Samsung Galaxy S III

Samsung Electronics

Industry	Consumer electronics
Founded	January 13, 1969 (1969-01-13) in Suwon, South Korea
Headquarters	Suwon , South Korea
Products	Smartphones, tablets, consumer electronics
Website	www.samsung.com

"Samsung S3" redirects here. For the MP3 player named Samsung S3, see Samsung YP-S3.

"GS3" redirects here. For the video game, see Goat Simulator 3. For the automobile, see Trumpchi GS3.

Not to be confused with Samsung Galaxy 3.

The Samsung Galaxy S III, often referred to unofficially as the Samsung Galaxy S3, is an Android-based smartphone engineered and marketed by Samsung Electronics. Released in2012, it achieved sales surpassing80 million units globally, securing its position as the best-selling model within the Galaxy S lineup to date. It represents the third generation in the Samsung Galaxy S series.

Compared to its predecessor, the device features a larger display with enhanced resolution, expanded storage options, an increased battery capacity, and a rear camera capable of recording video with stereo audio for spatial sound effects on headphones and external speakers. While the camera's image and video resolutions remained unchanged from previous models, improvements were made to launch speed and shutter lag.

This model introduced several new software capabilities alongside upgraded hardware and a refreshed design relative to the prior year's Galaxy S II. Notable additions include an intelligent personal assistant known as S Voice, eye-tracking technology, and augmented storage capacity. Although wireless charging functionality was announced during development, it was never officially implemented by Samsung; nevertheless, aftermarket solutions exist to enable Qi wireless charging compatibility.

Processor configurations and RAM capacity vary depending on regional markets, with some versions supporting fourth-generation LTE connectivity. The phone debuted running Android version4.0.4 ("Ice Cream Sandwich") and received official updates up to Android4.3 ("Jelly Bean"). Certain variants equipped with2 GB of RAM are eligible for an upgrade to Android4.4.2 ("KitKat"). Its successor—the Samsung Galaxy S4—was announced in March2013 and released shortly thereafter.

After approximately eighteen months of development, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S III on May3,2012. It launched initially in twenty-eight countries across Europe and the Middle East on May29 of that year before expanding availability across additional key markets throughout June2012. Prior to its release date, over nine million pre-orders were recorded from more than one hundred network carriers worldwide.

By late July2012, roughly three hundred carriers had made the device accessible in nearly one hundred fifty countries globally. Within its first one hundred days on the market, sales exceeded twenty million units and reached over fifty million by April2013.

The handset received positive feedback commercially and critically alike; some industry analysts dubbed it an "iPhone killer". In September2012, TechRadar ranked it as the top smartphone among their continuously updated list of twenty best mobile devices worldwide. Similarly, Stuff magazine placed it first in their May2012 ranking of ten leading smartphones.

The device earned several accolades including the European Mobile Phone of the Year award for2012–13 from the European Imaging and Sound Association as well as T3 magazine's Phone of the Year honor for2012.

Its strong performance significantly contributed to Samsung's record operating profits during Q2 of2012.

As of November2012,the Galaxy S III became part of a high-profile patent dispute between Samsung and Apple Inc.

Research firm Strategy Analytics reported that during Q3 of2012,the device surpassed Apple's iPhone4S as the world's best-selling smartphone model.

Due to overwhelming consumer demand combined with manufacturing challenges affecting the blue color variant—specifically a glazing issue—there was a notable shortage of units available on shelves worldwide, particularly within the United States.

Following its tenure as flagship device in the Galaxy series,the Samsung Galaxy S III was succeeded by the Galaxy S4 in April2013.

In April2014,Samsung introduced a refreshed edition named the "Samsung Galaxy S III Neo". This updated model features a quad-core Snapdragon400 processor clocked between1.2 GHz and1.4 GHz depending on variant; it is equipped with1.5 GB RAM along with32 GB internal storage capacity and ships exclusively with Android version4.4.4 ("KitKat").

History

The design phase for the S III commenced in late 2010, led by Chang Dong-hoon, who was then Samsung's vice president and head of the Design Group at Samsung Electronics. From the outset, the design team focused on a concept Samsung refers to as "organic," aiming to incorporate natural motifs such as the movement of water and air into the device's aesthetics. This approach influenced features like the phone’s gently curved silhouette and the "Water Lux" effect on the home screen, where user interactions create water ripple animations.

