Samsung Galaxy SIII - Is it worth it?

If you are like me, you have been tracking the Galaxy SIII since the latter half of last year. The hype surrounding the phone was enough to keep me waiting (many times without patience) until it was finally released. As you probably know, the phone was released on June 21st. As you can imagine, the excitement and hype was huge. But was it worth the money and wait?
I unboxed the phone and was immediately impressed. It comes in two versions - Marble White and Pebble Blue. I went with the blue, as I worried the wear and tear on the white would be too visible. The glossy blue on back and the beautiful (and I mean incredibly beautiful) 4.8 inch screen caught my eye immediately. With reinforced gorilla glass, the phone was already making dreams come true right out of the box. I was slightly skeptical about how light the phone was. It seemed slightly plasticky and was quite large. Even so, I was impressed right out of the gate. 


I could hardly breathe as I turned on the phone. The load time was very fast, and the screen continued to impress me beyond belief. The Super Amoled 720p HD screen had a breathtaking look. It took a little bit of getting used to, but the power of the phone truly came to life. The applications all ran incredibly smoothly (not to mention how beautiful the games looked on the screen). I was able to play one of my favorites (Temple Run) in glorious high definition on the 4.8 inch beauty of a screen. The different app screens, wallpapers, and functions kept me busy for a while. Honestly, it was very hard to put down the phone.
The syncing process was very easy. In fact, I entered in my Google account email and the phone loaded all of my apps, synced my contacts, and even all of my emails from the previous phone. How easy is that?! This was a big seller for me in getting this Android phone over the I-Phone. The effortless integration of my account made it all worth it in itself. 


But what about the battery life? This was probably my biggest concern. The big screen and processor had to drain the battery, right? Apparently I was wrong. The gigantic 2100 mAh battery has held extremely strong. I have owned a few smartphones before (the Google Nexus One, the Motorola Atrix 1+2, and even the original Droid). This phone outperforms them without a doubt. I use my phone fairly heavily and don't have to worry about making it through a full day without charging. I make several phone calls a day, constantly text, use navigation on occasion, email, and play games. Again, after 18 hours of use I tend to still have 25% of the battery left (on average). 

Another worry is that the phone was simply too big. To be honest, the phone is definitely bigger than normal. If you like smaller phones, this may not be the one for you. However, with that being said, I would encourage you to at least check it out at your local store. The designers understood it would be big and designed curves to combat this potential problem. For being big, the phone fits in my hand and contours very comfortably. After a few days, I got used to texting and navigating (even though the screen was the biggest I had ever used). 

Some final thoughts: The Samsung Galaxy SIII satisfied my craving for a new, top of the line smart phone. I couldn't be happier and wouldn't trade it for anything else. The phone is ultra fast, has incredible quality, is light, and satisfies those looking for a bigger screen. I've had the phone for just over two weeks and I continue to be impressed with new things I find. Recently I have discovered how much work they put into the camera. With zero shutter lag and an 8MP lens, the camera quality is absolutely incredible (not to mention all of the awesome features they have packed in). My favorite is probably the burst shot feature. It allows you to take 20 pictures in a row, and will even select the best one for you if you'd like. I just used it to take some photos of my uncle while he wakeboarded and I was blown away! And you can't forget about the 1080p video recording! 

If anything is holding you back, I would highly encourage you to check the phone out. I truly believe you will not be disappointed. And as a former IPhone user, you do not have to fear abandoning your apple product. I have a Mac computer and an Ipod. However, the Galaxy SIII simply outperforms the IPhone. 


Still unsure? Pick one up and see for yourself! The latest in the smart phone evolution is out there waiting for YOU.