The Samsung Galaxy S III and Apple iPhone 4s were titans of their time, representing the pinnacle of smartphone technology in 2012. Both devices offered groundbreaking features and captivated users worldwide. But which one holds up better today, and which was truly the superior phone?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy S III edges out the iPhone 4s thanks to its superior display contrast, quad-core processor, and slightly longer battery life. While the iPhone 4s boasts iOS's user-friendliness, the S III's hardware provides a more compelling experience for modern usage, even considering their age.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| Speed | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps | HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO |
| | - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, May. Released 2012, May | 2011, October 04. Released 2011, October 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 2), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back, stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 in) | 115.2 x 58.6 x 9.3 mm (4.54 x 2.31 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Micro-SIM |
| Weight | 133 g (4.69 oz) | 140 g (4.94 oz) |
| | - | Scratch-resistant glass back panel |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~306 ppi density) | 640 x 960 pixels, 3:2 ratio (~330 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.8 inches, 63.5 cm2 (~65.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 3.5 inches, 36.5 cm2 (~54.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 | Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9 |
| Chipset | Exynos 4412 Quad (32 nm) | Apple A5 (45 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400MP4 | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
| OS | Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI | iOS 5, upgradable to iOS 9.3.6 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM | 8GB 512MB RAM, 16GB 512MB RAM, 32GB 512MB RAM, 64GB 512MB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.6, 1/3.0", AF | 8 MP, f/2.4, 35mm (standard), 1/3.2", 1.4µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1.9 MP, f/2.6 | VGA, videocalling over Wi-Fi and 3G |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 480p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, aptX | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | - |
| Positioning | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG | 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G) | Up to 200 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G) | Up to 8 h (3G) |
| Type | Removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery | Li-Po 1432 mAh, non-removable (5.3 Wh) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Pebble blue, Marble white, Amber brown, Garnet red, Sapphire black, Titanium grey, La Fleur | Black, White |
| Models | GT-I9300, GT-I9300I, SHV-E210S, SHW-M440S | A1431, A1387, iPhone4,1 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 190 EUR |
| SAR | 0.55 W/kg (head) 1.49 W/kg (body) | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.98 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.21 W/kg (head) | 0.99 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -90.3dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -93.0dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 50h
|
Endurance rating 45h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 3.419:1 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1261:1 (nominal) / 2.269:1 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 75dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 75dB
|
Voice 65dB / Noise 64dB / Ring 74dB
|
Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III
- Larger Display
- Quad-Core Processor
- Better Display Contrast
- Slightly Longer Battery Life
- More Customizable (Android)
- Older Software Support
- Plastic Build Quality
- Potential for Software Bloat
Apple iPhone 4s
- iOS Simplicity
- Strong App Ecosystem (even now)
- Compact Size
- Consistent Performance
- Slower Processor
- Smaller Display
- Lower Display Contrast
- Limited Storage Options
- Older Software Support
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S III's display boasts an impressive contrast ratio, particularly in sunlight (3.419:1 vs 2.269:1 for the iPhone 4s). While the 'Infinite' nominal contrast is a marketing term, the S III's screen generally appears more vibrant and readable. Both phones feature Super AMOLED and Retina displays respectively, offering excellent color reproduction for their time.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer decent camera capabilities for their era. The Galaxy S III generally produces slightly more vibrant photos, while the iPhone 4s is known for its consistent image quality. Video recording is comparable on both devices, though both lack modern stabilization features.
Performance
The Galaxy S III's Exynos 4412 Quad-core processor (1.4 GHz) significantly outperforms the iPhone 4s's dual-core A5 chip (1.0 GHz). The quad-core architecture allows for smoother multitasking and faster app loading. While both phones can handle basic tasks, the S III demonstrates a noticeable performance advantage in more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The Galaxy S III holds a slight edge in battery life, with an endurance rating of 50 hours compared to the iPhone 4s's 45 hours. This difference is likely due to the S III's larger battery capacity and more efficient processor.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy S III is ideal for those seeking a larger screen, more powerful hardware, and a more customizable Android experience. The Apple iPhone 4s is a good choice for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem or those who prefer iOS's simplicity and familiarity, understanding its limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are these phones still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with limitations. Both phones lack modern software updates and security patches. They can still be used for basic tasks like calling, texting, and light web browsing, but performance will be noticeably slower than modern smartphones.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software support. However, the iPhone 4s benefited from iOS updates for a longer period than the Galaxy S III received Android updates.
❓ Can I find replacement parts for these phones?
Finding replacement parts can be challenging, but not impossible. Online marketplaces like eBay and specialized repair shops may offer parts, but availability is limited.
