Samsung Galaxy S3 - Specifications. Firmware for smartphone Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III Samsung Galaxy S3 which android

Among the dozens of smartphone models produced annually by one of the market leaders - Samsung - Special attention attracted by the manufacturer's flagship devices. As for the software part of Samsung flagships, here we can talk about the widest possibilities for its changeability. Let's consider in this aspect Samsung model GT-I9300 Galaxy S III - methods for flashing the device will be discussed in the material below.

A high level of performance and a large performance reserve, thanks to the use of the most advanced achievements in the industry, make it possible to easily use Samsung's flagship solutions for many years, without a critical drop in performance. Only the software part of the device requires some attention. However, for interaction with system software, up to its complete replacement, there are convenient tools and proven methods.

All manipulations according to the instructions below are carried out by the user at his own peril and risk. The author of the article and the Site Administration do not guarantee the achievement of positive results desired by the owner of the device, and are not responsible for possible damage to the smartphone as a result of incorrect actions!

To carry out the process of reinstalling system software in the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 as quickly and efficiently as possible, it is necessary to carry out several preparatory procedures. This issue should be given due attention, because only after proper preparation can you count on a positive result of the firmware and quick elimination of errors that may appear when installing Android into the device.

Drivers

Almost all procedures that involve serious intervention in the system software of an Android smartphone require the use of a PC and specialized utilities as tools that allow manipulation. Therefore, the first thing you should take care of when you need to flash the Samsung GT-I9300 is the correct pairing of the device and computer, that is, installing drivers.

USB Debugging mode

In order for Windows applications to interact with the software components of the smartphone, a special mode must be activated on the device - « USB Debugging» . This option will need to be used for almost any manipulation that involves accessing data in the phone’s memory. To enable the mode, do the following:

Root rights and BusyBox

Without obtaining Superuser rights, carrying out serious interference in software part Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III is impossible. At the preparatory stage, root rights will make it possible to create a full-fledged backup, and in the future they will allow you to carry out almost any manipulation with the system software, up to its complete replacement.

To obtain privileges on the model in question, one of the software tools is used: KingRoot or KingoRoot - these are the fastest and simple remedies, with which you can easily root your device. The choice of a specific application is up to the user; in general, they work equally efficiently and are easy to use.

In addition to root rights, many operations with the Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 model require the device to have installed
BusyBox is a set of console utilities that allow you to perform manipulations that require connecting additional OS kernel modules. The installer that allows you to get BusyBox is available on Google Play Market.

Backup

Theoretically, after installing the drivers to perform manipulations with the Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III through programs for interacting with memory partitions, there are practically no obstacles left, you can begin Android installation, but, as you know, this process may not always be error-free and can lead to damage to individual software components of the device, not to mention the fact that all user data will be deleted as a result of the procedure and it will be necessary to restore everything necessary - contacts, photos, applications, etc. etc. In a word, it is highly not recommended to start reinstalling Android without a preliminary backup.

User data

To save information accumulated in the phone’s memory during operation, the easiest way is to use Samsung’s proprietary Smart Switch tool, which was mentioned above when describing the driver installation process. We follow just three simple steps and all information will be archived in a backup copy:

It should be noted that restoration from a backup created using Samsung proprietary software will only be possible on a smartphone running official firmware. If you plan to switch to a custom one or want to additionally insure yourself against data loss, you can use one of the instructions for creating backup copies offered in the material at the link below:

EFS partition

An extremely important system memory area of ​​smartphones is "EFS". This section contains serial number device, IMEI, GPS identifier, MAC addresses of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules. Damage or removal "EFS" in the process of manipulating system partitions, for various reasons it will lead to inoperability of network interfaces, and in some cases to the inability to turn on the phone.

For the model in question, creating a backup "EFS" before reinstalling the system software is not just a recommendation, but a mandatory requirement! Ignoring the operation to create a dump greatly increases the risk of getting an inoperable smartphone!

In order to always be able to quickly restore the partition "EFS" V Samsung Galaxy S3, let's create an area dump using a specialized software tool – EFS Professional.

Recovery "EFS" tab is used "Restore" in EFS Professional. After connecting the smartphone in the same order as when creating a backup, and going to the recovery section of the program in the list "Select a backup archive to restore" you need to select a backup file, check for checkboxes in the field "Archive Backup Contents" and by pressing the button "Restore", wait for the procedure to complete.

Firmware

One of the notable features of Samsung flagship devices is the availability of simply a huge number of modified unofficial firmware for them. The use of such solutions makes it possible to completely transform the software shell and obtain new versions of Android. But before you proceed to installing custom ones, you should study the installation methods official versions systems. In case of problems, this skill will allow you to restore the model software to its original state.

