iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III: The Ultimate Comparison

First glance comparison of iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III

Finally, the hotly anticipated iPhone 5 is unveiled! Apple launched its newest smartphone just some hours ago. That put an end to all speculations and rumours which got many iPhone users and retailers confused.

Now, when Apple’s iPhone 5 is out, it is time to compare it with its biggest competition – Samsung Galaxy S III. In that way we would see whether or not Apple’s new device is a “worthy foe” to Galaxy S III. Also, by doing this we will try to help you decide which phone will meet your needs better.

• Further Reading: Questions you need to ask yourself before you buy iPhone 5

Size & Weight – iPhone 5 is the most stylish and thin model that Apple has ever created. Actually, it is 1mm thinner than Samsung Galaxy S III. In addition, it even weighs 21g less than Samsung’s smartphone. Without a doubt, iPhone 5 will fit more easily into your pocket than Galaxy S III.

Display – Not long ago, Apple stated that one of its goals is to improve the multimedia performance of its devices. It seems that the company tried to achieve that by enlarging the screen of the new iPhone. Nevertheless, its size (4”) is still smaller than the display of Galaxy S III (4.8”). However, the new iPhone’s screen size perfectly goes with its new slender appearance.

In terms of image quality, Samsung offers a brighter picture because of its Super AMOLED display. However, many people dislike that. If you are one of them, then you would certainly like Apple’s IPS LCD screen. It also excels in image quality.

Processor & Performance – iPhone 5 uses a new A6 chip and it is dual-core. According to Apple, this makes the new smartphone’s performance two times faster compared to iPhone 4S which had an A5 chip. However, it will be a bit hard for iPhone 5 to compete with Samsung Galaxy S III in that department. That is because Samsung’s device has a quad-core Exynos 4 processor… well, at least in the UK. Across the pond, in the US, Galaxy S uses the more modest dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

There is also a rumour that iPhone 5 has a graphics processing unit (GPU). If that turns out to be true, many gaming fans will go with Apple’s device.

Memory Capacity – Both smartphones offer different RAM for the UK and the US market. In the UK, the two phones feature 1GB RAM and in the US – 2GB. In terms of internal storage, iPhone 5 and Galaxy S III follow the well-known pattern of three different versions – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Samsung’s device also has a slot for additional memory of up to 64GB. That makes a total of… 128GB!

Camera – Here the two devices have the same parameters– 8MP cameras and HD video at 1080p. Apple recently informed that iPhone 5 will come with plenty of photo and video features. However, they are still to be tested.

• Further Reading: Top Five Low-cost Digital Cameras Review

Software – Despite the fact that Samsung runs on Android, it may be quite challenged by the new-gen operating system of Apple – iOS6. Nevertheless, both devices perform well!

Battery – Apple hasn’t done much improvement here. Like 4S, iPhone 5 holds up to 8 hours of 3G talk time. Samsung Galaxy S III, on the other hand, can reach the astonishing 12 hours of talk time.

Connectivity – The rumours that iPhone 5 will support 4G were confirmed. However, Samsung also plans to incorporate the high-speed spectrum in Galaxy S III. If and when that happens, the two devices should perform equally well.

Price – This is one of the most important parts of our comparison. Many people will make their choice of smartphone based on its price. Like with every new device they launch, Apple will sell the new iPhone at a promo price. Different memory capacities come at different prices and vary from $199 to $399. However, that is only if you sign a 2-year service contract with one of iPhone’s US carriers. Dubai-based telecom providers also offer some similar, but lightly more expensive options. For a contract-free device you will need to pay between somewhere between $649 and $849 (depending on the memory capacity). In comparison, Samsung Galaxy S III’s prices start at $599 and now can be even found cheaper at Amazon .

Bottom line is that Apple’s iPhone does stack up to Samsung Galaxy S III. The two smartphones have their strong and weak sides but, overall, they perform better than their previous versions.