The Build Quality
Color
Let's start with one of the most prominent complains about the Pebble Blue version... the color of the dedicated home button. To quickly dispel the rumors - it is *not* a different color than the rest of the phone. It is the same exact color, however the reason many people claim it is different or "purple" is because it does not have the glass covering it, so it appears to be a different shade to the untrained eye (the glass adds a slight darkness over the Blue surrounding the face of the device). There is nothing about the color of the phone that is inconsistent. It has a nice, even Blue/Gray metal tone to it, with highlights of purple depending on the light hitting it. Personally I prefer black phones, however I have become accustomed to the Pebble Blue and I can say I definitely prefer it over a white phone. All in all, very happy with the color.
Back plate
I had seen a complaint from someone in the forum that the bottom of the back plate was not completely "flush" on one side. Although it is very minor, I can report a similar finding on mine as well. It doesn't seem to be a defect really, it's just not "perfect" to those of us with phone OCD (which is probably 85% of us on XDA). Overall the back fits well - not something I am worried about. Don't care much for the design coming from the GSII and the GSM Gnex, as I was used to the awesome texture and "inset" style of those back plates, however I do find that the material the GSIII is made of seems to stick to my hands somewhat making it less likely to drop pulling it out of my pocket. I have seen some users calling it "slippery" but I would have to respectfully disagree here. I find it adheres to my hand more than any phone I have ever owned, possibly due to the coating they used on it (that may be why they coated it the way they did). Most of us will probably throw a case on this phone anyway, so it may not even be relevant for most.
"Bezel"
The "bezel" around the glass appears to be made of a different material than the rest of the phone. It looks like it potentially could have problems down the line - almost appears as if it's made with minute cracks, although I believe that is just the look of the material. However, with recent reports of some cracking happening for no apparent reason (though I cannot confirm that the user(s) did not sit on the phone or something similar to cause it) this could potentially be the Achilles Heel of the GSIII. If we see a ton of issues with this, there will be some very unhappy GSIII owners and a slew of returns/replacements. Mine has not exhibited any problems so far, but this is something I will be watching closely. Again, a case is probably going to add some protection here, which is how I intend to stave off any potential problems. One thing that really makes this phone shine is the elimination of the bezel "lip" - your finger slides right over the glass from the side/bottom/top of the phone with no lip in the way, which is a nice change IMO.
Screen
Absolutely amazing. Gorgeous, vibrant HD screen that impressed me more than my GSII did. I do see a small amount of the ink blotting that is all too common with Super AMOLED screens, however it is much more minor than it was on my first GSII and pretty much unnoticeable even watching movies in the dark. The colors literally pop on this bad boy, and the brightness is more than adequate for great viewing in direct sunlight. I've never seen a better screen on a phone, period. I know this is subjective, just my two cents.. couldn't be happier.
The User Experience
Processing Speed
Holy **** Batman. This is the fastest phone I've ever seen in my life, hands down. This thing came flying right out of the box as faster than any over clocked dual-core monstrosity I've ever seen. In addition to the awesome speed I experienced myself, the Quadrant scores were in the high 4800's to low 5100's without any modifications at all. No root, no freezing bloatware, nothing. Handles everything I throw at it without even a hiccup. All while running a Live Wallpaper at 60 fps. Scrollable widgets, scrolling live wallpaper, stuff running in the background, jumping from one app to the next using the home button, nothing slows it down. Nothing. Granted, I am using Apex Launcher instead of TouchWiz but that means TouchWiz is still in the background somewhere since I have not frozen or uninstalled it. Doesn't seem to matter, it runs beautifully. This is true on Wifi or 3G/4G, consistent performance regardless.
Radios
I'm getting the best reception and data speeds on T-Mobile I've ever experienced. In my area, where on a good day I might see 5-6Mbps down, I am routinely getting 11-12Mbs. In my condo where I typically have one to no bars, I have three. Wifi connects like nobody's business, by the time I entered my password it was connected within a second. Literally couldn't even finish reading "obtaining IP address" before it said "connected". And I read very fast. I did notice, however, that the wifi signal strength appears weaker - but did not have any disconnections or problems with it, it just "looked" like I had less signal than on my Gnex & GSII. Still stayed connected, and honestly I probably need a new router because mine is crap anyway.
So far, this is all I have to write about today, I've only had the phone for about 20 hours, I will edit this to conclude my review in the next day or two.
Initial impression - get this phone, you will NOT be sorry. Best phone on the market hands down IMO
back with more later, thanks!
very nice review cant wait to get this phone on att!
Very cool I cannot wait for july 5th when I'm eligible for my full upgrade. My vibrant has been a great phone but this things seems like the real deal.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
Awesome review! I switched from Verizon to t-mobile today. How do I make sure I am getting the 42mb.s. speeds? I am seeing speeds around 1-3mbs. It says 4g up top...
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
It depends on where you live. Where are you located?
Sent from my brand new GALAXY SIII
Richmond Virginia.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Ok let me check out your coverage area.
