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[Yasir]

Got the Z recently, but S4 looks sweet and plastic is fine! Nice screen!

 

[The Faceless Master]

Samsung's hardware is consistently impressive and I really like Android now, but, the Galaxy line of phones is very underwhelming aesthetically. The plastic needs to go, now.

LG makes a great glass cannon and you can get a premium metal HTC. You don't have to get a Samsung.

 

[H_Prestige]

Black levels are one single component of picture quality. The most important being colour reproduction which OLED is absolutely abysmal at.

And LCD don't have "choppy motion" but they do have slower pixel response than an OLED, something which is important in competitive FPS games, much less important on a cellphone.(so long as the screen isn't of such poor quality that smearing occurs)

OLED isn't bad at color reproduction. That's a software issue. Samsung thinks people like vibrant, overblown colors so they set their displays like that. There are LCD's with terrible color accuracy, but that doesn't mean LCD is bad at color accuracy. Black level is one aspect of PQ, but it is the most important. Color accuracy is second. There's a reason why absolute black level is the holy grail of TV display technology.

As for motion, numbers can say what they want but I watched the same videos side by side on a GS3 and iphone 4 and the GS3 was just silky smooth.

 

[The Faceless Master]

Black levels are one single component of picture quality. The most important being colour reproduction which OLED is absolutely abysmal at.

And LCD don't have "choppy motion" but they do have slower pixel response than an OLED, something which is important in competitive FPS games, much less important on a cellphone.(so long as the screen isn't of such poor quality that smearing occurs)

here we go again...

Samsung by default tunes stuff to be blown out. this is not an OLED issue, or even an LCD issue as Sony does something similar with their devices, calls it a feature with a fancy name and hypes it up in their promo videos.

but the truth is, there are options. the GS3 and GN2 have multiple screen modes, some blown out, some very accurate.

So in terms of the characteristics I measured, is the iPhone 5 better than the adjusted Note 2? Yes, but only slightly. The Note 2's overwhelming contrast advantage, especially in dimmer lighting, is trumped in my book by the iPhone's overwhelming light output advantage, making the iPhone 5 the more versatile screen (the ability to effectively combat ambient light is more important in a phone than in a TV, for example). Color is much closer than before, but the iPhone still gets a slight edge.

http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-6452_7-10014320-2.html

http://www.cnet.com/8301-17918_1-57540240-85/screens-test-part-2-galaxy-note-2-vs-apple-iphone-5/

 

[foodtaster]

samsung would be stupid not to make it plastic. aluminum may be nice, but other than the iphone, phone with it flop

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

S3 getting a refresh, likely announcement at the event: http://phandroid.com/2013/03/12/samsung-galaxy-s3-plus/

 

[forknknife]

5 inches? This is getting ridiculous, I really hope the mini version is successful and they start placing more attention into them because I am not getting anything bigger than my galaxy nexus.

 

[Tallshortman]

I don't know a lot of things, but I know that's not it

Stock Android on their flagship? nahhhhhhh

Not gonna happen with Samsung unless it's a nexus device, which it isn't. Also fake as hell.

 

[ralexand]

samsung would be stupid not to make it plastic. aluminum may be nice, but other than the iphone, phone with it flop

Don't believe aluminum had anything to do with them being a flop.

 

[giga]

The phone will sport a 5-inch screen, slightly larger than the one on last year’s S3, according to two people familiar with the product. The U.S. version will use Qualcomm Inc.’s quad-core chip, giving the phone more processing power to handle multiple tasks at the same time, they said. In other markets, it will rely on Samsung’s “octacore” eight-core chip, the people said.

Qualcomm'd, yet again.

People familiar with the device disputed that idea this week, saying that eye scrolling won’t be in the Galaxy S4, though it may appear in future versions of the phone. There will be more simplified uses of eye-tracking technology, such as the ability to pause videos when the user’s eyes move away from the screen, the people said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-12/samsung-targets-galaxy-4-at-apple-s-core-iphone-market.html

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

The US version using qualcomm was confirmed by sammobile a while ago but it's nice to get confirmation. No big deal on that front. When it comes to real world use it's all the same shit. An overclocked s600 is fine.

 

[paully]

LG makes a great glass cannon and you can get a premium metal HTC. You don't have to get a Samsung.

I'm sure those phones look nice, but this thread isn't about LG or HTC, it's about Samsung. Besides, I have my eye on that new Sony phone.

 

[The Faceless Master]

I'm sure those phones look nice, but this thread isn't about LG or HTC, it's about Samsung. Besides, I have my eye on that new Sony phone.

well, if you want a 2012 SoC, the Nexus 4 is half the price.

 

[outunderthestars]

Qualcomm'd, yet again.

I thought that had been known for some time. Most the rumors had quad core for the US and the 8 core chip for non-LTE markets

 

[terrdactycalsrock]

When is the unveiling of this thing happening?

 

[paully]

well, if you want a 2012 SoC, the Nexus 4 is half the price.

I like the Nexus 4. It's just never in stock, no? Once my iPhone 4s contract is up I'm going Android either way.