During the extensive eighteen-month design timeline, Samsung enforced rigorous security protocols to safeguard the confidentiality of the final design until its official release. The design team simultaneously developed three separate prototypes, each treated as if it were the definitive model. This strategy necessitated duplicating all efforts across these versions. Photographs of these prototypes were strictly prohibited, and they were stored in a secured laboratory with access restricted solely to key designers. Transportation of these units was handled exclusively by trusted Samsung personnel rather than external couriers. Principal Engineer Lee Byung-Joon explained that limited access meant no images or sketches could be shared; instead, detailed verbal descriptions were used to communicate about the Galaxy S III. Despite these precautions, one prototype’s specifications leaked online via a Vietnamese website, although this particular version was not ultimately selected.

In the months leading up to its May 2012 unveiling, rumors concerning the device’s technical specifications gained traction among both media and consumers. By February 2012, ahead of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, speculation suggested that the handset would feature a 1.5 GHz quad-core processor, a 1080p (1080×1920 pixels) display, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and a high-definition Super AMOLED Plus touchscreen. More precise leaks indicated 2 GB of RAM, 64 GB internal storage, 4G LTE connectivity, a 4.8-inch screen size, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a device thickness of approximately 9 mm. Samsung officially confirmed the existence of a successor to the Galaxy S II on 5 March 2012. However, it was not until late April that Senior Vice-president Robert Yi publicly revealed the phone’s official name as "Samsung Galaxy S III".

File:Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012.jpg

The Galaxy S III's introduction at Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012 (3 May 2012).

Samsung chose to reveal the Galaxy S III at its Mobile Unpacked event held at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre on 3 May 2012, rather than during earlier industry events such as MWC or CES. One rationale behind this timing was to shorten the interval between announcement and product availability. The keynote presentation during this hour-long event was delivered by Loesje De Vriese, Marketing Director for Samsung Belgium.

After launching the Galaxy S4 in June 2013, reports indicated that Samsung planned to discontinue the Galaxy S III sooner than initially anticipated due to underwhelming sales performance and efforts to optimize production processes.

Hardware

Photo showing two powered-off smartphones held next to each other, illuminated by warm yellow lighting. Both devices rest on a person's palm.

The Galaxy Nexus (left) alongside the Galaxy S III (right)

Design

The S III features a plastic chassis with dimensions of 136.6 mm (5.38 in) in length, 70.6 mm (2.78 in) in width, and 8.6 mm (0.34 in) in thickness, weighing 133 grams (4.7 oz). Departing from the rectangular form factor seen in the Galaxy S and Galaxy S II models, Samsung opted for rounded corners and gently curved edges, drawing inspiration from the Galaxy Nexus. The handset was offered in multiple color variants: white (referred to as "marble white"), black, grey, brushed dark blue (named "pebble blue"), red ("garnet red"), and brown. A special "Garnet Red" edition was launched exclusively for US carrier AT&T on 15 July 2012.

Alongside the 4.8-inch (120 mm) touchscreen display, the S III incorporates several physical controls: a central home button beneath the screen, flanked on the left by an option key and on the right by a back key. The volume rocker is positioned on the left edge, while the power/lock button is located on the right side. At the top edge of the device, there is a 3.5-millimetre (0.14 in) headphone jack accompanied by one of two microphones; the second microphone resides just below the home button.

Chipsets

The Galaxy S III is offered in two main variants that differ mainly in their internal components. The international model features Samsung's Exynos 4 Quad system on a chip (SoC), which includes a 1.4 GHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 central processing unit (CPU) paired with an ARM Mali-400 MP graphics processing unit (GPU). According to Samsung, this Exynos 4 Quad chipset delivers twice the performance of the Exynos 4 Dual found in the S II while consuming 20 percent less energy. Additionally, Samsung launched several 4G LTE variants designed for specific markets where faster mobile network capabilities are available compared to 3G. Most of these LTE models utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 SoC, equipped with a dual-core 1.5 GHz Krait processor and an Adreno 225 GPU. The South Korean and Australian editions represent a combination of features from both the international and LTE-enabled versions.

Sensors

Similar to its predecessor, the S3 includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, front-facing proximity sensor, and a digital compass sensor. Notably, the Galaxy S3 marks Samsung's first flagship device to incorporate a barometer sensor.

Storage

Depending on the variant, the Galaxy S III is equipped with up to 2 GB of RAM. The device is available with internal storage options of 16, 32, or 64 GB. Additionally, users can expand their storage capacity by inserting a microSDXC card, supporting up to an extra 64 GB, which allows for a combined maximum of 128 GB. Furthermore, purchasers receive complimentary access to 50 GB of Dropbox cloud storage for a two-year period, which is twice the amount provided by competitor HTC during the same timeframe.

