Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone
Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S III

May 29, 2012 8/10 Rating Updated
In brief: The Samsung Galaxy S III, launched in May 2012, was a flagship Android smartphone known for its nature-inspired design and advanced software features like S Voice and Smart Stay. It featured a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, an 8MP camera, and was powered by either a quad-core Exynos or dual-core Snapdragon processor, depending on the region.
Display4.8" HD Super AMOLED (720x1280 pixels)
ChipsetExynos 4412 Quad or Snapdragon S4 Plus
Main Camera8 MP, 1080p video recording
Battery2100 mAh removable Li-Ion
Starting from $50

💰 Samsung Galaxy S III Price

The Samsung Galaxy S III lowest price is $50, based on current retailer listings.

📌 Full Specifications

Display

TypeHD Super AMOLED
Size4.8 inches, 63.5 cm2 (~65.9% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~306 ppi density)
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 2

Platform

OSAndroid 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich), upgradable to 4.3 (Jelly Bean) or 4.4.2 (KitKat) on some variants
ChipsetExynos 4412 Quad (International) / Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus (USA)
CPUQuad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9 (Exynos) / Dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait (Snapdragon S4 Plus)
GPUMali-400MP4 (Exynos) / Adreno 225 (Snapdragon S4 Plus)

Memory

Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal16GB 1GB RAM, 32GB 1GB RAM, 64GB 1GB RAM (some variants had 2GB RAM)

Main Camera

Single8 MP, f/2.6, AF
FeaturesLED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR, Burst shot, Zero shutter lag
Video1080p@30fps

Selfie Camera

Single1.9 MP, f/2.6
FeaturesVideo call
Video720p@30fps

Battery

TypeRemovable Li-Ion 2100 mAh
Talk timeUp to 11 h 40 min (3G) / Up to 21 h 40 min (2G)

Body

Dimensions136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm (5.38 x 2.78 x 0.34 in)
Weight133 g (4.69 oz)
BuildPlastic body
SIMMicro-SIM

Comms

WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, EDR, aptX
PositioningGPS, GLONASS
NFCYes
RadioStereo FM radio with RDS (International model only)
USBmicroUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), USB On-The-Go

Launch

Announced2012, May 03
StatusReleased 2012, May 29

⚖ Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Groundbreaking software features for its time
  • Large, vibrant Super AMOLED display
  • Good camera performance for its era
  • Removable battery and expandable storage
  • Ergonomic, nature-inspired design

Cons

  • Plastic build quality
  • Performance limitations with modern apps and operating systems
  • Outdated by current smartphone standards
  • Limited to no official software updates now
  • Variations in chipset and RAM across regions
★ Our Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S III was a highly innovative and popular smartphone that set new standards for Android devices with its smart features and impressive display at the time of its release.

The Samsung Galaxy S III is now a vintage smartphone, primarily suitable for collectors, enthusiasts, or those needing a very basic device for calls and texts. Do not expect modern app compatibility or performance. If purchasing, look for units in good cosmetic condition with a working battery, as replacements can be hard to find. It is not recommended for daily use in today's smartphone landscape due to outdated software and hardware. Consider it a piece of mobile history rather than a functional daily driver.

📦 In The Box & Warranty

  • Samsung Galaxy S III smartphone
  • Removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery
  • Wall charger
  • USB data cable
  • Stereo headphones

Standard manufacturer's warranty applied at the time of purchase, typically one year.

❓ Questions & Answers

What is the release date of the Samsung Galaxy S III?

The Samsung Galaxy S III was officially released on May 29, 2012.

What are the key display specifications of the Galaxy S III?

The Galaxy S III features a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels, resulting in approximately 306 pixels per inch.

What kind of camera does the Samsung Galaxy S III have?

It is equipped with an 8 MP main camera with autofocus and an LED flash, capable of recording 1080p video at 30 frames per second. It also has a 1.9 MP front-facing camera.

Can the Samsung Galaxy S III run modern apps?

While it can run some older applications, the Samsung Galaxy S III's outdated hardware and software (upgradable to Android 4.3 or 4.4.2) mean it cannot reliably run most modern apps or provide a contemporary smartphone experience.

What was the original operating system of the Galaxy S III?

The Samsung Galaxy S III originally launched with Android 4.0.4, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich.

Is the battery of the Samsung Galaxy S III removable?

Yes, the Samsung Galaxy S III features a removable Li-Ion 2100 mAh battery, allowing users to easily replace it.