 

[zedge]

iPhone 5 - 112 grams
Galaxy S3 - 133 grams

You forgot to add the iPhone 5 comes pre scratched in the box. F premium materials. I'll keep my plastic.

People say the s3 is ugly, but it feels great to use in the hand. The big square ones, not so mucch.

 

[nhlducks35]

You forgot to add the iPhone 5 comes pre scratched in the box. F premium materials. I'll keep my plastic.

Mine wasn't

And what, plastic doesn't scratch?

 

[zedge]

Mine wasn't

And what, plastic doesn't scratch?

It doesn't nick and dent like metal. My old HTC had a metal back and it was scratched to shit in a matter of weeks. Not a mark on any galaxy I have owned. Just my personal preference. What's the point of all these so called premium materials when everyone puts on ugly ass $10 cases. If the phone is that fragile I would hardly call it premium. I would prefer the phone be durable and functional to use as is.

 

[paully]

edit: weird double post

 

[The Faceless Master]

I like the Nexus 4. It's just never in stock, no? Once my iPhone 4s contract is up I'm going Android either way.

hasn't it been in stock pretty often since late January?

It doesn't nick and dent like metal. My old HTC had a metal back and it was scratched to shit in a matter of weeks. Not a mark on any galaxy I have owned. Just my personal preference. What's the point of all these so called premium materials when everyone puts on ugly ass $10 cases. If the phone is that fragile I would hardly call it premium. I would prefer the phone be durable and functional to use as is.

this whole 'premium materials' catchphrase is just some weird fetish for a smartphone to be a fashion statement instead of a portable computing device with some semblance of durability.

 

[paully]

hasn't it been in stock pretty often since late January?







this whole 'premium materials' catchphrase is just some weird fetish for a smartphone to be a fashion statement instead of a portable computing device with some semblance of durability.

I haven't really checked as of late. If it is, I'll definitely pick it up. Thanks for the heads-up. It's a fantastic looking phone.

 

[TAJ]

Why aren't there any no-OLED meltdowns ITT? I feel robbed of salty tears.

OLED has shitty color* and ages like a meth head.

*Blame software if you want, but if it's not fixable in the menu who cares why it sucks? And accuracy through fixed profiles is defeated over time by the second problem.

 

[kehs]

OLED has shitty color and ages like a meth head.

If they stray away from oled, they'll end up like huwaie.

 

[Pochacco]

C'mon Samsung. I know you don't need to, but you can do better.
HTC deserves better; their design and hardware is incredible

 

[The Faceless Master]

C'mon Samsung. I know you don't need to, but you can do better.
HTC deserves better; their design and hardware is incredible

http://cdn0.sbnation.com/entry_photo_images/7840197/DSC05661-hero_verge_super_wide.jpg

"their design and hardware is incredible"

'wait, the HTC logo isn't a button?'

 

[Diprosalic]

It doesn't nick and dent like metal. My old HTC had a metal back and it was scratched to shit in a matter of weeks. Not a mark on any galaxy I have owned. Just my personal preference. What's the point of all these so called premium materials when everyone puts on ugly ass $10 cases. If the phone is that fragile I would hardly call it premium. I would prefer the phone be durable and functional to use as is.

I'm glad some people actually get it. This whole plastic needs to go attitude should just go away. There are hundreds of non plastic phones, get one of those. My plastic GS3 feels good in the hand, looks almost new and i can remove battery, SD and sim in a matter of seconds. I'd take that any day of the week. And if the plastic is damaged i just buy a new one for $2.

 

[RdN]

I own a Note II, and this Samsung design is getting old fast.

When I look at what HTC and Sony are doing, is hard to appreciate Samsung's design.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

C'mon Samsung. I know you don't need to, but you can do better.
HTC deserves better; their design and hardware is incredible

Too bad HTC phones look pretty but are fragile, much like a supermodel. No thanks. "Premium materials" is code words for "looks like a Jaguar, as durable as one too." I'll buy the phone I know will last after a few years of daily wear and tear and the occasional drop on the floor. HTC phones have a reputation for falling apart after a few months, who cares how pretty they are the day you take one out of the box?

 

[bobbytkc]

Too bad HTC phones look pretty but are fragile, much like a supermodel. No thanks. "Premium materials" is code words for "looks like a Jaguar, as durable as one too." I'll buy the phone I know will last after a few years of daily wear and tear and the occasional drop on the floor. HTC phones have a reputation for falling apart after a few months, who cares how pretty they are the day you take one out of the box?

What? The HTC one X is pretty damn durable. When I bought it, they had a working one spinning inside a washing machine.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

What? The HTC one X is pretty damn durable. When I bought it, they had a working one spinning inside a washing machine.

http://htconexproblems.blogspot.com/

Huh. How about no.

 

[bobbytkc]

http://htconexproblems.blogspot.com/

Huh. How about no.

Lol. Okay, that is certainly a reputable source.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Lol. Okay, that is certainly a reputable source.

It's the first result if you Google "htc one x problems".

 

[The Faceless Master]

I own a Note II, and this Samsung design is getting old fast.