What plan are you on? Data I mean
Sent from my brand new GALAXY SIII
Finally got mine today and I can say that I'm impressed. I think the One X is going up for sale very soon.. . Sure the screen isn't as crisp, but everything else about the phone blows the One X out of the water.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
The 5GB 4g plan. Idk I just got their best plan because it was so much cheaper than Verizon lol.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
They probably haven't activated your data quite yet. Hang tight for a day or two
Sent from my brand new GALAXY SIII
ovoxo. said:
Finally got mine today and I can say that I'm impressed. I think the One X is going up for sale very soon.. . Sure the screen isn't as crisp, but everything else about the phone blows the One X out of the water.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like what?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
ingenious247 said:
They probably haven't activated your data quite yet. Hang tight for a day or two
Sent from my brand new GALAXY SIII
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome man thanks!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Rayn1328 said:
Very cool I cannot wait for july 5th when I'm eligible for my full upgrade. My vibrant has been a great phone but this things seems like the real deal.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wasent eligible for a full upgrade till July 1st. But T-Mobile let me order it on June 21st. Then waved the extra 10 days
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Hi!
I had a chance to look at the pebble blue version of the Samsung Galaxy three phone in a T-Mobile store recently and noticed that when I used the google search engine to look up something, the white background surrounding the websites that loaded up on that page showed some blue tint. Has anyone seen this on their phone?
Also, I noticed that the pebble blue version that I saw in the store had alot of fingerprints. Does that bother anyone, who has this color? Thanks!
lostincyberspace said:
Hi!
I had a chance to look at the pebble blue version of the Samsung Galaxy three phone in a T-Mobile store recently and noticed that when I used the google search engine to look up something, the white background surrounding the websites that loaded up on that page showed some blue tint. Has anyone seen this on their phone?
Also, I noticed that the pebble blue version that I saw in the store had alot of fingerprints. Does that bother anyone, who has this color? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope! My screen is gorgeous!!! This is coming from a razr maxx with amoled.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
lostincyberspace said:
Hi!
I had a chance to look at the pebble blue version of the Samsung Galaxy three phone in a T-Mobile store recently and noticed that when I used the google search engine to look up something, the white background surrounding the websites that loaded up on that page showed some blue tint. Has anyone seen this on their phone?
Also, I noticed that the pebble blue version that I saw in the store had alot of fingerprints. Does that bother anyone, who has this color? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Compare to one x the screen I think is better on the one x and the fingerprint yeha drive me nuts but I'm getting a light case this phone slips too fast lol (I got the blue one)
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
benefit14snake said:
Nope! My screen is gorgeous!!! This is coming from a razr maxx with amoled.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
Thanks for your reply! By the way, did you get the pebble blue or the marble white version?
lostincyberspace said:
Hi!
Thanks for your reply! By the way, did you get the pebble blue or the marble white version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pebble blue.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
funcrusher said:
Like what?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well first, as mentioned before by others, the fluidity. The phone is so fast and smooth. I can't find anything to slow it down yet. Multitasking works flawlessly, which was a huge gripe with the One X. The design is much nicer in my opinion, but I did used to think the One X was nicer before I ever saw the S3. Call quality is much, much clearer on the S3 on both a speaker and regular call. The speaker is louder, which is nice when watching videos or listening to music. Also, I always found the One X to be slightly uncomfortable to hold, but the S3 I've had no complaints about, it's quite nice.
These are just my two cents, no fanboyism whatsoever.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Edit: Whoops, double post.
Hi all,
Does anyone here own one of these cases? Specifically in light blue, yellow or orange?
I ask because, looking at pictures online, it appears the colour on the front of the case is a little lighter than the colour at the back. I'm a bit weird, I know, but if true, that would annoy me and put me off buying one.
I owned the official flip case for the Galaxy Note and the colour was the same front and back. Is this the case with the S3?
Many thanks.
I had one, the blue one. It wasn't bad, the color looked fine to me. I also have one on my s3 and it has the same design as the color on the phone itself.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I have one in blue and am not impressed. It looks nice, the color matches the phone and it protects the screen quite well but ultimately, the inferior quality will force me to return it. It's been on the phone for 4 days and the top is already starting to delaminate and bubble along the left edge. You can push it down and it will flatten out but the next time you fold it back to use the phone, it bubbles up again. It’s getting noticeably worse as the days go on.
I have one and it's not bad. Not delaminating like others
Hi Am not sure ever any one asked before here , but here is me asking it I have a note 2 white and now a bit tempted to go grey I know there is a mercury pearl film which can be put on the front to make the front part of the bezel change color to what you want and then just replace the battery cover ... but the pearl film is not available in grey and ... so any one know of how I can do this?
I'm going to bump this because I was wondering this as well. I just heard of this phone ( ) about 2 weeks ago and I fell in love; had to have it. Well I'd only been able to view it in person at RadioShack in Gray and when I first saw this online, it was in white and that was what I wanted. I got this from a guy on CL last night for $300 in white, but I almost didn't get it because I think I'm more partial to the Titanium now. I don't want to go ahead and sell this one just to change the color, so if there is a way to change the front bezel I'd love to hear it.
