Apple iPhone 5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III: All rise

25 October 2012
When we review phones we try to put them in context, and tie everything up with a snapshot of the market and the closest alternatives. Now, we usually keep droids and iPhones separate because honestly they just don’t mix. But every now and then...

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  • D
  • AnonD-89830
  • uRF
  • 13 Jul 2013

Without jailbreak iPhone cannot:
1. Use Bluetooth sharing files with other devices.
2. Install new input app.
3. Change the theme for the phone.
4. Dynamic background live wallpaper.
5. Playing other media files format.

I do admit iPhone 5 is a beautiful sexy phone and iOS is good but not that perfect. It was beyond competitors by 5 years when it launched. But since Steve left us, the gap is getting smaller every time when the competitors come out a new product.

    • S
    • Sameer
    • XuB
    • 05 Jul 2013

    Really it's nice

      • t
      • tomhiggins
      • q83
      • 05 Jul 2013

      AnonD-155261, 19 Jun 2013Samsung Galaxy S Released June Year 2010 - 2.3 Gingerbread ... moreGalaxy s2 goes to 4.1.2

        • t
        • tanveer
        • 7jV
        • 01 Jul 2013

        i think samsung wins
        more in less money

          • J
          • Jo
          • utY
          • 30 Jun 2013

          Xhaz, 13 Jun 2013S3 is far better than an iphone 5It's because u can't afford a 5 simple

            • S
            • Smudge
            • Mx@
            • 19 Jun 2013

            Why are these phones compared together? The s3 hardware is far supeior to the Iphone 5, if we was to match a handset it would be more fair on apple to compare the Iphone 5 to a samsung s2 or s3 mini.

            If you want a phone with functionality go for an S3

              • D
              • AnonD-155261
              • n4W
              • 19 Jun 2013

              Samsung Galaxy S Released June Year 2010 - 2.3 Gingerbread
              Apple Iphone 4 Released June Year 2010 - Update To iOS 7

              Samsung Galaxy S II Released April Year 2011 - Update 4.1.1
              Apple Iphone 4S Released October 2011 - Update To iOS 7

              Samsung Galaxy S III Released April Year 2012 - Update 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
              Apple Iphone 5 Released September Year 2012 - Update To iOS 7

              Samsung Galaxy S IV Released May 2013 - Update To Key Pie 5.0
              New Apple Iphone Released August-September Year 2013 - No Update , iOS 7 In New Apple Iphone Released


                • X
                • Xhaz
                • fmR
                • 13 Jun 2013

                S3 is far better than an iphone 5

                  • p
                  • pannerselvam
                  • XuU
                  • 10 Jun 2013

                  I like apple phones

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • uKc
                    • 30 May 2013

                    AnonD-148873, 27 May 2013I don't think you've read the article in full. These are G... moreThis so called well known fact that Iphones have always had poor reception issues does not seem to apply to the later model Iphones , there are very few complaints of issues with Iphone 5 compared to Galaxy S3 when you search online. I have owned both these phones but still prefer my HTC One X. Out of the three Iphone 5 would be my preference for making calls on as its call quality is better than Htc and reception is stronger than Galaxy S3.I am not sure why you put down the comments made by Dave when he has obviously tried both these phones on the same network and is speaking from his own experiences where you are stating that you never have and never will use an Iphone.I have owned many samsung phones including S2 and S3 and my only issue with them has been poor signal.Posting under the banner of common sense does not hide your bias against Iphones and does not seem very helpful to any one reading this forum hoping for some advice if trying to decide which one of these phones to purchase.

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                      • Craig
                      • uKY
                      • 29 May 2013

                      AnonD-148873, 27 May 2013I don't think you've read the article in full. These are G... moreI would like to add to these comments by saying that I moved into a new house recently and found I was getting very poor reception with my Samsung Galaxy S3. For two weeks I had to borrow my house mates Iphone 5 to make calls as his phone which is on the same network as mine has enough reception to make a call. I now have a land line for calling when at home so it does not worry me to much and I still prefer my Samsung but there is no doubt to me that the Iphone has better reception. It seems that Gsm Arena gave the Galaxy S3 a better rating for telephony based on the samsung having more features in this area , but I feel these features do not mean to much if you have a poor signal.To finish of I would like to say that my friends who have had many Iphones have all said that early models had reception issues but newer models have been very good in this area.

                        • B
                        • Brett
                        • 7sH
                        • 28 May 2013

                        AnonD-148873, 27 May 2013I don't think you've read the article in full. These are G... moreYou can go on many forums and find arguments to suit any point you are trying to make , but unless you have owned both these phones then you can not really compare. I have owned both galaxy s3 and iphone 5 and the iphone without a doubt has better reception. The galaxy s3 in some ways is better but when it comes to telephony the iphone is better. It is not that hard to find comments from people on the Internet who have had trouble with Samsung reception. Your comment that you never have and never will own an iphone just shows that your opinion is less valid than someone who has used both is not biased such as yourself.