Display

The Galaxy S III features a 4.8 inches (120 mm) diagonal HD Super AMOLED screen. Its resolution stands at 720×1280 pixels (720p), resulting in a pixel density of 306 pixels per inch (PPI), a notably sharp display. This clarity is achieved through the use of a PenTile matrix configuration, which omits one of the three subpixels—red, green, or blue—in each pixel. Due to this design choice, the display does not carry the "Plus" designation associated with the S II's Super AMOLED Plus screen. The panel is protected by Gorilla Glass 2 from Corning, except for the S3 Neo model. An intelligent software feature called "Smart Stay" utilizes the front-facing camera to detect if the user’s eyes are focused on the screen, preventing it from dimming or turning off while in use.

In line with its predecessor, the Galaxy S3 supports Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) technology for connecting to HDMI-compatible displays. Additionally, it introduces support for Miracast—also referred to as Screen Mirroring and marketed by Samsung as "AllShare Cast"—enabling wireless streaming of the device’s display to compatible televisions or Blu-ray players equipped with Miracast functionality.

Camera

The Galaxy S III features an 8-megapixel camera with a resolution of 3264×2448 pixels, closely resembling the camera found on the Galaxy S II. It supports capturing still images at 3264×2448 pixels and can record video in full HD 1920×1080 resolution (1080p).

The camera application includes a digital zoom capability of up to four times magnification and provides real-time feedback on the video's file size (displayed in kilobytes) along with the available storage space (shown in megabytes) while recording.

Enhancements to the camera software over its predecessor include zero shutter lag, enabling instantaneous photo capture, and a Burst mode that allows shooting up to 20 full-resolution images consecutively. Additionally, the Best Shot function captures eight frames in rapid succession, letting users select the optimal photo. The device also supports taking photographs simultaneously during video recording. Voice commands such as "cheese", "shoot", "photo", and "picture" can be used to trigger image capture. Users have the option to customize shortcuts located on the camera interface's left panel.

Complementing the main rear camera is a front-facing 1.9-megapixel sensor capable of recording video at 720p resolution. The phone is equipped with an LED flash and autofocus functionality.

Video recordings benefit from stereo audio capture, and the device can take 6 MP photos (3264×1836 pixels) during video recording, corresponding to the full 16:9 aspect ratio portion of the sensor's 4:3 frame.

Battery

The Samsung Galaxy S III features a user-removable Li-ion with a capacity of 2,100 mAh. It reportedly offers up to 790 hours of standby time or approximately 11 hours of 3G talk time. In contrast, when operating on 2G networks, the device can achieve up to 900 hours in standby and 21 hours of voice call duration.

Connectivity

Integrated within the battery is near field communication (NFC) technology, enabling users to swiftly exchange files, share map directions, and stream YouTube videos via Wi-Fi Direct using either S Beam or Android Beam. Additionally, it supports tap-and-go payments at retail locations equipped with NFC-enabled cash register systems. The battery also supports wireless charging through a dedicated charging pad (available separately), which employs magnetic resonance to generate a magnetic field that transmits electrical power.

The Galaxy S III is marketed as including an MHL port that serves dual functions: as a micro-USB On-The-Go connection and for linking the phone to HDMI displays. However, it was later revealed by a retailer that Samsung altered the port’s hardware so that only the official adapter designed specifically for this model would function properly.

In durability tests conducted by CNET TV, the S III endured extreme conditions—being cooled to 24 °F (−4 °C), enclosed in a heat-resistant container and heated to 190 °F (88 °C), as well as submerged in water—surviving each challenge without damage. Furthermore, repeated scratching of the screen with a key left no visible marks. Conversely, an independent drop test by Android Authority compared the Galaxy S III with the iPhone 5. The S III’s display shattered on the second drop, whereas the iPhone 5 sustained only minor cosmetic damage to its metal composite frame after three drops.

Accessories

The Galaxy S3 offers a range of accessories, including a wireless charging kit, the Pebble MP3 player, a docking station, the C-Pen, a slim protective case, and a car mount.

Software and services

Backside of a blue and black smartphone with a centrally located camera lens at the top.