Method 1: Smart Switch

The manufacturer Samsung has a fairly strict policy regarding interference with the software of its own brand devices. The only thing it allows you to do officially regarding the Galaxy S3 firmware is updating the system version through proprietary Smart Switch software, which we already used above when installing drivers and creating backup copy information from a smartphone.

1. Install and launch Smart Switch. We connect the smartphone running Android to the USB port of the computer.



2. After the model is determined in the application, the version of the system installed on the phone is automatically checked against the version available on Samsung servers, and if an update is possible, a corresponding notification is displayed. Click "Update".



3. We confirm the need to start updating the phone system version - button "Continue" in the request window that appears with the revision numbers of the installed and available system software.



4. After reviewing the conditions under which the update is successful, click "Everything is confirmed".



5. Next, Smart Switch will carry out the necessary manipulations automatically, reporting what is happening in special windows with progress indicators:
   

   

6. After receiving confirmation that the OS update has been successfully completed in the Smart Switch window

   

   Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S3 can be disconnected from the USB port - all system software components are already optimized.

Method 2: ODIN

Using the universal ODIN tool to replace system software and restore Android to Samsung devices- the most effective method of manipulation. The application allows you to install official firmware of two types - service and single-file, and installing the first version of the package is one of the few ways to “revive” a Galaxy S III that is not functional in terms of software.

Before using ONE to overwrite memory partitions of the Samsung GT-I9300, we recommend that you read the instructions for reinstalling the system software using the application in the general case from the material available at the link:

Service package

A special type of package with system software used in service centers and intended for installation in Samsung Android devices via ONE is called "multi-file firmware" due to the fact that it includes several system component files. You can download the archive containing the service solution for the model in question using the link:

1. We transfer S3 to Odin mode. For this:
2. We launch ONE and connect the phone to the USB port. We make sure that the device is identified in the program in the form of a blue field filled with the number of the COM port through which the connection is made.



3. We add to the program the components of multi-file firmware from the folder obtained as a result of unpacking the archive downloaded from the link above.

   

   To do this, press the buttons one by one and specify the files in the Explorer window in accordance with the table:

   

   After loading all software components into the program, window ONE should look like this:

   

4. If you plan to re-partition the device’s memory, specify the path to the PIT file on the tab "Pit".

   

   It is advisable to carry out re-partitioning only in critical situations and when errors occur during the work of ONE without a PIT file! Initially, you should try to reinstall Android by skipping this step!

   Press the button "PIT" on the tab of the same name in ODIN and add the file "mx.pit", present in the catalog with the proposed package.

   

   When using a PIT file during the process of reinstalling Android on a Samsung GT-I9300 in the tab "Options" ODIN must be checked "Re-Partition".



5. After making sure that all files have been added to the appropriate fields and the parameters are set correctly, click the button "Start" to start transferring files to the device’s memory.



6. We are waiting for ONE to overwrite areas of the smartphone’s memory. Interrupting the process is unacceptable, all that remains is to watch the progress indicators in the flasher window and, at the same time,

   

   on the S3 screen.



7. After the display of ongoing processes in ODIN displays "PASS",
   
   

   The device will reboot and the OS components will be initialized.



8. The Android installation is complete, and in the end we get a device cleaned of the remnants of the previous operating system,

   

   which demonstrates the same level of performance as when first turned on after purchase.

   

Single-file firmware

If you need to simply reinstall Android, update or roll back the version of the official Samsung GT-I9300 OS, a single-file package is usually used. Download latest version official OS for Russia, to install it via ONE, you can follow the link:

Installing such a solution is much easier than a service solution. It is enough to follow the same steps as in the instructions for working with a multi-file package, but instead of points 3 and 4, you need to do it using the button "AP" adding a single file *.tar, contained in the directory obtained as a result of unpacking the archive with single-file firmware.

Method 3: Mobile ODIN

Many users of Android devices are interested in the possibility of reinstalling the OS on the device without using a PC. For Samsung GT-I9300, this action can be carried out using the Mobile ODIN tool - an Android application that allows you to seamlessly install official single-file firmware.

You can get the tool on your device by downloading from Google Play Market.

Successful execution of Mobile One functions is only possible if the device is rooted!

The software package used in the example below can be downloaded from the link:

1. Install Mobile One and place the package that will be installed in internal memory Galaxy S3 or to a memory card installed in the device.



2. We launch the application and provide Mobile ODIN with root rights.



3. We download additional MobileOne components, which provide the ability to install packages with system software. You will be prompted to update the first time you run the tool. Confirm the need to download add-ons by tapping the button "Download" and wait for the installation of the modules to complete.



