samsung galaxy S III vs Droid Razr maxx

seeclear

What do you think? Battery life? Does one suck and the other is awesome? My carrier is Verizon and I am making the first foray into a smart phone. App availability? (is that kinda the same regardless of phone?) TIA for your help.

heiney9

Have you seen both in person? IIRC the Samsung Galaxy is very large (compared to a std smart phone like the iPhone or Droid types), like a mini-tablet. The Razr Maxx is very thin.

Something to think about. I wouldn't want something the size of a mini-tablet for an everyday smart phone.

H9

seeclear

Good to know. I've seen the Razr, but not the Samsung. Thanks

I'm leaning toward the Razr, but just wanted feedback from users so I don't regret my decision.

chumlie

Can't speak to the Samsung. My Daughter & Son have the Droid. Both give it the thumbs up.

obieone

Just something I read in reviews, but, the Maxx screen breaks easily, and regardless of extra protection on the contract, it still isn't covered. I've seen that on both Amazon, and Verizon reviews. I'm just repeating what I've seen online, take it at face value.
The other thing I noticed about the Maxx, is the volume isn't very loud, which is important to me, due to work location(roofs).
That's the primary reason I'm looking at the Sammy, but I haven't done enough research.

mdaudioguy

I have an S2 and I'm lusting for an S3!!! Considering the Note, but I think that's just too big for me. S3 seems just about right. The 3.5" screens of the current iPhones just seem too small, IMO.

Glowrdr

Just to throw it out there, all the apps would be some same. Maybe a little clarification, is that you would access the same app marketplace. I do know of some propriatary apps (i.e. HTC has it's own sync app) - but I'm not sure that either of those phones would have anything that stands out as "different"

dorokusai

Not that it makes much difference to the argument but all field personnel(FSO) and switch operations(VSO) from Sprint Nextel(Ericsson) are being swapped into Samsung Galaxy S's for all testing and work inside and outside of the network. This decision was made with a lot of other phones in the bucket so they must have had quite a bit of reason to do this for us out here. That's about 10,000+ phones nationwide. Just my thoughts.

Mark

obieone

Follow-up: I did some research on the S3 w/ Verizon, and apparently, there are more than a few features, and apps locked out of this ph., one of them being Google marketplace, which is the ability to pay for things by simply swiping your ph. across a pad? Also, there is some sort of glitch with the sim card and making calls?
I'm thinking of staying w/ ATT, cuz it sounds like Verizon is turning into Apple.

blairfrischx

I currently own the SGS3. My only big complaint is the default Samsung keyboard. The auto-correct feature for it is terrible (read: TERRIBLE).

Other than that, I have never had to charge it in the middle of a day. I tend to only charge at night and just put it on a battery-saving mode when I'm not using it heavily. It's a great phone.

I don't have any experience with the Droid. I'm on AT&T.

huggies

obieone wrote: »

Just something I read in reviews, but, the Maxx screen breaks easily, and regardless of extra protection on the contract, it still isn't covered. I've seen that on both Amazon, and Verizon reviews. I'm just repeating what I've seen online, take it at face value.
The other thing I noticed about the Maxx, is the volume isn't very loud, which is important to me, due to work location(roofs).
That's the primary reason I'm looking at the Sammy, but I haven't done enough research.

It's true. I have the Razr Maxx, and I'm in the process of returning it to Motorola to have the screen replaced, for $180.... Its the internal screen that cracks, not the outer Gorilla glass. Battery on the phone is great. I've really liked the phone in general, until the screen cracked.

Glowrdr

obieone wrote: »

Follow-up: I did some research on the S3 w/ Verizon, and apparently, there are more than a few features, and apps locked out of this ph., one of them being Google marketplace, which is the ability to pay for things by simply swiping your ph. across a pad? Also, there is some sort of glitch with the sim card and making calls?
I'm thinking of staying w/ ATT, cuz it sounds like Verizon is turning into Apple.