Rear perspective of the Japanese Galaxy S III variant, SC-06D

Further information: Android (operating system), TouchWiz, and S Voice

User interface

File:TouchWiz 2012 dial pad.png

Galaxy S3's dial pad interface

File:TouchWiz 2012 phone call.png

Ongoing call screen on the Galaxy S3

The Galaxy S3 runs on Android, an open-source mobile operating system based on Linux and developed by Google, which was first launched commercially in 2008. The platform enables users to customize their home screens with shortcuts to apps and widgets that display real-time information. A dock located at the bottom of the screen can hold four frequently accessed app shortcuts; the central button on this dock opens the application drawer, revealing all installed apps. Users can access notifications by swiping down from the top of the display, where they also find toggle switches for common settings. The device comes pre-installed with applications that integrate Google's suite of services. Its keyboard includes a built-in clipboard manager for enhanced text handling.

Samsung’s proprietary TouchWiz graphical user interface (GUI) powers the device, featuring the "Nature" edition that provides a more natural and interactive experience compared to earlier versions. This includes effects such as water ripples on the lock screen designed to mimic natural phenomena. To rival Apple's Siri, Samsung introduced S Voice, an intelligent personal assistant capable of understanding eight languages including English, Korean, Italian, and French. Built upon Vlingo technology, S Voice allows voice control over approximately 20 functions such as playing music, setting alarms, or enabling driving mode, while utilizing Wolfram Alpha for online search queries. The Wake-up commands feature permits launching specific applications or tasks directly from standby using voice prompts—for example, activating S Voice, camera, music player, voice recorder, missed calls, messages, or calendar events. Additionally, the Auto Haptic functionality synchronizes haptic feedback with audio output for an enhanced sensory experience.

The default phone app includes advanced features like noise suppression, call holding capabilities, volume amplification, and options to customize call audio quality.

Gallery software

The Galaxy S3's updated gallery application enables users to organize photos and videos by date, location, or group. Additionally, images featuring identified faces can be sorted according to individual persons.

With the release of the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 update, the Spiral View feature was introduced, presenting thumbnails arranged in a three-dimensional spiral layout.

Video player

The built-in video player now supports playback in a movable pop-up window that users can position anywhere on the screen. Moreover, it features motion thumbnails, where preview images display a brief moving segment from the video.

Software updates

Upon release, the Galaxy S III came preinstalled with Android 4.0.4, also known as "Ice Cream Sandwich", which had been commercially launched in March 2012 alongside the Nexus S and Galaxy Nexus. This version enhanced the user interface and expanded camera functionality, security measures, and connectivity options.

In June 2012, Google introduced Android 4.1 "Jelly Bean", which integrated Google Now, a voice assistant comparable to S Voice, alongside various software improvements. To support Jelly Bean, Samsung implemented last-minute hardware modifications in certain regional versions of the Galaxy S III. The rollout of Jelly Bean updates commenced in November 2012 for select European countries and T-Mobile users in the United States.

In December of the same year, Samsung began distributing Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean to international versions of the device.

This particular update included the Premium Suite Upgrade, which introduced new functionalities such as split-screen multitasking similar to that featured on the Galaxy Note 2.

By December 2013, Samsung started releasing Android version 4.3 for the Galaxy S III, incorporating user interface elements backported from the Samsung Galaxy S4, along with compatibility for the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch. The rollout of [[Android 4.4|KitKat] version 4.4.2 began in March 2014 for models equipped with two gigabytes of RAM.

Notably, the Galaxy S III marked Samsung's initial device that did not receive new preloaded ringtones through software updates — a practice that has persisted since.

Services

The Galaxy S III is equipped with a wide array of preloaded applications, including various Google services such as Google Play, YouTube, Google+, Gmail, Google Maps, Voice Search, and Calendar. Alongside these, Samsung has integrated its own suite of apps like ChatON, Game Hub, Music Hub, Video Hub, Social Hub, and Navigation. Recognizing that many iPhone users hesitate to switch due to incompatibility with iTunes, Samsung introduced the Easy Phone Sync app in June 2012 for its Galaxy lineup. This tool facilitates the transfer of music, photos, videos, podcasts, and text messages from an iPhone to a Galaxy device. Users can also access Google Play—a digital distribution platform exclusive to Android—to download a variety of content including apps, games, music, movies, books, magazines, and television shows.

Interaction

Beyond S Voice, Samsung has heavily emphasized the Galaxy S III’s intelligent features in its marketing strategy to enhance user interaction with the device. These smart capabilities include "Direct Call," which detects when a user intends to call someone rather than sending a message by sensing when the phone is raised to the ear; "Social Tag," which automatically identifies and tags individuals in photos and facilitates sharing those images with them; "Smart Alert," which provides a brief vibration alert when the phone is picked up after receiving new notifications; and "Pop Up Play," allowing users to watch videos while simultaneously using other applications on the screen. Additionally, the S III supports screen mirroring to external displays and can function as a remote control via AllShare Cast and Play. The device also enables sharing photos directly with tagged contacts through Buddy Photo Share.

