Its predecessor is one of the most popular smartphones ever. The Samsung Galaxy S2 with its dual core processor and 8 megapixel camera pipped the iPhone 4S as the most popular device of 2011. Now its successor is coming, and there is wild enthusiasm and speculation as to what it might feature. These are the top rumours regarding the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S3.
It will be in 3D. From cinemas to the living room, 3D has been the toolkit of the moment. Manufacturers at IBC, a technology fair in Amsterdam last autumn said there would soon be 3D TV without the glasses. As Samsung examines the technology for its TV sets, there have also been reports the S3 could benefit from similar breakthroughs. Glasses free 3D would be the next step for better images and films but the lack of enthusiasm over the Nintendo 3DS, HTC Evo 3D and LG Optimus 3D might have manufacturers worried. 3D has proved to be a polarising feature and it could be a huge risk for Samsung to release its flagship handset with it onboard, it is more likely it will be a feature of a sister device or later release in the same range.
It will feature a quad core processor. The S2’s dual core processor made it stand out from the competition. It was so much faster and smoother than every other smartphone on the market it felt head and shoulders above its competitors. To do the same with the S3, it has been suggested, could mean including one of Samsung’s Exynos chips. It’d be faster and better for graphics but would also improve battery consumption. Smartphone updates of the last year have been akin to an arms race and it would not be surprising if the S3 were to have this kind of power under the bonnet, in fact it would be a shame if it didn’t.
When it will come out? Consumer Electronics Show, which has just closed in Las Vegas and Mobile World Congress. These are two opportunities at the beginning of the year for manufacturers to unveil their new handsets, or to make announcements as to what they will be releasing. Nothing from Samsung on the S3 at CES so it is likely they will look to Mobile World Congress in late February, early march. The likelihood is it will then launch in the UK and Europe first, following in the US later as other Samsung devices have done. The S2 was so popular it’s likely every UK carrier will want a slice.
The S3 will undoubtedly be one of the best mobile phone deals in 2012. Samsung would have to mess up significantly if it did not build on the huge success of the S2 and just take its device to the next level. Whether the device will run Android 4.0 remains to be seen. It hasn’t proved popular with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, yet many might be waiting for updates on their own Android devices rather than buying one simply for its operating system.