The Official Samsung Galaxy S III Thread

benjo · 5 Jan 2013 at 21:15

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Deep · 5 Jan 2013 at 22:42

I bought 6 not to long ago, I leave them in loads of places so that I can charge my phone, i.e. 1 at work, 1 at my grandmothers, 1 in the car, 1 in my laptop bag etc...

"MICRO USB DATA CABLE CHARGER LEAD USB A MALE TO MICRO B BLACKBERRY HTC SAMSUNG"

They were 99p and are a metre long! Worth every penny

ajf · 6 Jan 2013 at 04:37

Hmm, decided to try another nightly of CM10.1 and the wifi tethering seems OK now.
No idea if it has been fixed, or my iPad was just being awkward as it's an Android device

Overall seems OK so far. No obvious problems so far with everything else I have tried.
Whether there is much 'advantage' over the stock Samsung ROM of course I guess is a question. i just wanted to try it out!

Messing with themes now....

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 10:58

Just spent two days reading this thread from start to finish... I have been torn between a Nexus 4 and S3 but the excellent camera and having been given a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for Xmas helped make up my mind on the S3. Unfortunately the last few pages started to put me off with all the sudden deaths but I wasn't firm... until I found out this supposedly top end phone can't even support DC-HSPA

I'm looking to pay cash outright regardless of which phone I chose, but my fiancee has an iPhone 5 on three that I got her on contract and we regularly see 21-25Mbps down when tethering... So I was shocked to read the S3 can't even do that? No 4G I can understand but surely even the non-LTE model of a flagship device should have DC-HSPA when cheaper phones and the Nexus 4 support it?

Have I read wrong, or will I have to pay for the LTE if I decide on the S3? If so where's cheapest these days now the ee PAYG offer expired? Many thanks in advance. :-)

Freefaller · 6 Jan 2013 at 11:21

You'll have to get the S3 LTE version. However, I'm not on a 4G network, and wasn't going to be for some time, so when I got my S3 6 months ago, it wasn't even something I was considering. Also paying under £20 a month, I use just about my data allowance and for the same amount on a 4G network I'd be paying nearly 50% more which I'm not prepared to do.

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 11:27

Freefaller said:
You'll have to get the S3 LTE version. However, I'm not on a 4G network, and wasn't going to be for some time, so when I got my S3 6 months ago, it wasn't even something I was considering. Also paying under £20 a month, I use just about my data allowance and for the same amount on a 4G network I'd be paying nearly 50% more which I'm not prepared to do.

Hey mate, long time no speak. I trust you're well! I'm not interested in 4G, just DC-HSPA which gives better than 4G speeds anyway on balance, judging by early ee reviews... we get 25Mbps down no trouble on DC-HSPA from Three using an iPhone 5 as tether.

But from what I gather the standard S3 doesn't support the DC-HSPA (nothing to do with 4G). So what I'm trying to say is that to even get DC-HSPA speeds I'd still have to buy the 4G version of the S3, even if I don't want to use 4G, just to get the DC-HSPA chip??... Hope that makes sense.

Bloomfield · 6 Jan 2013 at 11:30

Rainmaker said:
Just spent two days reading this thread from start to finish... I have been torn between a Nexus 4 and S3 but the excellent camera and having been given a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 for Xmas helped make up my mind on the S3. Unfortunately the last few pages started to put me off with all the sudden deaths but I wasn't firm... until I found out this supposedly top end phone can't even support DC-HSPA

I'm looking to pay cash outright regardless of which phone I chose, but my fiancee has an iPhone 5 on three that I got her on contract and we regularly see 21-25Mbps down when tethering... So I was shocked to read the S3 can't even do that? No 4G I can understand but surely even the non-LTE model of a flagship device should have DC-HSPA when cheaper phones and the Nexus 4 support it?

Have I read wrong, or will I have to pay for the LTE if I decide on the S3? If so where's cheapest these days now the ee PAYG offer expired? Many thanks in advance.

I might be wrong, but I think phones started coming out with DC-HSDPA a while after the S3 came out, it's been out a while. Note 2/iPhone/LG Nexus etc. all came out like half a year later.

I did think it had DC-HSDPA though, never realised it didn't

.

Freefaller · 6 Jan 2013 at 11:43

Rainmaker said:
Hey mate, long time no speak. I trust you're well! I'm not interested in 4G, just DC-HSPA which gives better than 4G speeds anyway on balance, judging by early ee reviews... we get 25Mbps down no trouble on DC-HSPA from Three using an iPhone 5 as tether.

But from what I gather the standard S3 doesn't support the DC-HSPA (nothing to do with 4G). So what I'm trying to say is that to even get DC-HSPA speeds I'd still have to buy the 4G version of the S3, even if I don't want to use 4G, just to get the DC-HSPA chip??... Hope that makes sense.

I'm very well thank you - nice to see you posting! Must get round to emailing you again soon!

I think the original S3 came out before DC-HSPA chip existed - but I'll let the experts confirm that - However, I think it means you may need the LTE version which I'm pretty sure does have that.

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 11:45

Thanks guys.

The S3 LTE isn't out of the running entirely, but since the ee deal expired I'm only seeming to find it for £400 or less on no-name sites that I wouldn't trust to rob me!

Does anyone know a trustworthy seller with decent prices? I've seen them at £350 until I wanted one! haha

kona786 · 6 Jan 2013 at 12:13

Bloomfield said:
I might be wrong, but I think phones started coming out with DC-HSDPA a while after the S3 came out, it's been out a while. Note 2/iPhone/LG Nexus etc. all came out like half a year later.

I did think it had DC-HSDPA though, never realised it didn't .

Only the Note2 LTE has DC-HSDPA - normal one hasn't. Its all baked in to the Qualcomm 4G radio.