Multimedia

The S III supports playback of conventional media types, including music, films, television shows, audiobooks, and podcasts. Its media library can be organized alphabetically by song title, artist, album, playlist, folder, or genre. A distinctive aspect of the S III's music player is Music Square, which evaluates a track's energy level and categorizes it by mood, allowing users to select songs that match their current feelings. Additionally, the device launched Music Hub, an online music store powered by 7digital, offering access to a collection exceeding 19 million tracks.

The "Auto Haptic" function delivers vibrations synchronized with the audio output to enhance the listening experience, similar to the audio-coupled haptic effect feature incorporated into stock Android in 2021.

Voice over LTE

The S III was pioneering as the first smartphone to enable Voice Over LTE technology through the launch of HD Voice services in South Korea. Video calling is supported via its 1.9 MP front camera, and compatibility with the aptX codec enhances Bluetooth headset connections. Text messaging on the S III remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, the S II. Speech-to-text functionality is facilitated by Vlingo and Google's voice recognition assistant. Similar to other Android smartphones, numerous third-party keyboard apps are available to augment the device's default input method.

Enterprise

On 18 June 2012, Samsung revealed that the Galaxy S III would include a variant equipped with enterprise software as part of its Samsung Approved For Enterprise (SAFE) initiative. This program aims to support "bring your own device" policies within corporate settings. The enterprise edition of the S III was designed to offer features such as AES-256 encryption, VPN capabilities, Mobile Device Management support, and compatibility with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Its launch in the United States was planned for July 2012. This business-focused model sought to challenge the market share held by Research in Motion's BlackBerry, building on the success of enterprise versions previously introduced for the Galaxy Note, Galaxy S II, and the Galaxy Tab family of tablet computers.

Developer edition

Samsung also released a distinct "Developer Edition" of the Galaxy S III through its Developer Portal. This version featured an unlockable bootloader, enabling users to customize and modify the device’s software environment.

