Premium Smartphone Shootout: Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Sony Xperia Ion

While you’re heart is probably set on a Samsung Galaxy S3, it’s always a good idea to pitch two top smartphones together and see which One comes out on top. Here at Mobile Phone Checker, we’re renowned for comparing mobile phone contract deals so it goes without saying that we should help you with your choice by having a smartphone shootout.

Now, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is due to be launched in May and has already wowed us with its spec sheet as it takes the smartphone industry up a level. With the stunning quad-core Exynos 1.4GHz processor, huge screen and tonnes of memory, it’s going to be a stunning phone. The early reports are that it feels a little bit plasticky but compared to the glass cases of iPhone 4S phones it’s no wonder. However, at just 133 grams it’s One of the lightest premium smartphones out there so that plastic is obviously doing wonders for the portability of it.

With the stunning Super AMOLED screen Samsung really has the motion control of their screens wrapped up. It’s so sharp and so clear that no other phone can come close to it. Running at 1280 x 720 resolution it has clarity in spades. To power that huge screen, the 2100mAh battery has its work cut out, but with Ice Cream Sandwich and TouchWizz it’s supposed to be really good on the battery life. The 8 megapixel rear camera not only takes superb stills but it can record at 1080p HD. There is a 1.9MP front camera for Skype calls and thanks to that quad-core processor there is zero lag in shutter time and instantaneous responses everywhere else.

So, the future bodes well for the Samsung Galaxy S3, but can the soon-to-be launched Sony Xperia Ion do anything about it? Well, for starters the 1.5GHz processor, 1280 x 720 resolution, 4.55” HBD touchscreen is bound to grab your attention. It also boasts 4G LTE, NFC and has a 1900mAh battery. The weight of the slap-sided unit is 144 grams and it really does let itself down in terms of appearance. It has sharp edges and just looks a little dated before it’s even launched. There is, however, a 1080p HD video recorder, a 12MP camera, 1GB RAM and 16GB of on-board space. You can upgrade to 32GB using the microSD slot just as you can with the Samsung Galaxy S3.

As you can see, there is little in it in terms of hardware. The camera on the Sony is just that little bit better but the battery and screen size are smaller than the Samsung. With Sony trying to snatch a piece of Samsung’s and Apple’s market share, surely you would prefer the Galaxy S3 as it has more pedigree? Whatever you choose make sure you check out the Samsung Galaxy S3 deals that are available and don’t forget to check back on the price of the Sony Xperia Ion when it’s launched as we will be able to compare the best retailers and networks for you.