A couple of expanations to this statement. The Google Marketplace is where you buy your apps. This will work on any Google powered phone. Verizon certainly may have blocked the new technology for whatever near-field payment systems are built into the phone, but I would not concern yourself with this at the moment. The US is not setup for this type of payment system at this time. (this is more of an asian thing at the moment).

The other thing, is Verizon does not use SIM cards. So whatever info you have heard about that, is probably false, or a generalization about phones in general. For example - AT&T phones use SIM cards. People prefer those phones particularly because they can replace the SIM and use them with overseas prepaid companies. If you look online, there are companies that do nothing but sell a SIM card and data plan - no phones are in the mix. This is why the used marketplace generally does not favor Verizon phones (compare an AT&T iPhone vs a Verizon iPhone - AT&T will win every time for trade-in value)

audiobliss

heiney9 wrote: »

Have you seen both in person? IIRC the Samsung Galaxy is very large (compared to a std smart phone like the iPhone or Droid types), like a mini-tablet. The Razr Maxx is very thin.

Something to think about. I wouldn't want something the size of a mini-tablet for an everyday smart phone.

H9

I'll bet you're thinking of the Samsung Galaxy Note, which is indeed a very large phone. It is marketed as being somewhere between a smartphone and tablet as far as size goes. Here's a side-by-side with the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S3:

As you can tell, the Galaxy Note is definitely much larger than the Galaxy S3.

However, the Samsung GSIII the OP is asking about is actually very similar in size to the Droid Razr Maxx. Here's a picture of the two side by side for comparison:

obieone wrote: »

Follow-up: I did some research on the S3 w/ Verizon, and apparently, there are more than a few features, and apps locked out of this ph., one of them being Google marketplace, which is the ability to pay for things by simply swiping your ph. across a pad? Also, there is some sort of glitch with the sim card and making calls?
I'm thinking of staying w/ ATT, cuz it sounds like Verizon is turning into Apple.

Glowrdr wrote: »

A couple of expanations to this statement. The Google Marketplace is where you buy your apps. This will work on any Google powered phone. Verizon certainly may have blocked the new technology for whatever near-field payment systems are built into the phone, but I would not concern yourself with this at the moment. The US is not setup for this type of payment system at this time. (this is more of an asian thing at the moment).

The other thing, is Verizon does not use SIM cards. So whatever info you have heard about that, is probably false, or a generalization about phones in general. For example - AT&T phones use SIM cards. People prefer those phones particularly because they can replace the SIM and use them with overseas prepaid companies. If you look online, there are companies that do nothing but sell a SIM card and data plan - no phones are in the mix. This is why the used marketplace generally does not favor Verizon phones (compare an AT&T iPhone vs a Verizon iPhone - AT&T will win every time for trade-in value)

As Glowrdr mentioned, All android phones access the "Google Play Store" for downloading apps as well as other content (music, movies, magazines, etc). Some carriers will offer their own little app stores (for Verizon it's just a subsection within Google's Play store) for their own apps. However, Verizon absolutely DOES use SIM cards for their 4G LTE network. At least, my HTC Thunderbolt does, and I found reference in a review that both the SGS3 and Razr Maxx do, as well. They are only for 4G connectivity, though, and have nothing to do with phone calls or 3G.



HERE (linky) is an article I found comparing the SGS3 and Razr Maxx that you might want to read through.

I have been drawn to the Razr Maxx myself because of the large battery and therefore longer battery life. I am currently using an HTC Thunderbolt (Verizon's first 4G phone) and love it. However, it would be almost completely useless for me if I didn't have the larger capacity battery in it. From this experience I've come to realize battery life is of utmost importance.

As the review points out, the SGS3's screen is both larger and of a higher resolution, and due to reduced glare is more readable outside. Both phones also have their own unique interface. (Cell phone manufacturers, even though they may be based on the same version of Android (in this case, Ice Cream Sandwich), overlay the Android OS with their own user interface to give it a totally different and unique feel.) Here again, the article gives Samsung's "TouchWiz" interface the nod over Motorola's "MotoBlur". Having not played with either very much, I would probably agree. However, I have my current phone rooted and would certainly do the same for my next phone, so this would be of zero importance to me specifically.