Variants

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Model	GT-I9300[T]	GT-I9305[N/T]	SHV-E210K/L/S	SGH-T999/L[v]	SGH-I747[m]	SGH-N064 (SC-06D)	SGH-N035 (SC-03E)	SCH-J021 (SCL21)	SCH-R530	SCH-I535	SCH-S960L	SCH-S968C	N/A	GT-I9308	SCH-I939	GT-I9301I (Galaxy S III Neo)
Countries	Global		South Korea	Canada, United States		United States	Japan			United States				China	China, Taiwan	International
Carriers	International	International (LTE)	KT, LG U+, SK Telecom	Mobilicity, T-Mobile, MetroPCS, Wind, Videotron	AT&T, Bell, Rogers, Telus, Koodo, SaskTel, Virgin, Fido	AT&T	NTT DoCoMo		au	Cricket Wireless, U.S. Cellular, MetroPCS	Verizon	Sprint, Straight Talk, Net 10	Straight Talk	China Mobile	China Telecom	International
2G Bands	850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE									850, 1900 MHz CDMA		800, 850, 1900 MHz CDMA (Sprint includes ESMR 800)	?	900, 1800, 1900 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE	800, 1900 MHz CDMA; 900, 1800, 1900 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE	850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz GSM / GPRS / EDGE
3G Bands	850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSPA+ CDMA/EVDO Rev-A/Rev-B	WCDMA 850, 900, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSPA+	850, 900, 1800, 1900, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSPA+ CDMA/EVDO Rev-A/Rev-B	850, AWS (Band IV), 1900, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSPA+ / DC-HSPA+	850, 1900, 2100 MHz UMTS / HSPA+	HSDPA 850 / 1900 / 2100 MHz	800,1700 (Band IX),2100 MHz UMTS/HSPA+		CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev-A at 800 and 2100 MHz	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev-A			EVDO at 850/1900 MHz	TD-SCDMA at 1880 and 2010 MHz	CDMA2000 Rev-A at 2100 MHz and WCDMA support	UMTS/HSPA+ at various bands including 850,900,1900,2100 MHz
LTE Bands (4G)	No LTE support	GT-I9305: Bands 800,1800,2600 MHz GT-I9305N: Bands 900,1800,2600 MHz GT-I9305T: Bands1800,2600 MHz LTE support included	SHV-E210K: Bands900,1800 MHz LTE SHV-E210L: Bands850,2100 MHz LTE SHV-E210S: Band800 MHz LTE support available	T999L Model Only: Bands700 (Band17),1700 (Band4) MHz LTE enabled	Supports Bands700 (Band17),1700 (AWS) LTE frequencies	Bands4 and Band17 LTE support	Band2100 LTE only		Bands1500(Band11),800(Band18) LTE enabled	Bands700 (Band12),1700 (AWS) LTE frequencies supported	Band700 (Band13) LTE capable	Band1900 (Band25) LTE enabled	No LTE support across these models							-	Maximum Network Speed	Up to 21 Mbit/s HSPA+	Up to100 Mbit/s LTE capability	Up to100 Mbit/s LTE available	Up to42 Mbit/s DC-HSPA+; T999L model supports100 Mbit/s LTE											-	Broadcast Receiver Features	Includes FM radio receiver	No broadcast receiver present
Dimensions (mm)	136.6 by 70.6 by 8.6 millimetres (5.38 in × 2.78 in × 0.34 in)		136.6 by 70.6 by 9.0 millimetres (5.38 in × 2.78 in × 0.35 in)	colspan="2" | 136.6 by 70.7 by 8.6 millimetres (5.38 in × 2.78 in × 0.34 in)	132.6 by 69.3 by 9.1 millimetres (5.22 in × 2.73 in × 0.36 in)	colspan="2" | 137 by 71 by 9 millimetres (5.39 in × 2.80 in × 0.35 in)	139 by 71 by 9.4 millimetres (5.47 in × 2.80 in × 0.37 in)	colspan="5" | 136.6 by 70.7 by 8.6 millimetres (5.38 in × 2.78 in × 0.34 in)	136.6 by 70.6 by 8.99 millimetres (5.378 in × 2.780 in × 0.354 in)	136.6 by 70.6 by 8.6 millimetres (5.38 in × 2.78 in × 0.34 in) -	Weight (g)	colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" rowspan=1:133 g	138.5 g	colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" rowspan=1:133 g	136 g	colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" rowspan=1:139 g	141 g	colspan="5" style="text-align:center;" rowspan=1:133 g	141 g	133 g -	Operating System Version	Android version4.0.4 featuring TouchWiz "Nature UX" interface	{ colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Android4.1.1 with TouchWiz "Nature UX" Over-the-air updates enable upgrade to Android4.4.4 }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Android4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with option to upgrade to Android4.1 Jelly Bean }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Android4.0.4 with TouchWiz "Nature UX" interface }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Android4.1.1 featuring TouchWiz "Nature UX" UI }	{ colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Android4.0.4 or Android4.1.2 on Straight Talk, with TouchWiz "Nature UX" OTA updates available up to Android4.3; some units ship with Android4.3 pre-installed }	{ colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | Android4.0.4 with TouchWiz "Nature UX" UI }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Android4.4.2 with TouchWiz "Nature UX2.0" UI enhancements } -	System on Chip (SoC)	{ colspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | Samsung Exynos4412 Quad-core processor }	{ colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 chipset }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Samsung Exynos4412 Quad-core CPU }	{ colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor }	{ colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | Samsung Exynos4412 Quad-core SoC }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Snapdragon400 MSM8228 chip } -	CPU Details	{ colspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 running at1.4 GHz }	{ colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Dual-core Qualcomm Krait CPU clocked at1.5 GHz }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 at1.6 GHz }	{ colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor at1.5 GHz }	{ colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 clock speed of1.4 GHz }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 architecture running at1.4 GHz } -	GPU Details	{ colspan=3 style="text-align:center;" | ARM Mali-400 MP4 graphics processor }	{ colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Adreno225 GPU }	{ style="text-align:center;" | ARM Mali-400 MP4 GPU }	{ colspan=5 style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Adreno225 graphics unit }	{ colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | ARM Mali-400 MP4 GPU }	{ style="text-align:center;" | Qualcomm Adreno305 GPU } -	RAM Capacity

16/32/64 GB ! 16/32 GB ! Other Storage Options |- align=center || Available in16/32/64 GB variants for select models|| 16/32 GB storage options provided|| 8 GB storage on some models; others offer32 GB or16/32 GB depending on variant |-} Yes ! Yes ! Unknown or Not Supported |-} Yes ! Yes ! Unknown or Not Supported |-}

Issues

During the Pwn2Own computer hacking competition held in Amsterdam, Netherlands on 19 September 2012, security experts showcased a method to compromise the S III through its NFC capabilities, enabling unauthorized extraction of all data stored on the device.

