Operating system features
Yes, both have app lists, app stores, unlock screens, and Settings menus, but once you dig in, there are a lot of technical differences between Android and iOS, the two operating systems that run the S3 and iPhone 5. On the whole, iOS is a more airtight and stable OS, but Android offers more features. Because it runs Android, the Galaxy S3 can support NFC and has more robust support for apps and syncing than the iPhone. On the Galaxy, apps can run in the background as you permit. Say you want to download podcasts or email every three hours without opening up the app again… you can do that, and the phone has a built-in task manager so you can kill running processes that bother you. Basically, the S3 is able to do a lot more things when your screen is off and your phone is idle than the iPhone. This makes the S3 a phone with more real-time qualities to it. Apps can be open without being on the screen. This is a double-edged sword, as it also makes it easier for people to ruin their S3′s battery life by installing and letting too many apps run in the background at once. iOS doesn’t usually have rogue processes and apps running in the background, and does have a rough task manager (double press the Home button). But this is one example where Android allows more control and features. The ability to install apps outside the Google Play store is another benefit of Android.
Winner: Galaxy S3
App stores
There are still differences between the Android and iOS app stores, but both stores are so massive that it almost doesn’t matter. iOS still has more quality-priced apps and games (especially games), but Android has cheaper apps and more free titles with ad-based revenue models. We do like that Android apps have made big strides in auto updating, but both app stores are guilty of promoting a new dynamic where iPhone and Galaxy S3 owners have to download constant app updates to the point of annoyance. Still, both phones have great app stores. Just don’t buy anything from Samsung’s custom app store on the Galaxy S3. Stick to Google Play.
Winner: Tie
Personalization
There are two levels to personalization: tweaks to the outside like cases and accessories, and options inside of your phone to manipulate the look of what appears on screen.
The iPhone 5 makes no significant leaps forward in the area of software. You can change ringtones, your home screen and lockscreen backgrounds, and move your icons around or put them in folders. That’s about it. However, when it comes to cases and custom stickers and whatnot, the iPhone 5 already outshines the Galaxy S3 and that won’t change anytime soon. If you love quirky cases, you should opt for the iPhone.
The Galaxy S3, like other Android phones, does not have a robust case and accessory ecosystem, but it does better in the area of software. It comes with seven blank home screens you can customize with widgets — some already on the phone, some you can download — and app icons. You can also run entirely new skins on Android with tools like the CyanogenMod (“like” being the operative word since CyanogenMod doesn’t work on the GS3). Android also lets you customize ringtones, change backgrounds, add animated backgrounds, and all that jazz.
Winner: Tie
Maps
At the moment, this isn’t a contest. With the release of iOS 6, Apple has deleted Google Maps from the iPhone and replaced it with Apple Maps, a new free service that attempts to mimic and outshine Google Maps. The only problem is that it doesn’t, in any way, do that currently, except for its pretty 3D city view mode. There are no transit directions yet and, as we found out, a lot of people are getting bogus directions from Apple Maps. It has placed cities in the ocean and guided people to the middle of nowhere. It’s a buggy, new product. Currently, Android is the best option for those wanting GPS turn-by-turn navigation and a stable mapping solution. Hopefully Google Maps will be on iOS soon, but so far, Google hasn’t yet submitted it to the App Store.
Winner: Galaxy S3
Audio & Video
Enjoy music, video, and radio podcasts? The iPhone, which was born of the iPod, is still your best option. Though we don’t like the way Apple locks purchased content into its own device ecosystem, it still has the best ecosystem out there. iTunes is the most robust digital music store and comes with PC or Mac software to manage your entire collection, something Android has never had. Through the App Store you can access Pandora, Spotify, and countless other apps. Podcasts are also handled by a first-party app by Apple. The only downside is that if you purchase music or content in apps outside of Apple’s content, you’ll likely have to do it on the Web. Companies like Amazon, which sells, books, video, and music, do not allow you to purchase content on your iPhone or iPad because Apple demands a 30-percent cut of the sale. Still, it may be locked down, but getting content on the iPhone 5 is elegant and it works.
The Galaxy S3 is more of a patchwork, and will require some research to find the apps you need. Google has dropped support for Listen, its once-great podcasting app, leaving Android users to fend for themselves when it comes to radio. Meanwhile, its Google Play store does support video, but its music service doesn’t have the freedom of Amazon’s MP3 store. Samsung has its own music offering that seems very cool, combining aspects of iTunes, Spotify, and Pandora, but it has made a stupid deal with AT&T and U.S. Cellular that prevents anyone not on these carriers from using it. Dumb.