4. Before installation, the firmware file must be uploaded to Mobile ODIN. Scrolling through the list of options on the main screen of the application, find and click "Open file...". Select the storage where the firmware was copied, then specify the file intended for installation.



5. If you are rolling back the system version, you must first clear the device’s memory partitions. To do this, check the checkboxes « Wipe data and cache", and "Wipe Dalvik cache".

   

   In the case of an update, data cleaning may not be necessary, but performing the procedure is recommended, as it allows you to remove “software junk” from the system, and also prevents the appearance of many errors during the installation of Android and its further operation!

6. Click "Flash" and confirm the application requests that appear.



7. Mobile Odin carries out further manipulations without user intervention. The latter can only observe:



8. After the welcome screen appears, carry out initial setup OS parameters.



9. Everything is ready for using Samsung GT-I9300 Galaxy S III running reinstalled official Android.

Method 4: Custom firmware

The above methods for installing official versions of Android in Samsung S3 allow you to bring the device into factory condition and solve a lot of problems that arise for various reasons while using a smartphone. If the purpose of firmware for a device is to completely transform the software part, introduce new functions into the device and turn the phone into a truly modern device, at least in terms of the OS version, you should pay attention to the possibility of installing one of the custom firmwares.

Since the level of popularity of the model in question is extremely high, a large number of different unofficial system software solutions have been created for it, based on Android versions of KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow and Nougat. The most popular modified shells for S3 are discussed below, and their installation can be divided into two stages - equipping the smartphone with a modified recovery, and then directly installing the unofficial Android.

Installation, launch, configuration of TWRP

In order for it to be possible to install a modified unofficial OS on the model in question, the device must be equipped with a special recovery environment - custom recovery. Several solutions are available for the device in question, including ClockworkMod Recovery (CWM) and its updated version Philz Touch, but the most functional and convenient product today is considered TeamWin Recovery (TWRP), and it should be installed to get results, as in the examples below.

For all flagship Samsung solutions TeamWin has officially developed and released recovery packages that can be installed using several methods. Two of them have already been described in articles on our website.

In an effort to get the Samsung GT-I9300 latest versions Android, many device owners ignore the possibility of using one of the most beautiful and functional shells for the device in question - MIUI. Meanwhile, exactly this product is considered one of the best solutions, despite the fact that it is based on Android 4.4, which is losing its relevance.

MIUI packages intended for installation in the model in question are also available on the websites of well-known development teams miui.su and xiaomi.eu.

Exact copy flagship smartphone 2012 from Samsung with improved specifications and support for two SIM cards is the Galaxy S3 Duos. Despite the fact that quite a lot of time has passed since the start of sales of this device, its characteristics still continue to be relevant. It is they, as well as reviews about this gadget, that will be discussed in detail in this article.

Smartphone niche

In terms of performance, the Galaxy S3 Duos can be safely classified as a solution entry level. But at the same time, it is slightly overpriced. But this significant drawback is easily compensated for by a number of characteristics (for example, an increased diagonal size touch display, impressive capacity of the integrated storage, improved parameters of the camera base). That's why this model smartphone is of greatest interest to those who want an entry-level device, but with slightly improved parameters compared to its competitors. Well, you will have to overpay for these improved parameters. But, on the other hand, this is completely justified, because you get a device that is much easier and more convenient to work with.

Equipment

The S3 Duos phone boasts standard equipment. It includes the following components and, of course, accessories:

• Smartphone.
• 2100 mAh battery (it is located inside the gadget and is removable).
• Advanced stereo headset with a set of attachments.
• Charger.
• Interface cord.
• The quick user guide and warranty card are combined in one booklet.

The body of the device is mostly made of plastic. To avoid possible damage during operation, you will have to immediately buy a cover. Moreover, this device is an almost exact copy of the original flagship S3, and the covers from the latter are ideal for the S3 Duos. For the same reason, it is highly recommended to purchase and stick protective film for touch display. This will also allow you to avoid future possible damage in progress. Another important accessory is a memory card. It is also not on the supply list, and therefore will have to be purchased separately. Although, in principle, the owner of this device can do without it. The capacity of the integrated storage allows this.