In December 2012, users reported two significant hardware vulnerabilities affecting the S III: one involved a flaw in the Exynos SoC that permitted malicious applications to obtain root access even on devices that were not rooted, and another was a spontaneous device failure known as the "sudden death vulnerability," which typically manifested approximately six months after initial use. Samsung responded by replacing the mainboards of impacted units under warranty. Subsequently, in January 2013, a firmware update was issued by Samsung to address and resolve both of these problems.

Both Galaxy S II and III models experienced issues with unexpectedly high memory usage without clear cause. This condition resulted in devices incorrectly reporting their internal memory as full despite seemingly having available storage. In October 2012, Samsung identified the root cause as a background mass caching process that duplicated and stored media files, tasks, and application data into an archive inaccessible to users without modifying the phone's operational scripts. Once these scripts were altered, users could access and delete this cache, preventing further automatic caching unless manually enabled. This problem was fixed starting with the Galaxy S III and subsequent models.

By mid-2013, there were two documented cases of Galaxy S III units exploding. The initial incident involved an individual from Ireland, while a later event saw a Swiss teenager sustain second- and third-degree burns to her thigh due to her phone’s explosion.

In October 2013, Samsung publicly acknowledged problems related to battery swelling and overheating affecting many S III devices equipped with lithium-ion batteries. The company offered replacement batteries for those customers whose devices were impacted by this issue.

Commercial reception

An unnamed Samsung representative disclosed to the Korea Economic Daily that within two weeks following the London launch, the Galaxy S III amassed over 9 million pre-orders across 100 carriers, establishing it as the quickest-selling gadget ever. Shortly after the unveiling, eBay reported a 119-percent surge in used Android device transactions, marking "the first instance where a product other than Apple’s has triggered such intense resale activity," according to an eBay spokesperson.

The Galaxy S III debuted in 28 European and Middle Eastern nations on 29 May 2012. To promote this flagship model, Samsung conducted a month-long global tour spanning nine cities, including Sydney, New Delhi, as well as locations in China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

Samsung solidified its position in multiple markets with the S III. In India, despite its premium launch price of ₹43,180 (US$768), Samsung anticipated capturing 60 percent of the smartphone segment, up from its prior 46 percent share. Within a month post-release, Samsung commanded 60 percent of France’s smartphone market and held over half the market in Germany and Italy. Concurrently, the UK saw Samsung’s market share rise above 40 percent, while Apple’s iPhone 4S share declined from 25 to 20 percent. The North American launch was scheduled for 20 June 2012; however, due to overwhelming demand, several US and Canadian carriers postponed availability by several days or limited initial distribution.

The US launch event took place in New York City, featuring actress Ashley Greene from Twilight and a performance by dubstep artist Skrillex at Skylight Studios.

By July 2012’s end, Samsung projected that the S III would be available through 296 carriers across 145 countries with sales surpassing 10 million units. On 22 July, Shin Jong-kyun, head of Samsung’s mobile division, confirmed that sales had exceeded this milestone. Swiss financial firm UBS estimated shipments of 5–6 million units during Q2 2012 and forecasted consistent quarterly shipments of 10–12 million for the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, Paris-based BNP Paribas predicted third-quarter shipments reaching 15 million units, with Japanese financial consultancy Nomura estimating as many as 18 million. Overall sales were expected to exceed 40 million by year-end. To satisfy demand, Samsung employed an additional 75,000 workers and operated its South Korean factory at maximum capacity—5 million smartphones monthly.

A production defect affected numerous devices due to irregularities in the "hyper-glazing" process on blue rear covers, leading to up to 600,000 discarded plastic shells and a shortage of the blue variant. Although resolved subsequently, Reuters estimated this disruption cost Samsung approximately two million potential sales within the initial month.

On 6 September 2012, Samsung announced that within just over three months—100 days—the S III had sold 20 million units. This pace was three times faster than the Galaxy S II and six times faster than the original Galaxy S. Europe contributed over a quarter of total sales with six million units sold, followed by Asia with 4.5 million and the US with four million. South Korea accounted for approximately 2.5 million units sold. Around this period, US sales of the S III surpassed those of the iPhone 4S.

In Q3 2012 alone, shipments exceeded 18 million units, making it the leading smartphone globally at that time—outpacing iPhone 4S shipments of 16.2 million. Analysts attributed Apple's decline partly to consumer anticipation ahead of the iPhone 5 release.

By May 2014, cumulative sales of the Galaxy S III approached around 60 million units since its initial launch in 2012. This figure rose to approximately 70 million by April 2015.

On 11 October 2012, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S III Mini—a smaller 4-inch (100 mm) device featuring reduced specifications compared to the original S III model.

