
I think it's harder to get excited about a phone on an open platform because it appears to be just a slight upgrade on what's gone before.

Also, Samsung suffers because of the fact new Android phones virtually launch every month, which is why it's been so keen to make Galaxy a distinct brand.

I think, at the moment, Samsung is mopping up Android sales, but I suspect the majority of Galaxy S III sales will be to new customers or those upgrading from the original Galaxy S, rather than to Galaxy S II owners.

Will
Didn't Mike upgrade from an Galaxy S II? Mike
I pre-ordered because the contract on my current phone ran out this month.

David
Most of us that bought a Galaxy S II are on 18- or 24-month contracts, and the Galaxy S III isn't a big enough step up to justify the extra outlay. I'd imagine there'll be a lot of Android users with a HTC Desire, say, that are contemplating stepping up to the Galaxy S III, though.

Will
What about those with an iPhone at the moment - you tempted to make the switch to Android by Samsung's latest effort?

Keith
I'd be very surprised if many iOS owners are ever tempted by any Android device.There's a reason people buy Apple: it's a badge. Not the kind of thing you leave behind easily.

David
As I said earlier, mainly folks with older Androids will look to upgrade to the Galaxy S III. I imagine some consumers will desert Apple, though. I know friends considering it now that never would have before.

Will
Why are they considering it now, David? David: Main reason seems to be that they're so impressed by the Galaxy S II. Also, there's a recession on or something.
James N
As an Xperia Play owner, I have no interest in upgrading to the Galaxy S III.

Will
Because of the OS?

James N
Yes, it's the OS. I just want something now with a little more polish, less affected by fragmentation, and a decent keyboard.

Richard
Here are the three main reasons why I wouldn't consider switching from an iPhone to an Android: I don't wish to wait six years for a software update to my blower; I have invested too much time, money, and effort into the App Store; and I know that my blower will be out of date within a week. Probably.

James G
I ordered a Galaxy S II just before the announcement of the Galaxy S III, and was worried I was going to regret my decision. When the Galaxy S III was unveiled, though, I have to admit I was slightly relieved.

It's a little too big, uglier than the previous model, and packs more power than is currently necessary.

The Galaxy S II handles almost everything you can throw at it, has just been updated to the most current version of Android OS (Ice Cream Sandwich), and can now be picked up for free on far cheaper data plans.

Will
I'm more interested in whether the Galaxy S III can hold a charge for a decent amount of time than whether it looks good or runs a particular OS.

My HTC Mozart 7 is a beast in the battery department. I don't think I can switch to a phone that runs dry after a day.

Unfortunately, I'll just have to rely on others for that information, for manufacturers are notoriously loose with the truth when it comes to battery life.

Mark
I don't like Android because I think it can be very clunky and poorly designed.

Apple's App Store might be locked down tighter than Fort Knox, but you've got things like intuitive multitasking on iOS and the security in knowing you won't come across a naughty wallet-sapping app by accident on Apple's digital emporium.

Everything about iOS is designed to make the user interface slick and smooth - Android just can't compete in that respect.

James N
I will miss long presses and widgets, mind. Jonathan
Will: The Galaxy S III seems to do quite well in the battery stakes, because for a lot of the time it will be running just two cores and at a much lower clock rate.

I've been hearing that, like the new iPad, it doesn't like being put under load. If it does, it gets very hot and the kernel immediately throttles the power - cutting the performance.

There are a lot of real techies who argue that a higher clock speed dual-core chip is more efficient than a quad-core processor for reasons most punters wouldn't understand. All down to the size of the chips, and heat control, etc. It confuses me, too!

Rob
I've gone from being a tinkerer in my uni days to being a consumer in my adulthood, and for a basic consumer who just wants s*** to work, iOS is perfect.

Kristan
I'm with Rob. A hardened tinkerer of old, now I have no time and just need it to work.

Anthony
The Galaxy S III is just another Android phone (and an ugly one at that) in my eyes, so I have no interest in it.

Plus, I love how in sync my iPhone 4S, new iPad, and iMac are, which means I don't really want to ditch iOS.

Like Rich, I've been buying apps since the App Store launched and I don't want to lose them. Basically, Apple has me by the short and curlies.

Mike
I've never understood this whole 'connected iOS devices being better than Android' thing.

My Android devices are all connected by a single Google account, and there is no limit to how many devices I can link to one account.

Jonathan
That's what I like about Android, too. When I get a new review phone, I log in once and within five minutes all my contacts, appointments, email, and apps (depending on the OS) are in place, set up just as they were on my previous device.

Mike
Yeah, exactly. I'll barely have to set anything up on my Galaxy S III when it arrives in the post, as it will automatically sync everything over from the original phone. I don't see how more 'connected' you can get really.

Kristan
I'm not sure what the big deal is about siding with one [mobile platform] over the other. They both appear to do precisely the same thing, and are largely as easy to set up as one another.