Design

In terms of design, the gadget is completely identical to its predecessor Galaxy S3 Duos. An overview of the appearance of these devices even allows you to distinguish them from each other. The only difference is in the inscription on the front panel, at the end of which the word Duos was added. The front panel of the gadget, as expected, has a 4.8-inch diagonal display. Below it there is a familiar control panel, which consists of a central mechanical button and two outer touch ones. Unlike most similar devices, in this case the buttons are backlit, which greatly simplifies the operation of the smartphone in low light levels. Above the screen is speaker, “eye” of the front camera and light and distance sensors. On the top edge of the smartphone there is only a 3.5 mm wired audio jack. There are buttons for volume control on the left side of the device, and lock buttons on the right side. At the bottom there is a micro-USB connector and a speaking microphone hole. On the back cover, in addition to the manufacturer's logo and the DUOS inscription, there is also a hole for the main camera and LED backlight. The main speaker is also located here, which is hidden behind a metal mesh.

CPU

Galaxy S3 Duos uses a time-tested and very reliable chip as a computing platform - the Snapdragon 400, developed by Qualcom. It consists of 4 computing models of the Cortex A7 architecture. Each of them can accelerate to 1.4 GHz at maximum load. It is also manufactured using a 28nm process technology. All this allows it to combine an acceptable level of computing performance and high energy efficiency. This semiconductor crystal is more than enough to solve most everyday problems. This list includes playing videos, listening to music and radio, reading books, browsing the Internet. But the most demanding games of the latest generation will certainly not run on this device. Most of them are optimized for 64-bit computing, and this chip can only process 32 bits in one clock cycle. Hence the problems with their launch.

Device display and graphics

Very high quality display in the Galaxy S3 Duos. Its characteristics are as follows:

• The matrix manufacturing technology is “Super AMOLED”.
• Resolution - 1280x720.
• Display diagonal 4.8 inches.

Such technical specifications require a good graphics accelerator. In this case, “Adreno 305” is used. Of course, it certainly cannot boast of a sky-high level of performance, but one certainly cannot expect this from an entry-level device. However, for solving most everyday problems its presence is quite enough.

Cameras

Simply excellent main camera in Duos. It has an 8 megapixel sensor. Autofocus technology is also implemented, and there is digital zoom. Well, in the dark, you can get a high-quality photo, albeit with a single LED backlight. As a result, the photo quality is very good. Everything is fine with video recording too. The resolution of the videos can reach 1920x1080. In this case, the image will be updated 30 times per second. The front camera has more modest parameters. It has a 1.9 megapixel sensor. Therefore, a high-quality “selfie” in this case is out of the question. But for video communication this is more than enough.

Memory

1.5 GB is the amount of RAM in the Galaxy S3 Duos. 16 GB is the capacity of the integrated storage. For the average user this will be quite enough for work and leisure. If for some reason you need to increase the amount of memory in the device, you can install an external flash drive. However, its maximum volume can be 64 GB. For greater reliability, it is recommended to store the most valuable information on cloud services. This will avoid its loss in the event of theft or breakdown of the smart phone.

Device autonomy

The S3 Duos cannot boast of high autonomy. The main reason here is the battery capacity of 2100 mAh. It is difficult to fit a larger battery into a case with a thickness of 8.6 mm. We add to this the presence of two SIM cards and a display diagonal of 4.8 inches. To a certain extent, the problem is solved by an energy-efficient processor, but this is not enough to fully solve this issue. As a result, all the previously mentioned factors lead to the fact that under maximum load this smart phone can last a maximum of 12 hours. If you reduce the load, you will get 2-3 days of reliable work on one charge battery. If this is not enough, then we buy additionally external battery. Of course, this is not a completely elegant solution, but your phone will not let you down at the most inopportune moment.

Interface kit

Samsung Galaxy S3 Duos boasts the following interfaces:

• “Wi-Fi” - fast downloading of any amount of data from the Internet to your smartphone.
• GSM and 3G - with their help you can download information from the global web, make calls and send or receive SMS.
• GLONASS and GPS allow you to accurately determine your location or plot a route.
• NFC - this one wireless interface makes it possible to download files of any size to a similar gadget in a matter of minutes.
• BLUETOOTH allows you to do the same thing as NFC, but the amount of data must be much less.
• The 3.5 mm audio jack allows you to output sound from your smartphone to external sound sources (speakers or headphones).
• The battery is charged using micro-USB. This wired interface also provides synchronization with external devices(PC, laptop).

Software

This smartphone uses Android as the system software. Initially, version number 4.3 was installed on it. But after the first connection to the Internet Galaxy firmware S3 Duos will be updated to a more recent version - 4.4. Owners of this gadget do not have to wait for further updates to the system software. The smartphone has been on sale for a long time, and the manufacturer has not released updated software for it for quite some time. On top of the operating system, as in any other device from this manufacturer, the proprietary TouchWiz shell is installed. It is also necessary to highlight the impressive amount of pre-installed software. First of all, this is Polaris Office. That is, this smartphone can work with various electronic documents (*.doc, *.xls, *.pdf, and so on) right out of the box. There are also familiar programs from Google. Korean programmers have not forgotten about social networks. Well, to top it off, there is a full set of utilities built into the OS. So the smartphone out of the box is completely ready for use.