                          • D
                          • Dave
                          • 7sH
                          • 28 May 2013

                          AnonD-148873, 27 May 2013I don't think you've read the article in full. These are G... moreIf I have used both these phones with the same carrier then it does not matter who I am with . I am in Australia and am with Optus , 6 months ago I contacted their service department and was told that they had been receiving many complaints about galaxy s 3 reception issues. They were happy for me to upgrade for a free to the iPhone 5. I don't get perfect reception now but it's still a lot better than what I had with galaxy s3. Unlike you I am unbiased and don't care which phone I use , also unlike you I own both phones so am in better position to comment . Early model iPhones had reception problems but since the iPhone 4 they have been much better. A quick google search also shows how many people have had trouble with Samsung galaxy reception , I also can not find any connents about iPhone 5 reception being poor. What I question really is your intelligence.

                            • D
                            • AnonD-148873
                            • 9xq
                            • 27 May 2013

                            Dave, 26 May 2013How are you rating them for telephony? I had two galaxy s3'... moreI don't think you've read the article in full.
                            These are GSM ARENA's ratings.
                            I have simply arranged them to be compared at a quick glance.
                            I personally own a Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which has better specs than the S3 and in my opinion is far superior than the iPhone 5.
                            I have not owned any apple devices and im quite sure that i never will.
                            You state that you've had signal problems with 2 galaxy S3's, i havent seen any detailed information relating to that problem, you vaguely state that you've had reception issues in a lot of the places you go to, which country are you in ? which network is your phone working on ? these are very important details which directly impact the recpetion of a phone, yet you've neglected to mention these.
                            I have read the complaints from a lot of angry customers on Apples technical support site which contradicts your statements about the iPhone 5.
                            Its a well known fact that the iPhone's have always suffered from poor signal reception.
                            Therefore i question the credibility of your statements.

                              • B
                              • Bobby21
                              • ptP
                              • 27 May 2013

                              "All rise" the greatest line on gsmarena

                                • D
                                • Dave
                                • w6m
                                • 26 May 2013

                                AnonD-148873, 24 May 2013I've tried editing my comment but it has not been updated f... moreHow are you rating them for telephony? I had two galaxy s3's that both had poor reception issues in a lot of the places I go to so I changed to Iphone 5 which is way better. I agree with some of your ratings but if you have owned both phones and use them a lot for making calls then you will know that the iphone is way ahead in this area.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-148873
                                  • 9Ex
                                  • 24 May 2013

                                  I've tried editing my comment but it has not been updated for some reason, so here's the edited version.

                                  1. Design and build quality - Winner: Apple iPhone 5
                                  2. Display comparison - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  3. Battery life - Winner: Tie
                                  4. Telephony - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  5. Messaging - Winner: Tie
                                  6. Video playback - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  7. Audio playback and audio quality - Winner: Apple iPhone 5
                                  8. Still cameras - Winner: Apple iPhone 5
                                  9. Video camera - Winner: Tie
                                  10. Photo viewing - Winner: Tie
                                  11. Web browsing - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  12. Mobile gaming - Winner: Tie
                                  13. Maps and navigation - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  14. Price - Winner: Samsung Galaxy S3
                                  (This should be at the top of the list as it is one of the most important factors, if not the most important)

                                  Samsung Galaxy S III = 6 (5 months older)

                                  Apple iPhone 5 = 3 (latest edition)

                                  Need i say more ?

                                  And this comparison doesn't even include the flexibility of inexpensively increasing memory capacity and replacing batteries on the Samsung Galaxy S3.

                                  Here are the facts, now make YOUR OWN choice!

                                  To be fair, these ratings should be scaled 1-10 to give a more accurate representation as the results in some categories are too close.

                                    • C
                                    • Common sense
                                    • 9Ex
                                    • 24 May 2013

                                    2 important factors that are ignored,

                                    1. "Some would say that the most damning verdict for the iPhone 5 is that it's trading blows with a smartphone that came to the market 5 months before it"

                                    2. "SIM-free the iPhone 5 is probably the most expensive smartphone on the market right now, topping the Samsung Galaxy S III in Europe by almost 200 euros"

                                    When you consider these facts, the Samsung galaxy S3 is NOT 200 Euros worse than the iPhone 5, so the S3 is far better value for money for a smartphone and therefore wins overall.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-46008
                                      • L5u
                                      • 22 May 2013

                                      Lisdogan , 31 Mar 2013I like s3 but it just don't have much reputation as iPhone 5...so you bought iphone 5 just because of that?

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-46008
                                        • L5u
                                        • 22 May 2013

                                        kelvin, 06 May 2013Android technology is far beyond iOS. I'm using iPhone from... moreiphone= whatsapp, mail, facebook, music, games, videos.
                                        any android= whatsapp, mail, facebook, music, an all thing that you can do in a computer