Every now and then we like to bring our readers a comparison between two of the hottest smartphones of the moment and today we’re looking at the just announced Samsung Galaxy S3 (S III) and the Sony Xperia ion, announced way back at CES in January. Both of these are due for release shortly so let’s look at the Galaxy S3 vs. the Xperia ion.
We’ll start by looking at some of the specs and features of the Galaxy S3, Samsung’s flagship smartphone. This features a 1.4GHz Exynos 4 quad-core processor, at least for the international variant. The CPU for the U.S. has not yet been detailed but as the US version will offer 4G LTE connectivity it may have a dual-core processor instead, probably the Snapdragon S4. The display is a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED with resolution of 1280 x 720 and it has 16/32GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD.
Looking at the camera the Galaxy S3 has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, flash, zero shutter lag and 1080p video recording capability as well as a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has LTE connectivity, NFC support and a 2100mAh battery and runs on the latest Android OS, 4.0 ICS overlaid with Touchwiz. Dimensions are 136.6mm x 70.6mm x 8.6mm and it’s not only slim but also light at only 133 grams.
Moving on to the Xperia ion and this has a 1.5GHz MSM8260 Snapdragon dual-core processor and a 4.55-inch HD LCD display with resolution of 1280 x 720. The camera set up is a 12-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, flash and Exmor R sensor with 1080p HD video capture. There’s also a 1.3-megapixel front-facer. This has 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, expandable through microSD.
The Xperia ion also has 4G LTE connectivity and NFC and the battery is 1900mAh. About the only thing that lets it down is that it will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread with a 4.0 update to come later. Dimensions are 133mm x 68mm x 10.6mm and it weighs 44 grams.
Comparing these two smartphones shows us that the Galaxy 3 has the edge on processor with its quad-core CPU (international variant) and it also has a bigger battery capacity and larger storage options. The OS on launch will be the latest available and another important thing to remember is the software that Samsung has very much focused on, which includes such features as S Voice, Samsung’s response to Apple’s Siri on the iPhone. However one point that seems to have been commented on widely in reports is that the design is a bit bland and that the plastic build feels cheap, although the Galaxy S3 is the slimmest and lightest of the two.
On the other hand the Xperia ion has the better camera set up and is also PlayStation Certified for an enhanced gaming experience. The design of the Xperia ion is also a big plus point as it’s sleek and stylish and should appeal to many. Pricing for both handsets is yet to be announced. Release-wise the Galaxy S3 is being launched in the UK and Europe at the end of May and then in the US at some point in the summer. The Xperia ion release was originally set for Q2 so we are still hoping to see it by June at the latest.
Ultimately of course, personal requirements will have a large part to play in choosing between these two, such as whether you use your phone a lot for photography or display preference. Both are very impressive smartphones and it may be simply the look of the handsets that helps you make your choice.
We’re always interested in comments that our readers send to us so if you’re intending to purchase a new smartphone soon why not let us know which one of these you might opt for and why? Alternatively maybe your head has already been turned by another new or upcoming smartphone?
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