Price of the gadget today

As noted earlier, compared to direct competitors, the Galaxy S3 Duos is slightly overpriced. Its current price is $180. But, on the other hand, this can be justified by improved technical specifications. This includes an increased display diagonal, a better organized memory subsystem, and a more powerful computing platform. Therefore, the higher cost of this gadget is offset by a number of advantages.

Every year, Samsung traditionally holds one or more events called Samsung Unpacked, at which key new products in the segment are announced for the company. mobile phones. Usually, for a couple of months before these events, the public is systematically warmed up with “random” leaks and non-random teasers. However, this year, before the presentation of the Galaxy S III, the Koreans managed to create a real stir for the first time: for almost six months the Internet was filled with the most incredible rumors about the new device, and the pique vests of the gadget world discussed the yet unannounced new product with such enthusiasm, as if Samsung was going to present new iPhone. A significant role in this was played by the fact that last year's flagship - Galaxy S II - was so good that everyone wanted to look at its successor.

However, the more long-awaited the device, the greater the disappointment after its announcement. Like the iPhone 4S, the Galaxy S III was immediately dubbed a “disappointment”: they say, its design is not the same, the body materials are not the same, and the camera is not the same... Let's together try to separate the wheat from the chaff and objectively understand the advantages and disadvantages of the new flagship of Samsung's line of Android smartphones.

• Samsung Galaxy SIII in person: Galaxy Nexus on marketing steroids
• New benchmark: comparison of cameras in Apple iPhone 4S, HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III smartphones

Specifications Samsung Galaxy S III

• Ranges: GPRS/GSM/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, UMTS/HSPA 850/900/1900/2100.
• Form factor: keyboardless monoblock.
• Operating system: Google Android 4.0.4 with TouchWiz UX interface.
• Display: 4.8 inches, Super AMOLED HD, 1280x720 pixels (pixel density 306 ppi), 16 million colors, touchscreen (capacitive matrix).
• Camera: 8 MP, autofocus, geotagging, video recording (1920x1080/30p), LED backlight.
• CPU: Samsung Exynos 4212, quad core ARM Cortex A9, clock speed 1.4 GHz; integrated Mali 400MP video accelerator.
• RAM: 1 GB.
• Flash memory: 16, 32 or 64 GB + microSDHC cards.
• Multimedia capabilities: MP3 player, FM receiver, video player (supports MPEG-4, Divx, Xvid, H.264), video editor, integration with YouTube, Find Music service (analogous to Track ID in Sony phones Ericsson).
• Wireless technologies: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n with support for Wi-Fi Direct and mobile hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC.
• Specific absorption rate of electromagnetic energy (SAR): 0.21 W/kg.
• Battery: lithium-ion, replaceable, capacity 2100 mAh (7.8 Wh).
• Interface connector: microUSB, 3.5 mm headphone output.
• GPS: yes, A-GPS support, Google support Maps.
• Dimensions and weight: 137x71x9 mm, 133 grams.

Video review of Samsung Galaxy S III

Appearance and design features

I'll be honest: in the promo photos the external Galaxy view I didn't like the S III too much. Some vague rounded shapes, glossy plastic... in general, three times ugh. However, the phone looks much better in person than in photographs and renders: its shape almost completely follows the Galaxy Nexus (including a slight bend protective glass on the front panel), and the plastic has a very good quality. In the gray-blue version of the device, under the top transparent layer there is a “striped” texture that imitates scratched metal. The white phone is made of the most ordinary white plastic without any visual effects. In general, I understand the desire of a certain part of buyers to have an “iron phone”, but given the rather large Galaxy sizes S III, we can confidently say that the use of metal would significantly increase the weight of the device. By the way, about the sizes. If the Galaxy S III had been introduced a couple of years ago, it would have been considered obscenely large. However, the average smartphone screen size is growing every year, so today a 4.8-inch display seems completely normal and less objectionable than a 3.5-inch one. Thanks to minimum thickness frames around the screen, the dimensions of the smartphone can be called “reasonable” - unlike the Galaxy Note, the SGS III easily fits into a jeans pocket.

The controls on the Galaxy S III are exactly the same as those on the Galaxy S II. Below the screen there is a mechanical Home key, as well as touch buttons“Menu” and “Back” (their disadvantages include a very dim backlight). The volume rocker is located on the left side, and the lock button on the right.

