It seems logical to see how one of the most anticipated handsets in the world, the Samsung Galaxy S3, compares to the rest of its competition, in particular its biggest rival. So just how does the Samsung Galaxy S3 with its Android Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWiz interface stack up against the iPhone 4S and iOS? The folks over at MobileNApps lays it down. Here are a couple of points they highlighted in particular which we find important:
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs iPhone 4S: Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or iOS 5+
One of the biggest differences between the two operating systems is the app stores. The one on iOS is more restricting as it is closed and should lead to better quality apps with it having strict vetting from Apple. However the downside is that if Apple does not like an app then it will not be included in the store. Android is totally opposite and users can submit their own apps. However this often means that the quality is lacking that is found on iOS and users should be careful with what they choose to download on their Samsung Galaxy S3.
Moving on, iOS is very simple to use as users are able to drag individual icons around the screen or group them into folders. Users can also change the wallpaper on both lock and home screens. Android on the other hand offers everything that iOS does with more. Widgets can be put on the screen for any app or service and they can be moved on more than one screen. Launchers can also be used which provides even more customization. Users also have the chance to download icon packs and they can change the fonts. Therefore Android is a user’s operating system and can be beautiful.
One of the questions that the Samsung Galaxy S3 has hanging over its head is where will the handset be in relation to the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update later this year, and will it be future-proof long after that? Whether Google will reveal another Nexus device is anyone’s guess. Samsung however, if the past is anything to go by, are late in supporting Android updates. This may be due to the fact that they want to keep the experience of TouchWiz, or it could be that it is the carriers who have delayed with the updates. This however is bad news for anyone who gets a phone now on a contact of 2 years. iOS users who purchase an iPhone 4 or 4S on a two year contract know that they will get iOS 6. 3GS users will even get it, with some limited functionality. This is something that owners of phones three years old on Android cannot expect. While the Samsung Galaxy S3 will not be an outdated phone so soon, there’s no telling how popular it will be next year when newer handsets arrive.
When it comes to choosing between the iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S3, MobileNApps concludes that it all boils down to what the user actually wants from a phone. iOS is simple while Android offers more control.