I have the S3 LTE and use it purely on a 3G T-Mobile contract. Any questions Rainmaker?

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 12:53

kona786 said:
Only the Note2 LTE has DC-HSDPA - normal one hasn't. Its all baked in to the Qualcomm 4G radio.

I have the S3 LTE and use it purely on a 3G T-Mobile contract. Any questions Rainmaker?

Not really, being honest. As I said I've read the whole thread and researched to death, I was just disappointed about the DC-HSPA issue but now I know the S3 was out before it was commonplace it's not so bad. Only the potential for sudden death issues and poor customer service on warranty sullies things now.

I guess I'll just have to grab the LTE if I pick the S3 over the Nexus 4 (only the storage and camera are really swinging it for me atm). Provided I can find one cheap enough anyway.

How do you find it day-to-day? I've been stuck on a brick (very old Samsung) since my Desire smashed six months ago, and was still in contract until this week. So going back to a smartphone is going to be heaven and I want to stay sim-free.

kona786 · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:01

I've had a G1, Desire, S2, now S3 LTE (and a GNex).

It's an awsesome phone in all areas. Screen is lovely (I rate it highly over the N4's LCD screen). Smooth and fast on JB, Loads of storage, batterylife is good depending on how you use it, camera is one of the best. The only thing I don't fully like is the aesthetics and design - they could have made it more premium looking and feeling.

Overall - the S3 is a very complete phone. 2GB RAM on the LTE is a nice bonus.

here's mine:

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:04

kona786 said:
I've had a G1, Desire, S2, now S3 LTE (and a GNex).

It's an awsesome phone in all areas. Screen is lovely (I rate it highly over the N4's LCD screen). Smooth and fast on JB, Loads of storage, batterylife is good depending on how you use it, camera is one of the best. The only thing I don't fully like is the aesthetics and design - they could have made it more premium looking and feeling.

Overall - the S3 is a very complete phone. 2GB RAM on the LTE is a nice bonus.

here's mine:

[ /IMG]

Sounds good to me! I think I'll have a proper play with one in-store and see how I find it. In Tesco (the only place I've seen one) the pages on Chrome looked dismally dull and that was with browser brightness and phone brightness on full. Is it so bad in real-world? FWIW I've gotten used to having my Tab2 on auto brightness now so I guess it won't bother me so much. Before now I had my iPod touch on full brightness so it was a big change... Other than that I think I'll pull the trigger... I just don't want to end up with buyer's remorse haha

EDIT: Just thought... sorry!... is the default sms app changing anything over 3 texts long into an MMS still an issue? I don't want a huge bill or to have to grab custom apps if I don't need to. Thanks.

kona786 · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:12

The browser brightness option is gone in Jelly Bean - it's all just one brightness now.

Brightness on the S3 screen is not an issue - screen is plenty bright.

I use GO SMS so not sure. If your into rooting and ROMing that can be sorted.

Also the 3000mah Official battery is coming out this month - only adds about 1mm to the thickness.

Freefaller · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:12

Yup it still does the MMS conversion annoyingly.

Rainmaker · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:19

kona786 said:
The browser brightness option is gone in Jelly Bean - it's all just one brightness now.

Brightness on the S3 screen is not an issue - screen is plenty bright.

I use GO SMS so not sure. If your into rooting and ROMing that can be sorted.

Also the 3000mah Official battery is coming out this month - only adds about 1mm to the thickness.

Freefaller said:
Yup it still does the MMS conversion annoyingly.

Thanks fellas. I don't mind rooting and playing with ROMs (I play with and break Linux distros for fun on my rigs constantly, have done for years), so I guess that's not too bad. The new battery sounds fun, even if it is £40 one-off. Only 1mm is nothing to moan about imho. Tempted, so tempted... still shopping for a decent cheap seller then I'll probably nail one.

Bloomfield · 6 Jan 2013 at 13:51

kona786 said:
Only the Note2 LTE has DC-HSDPA - normal one hasn't. Its all baked in to the Qualcomm 4G radio.

I have the S3 LTE and use it purely on a 3G T-Mobile contract. Any questions Rainmaker?

Ah, I'd just assumed it had simce my S2 got about 6Mb/s at home while the note 2 gets 12Mb/s on the same network

. I did actually check GSMArena but sneakily it lists the N7105 (LTE) along with the N7100 (3G) and I didn't notice since I only read as far as HSDPA 42Mbps

.

Still, the main point still stands, it wasn't really used (or maybe available if it was/still is only on 4G chips)

.

SMS to MMS conversion is so annoying, most people have unlimited (or near enough to it) SMS but have to pay for MMS

. It's easy enough to fix if you're rooting though

.

Danthus · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:37

I have been running cyanogen for a few days now and I have found it really buggy. Chrome in particular almost needs to be restarted every time.

stoosh · 6 Jan 2013 at 14:54

Bloomfield said:
Ah, I'd just assumed it had simce my S2 got about 6Mb/s at home while the note 2 gets 12Mb/s on the same network . I did actually check GSMArena but sneakily it lists the N7105 (LTE) along with the N7100 (3G) and I didn't notice since I only read as far as HSDPA 42Mbps .

Still, the main point still stands, it wasn't really used (or maybe available if it was/still is only on 4G chips) .

SMS to MMS conversion is so annoying, most people have unlimited (or near enough to it) SMS but have to pay for MMS . It's easy enough to fix if you're rooting though .

You could always use third party apps such as Go SMS and Handcent and that's without rooting!

Bloomfield · 6 Jan 2013 at 15:00

I prefer the Samsung SMS app to both of those though

.

***The Official Samsung Galaxy S III Thread***

The Official Samsung Galaxy S III Thread