There are no surprises under the hood: a battery with a pleasant capacity of 2100 mAh, a slot for a SIM card and a slot for a memory card. It is worth noting that if in SGS II hot-swapping of memory cards was impossible, then in SGS III this disadvantage eliminated.

Screen

The screen in the Galaxy S III is made using Super AMOLED technology and has a diagonal of 4.8 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Subpixels are arranged according to the PenTile scheme, but with such a pixel density (306 ppi), the main drawback of such screens - poor rendering of small fonts - is invisible. Unfortunately, all other disadvantages of SAMOLED screens exist. I will list them briefly:

• increased minimum brightness;
• high contrast and “screaming”, too saturated colors;
• dependence of color rendering on screen brightness and white balance;
• thin parallel lines and dark spots visible on light gray and dark gray backgrounds;
• relatively coarse gradients.

None of these flaws are critical, since they are only visible if you look closely. However, I should note that the main competitor of the Galaxy S III, HTC One X has a higher quality screen. If you're interested in learning more about the features of AMOLED screens, I recommend reading my Galaxy S II review.

Sound

I hasten to report that the quality of the headphone output of the Galaxy S III has surpassed its predecessor. If you use high-quality headphones (preferably reinforced ones), you can and should enjoy listening to music on this device, although it still does not live up to the iPhone 4S. As for the call speaker, in my opinion, nothing has changed: it is still not too loud and is still very easily muffled by the fabric when the phone is in a jeans pocket. Use a vibration alert, it helps not to miss calls.

Software and interface

Samsung Galaxy S III runs under operating system Android systems 4.0.4, on top of which the proprietary TouchWiz UX shell is installed. Unlike TouchWiz 4, used in SGS II and SGN, the interface here is closer to “native” Android shell 4. There is no permanent dock with icons for the most frequently used applications in SGS III, which, in my opinion, is a disadvantage. But the preservation of many of the “tricks” of ICS (in particular, the interface for switching between applications and dividing the main menu into applications and widgets) can be called a plus. At the same time, Samsung has added a lot of its own useful widgets and additions to the phone, for example, all sorts of buttons and switches in the drop-down status panel in TouchWiz UX are much more convenient than in bare ICS. Implemented in SGS III music player and FM receiver with broadcast recording capabilities are still some of the most convenient on the market. The built-in browser deserves a separate discussion. According to the old, but not at all good “Samsung” tradition, it is equipped with its own screen brightness adjustment, which is also hidden in the second-level menu (!). Calling such a solution ergonomic simply boggles the mind. As a result, during testing I installed Dolphin on my smartphone and used it only.

Many applications that debuted on SGS III have migrated to SGS III. Galaxy Note, in particular, S Planner And S Memo. Appeared in the phone and your analogue of Siri from iOS 5: in the English interface it is called S Voice, in Russian - “Voice conversation” (obviously to distinguish it from conversations using sign language). But if Siri understands my “mixture of English with Nizhny Novgorod” without any problems, then S Voice has a problem with this, so our conversations were most reminiscent of a conversation between a mute and a deaf person. Perhaps if Samsung still gave preference to sign language, it would have turned out better.

The phone has an interesting feature called Pop Up Play. It allows you to play a video file in a separate small window and place it anywhere on the screen. It looks great and causes admiration at first, but in practice, again, it’s not entirely clear in what situations this opportunity can be really useful.

Pay attention to the Pop Up Play widget

It is worth mentioning this interesting function, How SmartStay. When activated, the Galaxy S III begins to follow the user's gaze using the front camera and, if the user is looking somewhere in the wrong direction, turns off the screen backlight. In my sample phone, this function worked through a stump, but in any case it can be called an innovation of dubious usefulness. Another proprietary feature of the Galaxy S III is called S Beam. This is a technology that allows you to quickly share files between compatible phones. Files are transferred via Wi-Fi Direct, but the initial pairing of phones occurs via NFC. Of course, phones from other manufacturers do not support S Beam. By the way, taking this opportunity, I would like to ask Samsung Question: gentlemen, when will you add Russian/Ukrainian T9 when dialing a number? In general, it should be a shame, after all, it’s 2012.

Performance, autonomy, heating

As befits a top-end smartphone of 2012, the Galaxy S III is equipped with a 4-core processor. Samsung abandoned the use of Tegra 3 (and did the right thing, in my opinion) and chose its own Exynos 4212 chipset, built on ARM Cortex-A9 cores clocked at 1.4 GHz and a Mali 400MP graphics accelerator. Volume random access memory the device is 1 GB.