CursiveTea said:
I'm going to bump this because I was wondering this as well. I just heard of this phone ( ) about 2 weeks ago and I fell in love; had to have it. Well I'd only been able to view it in person at RadioShack in Gray and when I first saw this online, it was in white and that was what I wanted. I got this from a guy on CL last night for $300 in white, but I almost didn't get it because I think I'm more partial to the Titanium now. I don't want to go ahead and sell this one just to change the color, so if there is a way to change the front bezel I'd love to hear it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could just go ahead and change the front glass which will cost you around $20 and a lot of patience.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
Having had my phone since it was released, I forget what color it is until I take off the case. Seriously, you likely won't even notice the color any more, unless you're one who lives dangerously and doesn't use a protective case.
-----
I would love to help you, but help yourself first: ask a better question
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
So after owning a white S3, Note 2, and S4 I found this to be odd. When the screen is on and I'm in a dark environment, I can see light through the white bezel parts of the phone. Does anyone else have this issue? If it's normal, then I actually don't like it lol I think it's kinda unfortunate. Someone confirm with me so I can see what I can do with my 14-day return window. Thanks.
Ya mine does it too. I wish I would have picked a different color. It's ugly The only time it bothers me though is when I'm using my gear vr.
Sent from my SM-G925T using XDA Free mobile app
Mine does the same exact thing too.
I am ready to love the Note 7. I got the black model and I love how it looks with no chrome, very cool. I was worried about the dual edges at first because I hated how the S7 Edge felt in my hands and the functionality (or mis-functionality) of the edge. However, I love the way the Note7 edges look and function. I also love how it fits my hands and is much easier to use one handed than the Note 5. However, I found a flaw today that I hope is just an oversight on my part and not really the case. After searching on line for a while I have not found an answer to my issue, so here I am.
One thing I use the S Pen for quite a bit is touching up or editing photo's. I am not looking to do Photoshop level work here, but maybe a small touch up here or there. Going all the way back to the Note 2 I have just used the stock editor launching it from within the gallery app. I could then select drawing and do whatever I wanted with the S Pen to the photo. One featured I use all the time while doing this is the ability to pick the color of the pen from a color on the photo using the common "dropper" tool. Lets say for example I had a great picture of myself but noticed a big mustard stain on my shirt. I could use the dropper to select the color of my shirt and more or less make the stain go away. I cannot find this function anywhere with the Note 7! I have looked under every "pen" type and seemingly every sub-menu, but I cannot find the dropper anywhere. Someone please tell me this is not the case and I am simply overlooking it. If it is in fact the case and there is another app that I should be using to edit photos with S Pen functionality, please enlighten me. I cannot figure out why they would have decided to get rid of this simple but useful tool.
Sidenote: I was pretty excited to get a shipment E-mail from Samsung today saying my free 256GB SD card has been shipped. I submitted my claim on 8/18 when I got the phone. That is the quickest turn around on a promotion I have seen from Samsung.
Thanks!
thatphonefreak said:
I am ready to love the Note 7. I got the black model and I love how it looks with no chrome, very cool. I was worried about the dual edges at first because I hated how the S7 Edge felt in my hands and the functionality (or mis-functionality) of the edge. However, I love the way the Note7 edges look and function. I also love how it fits my hands and is much easier to use one handed than the Note 5. However, I found a flaw today that I hope is just an oversight on my part and not really the case. After searching on line for a while I have not found an answer to my issue, so here I am.
One thing I use the S Pen for quite a bit is touching up or editing photo's. I am not looking to do Photoshop level work here, but maybe a small touch up here or there. Going all the way back to the Note 2 I have just used the stock editor launching it from within the gallery app. I could then select drawing and do whatever I wanted with the S Pen to the photo. One featured I use all the time while doing this is the ability to pick the color of the pen from a color on the photo using the common "dropper" tool. Lets say for example I had a great picture of myself but noticed a big mustard stain on my shirt. I could use the dropper to select the color of my shirt and more or less make the stain go away. I cannot find this function anywhere with the Note 7! I have looked under every "pen" type and seemingly every sub-menu, but I cannot find the dropper anywhere. Someone please tell me this is not the case and I am simply overlooking it. If it is in fact the case and there is another app that I should be using to edit photos with S Pen functionality, please enlighten me. I cannot figure out why they would have decided to get rid of this simple but useful tool.
Sidenote: I was pretty excited to get a shipment E-mail from Samsung today saying my free 256GB SD card has been shipped. I submitted my claim on 8/18 when I got the phone. That is the quickest turn around on a promotion I have seen from Samsung.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had a quick look at your dilemma. Can't find the dropper either.
Regarding your sidenote, the quickest I've seen Samsung was when my note 7 came with the 256gb memory card shrink wrapped to the same box as the phone. Was thinking I'll need to fill out forms etc to get the card once the phone arrived but surprise surprise, the card was there too.