(Small extra note: The iPhone 5 comes with a nicer set of “EarPod” headphones, again making it a good choice for music lovers. The audio jack is also now on the bottom, which improves how easy it is to pull the iPhone 5 in and out of your pocket while listening to audio.)
Winner: iPhone 5
Cameras
The Galaxy S3 has a decent camera. It works better than most Android phones and you won’t be hitting yourself for choosing an S3. But if I told you it was better than the iPhone 5′s camera, I’d be lying. Apple’s camera user interface is incredibly simple, and the phone just consistently takes pictures that look better than what you get from any other phone. The new Panorama mode is also fun to play with and works intuitively. Samsung has packed in a lot of social features into its camera, but most are only usable if you and all of your friends own Galaxy S3s. Video on both devices still comes out a bit dark, though they’re both capable of 1080p recording.
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In these comparison shots, the left half of the photo is taken with the iPhone 5 camera while the right side is taken with the Samsung Galaxy S3 camera.
When it comes to front-facing cameras, the iPhone 5 catches up to the Galaxy, but neither phone has a great webcam — or FaceTime camera, if you’re on the iPhone.
Winner: iPhone 5
Hardware specifications
The chart above shows an overall view of the specs of both phones. We have (or will) discuss most of these specs separately in different sections. Both phones are pretty evenly matched, but we’re giving the hardware power edge to the iPhone 5 based on benchmarking tests by AnandTech and other sites. However, the Galaxy S3 wins out on smaller features with its inclusion of NFC, microSD, a removable battery, 2GB of RAM (double the iPhone’s), a higher resolution front-facing camera, and the size of its screen. Both phones are powerful and in standard use, we haven’t been able to notice much difference.
Winner: Tie
This is just garbage
Screen – Tie. S3 has a Higher Resolution, bigger screen…but iPhone 5 looks a little better cause of the smaller screen.
User Interface – are you joking? You can fully customize the S3 UI to your liking. What can you do with IOS6? Nothing.
Audio/Video – Tie easy, Even though the front facing camera is a higher res on the S3.
Camera – Is someone forgetting about the Purple haze when taking pictures? My friend with his new iPhone 5 sure hasn’t.
Hardware specs – Just the expandable memory in the S3 is enough to give it a win. Like c’mon, up to 64gb of extra memory per card. microSD limit is software based on the S3, so updates could give it a boost in usable microSD space.
Voice assistant – Tie.
So how is that new iPhone 5 that Apple sent you? I’m sure it’s working well.
And you are paid by Samsung.
Gotta agree. Awarding the iPhone the win in customization based solely on third party cases (ooooh, you can put a sparkly bedazzled case on your iPhone!) versus the inifinitely more customizable home screens of the actual phone (GS3) is downright ludicrous. The category was “customization” not who has more cute teenage girl type cases available from third parties. That “win” by Apple stinks of a compromise when it was realized that this would end in a tie at best. PS, I agree with others. The GS3 pics look better to me as well. BTW, you forgot one VERY important category (even more so than your sparkly case category): PRICE. Sincerely, a current iPhone 4S owner about to buy a GS3 for $80 instead of an iPhone 5 for $200
BTW, one more thing I forgot to include. The very reason I’m here reading this in the first place is because I was trying to decide whether to go GS3 or iPhone 5. I was reading some comparisons but I can’t take the obviously biased ones. Siri? Are you kidding me? She almost NEVER answers a question correctly when you ask anything beyond the most basic of commands. If you ask her what time it is or what is the weather, she’s fine. Just try asking what your favorite player’s batting average was for 2012 or even an easy one like “what is the most popular movie in America right now”? She will either give you a generic wikipedia page for the athlete (assuming she can even comprhend the name), and as for the movie, she’ll list theaters in your area. Whenever I even ask it to read me the last text from someone and it says “no new texts”! So basically, Siri is so dumb, it can only read new texts or compose them. Sorry, but no Apple fanboyism here, even as a current owner. I have to stay objective.
