Samsung Galaxy S III

"Samsung S3" redirects here. For the MP3 player known as Samsung S3, see Samsung YP-S3.
"GS3" redirects here. For the video game, see Goat Simulator 3. For the car, see Trumpchi GS3.
Not to be confused with Samsung Galaxy 3.

Samsung Galaxy S III
Galaxy S III in white
ManufacturerSamsung Electronics
TypeSmartphone
Slogan"Designed for humans, inspired by nature"[1][2]
SeriesGalaxy S
First releasedMay 29, 2012; 12 years ago (2012-05-29)
Availability by region145 countries (July 2017)[3]
Units sold9 million orders before release; 70 million total (as of 2017)[4]
PredecessorSamsung Galaxy S II
SuccessorSamsung Galaxy S4
RelatedSamsung Galaxy Note II
Samsung Galaxy S III Neo
Samsung Galaxy S III Mini
Samsung ATIV S
Compatible networks2G GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz[5]

3G UMTS/CDMA2000/HSPA+: 850, 900, 1700, 1800 (Korean Pcs LG U+), 1900, 2100 MHz[5]

4G LTE: 700, 800, 850, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2500, 2600 MHz
TD-SCDMA (China Mobile Variant) and GT-i9305
Form factorSlate
ColorsPebble blue, Marble white, Amber brown, Garnet red, Sapphire black, Titanium grey
Dimensions136.6 mm (5.38 in) H
70.6 mm (2.78 in) W
8.6 mm (0.34 in) (9.0 mm (0.35 in) on S. Korea model) D[6][7]
Weight133 g (4.69 oz)
Operating systemOriginal: Android 4.0.3 "Ice Cream Sandwich"
Current: Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean",[8]
Android 4.4.2 "KitKat" (2 GB RAM variants and GT-I9301I Neo only)[9]
Unofficial: Android 13 "Tiramisu" via LineageOS 20.0 Unofficial for Samsung Galaxy S III GT-I9300 Exynos Variant[10] Android 8.1 "Oreo" via LineageOS 15.1 Unofficial for Samsung Galaxy S III d2 Snapdragon variants
System-on-chipSamsung Exynos 4 Quad (GT-I9300)
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 (U.S & Canada & Japan variants)
Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8228 (GT-I9301I Neo)
CPU1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 (GT-I9300)
1.3 GHz dual-core Krait (U.S. & Canada & Japan variants)
1.2 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 (GT-I9301I Neo)
GPUMali-400 MP4 (GT-I9300)
Adreno 225 (U.S. & Canada & Japan variants)
Adreno 305 (GT-I9301I Neo)
Memory1 GB RAM (international version)
2 GB RAM (LTE versions, selected markets)
1.5 GB RAM (GT-I9301I Neo)
Storage16, 32, or 64 GB flash memory
Removable storageUp to 64 GB microSDXC[2]
Battery2,100 mAh, 7.98 Wh, 3.8 V Li-ion
User replaceable
Rear camera8 megapixels
List
Front camera1.9 megapixels
Zero shutter lag
HD video (720p) at 30 frames/s[6]
Display4.8 in (120 mm) HD Super AMOLED (720×1280)
List
[6]
Connectivity
List
Data inputs
List
Development statusdiscontinued
Other
List

The Samsung Galaxy S III (unofficially known as the Samsung Galaxy S3) is an Android smartphone developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics. Launched in 2012, it had sold more than 80 million units overall, making it the most sold phone in the S series.[4] It is the third smartphone in the Samsung Galaxy S series.

It is distinguished from its predecessor by its larger and higher-resolution screen, higher storage options, a larger battery, and a video camera with stereo audio recording for a spatial effect on headphones and external speakers. While the picture and video resolutions of the camera stayed the same, its launching speed and shutter lag improved.[12]

It has additional software features, expanded hardware, and a redesigned physique from its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S II, released the previous year. The "S III" employs an intelligent personal assistant (S Voice), eye-tracking ability, and increased storage. Although a wireless charging option was announced, it never came to fruition. However, there are third party kits which add support for Qi wireless charging.[13][14] Depending on country, the smartphone comes with different processors and RAM capacity, and 4G LTE support.[15] The device was launched with Android 4.0.4 "Ice Cream Sandwich", was updated to Android 4.3 "Jelly Bean", and can be updated to Android 4.4.2 "KitKat" on variants with 2 GB of RAM. The phone's successor, the Samsung Galaxy S4, was announced on 14 March 2013 and was released the following month.

