Now that Apple has announced the iPhone 5, it’s time for a side-by-side for comparison against the de facto Android flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S3. By the numbers alone, you can see that Galaxy S3 has set the bar and that the iPhone 5 is hard-pressed to match it. And the Galaxy S3 has been out for months now.
The significant advantages of the iPhone is size, weight, iOS 6, and the App Store. Size and weight is a matter of personal preference. While I like small phones, a lot of people love their phones with big-ass screens. As for iOS 6 and the App Store, both are under threat by the much-improved Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and fast-growing Android Play.
But I like the iPhone 5. I like the the size, the weight. The Galaxy S3 is simply too big for me. And how Apple was able to cram everything in there is a marvel by itself. Then there’s the design, the material, the fit, the finish. It’s just beautiful. The black anodized aluminum especially is a killer! Contrast that with the plasticky, amorphous design of the Galaxy S3. And of course I still prefer the simple and no-nonsense iOS 6 over Android. There are no numbers for those.
| Apple iPhone 5 | Samsung Galaxy S3 | |
| Size | 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm | 137 x 71 x 8.6mm |
| Weight | 112 g | 133 g |
| Network | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 1900 / 2100 | |
| LTE | LTE | |
| Display | LED-backlit IPS TFT, capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors | Super AMOLED HD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors |
| 640 x 1136 pixels, 4 inches | 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.8 inches | |
| Processor | unspecified processor, unspecified GPU, Apple A6 chipset | Quad-core 1.4GHz processor, Mali-400MP GPU, Exynos 4412 chipset |
| RAM | unspecified | 1/2 GB RAM |
| Internal Storage | 16/32/64 GB | 16/32/64 GB |
| External Storage | No External Memory | Up to 64GB |
| Data | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n dual-band |
| Bluetooth | v4.0 with A2DP | v4.0 with A2DP |
| NFC | none | yes |
| Operating System | iOS 6 | Android v4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich w/ TouchWiz 4.0, upgradeable to Android v4.1 Jelly Bean |
| Camera | 8 megapixel AF, f/2.4 aperture lens, BSI sensor, IR filter, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization | 8 megapixel AF, f/2.6 aperture lens, BSI sensor, IR filter, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization |
| Video | 1080p at 30fps, LED video light | 1080p at 30fps, LED video light |
| Apps | About 700K from the Apple App Store | About 500K from Google Play + access to non-market apps |
| Battery | Standard battery, Li-Po | Standard battery, Li-Ion 2100 mAh |
| Standby | Up to 225 h (2G) / Up to 225 h (3G) | Up to 590 h (2G) / Up to 790 h (3G) |
| Talk-time | Up to 8 h (2G) / Up to 8 h (3G) | Up to 21 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 11 h 40 min (3G) |