I think it goes without saying that the Galaxy S III absolutely flies with a bang and delivers excellent performance in both benchmarks and real life. Even scrolling text in the very problematic official Twitter client does not slow down at all. Apparently, there are still benefits from four egg cores. At the same time, unlike the Galaxy S II, the device hardly heats up. If SGS II individual games (in particular, the popular Robo Defense) were simply red-hot, then the third “galaxy” remains a little warm. Back cover It only gets noticeably warm when the battery is charging. Finally, I must say that the new flagship differs from the previous one in the noticeably increased time battery life. Who is to blame for this - a more capacious battery, new processor or Android 4.0 - I don't care, but the result is pleasant. Galaxy S III confidently survives until the evening, and if it is not tormented with special frenzy, then you can count on two days of work.

Camera

SGS III is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus, LED backlight and video recording in Full HD resolution. The diagonal of the matrix is ​​1/3.2 inches, the matrix is ​​made using BSI (back illuminated) technology. The lens aperture is f/2.6. The main innovations compared to SGS II were the mode burst shooting(3.5 fps, maximum 20 frames per series) and HDR mode. In addition to photos, the Samsung Galaxy S III can also shoot video with continuous autofocus. The maximum resolution is 1920x1080 pixels with a refresh rate of 30 fps and stereo sound (for audio track AAC codec with a bitrate of 134 Kbps is used). The camera interface in the SGS III remains virtually unchanged from the SGS II. However, you can judge this for yourself based on the following screenshots:

Examples of photos and videos

Samsung Galaxy S III

Bottom line

Personally, I have no doubt that the Galaxy S III is destined to become a bestseller. Already, pre-orders for the device worldwide have exceeded 9 million units, so it will most likely not only repeat the success of the Galaxy S II, but even surpass it. And this, in my opinion, will be completely fair, because the Galaxy S III is exceptionally good. It offers the user the best that is on the market: the best performance, best camera, excellent screen and good battery life. TouchWiz shell in its current incarnation, it has almost completely gotten rid of childhood illnesses (except for the absence of the Russian T9 when dialing a number), so the device can be safely used “out of the box”. The only disadvantages of the Galaxy S III include the body, which does not quite correspond to the status of a flagship and the estimated price of $900 for the 16-gigabyte version. In general, in my opinion, the main competitors of the Galaxy S III will be its own “stable neighbors” - the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note already mentioned above. Both have weaker hardware, but at the same time offer comparable equipment, and their cost is this moment much lower than the cost of SGS III, and will continue to decline. 5 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy S III:

• large screen with HD resolution;
• high-quality camera (possibly the best among 8-megapixel camera phones);
• excellent performance;
• long battery life;
• memory card slot (not found in many competing models).

2 reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy S III:

• the design of the case does not correspond to the status of the device;
• lack of Russian T9 when dialing a number.

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Samsung Galaxy S3 Neo received full Lollipop firmware

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Samsung Galaxy S3 mini was one of the first AOSP to receive Android 5.0 Lollipop firmware

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The international version of the Samsung Galaxy S3 mini VE received a small update

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Android 4.4.4 KitKat for Galaxy S3 GT-I9300, unofficial yet [Instructions]

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Galaxy S3 LTE GT-I9305N receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat

Yesterday we noticed that Samsung had already released an update for the Galaxy S3 with LTE support, but only in South Korea. That is, Android 4.4.4 KitKat was released for the SHV-E210S model. Now in Europe you can get the same firmware for the Galaxy S3 LTE GT-I9305N smartphone. I think this is great news for all of you.

Galaxy S3 4G receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

Samsung today began updating the Galaxy S3 LTE to Android 4.4.4 KitKat. As you understand, for now this applies to the 4G version of the smartphone and the international Galaxy S3 GT-I9300 will remain on the firmware that is currently available for it.

Galaxy S3 Neo receives Android 4.4.4 KitKat update

We are all waiting for Android 4.4.4 KitKat at least for the Galaxy S5, although there are also those impatient who demand this firmware for their S3. Of course it's funny, but only partly. Today Android firmware 4.4.4 KitKat is now available for the Galaxy S3 Neo. Even the flagship would be surprised if he could.

Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 are the most popular Android smartphones

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Installing Android 4.4.4 KitKat update on Galaxy S3 GT-I9300

Already today, the simple Galaxy S3 model (not LTE) received stable firmware CyanogenMod 11 M8. Here you will get everything additional features, which are in Android 4.4.4 on Nexus 4 and Nexus 5. So, in principle, it makes sense to install CyanogenMod 11 M8 on Galaxy S3, and we suggest you use these instructions.

Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.

Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	70.6 mm (millimeters) 7.06 cm (centimeters) 0.23 ft (feet) 2.78 in (inches)
Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.	136.6 mm (millimeters) 13.66 cm (centimeters) 0.45 ft (feet) 5.38 in (inches)
Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units measurements.	8.6 mm (millimeters) 0.86 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.34 in (inches)
Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.	133 g (grams) 0.29 lbs 4.69 oz (ounces)
Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.	82.94 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 5.04 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale.	White Blue Brown Red Black Grey
Materials for making the case Materials used to make the device body.	Plastic

SIM card

The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds

Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.

Operating system

An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on one chip.

SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation.	Samsung Exynos 4 Quad 4412
Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor.	32 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.	ARM Cortex-A9
Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors.	32 bit
Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.	ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.	32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes)
Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache memory is slower than L1, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing caching more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory.	1024 kB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes)
Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel.	4
CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	1400 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) Graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphic applications. IN mobile devices ah it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc.	ARM Mali-400 MP4
Number of cores GPU Like a CPU, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle graphics calculations for various applications.	4
GPU clock speed Running speed is the clock speed of the GPU, measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).	440 MHz (megahertz)
Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random Access Memory (RAM) in use operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.	1 GB (gigabytes)
Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.	LPDDR2
Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means more high speeds data transmission.	Dual channel
RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data.	400 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends.	Super AMOLED
Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.	4.8 in (inches) 121.92 mm (millimeters) 12.19 cm (centimeters)
Width Approximate screen width	2.35 in (inches) 59.77 mm (millimeters) 5.98 cm (centimeters)
Height Approximate screen height	4.18 in (inches) 106.26 mm (millimeters) 10.63 cm (centimeters)
Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side	1.778:1 16:9
Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail.	720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail.	306 ppi (pixels per inch) 120ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display.	24 bit 16777216 flowers
Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device.	66.07% (percent)
Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics.	Capacitive Multi-touch Scratch resistance
	Corning Gorilla Glass 2

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.

Rear camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its back panel and may be combined with one or more secondary cameras.

Sensor type Information about the camera sensor type. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc.	CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Sensor size Information about the dimensions of the photosensor used in the device. Typically cameras with larger sensors and lower pixel densities offer more high quality images despite the lower resolution.	4.6 x 3.45 mm (millimeters) 0.23 in (inches)
Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are able to capture more light and therefore provide better low-light photography and wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow for higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size.	1.409 µm (micrometers) 0.001409 mm (millimeters)
Crop factor The crop factor is the ratio between the dimensions of the full-frame sensor (36 x 24 mm, equivalent to a frame of standard 35 mm film) and the dimensions of the device's photosensor. The indicated number represents the ratio of the diagonals of the full-frame sensor (43.3 mm) and the photosensor specific device.	7.52
Svetlosila F-stop (also known as aperture, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the size of a lens's aperture, which determines the amount of light entering the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Typically the f-number is specified to correspond to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture.	f/2.6
Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape.	LED
Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, indicating the approximate number of pixels in millions.	3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record.	1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording speed (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps.	30fps (frames per second)
Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera.	Autofocus Continuous shooting Digital zoom Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition White Balance Adjustment ISO Setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode

Front-camera

Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a rotating camera, a cutout or hole in the display, an under-display camera.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Location determination

Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.

WiFi

Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.

Version There are several Bluetooth versions, while each subsequent one improves communication speed, coverage, and facilitates easier detection and connection of devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.

4.0

Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here.

A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVCTP (Audio/Video Control Transport Protocol) AVDTP (Audio/Video Distribution Transport Protocol) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) BNEP (Bluetooth Network Encapsulation Protocol) DIP (Device ID Profile) EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) GAVDP (Generic Audio/Video Distribution Profile) GAP (Generic Access Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SPP ( Serial Port protocol) SDP (Service Discovery Protocol)

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interface that replaces older analog audio/video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser.

HTML HTML5 Flash

Audio file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.

Video file formats/codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.

Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours.	2100 mAh (milliamp-hours)
Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices.	Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.	18 h (hours) 1080 min (minutes) 0.8 days
2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.	330 h (hours) 19800 min (minutes) 13.8 days
3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.	14 h (hours) 840 min (minutes) 0.6 days
3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.	330 h (hours) 19800 min (minutes) 13.8 days
Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery.	Wireless charger Removable
	Wireless charging - optional

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.

Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates maximum amount electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998.	0.342 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards.	0.547 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.	0.628 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)
Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard.	1.584 W/kg (Watt per kilogram)