[Galaxy S III General] Bloodflame:
Galaxy S III vs. HTC One X

I wanna take this time to give a fair comparison of the Galaxy S III to HTC's flagship One X. Let me start by saying I am not a fanboy for any brand. I like any device that works, and works well. I choose my devices based on build quality, specs, and features. Software is never a dealbreaker for me, as I usually prefer to load custom ROM's (CM/AOSP mostly). That said, I must say I am quite impressed with the Galaxy S III so far.

In my own honest opinion (and without starting any fights), I felt like the original Galaxy S and even the GS2 were way overhyped. Yes, I agree that they are good devices, but I feel like they didn't really scream out "next gen" when they launched. With the specs on paper and even in real world benchmarks, the first 2 generations only just gave their Nexus counterparts a run for their money. At first glance, it looks like the GS3 is finally going to push the bar to the next level. Of course, HTC also has it's high-end contenders, and this time around it happens to be the One X.

Now, I am in the market for a new phone, and I was highly considering the One X. With all the hype leading up to the GS3, I thought about the previous two generations, and prematurely decided the third gen would end up like the first two. Well, I stand corrected. I could easily see myself buying a GS3, but I am still undecided. On one hand, I have always loved HTC's build quality, and the One X's features definitely fits my requirements. But on the other hand, the Galaxy S III has a few things HTC missed.

When it comes to raw horsepower, both devices are definitely packing a lot of power, so that leaves other things to consider. While I have yet to actually handle each phone in my own hands, my first impression about build quality would go to HTC's polycarbonate unibody design. I always prefer a body not made of plastic, but then again, the Gorilla Glass 2 on Samsung's flagship does give it an upper hand. So all in all, it's still a tie.

When it comes to the camera, HTC definitely wins here. Sure, both devices are 8MP, but as a photographer, I know that the lens makes all the difference. The HTC One X has a beautiful wide angle lens with f/2.0, and from what I've read, Samsung put more effort into the software, leaving it with just an average lens at best. HTC also spent a lot time perfecting their camera software, so they get bonus points for paying attention to all the small details.

Two other important factors for me are the ability to remove the battery and add an external microSD. Unfortunately, this is where HTC made their mistakes, and Samsung was right there to make it right. These are actually two of the biggest things that are giving me second thoughts about buying the One X, and opting for the GS3 instead.

But then I start thinking about the screen. Quality is more important to me than size, and while Samsung's may be a tenth of an inch bigger, it appears that HTC's Super IPS LCD2 wins here. Not to say Samsung's screen isn't good, but I was a bit surprised to see they forgot the Plus part of their HD Super AMOLED. Maybe they did this to leave some room for improvement when another variant of the GS3 comes out in the next 3-4 months. Who knows...

Other than a few other minor differences that could go either way, one final important feature is the battery itself. We all know smartphones are power hungry, so it goes without saying that Samsung's removable 2100mAh gives it an upper edge. Hopefully, it's enough to keep the phone charged for at least a couple of days. HTC's 1800mAh may also last a couple days, partially thanks to the Tegra 3's fifth power-saving core. But when it comes right down to it, 2100mAh simply sounds better. And did I mention it's removable?

This leaves me stuck with a hard decision to make. I'm sure I'll be happy either way, but in both cases, there will be some sacrifices to make, yet there will always be the satisfaction of having a powerful device nonetheless. You win some, you lose some.

I'm also considering a new tablet as well, so if only the Asus Padfone would come out. That would make this decision even harder! :rolleyes: