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Compare, contrast, opinions: GSIII vs EVO 4G LTE / Sprint-CDMA-S4 only
- Thread starter spridell
- Start date
I can't comment on E4GLTE vs OG EVO as far as build goes. Glass is glass, even if it's Gorilla Glass, and will still break if lands at the wrong angle when dropped.
As far as EVO vs S3, it really is very subjective. Minus the 2 GB RAM, removable battery, and more potential storage, the specs are exactly the same. Differences are in display, software, camera, and form factor.
Software: Do you prefer Sense or Touchwiz and all it's gee-wiz gimmicks? I prefer Sense; it just seems more polished and mature, with a much more integrated look and feel. That said, I run Nova launcher anyway due to its greater customization options, smaller memory footprint, and lightning fast transitions.
Camera: If find that opinions are split down the middle on that. Some say the S3 performs better in low light. EVO has the hardware shutter button.
Form factor: EVO has the aluminum unibody with Glass front, kickstand, and removable plastic upper back housing for access to SD card. Holding the two side by side, the EVO just feels like the more premium piece of hardware and has a nicer "heft" to it, even though they weigh the same.
Display: Here's where the EVO blows it away. While the S3 is nice, and looks pretty good on its own, it falls flat when compared side by side with the EVO. To me, the colors on the S3 are way oversaturated, and there is a bluish tint to things that are supposed to be white. This manifested itself when looking a web pages with predominantly white backgrounds, or Flipboard. Everything is just much more crisp and clear on the EVO. Plus, max brightness on the S3 cannot hold a candle to the EVO, which will make it much harder to use in bright sunlight.
You need to compare the two side-by-side in a Sprint store to see which one appeals to you. Keep in mind that a used/abused EVO display unit that's been on the floor for a few weeks may have some glitches, so don't get too wrapped up in straight up performance. I assure you that the EVO is silky smooth.
As far as EVO vs S3, it really is very subjective. Minus the 2 GB RAM, removable battery, and more potential storage, the specs are exactly the same. Differences are in display, software, camera, and form factor.
Software: Do you prefer Sense or Touchwiz and all it's gee-wiz gimmicks? I prefer Sense; it just seems more polished and mature, with a much more integrated look and feel. That said, I run Nova launcher anyway due to its greater customization options, smaller memory footprint, and lightning fast transitions.
Camera: If find that opinions are split down the middle on that. Some say the S3 performs better in low light. EVO has the hardware shutter button.
Form factor: EVO has the aluminum unibody with Glass front, kickstand, and removable plastic upper back housing for access to SD card. Holding the two side by side, the EVO just feels like the more premium piece of hardware and has a nicer "heft" to it, even though they weigh the same.
Display: Here's where the EVO blows it away. While the S3 is nice, and looks pretty good on its own, it falls flat when compared side by side with the EVO. To me, the colors on the S3 are way oversaturated, and there is a bluish tint to things that are supposed to be white. This manifested itself when looking a web pages with predominantly white backgrounds, or Flipboard. Everything is just much more crisp and clear on the EVO. Plus, max brightness on the S3 cannot hold a candle to the EVO, which will make it much harder to use in bright sunlight.
You need to compare the two side-by-side in a Sprint store to see which one appeals to you. Keep in mind that a used/abused EVO display unit that's been on the floor for a few weeks may have some glitches, so don't get too wrapped up in straight up performance. I assure you that the EVO is silky smooth.
I went to the store today and checked out the Evo LTE for a few mins. And two things that you said, I can most certainly vouch for.
Although the samsung has the more attractive vivid colors in my opinion, the EvoLTE screen is alot brighter. I mean ALOT. I was really shocked by that considering how people rave about the AMOLED. The AMOLED is a nice screen but far from perfect.
Also, while I think looks wise the S3 is more attractive, feel wise, it becomes pretty obvious side by side that the EvoLTE is built of superior materials. It seems more solid to me and in my opinion, it doesn't feel 'cheap'.
The only strike against the Evo is the non removable battery. And for me thats a huge one considering I spend alot of time on a motorcycle, and I cannot charge. I usually take an extra battery with me. Another strike is I like the music interface of the Samsung better. But that could possibly be countered by finding a better music app. I'm on the edge, but I'll think about it a few more days. Hell, I don't know how many times they let you switch, but I may just go get the EVO and see how I like it.
