There is no doubt that the Samsung Galaxy S2 was one of the smartphone success stories of 2011. This powerful mobile device has sold over 20 million units and still offers specifications that dwarf what many newer models can offer. In an attempt to stay ahead of rival manufacturers, the company introduced the Samsung Galaxy S3, the successor to the popular S2. We compare the two devices to see how they differ in terms of technology and screen design.
One area where there are big differences between the Samsung Galaxy S3 and S2 is display technology. The S2 features a large 4.3-inch screen that uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology to produce some of the best picture quality available today. The model offers users a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels, which means that 217 pixels per inch can be displayed. The new S3 model has raised the bar in this department, not only increasing the size of the screen, but also the resolution it can offer. The new model features a very large 4.8-inch screen that’s only slightly smaller than the massive display offered on the popular Galaxy Note. Once again this screen makes use of Super AMOLED technology but this time with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. This improved quality has a major effect on pixel density, which increases to an excellent 306 pixels per inch. This may be a bit less than the iPhone 4S can offer, but for a screen of this size, this figure is truly impressive. In terms of screen technology, the new S3 not only boasts a bigger screen, but also completely outshines its predecessor in technology.
When it comes to design, we found these two devices to be a bit more closely matched. One area where we expected the Samsung Galaxy S3 to improve over the S2 was that it used less plastic in the construction of the phone’s chassis, but sadly this is still the main material and therefore the phone feels less robust than rival phones like the iPhone 4S and HTC One X. Despite offering a much larger screen, the new S3 manages to fit it into a body that’s not much bigger than the S2 thanks to a very thin bezel surrounding the screen . The new phone features a more curvy design than the S2, which will please some consumers, though those who prefer a more angular design may prefer the older device. The S2 is available in a black or white finish, but interestingly, the traditional black option isn’t available with the new model. Users can choose between an attractive blue finish or a white variant.
The new Samsung Galaxy S3 is an excellent new phone that surpasses its predecessor in terms of display technology. However, when it comes to design and build quality, the model doesn’t offer dramatic improvements over the sleeker Galaxy S2.