how could you embarrass yourself by saying that the iPhone’s screen size makes the screen look better? That proved how intelligent you are. The iPhone’s screen looks better because it IS better. You cant blame the size of the screen as an excuse. Voice assistant is equal? Are you serious?! Are you really going to lie to yourself? The voice control on the S3 doesnt even come close to the first version of Siri. And now Siri is even smarter than ever. Purple haze? Does your friend imagine things or need glasses or need laser eye surgery? Even my 3GS doesnt have a purple haze and neither does the 5. Ill admit that the size of the S3 is fantastic for movies though. When has Android ever made an update that increases the storage capacity for microSD? And when has Android even made more updates than Apple? If you want more space on the iPhone, just download N2Drive. Its a free app that gives you 1TB of free storage. Trust me, a microSD will never go up to 1TB in the next 60 years. Im assuming Samsung has paid you to type false comments with convincing words as a desperate attemp to make the S3 seem better. Dont be retarded, Apple has defeated every phone company year after year. As a smartphone collector who owns every Nokia, Apple, HTC, Samsung, and Motorola smartphone, the iPhone 5 is the best overall. I pity your foolish judgement.
The AMOLED screen on the S3 produces darker blacks and better colors compared to the RETINA (IPS) display, the only thing that the IPS has over the AMOLED is brightness. The iphone looks better because of the higher PPI of the smaller screen.
Google voice is just as advanced as Siri, look at how well Apple did their map system…you’re a complete fan boy if you think siri is so much better.
Purple has exists because of the sapphire crystal causing a purple lens flare, it well documented so go look it up.
You can get anything bigger than a 64gb MicroSD, 128GB wont be available on the market for another year, and then it’s just a software limitation which can be updated via firmware.
N2Drive??? Unless you’re special and have app that no one else has you’re dreaming. There is no way for an app to “magically” produce 1tb of storage on a device. Unless you’re talking about online storage which is already available and isn’t the same, even remotely.
You call yourself “THEPHONEKING” and you know nothing about the current technology. Pretty sad….
Nothing about current technology? Your pathetic assumption proves your stupidity. If you don’t believe that app exists why don’t you go to the App Store and check it out? I have it on my iPad for proof. A fan boy, you say? Don’t be silly, I only concluded it was better after testing it in various ways. And Google Voice is an app that allows you to call and text with another number that you choose and register for free. I can’t believe you can’t even get the name of the voice control Samsung uses. You’re the sad one here.
I just looked like last time for “N2Drive”, no results. Like i said before, you can’t magically make a device increase the amount of flash memory that’s onboard, even if you click your heels together 3 times and wish it. If you have an iPhone with 16gb you get 16gb (minus OP System/Files)…that’s it. Cloud storage doesn’t count because every smart phone has cloud storage. Sorry it’s called S voice, i typed the wrong name, oh no….i just didn’t care to look it up. Siri is a catchy name and you don’t forget it.
You still call yourself “THEPHONEKING”, guess what, you have no credibility anywhere. You can call yourself steve jobs, no one cares lol
ThePhoneKing is just a username. Why are you taking something so trivial so seriously? You already said this twice. Even I don’t care if I’m called Steve Jobs. At least MY username isn’t something dumb like huhh. I’ll send you a screenshot of the app if you like.
I agree with ThePhoneKing you are a dildo
Why do you keep buying all of these other smartphone brands if the iPhone is so superior? Doesn’t seem too smart which makes me wonder about your judgment regarding the iPhone. And…anyone who has to call some one a “retard” because they disagree with something…in my mind loses al credibility anyway.
I buy other smartphones for testing to see which is better. Then I sell the bad ones and keep the good ones. Even your should be able to understand that.
IPHONE 5 is BETTER
face it
IOS6 you cant change it because it already amazing
camera is crystal literally
who really buys a 64gb memory card
hello SIRI
of-course the IPHONE 5 works
WHY would it not?
Sarcasm in writing c’mon
No it’s not
You’re an idiot
IOS 6 is the same as every IOS in the past, even windows has changed over the years.
Camera has sapphire lens which get a purple lens flare
I have purchased a 64gb card and so have many more have too.
SIRI is the same as google voice…there is no difference.
No saying the iphone doesn’t work, obviosly it does but people praise it for being perfect…it’s not.
You’re still an idiot and it was very hard to write like an idiot….
Look huhh everyone disagrees with you so just stop asshole!
Did you take your avatar picture with the iPhone?