If you go with the LTEvo, check our forum, we have a tips thread on portable battery powered chargers, should help on a nice ride. 
3vodroid
Android Expert
Formal name for the 3 dot construct in ICS is "the overflow button."
On the LTEvo, it appears on every app page that doesn't already include one - basically, on every app.
Anything that you can't get to on the direct interface of an app is considered overflow. Short version - the 3 dot soft button works the same as the menu button for all legacy apps, every time.
Rooters play games getting rid of the on-screen overflow button (because it's constant) to regain screen real estate and then simply map one of the hard button functions to serve as menu (examples - long-press home=menu, or recent apps become menu and long-press recent apps=recent apps, etc etc).
In Boat Browser, you can layout the app soft buttons however you like. I dropped the browser back button (phone already has a button for that) and added the menu button to the bottom of the app screen instead. Some apps don't even have a menu button now, just swipe to the side to get to the menu/prefs/settings, or change tabs. Some have the menu goodies baked in as buttons along the top, without an overflow button at all.
Point being, as more apps get ICS-savvy, I'd expect more apps to make it all easier to give you options on that.
But until then - yes, the 3 dot button is your menu. If you use it all of the time, then you may prefer HTC's approach and you're all set.
(ps - recent apps aka multitasking button, same thing in my write up)
As for the wallpaper change - Sense 4 changes a lot of things you're used to in earlier Sense. You're likely to prefer some changes, hate others.
See also - http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-4g-lte/556520-ics-design-compliant-apps-no-dots-menu-bottom.html
Google has called for an end to the menu button altogether, links and details in above thread.
Thank you for clearing that up finally I understand the meaning behind those pesky three dots lol
youdoofus
Android Expert
well, after reading and reading, im still nowhere near coming to a solid decision about what to replace my OGEVO with... Even given the quite familiar faces from that old forum in the LTEVO crew. I havent seen Mr. Ed post on stuff in FOREVAAR!! The only thing that bugs me about the LTEVO is the static battery, call me old fashioned, but i rather like the idea of being able to yank the battery when stuff goes awry. That being said, i remember hearing somewhere that the ltevo has something built in to force a reboot almost regardless of what the phone is doing... anywho, im still pondering and pondering. UGH!!! LoL
Long time, no talk, how are you?
Yeah, a 10 second mash on the power button forces a hardware reset, same as a battery pull. And from the lockups I've induced tinkering under the hood, I can guarantee it works, lol.
Yeah, a 10 second mash on the power button forces a hardware reset, same as a battery pull. And from the lockups I've induced tinkering under the hood, I can guarantee it works, lol.
Mr. Ed
Extreme Android User
Just hold the power button down (I thought all androids did this haha)
Love my ltevo
My decision was based mostly on..well, I can't buy the s3 ...they won't let us haha and I have the Skyrocket and Gnote on Att and just thought it was fair to give HTC a shot this time around.
youdoofus
Android Expert
Doin alright early, hows about yourself?
Right on man, im glad to hear that theres a workaround for the static battery... I just cant fathom why they decided that this was a good idea. :/
youdoofus
Android Expert
Hey, no complaints compadre.
Yeah, I nearly had a fit when I heard about the fixed battery, but I decided to give it a go and trade in within 30 if I didn't like it (Best Buy ftw). By the time the SGS3 finally hit, I was already used to the idea, and liking the screen too much.
You can always go with portable battery add-ons, was what sold me.
drexappeal
Extreme Android User
EM...if you were Silver member at Best Buy, you get 60 days!
That's part of the reason I'm seriously considering giving the white LTEvo a go. Thing is, July might be too early to wait it out for the remainder of the superphones to be released, so maybe I'll be upgrading by August. I just hope that the white LTEvo doesn't remain exclusive to Sprint for long.I had been using an HTC AMAZE for about 9 months and was dissatisfied with battery life . . . .there was none, and my carrier. The reviews and specs on the Galaxy SIII blew me away, so I bought one with a different carrier. I 1st noticed that the email client was terrible and instead of storing my downloaded email it reloaded each time I started email, so that if my home PC deleted email from the server, all previous email was gone from the SIII. I had been happy with the HTC email client. I also noticed serious usability problems throughout the SIII. I just returned the SIII for an HTC EVO 4G LTE and I am really impressed . . . . back in the saddle again!! No more Galaxys.