When I look at what HTC and Sony are doing, is hard to appreciate Samsung's design.

seeing what they're doing (and not doing) makes me appreciate my Note 2 even more.

these other dudes making these big phones with no wacom tech, still small batteries, still sealed batteries, still no sd card slot, still lcd. stay free other guys.

What? The HTC one X is pretty damn durable. When I bought it, they had a working one spinning inside a washing machine.

 

[bobbytkc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpgbMgsgGPk

Here are two drop tests on concrete floors. One for the S3 and one for the One X. It is clear the screen survives drops from the back and the side for the One X but cracks on direct impact on the screen. For the S3, it survives a drop on the back, but cracks on impact on the side and the front of the device.

Make your own assertions from that.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

seeing what they're doing (and not doing) makes me appreciate my Note 2 even more.

these other dudes making these big phones with no wacom tech, still small batteries, still sealed batteries, still no sd card slot, still lcd. stay free other guys.

It's really hard to imagine owning another device once I've owned the Galaxy Fucking Note. I just hope the Note III will follow in the Note II's footsteps and not get Qualcomm'd. I want 8 cores in my next phone.

 

[Toki767]

It's really hard to imagine owning another device once I've owned the Galaxy Fucking Note. I just hope the Note III will follow in the Note II's footsteps and not get Qualcomm'd. I want 8 cores in my next phone.

The thought of 8 cores in a phone is cool, but 4 of those 8 cores are A7 CPUs which feel like it defeats the purpose other than to save battery life I guess.

 

[yanhero]

The thought of 8 cores in a phone is cool, but 4 of those 8 cores are A7 CPUs which feel like it defeats the purpose other than to save battery life I guess.

Completely disagree....actually having 8 cores would be entirely useless, no app would take advantage of it. Hugely improving battery life is a way more exciting feature imo.

 

[Toki767]

Completely disagree....actually having 8 cores would be entirely useless, no app would take advantage of it. Hugely improving battery life is a way more exciting feature imo.

My point was more that if they really wanted to save battery life, they wouldn't go with 8 cores to begin with.

 

[tzare]

It's really hard to imagine owning another device once I've owned the Galaxy Fucking Note. I just hope the Note III will follow in the Note II's footsteps and not get Qualcomm'd. I want 8 cores in my next phone.

I think one of the rumors regarding s4 is that it would include spen functionality. I think it would be awesome (and let note go for bigger screens into phablet territory) , as it make the divice more interesting and unique without the need to have a huge brick in your pocket (not that 5 inches is small, but still)

Otherways i cannot see any huge improvements besides more power (i think it is nice, but even krait dual cores like my Xperia T are enough to do almost anything without a hitch, especially web browsing heavy websites) and 8 cores seems too much really, 1080p display (nice but i think it is a bit too much too , at least on phones, for tablets it should be the goal)

I hope it is a beast though, so upcoming note 8 with last year specs will be cheap enough as i want a cheap small tablet with spen functionality for work

 

[giga]

My point was more that if they really wanted to save battery life, they wouldn't go with 8 cores to begin with.

The Cortex A15 warranted the big.LITTLE design. It's way too power hungry for everyday tasks.

"Octa-core" is kind of misleading. It's really a 4+4 design. While it can be done, they're not really made to run all at the same time. It will be mostly four A7 or four A15 cores running at any given time.

 

[SirMossyBloke]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpgbMgsgGPk

Here are two drop tests on concrete floors. One for the S3 and one for the One X. It is clear the screen survives drops from the back and the side for the One X but cracks on direct impact on the screen. For the S3, it survives a drop on the back, but cracks on impact on the side and the front of the device.

Make your own assertions from that.

From my experience selling S3s it's been the most fragile phone released in recent years. I've never seen more phones come through my doors with broken screens since the iPhone 4 came out. It's the most brittle phone I've seen people use.

Anecdotal yes, I get that. But that glass won't last you long at all if dropped.

 

[Kiraly]

Too bad suckers, everything is pointing more and more to the design in the OP.

 

[shwimpy]

So what time is the conference tomorrow?

 

[The Faceless Master]

So what time is the conference tomorrow?

7PM EST, 4PM Pacific

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

7PM EST, 4PM Pacific

for some reason I thought it was earlier in the day. That's nice. Might be home by then.

 

[Phat Michael]

5 inches? This is getting ridiculous, I really hope the mini version is successful and they start placing more attention into them because I am not getting anything bigger than my galaxy nexus.

I dont get this argument. its like when I saw the note at 5.3 and the note 2 at 5.5". the note 2 is easier to hold. isnt it also 4.9"? the difference in size between this and your old phone will be negligible in size and a whole lot more quality

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

I dont get this argument. its like when I saw the note at 5.3 and the note 2 at 5.5". the note 2 is easier to hold. isnt it also 4.9"? the difference in size between this and your old phone will be negligible in size and a whole lot more quality

going from 4.8 to 4.99 inches on this one.

 

[Phat Michael]

My point was more that if they really wanted to save battery life, they wouldn't go with 8 cores to begin with.

jesus. some people dont read here do they?

 

[Phat Michael]

going from 4.8 to 4.99 inches on this one.

umm...and thats going to stop him buying the phone now???