T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 Review: A Great First Android Smartphone To Buy

I've had the 16GB Pebble Blue T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3 model SGH-T999 in my hands for over a month now, and after getting to spend time with the device, I now share my thoughts on the device. Bear in mind, this review is not meant to be a technical analysis of the phone, but rather a take on the best-selling T-Mobile Galaxy S3's user-friendliness and how it fares for an average Android smartphone user.

Tech Specs:

To begin with, let's get the smartphone's specs out of the way.

The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1280X720. This gives the screen a crisp 306 pixels per inch (ppi). Underneath the hood, the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 has a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 2GB RAM that keeps the device feeling fast the entire time.

The Galaxy S3 sports an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera that can take 1080p video and a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera that will record in 720p. Samsung has improved the Galaxy S3's camera to give it zero shutter lag, and after using the camera, there are no complaints here.

A snapshot taken with the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S3:

The T-Mobile Galaxy S3 currently runs Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, although there is an Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update on the way. There's no exact release date, but expect it to be out before the end of 2012.

Physically, the Galaxy S3 has only three pop-out buttons: a volume control on the left, a power button on the right that also locks the phone, and a home button at the bottom. The rest of the phone operates as a touchscreen.

Usability:

So how does the Galaxy S3 stand up to daily use?

The Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system with Samsung's TouchWiz interface is easy and intuitive enough to use that even a first-time Android user will be able to navigate his/her way around without much hassle. A drop-down notifications page alerts you to emails, app updates, and any missed calls or messages. The notifications page also gives you easy access to turn some settings like Wi-Fi, BlueTooth, GPS, and Airplane Mode on and off with a simple tap.

Google's Play store offers easy access to a large number of Android apps and other goodies like books and videos. I never found the Android selection lacking, and the pre-loaded books in the Play Books app (which also has a large number of free books for download, including works by greats such as Fitzgerald) were a nice touch. The number of free apps is large, and you can find nifty ones such as a guitar tuner, or fun games like Temple Run at any time.

The T-Mobile Galaxy S3's dimensions are 5-1/2" x 2-7/8" x 3/8" which makes the phone bigger than your average smartphone (although not much bigger than most Android phones). It feels a bit awkward at times for someone who is used to smaller phones, and more than once I found my Galaxy S3 sticking out the top of my pants pockets, but the size factor tends to become less noticeable over time. Besides, the larger screen makes for some great video viewing, especially through Netflix.

Overall, the phone's polycarbonate plastic chassis held up well to the inevitable drops and scratches that a phone incurs over the course of a day. In fact, there are no noticeable marks or scratches after over a month of daily use.

Battery wise, the Galaxy S3 comes with a 2,100 mAh battery which gives the phone enough juice to get it through most of the day without needing a recharge. You will still have to plug in the smartphone at least once a day, and even more if you're using battery-intensive apps such as Netflix or running a game.

Network:

The T-Mobile Galaxy S3 does not have the luxury of LTE like AT&T's version or Verizon's, and will only go up to 4G speeds. T-Mobile's network isn't as robust, and as a normal AT&T user myself, I found there to be certain places in New York City - namely inside some apartments very high up - where I received very weak signals. With good signal, T-Mobile's 4G held up just fine, with no dropped calls or much interference. As T-Mobile's network grows and adds LTE, these issues should all be rectified. Despite the lack of LTE, streaming movies and downloading apps were all smooth and fast, and there was no noticeable lag time.

Conclusion:

The phone's size, while great for playing games and video viewing, is slightly too large for my taste. The handset still feels slightly awkward to  fiddle with at times and many a times have I found myself using both hands to operate it. The Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system does shows minimal lag when switching between screens, and the future Jelly Bean update and Project Butter should erase the lag further. T-Mobile's network isn't as encompassing as AT&T's, and the lack of LTE is slightly disappointing.

Overall, however, the Galaxy S3 is a great Android smartphone, if not the best. The design is sleek and chic, and the phone packs some serious specs that will keep it relevant for a couple years. Publication T3 named the Galaxy S3 as their 'Phone of the Year,' and CNET lists the Galaxy S3 as their top Android smartphone. As Samsung's flagship smartphone, expect the Galaxy S3 to receive plenty of support and attention regarding updates. If you're thinking of picking up a Galaxy S3, keep in mind that T-Mobile's is slightly more expensive than the rest, costing $229.99 for the 16GB version and $279.99 for the 32GB model with standard two-year contracts. T-Mobile offers the Galaxy S3 in Pebble Blue or Marble White.