Following an 18-month development phase, Samsung unveiled the S III on 3 May 2012.[16] The device was released in 28 European and Middle Eastern countries on 29 May 2012, before being progressively released in other major markets in June 2012. Prior to release, 9 million pre-orders were placed by more than 100 carriers globally.[17] The S III was released by approximately 300 carriers in nearly 150 countries at the end of July 2012.[3] More than 20 million units of the S III were sold within the first 100 days of release[18] and more than 50 million until April 2013.[19]

The S III was well-received commercially and critically, with some technology commentators touting it as the "iPhone killer". In September 2012, TechRadar ranked it as the No. 1 handset in its constantly updated list of the 20 best mobile phones,[20] while Stuff magazine likewise ranked it at No. 1 in its list of 10 best smartphones in May 2012.[21] The handset also won the "European Mobile Phone of 2012–13" award from the European Imaging and Sound Association,[22] as well as T3 magazine's "Phone of the Year" award for 2012.[23] It played a major role in boosting Samsung's record operating profit during the second quarter of 2012.[24] As of November 2012, the S III is part of a high-profile lawsuit between Samsung and Apple.[25] In November 2012, research firm Strategy Analytics announced that the S III had overtaken Apple's iPhone 4S to become the world's best-selling smartphone model in Q3 2012.[26] Because of overwhelming demand and a manufacturing problem with the blue variant of the phone, there was an extensive shortage of the S III, especially in the United States.[27]

The Samsung Galaxy S III was succeeded as the series flagship by the Samsung Galaxy S4 in April 2013. In April 2014, following the release of its new flagship, the Galaxy S5, Samsung released a refreshed version called the "Galaxy S3 Neo", which has a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked either at 1.2 or 1.4 GHz. It has 1.5 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage and ships with Android 4.4.4 "KitKat" as the only version of Android available.

  1. ^ "Samsung Galaxy S III". Samsung Electronics. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d "Samsung Introduces the GALAXY S III, the Smartphone Designed for Humans and Inspired by Nature" (Press release). Samsung Electronics. 3 May 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b Kim, Miyoung; Sandle, Paul (29 May 2012). "Samsung Galaxy S3 gets head start on rival iPhone". Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 July 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b Hamblen, Matt (20 April 2015). "Samsung expects 70M Galaxy S6 and Edge phones to be sold". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Jager, Chris (4 May 2012). "Samsung Galaxy S3: full specifications list". PC & Tech Authority. Haymarket Media Group. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III". GSMArena.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference E210S was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference 4.3UpdateRetry was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ "Korean Samsung Galaxy S III receives Android 8.1KitKat". GSMArena.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  10. ^ Devices. "XDA-Developers [ROM][UNOFFICIAL][13][ I9300 ][ LineageOS 20.0 ][ALPHA] for Samsung Galaxy S III GT-I9300". forum.xda-developers.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  11. ^ Burns, Chris (26 April 2017). "Samsung picks Pentile for Galaxy S III". SlashGear. R3 Media. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  12. ^ "Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III review: S to the third: 9. Still camera and quality, video camera and quality". GSM Arena. 20 May 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  13. ^ Moses, Brian (20 September 2013). "Wireless Charging for the Galaxy S3, Again!". briancmoses.com. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Mobile Fun Samsung Galaxy S3 Qi Wireless Charging Back Cover review – The Gadgeteer". 8 May 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  15. ^ Trew, James (3 May 2012). "Samsung Galaxy S III is official: 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display, quad-core Exynos processor and gesture functions". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMHS3launch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Warman, Matt (18 May 2012). "Samsung S3: 9 million pre-order new Galaxy phone". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference 100days20mil was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ "Galaxy S3 sold 50 million units". Android Authority. 30 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  20. ^ Beavis, Gareth (25 September 2012). "20 best mobile phones in the world today: Number 1: Samsung Galaxy S3". TechRadar. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  21. ^ "Top 10 Smartphones". Stuff. Haymarket Media Group. 24 May 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  22. ^ "Mobile Devices Awards History". European Imaging and Sound Association. Archived from the original on 18 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  23. ^ "Samsung Galaxy S3 – Phone of the Year". T3. Future Publishing. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2012.
  24. ^ "Samsung profit soars on Android smartphones, Galaxy S3 sales". The Australian. News Limited. Associated Press. 27 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  25. ^ Raymond, Nate (16 November 2012). "Apple, Samsung allowed to add products in U.S. patent lawsuit". Reuters. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  26. ^ "Samsung Galaxy S3 Overtakes Apple iPhone 4S to Become World's Best-Selling Smartphone Model in Q3 2012". Strategy Analytics. Archived from the original on 27 November 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2012.
  27. ^ Walters, Ray (1 June 2012). "Pebble Blue Galaxy S3 delayed because of hyper-glazing issue". Geek.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.