Bob
Bob
Thefoodman52
Android Expert
I'm enjoying pretty much everything about the S3 here. Except a few glaring things.
One being that I'm feeling blue. Blue hue'd again, that is. Rather annoying and hard to see outside unless it's maxed out brightness. Doesn't have that pentile look the epic 4G and touch did, though. Still sucks compared to my old 3D.
This thing feels like a toy. 100% plastic, does not sit well even in my goliath hands. Going to be asking around tonight, as I picked this over the LTE for root purposes, and I feel I may have made a mistake.
One being that I'm feeling blue. Blue hue'd again, that is. Rather annoying and hard to see outside unless it's maxed out brightness. Doesn't have that pentile look the epic 4G and touch did, though. Still sucks compared to my old 3D.
This thing feels like a toy. 100% plastic, does not sit well even in my goliath hands. Going to be asking around tonight, as I picked this over the LTE for root purposes, and I feel I may have made a mistake.
I actually returned my evo 4g lte for the GS3 for several reasons. i have always been an HTC fan. i had the first epic and it sucked so I returned for the evo and then the evo 3D. I was excited about the EVO Lte, but the multitasking thing really whomped in my book and was very annoying while I was at work trying to do multiple things lol. The Evo was also a lot slower from web browsing to switch to different screens. I did like the build, camera, kickstand and camera button better though. Overall I like the GS3 better as of now. HTC does not seem like they are going to change the multitasking thing at all, so until then I will stick with GS3. The GS3 also has several awesome features over the evo.
Thefoodman52
Android Expert
Like the battery lasting longer (for some reason) throughout the day in the S3, even though it's only slightly larger than the LTE's built-in. (100mAh bigger or something minuscule)
I just.... -GRRR-
Why does it seem like Sprint allows this to happen consistently?
-There was the Hero, then the Moment. Hero won, hands down.
-The Evo 4G and the Epic. Evo won, but it was closer.
-Evo 3D and Epic 4G Touch. Epic 4G won, HANDS DOWN due to technical faults on the 3D.
-Now we have the Evo LTE and the Galaxy S III. I mean, come on!! Now there's no technical problems separating them apart to make my decision easier! They just have trade-offs.
I just.... -GRRR-
Why does it seem like Sprint allows this to happen consistently?
-There was the Hero, then the Moment. Hero won, hands down.
-The Evo 4G and the Epic. Evo won, but it was closer.
-Evo 3D and Epic 4G Touch. Epic 4G won, HANDS DOWN due to technical faults on the 3D.
-Now we have the Evo LTE and the Galaxy S III. I mean, come on!! Now there's no technical problems separating them apart to make my decision easier! They just have trade-offs.
Steve Adams
Well-Known Member
I think that was just a setting in android. My s2x does not do that. Works great. I'm going with the sIII as soon as the 64gb version is released. The HTC is a mighty fine phone as well. Can't go wrong with either Samsung or HTC IMO.
The screen on the LTEvo is really, really nice, even in sunlight.
You know you can download different email clients from the market right? you don't have to use Samsungs, I don't.
Seems a bit strange to return a phone for that reason, that would be like returning a PC because the your not happy with the e-mail or browser client that it came with.
Seems a bit strange to return a phone for that reason, that would be like returning a PC because the your not happy with the e-mail or browser client that it came with.
My only problem was the multitasking, I have always loved HTC. There was more lag within the 3 days that I had it then i have had with the GS3 as well. But once again, the multitasking was a headache lol
Thefoodman52
Android Expert
Wait, you're saying you've had more lag with your S3, than with the LTE?
I tried K-9 and a couple of other email clients, but like the HTC better. The SIII would also not work with my banking software and my HTCs do. There were also bugs with the browser. I confirmed with the Samsung hotline that the email issues were not fixable with "settings". The general usability of the HTC is also superior (hard to describe). While I don't think they are significant, some of my issues are likely due to my familiarity with HTC.
WoodenAnts
Member
Lol. Dare i mention rooting to get stock ICS email? Nahhh i better not
Since you've had both phones, I have to ask you which camera did you prefer? I have the GS3 but I think the camera on the LTEvo is better.