Critical reception

The Samsung Galaxy S III received overwhelmingly favorable reviews. Experts highlighted its combination of features—such as the S Voice functionality, screen quality, processing power, and size—as giving it a competitive advantage over rivals like the Apple iPhone 4S and HTC One X. Vlad Savov from The Verge praised the device as a "technological triumph," while Natasha Lomas of CNET UK commended its "exceptionally slim and lightweight design paired with a quad-core processor," dubbing it the "Ferrari of Android phones." This praise was echoed by Dave Oliver of Wired UK, who referred to it as "a prince among Android phones," and Esat Dedezade of Stuff magazine, who called it the "king of Android." Gareth Beavis from TechRadar characterized the S III as focused on being faster, smarter, and more streamlined than before, while maintaining cutting-edge specifications. Matt Warman of The Daily Telegraph expressed confidence that the S III was a worthy successor to the globally successful S II.

At launch, several reviewers and media outlets described Samsung's 2012 flagship phone as an "iPhone killer," likely in response to Apple's strong brand loyalty. This designation stemmed from the S III’s use of the Android operating system—the primary competitor to Apple's iOS—and its design and features that rivaled those of the iPhone 4S, including Smart Stay technology, a large display, quad-core processing, extensive Android customization options, and diverse connectivity capabilities.

Notably, the S III was the first Android smartphone to debut at a higher price point than the iPhone 4S had at its 2011 release. Tim Weber, business editor at the BBC, remarked that with this model Samsung had evidently taken the lead in the smartphone market, surpassing even Apple.

On the other hand, some critiques targeted aspects of the device’s design and user experience. The polycarbonate casing was described by some as feeling "cheap" and possessing a "slippery texture." The S Voice feature was criticized for being "underdeveloped" and less flexible than Siri, with voice recognition accuracy issues and occasional unresponsiveness. Additionally, some users experienced microphone problems that hampered call quality. Reviewers also pointed out that the automatic brightness adjustment could be abrupt and often resulted in an overly dim screen; however, Samsung addressed this by releasing an over-the-air update introducing a brightness slider. Despite this dimness, battery life was reported to be twice as long as that of the HTC One X during continuous video playback tests using quad-core models. Some users found the pre-installed applications excessive, leading to perceptions of software bloat, though others appreciated the variety of apps included.

By late September 2012, TechRadar ranked the Galaxy S III as the top phone in its regularly updated list of the 20 best mobile devices. Similarly, Stuff magazine positioned it first among their top ten smartphones in May 2012. The device earned recognition from the European Imaging and Sound Association as "European Mobile Phone" for 2012–2013. It also claimed T3's "Phone of the Year" award in 2012, outperforming competitors like the iPhone 4S, Nokia Lumia 900, and Sony Xperia S. Readers of tech site S21 voted it Phone of the Year as well. In February 2013, at Mobile World Congress, it received the "Best Smartphone" accolade from the GSMA.

Litigation

Main article: Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co.

On June 5, 2012, Apple sought preliminary injunctions in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Samsung Electronics, alleging that the Galaxy S III infringed on at least two of its patents. Apple requested the court to incorporate this phone into its ongoing litigation with Samsung and to prohibit sales of the S III ahead of its planned US release on June 21, 2012. Apple asserted that these alleged violations would inflict "immediate and irreparable harm" on its business interests. In response, Samsung vowed to "vigorously contest the request and prove to the court that the Galaxy S3 [sic] is both innovative and unique," assuring consumers that the scheduled June 21 launch would continue as intended. On June 11, Judge Lucy Koh noted that Apple's injunction request would overwhelm her docket since she was also presiding over trials involving other Samsung products; as a result, Apple withdrew its motion to block the S III's release on June 21.

In July 2012, just before the patent infringement trial commenced on July 30, Samsung issued over-the-air (OTA) updates to Sprint and AT&T versions of the Galaxy S III, disabling the universal search feature as a "precautionary measure" ahead of legal proceedings with Apple. Despite Apple's victory in this case, sales of the Galaxy S III surged due to consumer anticipation that it might be banned. On August 31, Apple petitioned the same federal court to add the Galaxy S III to its existing patent infringement claims, asserting further violations. Samsung countered by accusing Apple of using litigation as a tactic to stifle competition and restrict consumer options.

See also

• Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S smartphones
• Comparison of smartphones
• Samsung Galaxy S III Progre
• Samsung Galaxy S series
• Samsung Ativ S

External links

• Samsung Mobile Unpacked 2012 – Galaxy SIII (Full Version) on YouTube

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