I just very briefly skimmed the rest of the review and it seems as though, at least from their perspective, the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes out on top. However, how you like the feel of them in your hand and interacting with them is likely the most important aspect.

audiobliss

So I just made a massive edit to my previous post, but apparently the 20 minute time mark elapsed while I was editing and I lost all of it.

The SGS3 has a better processor and more RAM and so performs better in benchmarks. It also has a superior camera, video capturing, browser, email client, and gets better speeds on 4G than the Razr Maxx. This makes a pretty solid argument for the Samsung. However, the Motorola has better call quality and much longer battery life. Razr Maxx gets 17 hours talk time or 2-3 days mixed usage whereas they cite the SGS3 as having 8 hours talk time and 1 day mixed usage.

After determining how heavy of a user you'll be (ie, do you need the extra battery length and the better connectivity speeds), and assessing how much you'll depend on the phone's camera, the feel and experience of using the phone would be the next step in making a decision.

Good luck with your new purchase, and welcome to the world of smart phones! It truly is revolutionary!

Glowrdr

Verizon having SIM cards is news to me. Having an iPhone currently though, I've never dealt with 4G yet - good catch.

obieone

CORRECTION: (Samsung S3/Verizon) It's not Google marketplace, but rather Google Wallet. Also, their is a 'no sim' error message, thats being reported in the reviews.
I've since learned that there is(allegedly) a fix to the wallet issue at xdadevelopers.com.

bigaudiofanatic

Now on my third android the S3 and let me tell you it is the best one I have owned thus far.

The Incredible and charge were my old ones. If I were you I would go with the S3 as long as you do not mind 10-11 hours of solid use.

zingo

I've heard the MAXX has better battery life than most, but being a Verizon customer, I'm waiting for the release of the Note II before I make any decisions on a new phone.

nguyendot

I've had a Epic 4G (S1), Infuse 4G (S1), S2 International, S2 Skyrocket, Galaxy Note, and now the S3 all for AT&T.

The Infuse was basically the Predecessor for the Note (biggest screens available at each prospective time).

I've used the Motorolas and they're nice. I prefer Samsung and the S3 has been the best phone thus far. The note was huge and great to browse the web on, however ICS killed the smoothness of the UI. Even though it has very similar hardware and is driving the same amount of pixels as the S3, it lags tremendously once updated. This is with multiple full factory resets. I liked it but after switching to the S3 I am impressed. The smoothness of the UI is on par with iOS. (I have an Iphone 4S as well).

Both are in Otterboxes because I drop the damn things too much. Battery life is about a day of heavy usage. I get about 400-1000 emails a day and do about 300 texts on each phone. I go well over 5GB a month on our corporate data plan as well.

MarisAnder

Samsung Galaxy S III is the company's next flagship. It is said that it will run Android 4.0, under the hood will be a Samsung developed 1.4GHz ... samsung galaxy s phone cases

Thorton

I have the SII. Excellent phone. Fast, easy to use and I have not had any problems. I only have to charge it at night. It can play music and run apps with minimal battery lose. Brother-in-law has the Razor. Also a nice phone.
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obieone

post 20 reported

soundfreak1

Ive had a bunch of bberrys, the htc evos and now the samsung galaxy sll and the samsung is very good! Quite happy with it. Was considering the slll myself. Easy to navigate large screen and great images.

snake1

I can speak for androids and samsungs. They have all been really good devices! I currently have a Galaxy Note and while others may trash it about it's size, but I say give it a week and you can't help but love it. Its not nearly as unwieldy as most make it out to be!

AsSiMiLaTeD

Sorry, but not all Samsung android phones have been great devices. The original galaxy was not a very good phone with the defective gps chip

snake1

Pardon me, I can only speak for S models and the Note.