The Samsung Galaxy S3 is out now in some places and expected shortly in others and has some stellar hardware and software tweaks to propel it to the top of the smartphone charts. We’ve already seen numerous reviews and comparisons pitting it against the once equally popular iPhone 4S. As expected, the newer Samsung Galaxy S3 easily trumps the now aged iPhone 4S. However given that the iPhone 4S is after all a last generation model (iPhone 5 is expected to launch later this year), how does it stand up against Windows Phone 8?
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Windows Phone 8
The new Windows Phone 8 platform is now right around the corner and we have already seen 3 HTC devices leaked as well as a Nokia one that will purportedly come with the new Microsoft phone updated platform. As CNET points out, the Windows Phone 8 OS will bring some added functionality to Windows smartphones while at the same time giving developers and makers of devices to build even more advanced hardware. It could also mean that that the live tile interface of Microsoft could be installed on devices with heavy specs.
In an edition of “Ask Maggie”, CNET helps one of their readers decide whether to hang on and wait for Windows Phone 8 handsets or go out and purchase the Galaxy S3 or a similar handset.
Maggie said that it is hard to say just how the Windows 8 smartphones will match up to the Android devices on the market at the moment. On the other hand Windows Phone 8 software is focused on offering new cutting edge hardware, such as multi core processors. Along with this they will come with the NFC chip and multi-tasking.
It is thought that Microsoft will launch three different versions of Windows Phone 8 later in 2012 with the Zenith being at the top end of the range. It is thought that the handset will have a 4.7 inch Super LCD screen with a quad core processor, NFC, 8 megapixel camera capable of taking 1080p and 42Mbps HSPA+. In the middle of the range is the Accord with a 4.3 inch screen powered by dual core and the budget handset will be the Rio line which is thought to have a 4 inch display, 5 megapixel camera, 720p capture and will be powered by the Snapdragon S4 processor just like the US Samsung Galaxy S3 models are.
As many of these enhancements are already seen on Android handsets today, Microsoft may just be chasing what Google have already done. The senior product manager of Microsoft for Windows phones said that Windows Phone 8 simply paves the way for Microsoft to be able to contend with competitors, and it is all about investment into the future. It provides room for growing the capabilities of devices.
At the moment there are several great Android phones on the market with the Galaxy S3 being one of them. It comes with ICS Android 4.0 and has an advanced camera along with NFC and many other high end features. Windows Phone 8 handsets will be on par but whether they can beat Android handsets it is hard to say.
If your contract is up and you are waiting to upgrade to a new handset and want to move to Windows Phone 8 you could have to wait until late fall or early spring of next year, it you cannot wait until then, it should be safe to settle for the Samsung Galaxy S3.
