Google’s Android operating system has enjoyed huge success since its launch back in 2008, posing, what was for a while, the only real threat to Apple’s iOS superiority in the newly fledged smartphone market. But times have changed and now there’s a new kid on the block who demands some serious attention: Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8.
While the software offered by both of these operating systems is undoubtedly impressive, what really appears to make or break a platform’s fortunes is the availability of high-end, impressive smartphones that run it. It’s with two of the smartest devices that we concern ourselves this time as we take one of the finest Android devices -- Samsung’s Galaxy S3 -- and hold it up to Nokia’s Lumia 920 to see if Microsoft’s platform sinks or swims in the presence of a smartphone heavyweight.
Software
Microsoft’s Windows Phone 8 runs Nokia’s flagship Lumia 920, and the software is a great improvement over its older brother, WP7. It includes such notable upgrades as support for multi-core processors and NFC, updated screen resolutions and other virtues like Internet Explorer 10, which renders Web pages blisteringly fast, and Nokia Maps, which is a very complete mapping solution.
In terms of user experience Windows Phone 8 is beyond simple, offering a tile-based UI that keeps everything a mere swipe or tap away, and the software doesn’t presume anything of its master, either. That means even if you’re a smartphone newbie you’ll get on famously with Microsoft’s OS.
Android 4.0.4 features on the Galaxy S3 out of the box, but users can update that to version 4.1.2. or Jelly Bean as soon as they desire.
Jelly Bean offers a very fast, very reliable core experience to users, and includes new features such as Android Beam, for sharing data via Bluetooth or NFC, and updates browser Face Unlock, new text input options and a host more to boot.
The OS also features stunningly smooth visuals owing to Google’s on-going Project Butter initiative – and on top of the base Google features users will also find Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, which adds a ton more eye-candy, social networking nous and widgets to proceedings.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S3
Form
Nokia Lumia 920 – 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7mm, 185g
Samsung Galaxy S3 - 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6mm, 133g
Let’s face it, Nokia’s phones have enjoyed a stellar reputation for being near bomb-proof and they have deserved every bit of it. Thankfully the Finns haven’t let things slide with the Lumia 920, which feels solid, robust and very well made, as well as being reassuringly heavy, yet well balanced, in the hand.
Samsung’s Galaxy S3 is well put together but the absence of any real premium material in construction leaves the device feeling flimsy, even when that may not be the case. While we like the smooth, sleek outer shell it does leave the device vulnerable to slips – unlike the Lumia 920’s polycarbonate outer.
Winner – Nokia Lumia 920
Camera
Perhaps the most powerful weapon in the Lumia 920’s arsenal is its 8-megapixel primary camera, which boasts Carl Zeiss optics, optical image stabilization, autofocus, dual-LED flash, geo-tagging, touch focus and 1080P video capture with stabilization.
The camera also comes augmented by Nokia’s PureView technology, which offers a number of very impressive software enhancements designed to get the very best out of the optics. Judging from what we’ve seen, the company has achieved its goal, as the device captures hugely impressive stills, even in low light.
The device also includes a secondary 1.3-megapixel camera too, for Skype and such, which performs adequately.
The Galaxy S3 features Samsung’s now standard 8-megapixel camera, which also boasts such features as simultaneous HD video and still capture, geo-tagging, touch focus, face & smile detection, image stabilization and 1080P video capture.
The device captures very nice still images in a wide range of environments, and while it doesn’t quite meet the high standard set by the Lumia 920 we wouldn’t say it is bad by any means.
In addition to the primary camera, the Galaxy S3 features a 1.9-megapixel secondary that captures video at 720P and performs video calling duties very well indeed.
Winner – Nokia Lumia 920
Display
Samsung knows displays and the 4.8-inch Super AMOLED monster on the Galaxy S3 is one of the company’s finest to date. It operates at a resolution of 720 x 1280 and offers up a pixel density of 306PPI, making it one of the best in the business.
Colors are faithfully reproduced by the display and viewing angles are solid too, and with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 2 sitting just above the technical stuff you needn’t worry about scrapes and scratches.
The Lumia 920 features a IPS TFT display that measures 4.5-inches and operates at a resolution of 768 x 1280. The screen offers a pixel density of 332PPI, making it sharper than Samsung’s offering, and that extra sharpness is easy to discern when operating the phone.
Viewing angles are, like the Galaxy S3, very good and both balance and contrast appear just that little bit better than the Lumia’s competitor too.
Winner – Nokia Lumia 920
Power
Samsung’s Galaxy S3 is driven by an Exynos 4412 Quad chipset, which consists of a 1.4GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and the highly impressive Mali-400MP GPU, which just eats up games and other visual tasks without skipping a beat.
The device is equipped with 1GB RAM and comes in 16, 32 or 64GB versions, though they all offer support for micro SD cards, so you needn’t worry if you find yourself running out of gigabytes.
The Lumia 920, while fast for a Windows Phone device, isn’t massively equipped in the power stakes. The device’s Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon chipset is no slouch though, with both the 1.5GHz ‘Krait’ CPU and Adreno 225 GPU notching up impressive benchmark scores.
The device features 1GB RAM and comes with 32GB storage but, unlike the Galaxy S3, you’ll find no support for removable memory here, so use it wisely.
Winner – Samsung Galaxy S3
And the winner is…
Nokia Lumia 920
Nokia’s Windows Phone 8-powered device is well built, capable and very fun to use. Its camera is great, its build quality sublime and its software, while a little immature, shows real signs of potential.
Samsung’s Galaxy S3 is a more complete device though, even if it has lost this battle of statistics. The Android OS has more apps in its Google Play Store than are available in Microsoft’s Windows Phone Marketplace (for now, at least) and the device feels more complete, even if it does feel flimsy in comparison to the bulletproof Lumia 920.
Whether you choose to go with potential over the seasoned veteran is your choice, but we can’t help feeling that you won’t be disappointed with whichever of these devices you choose.
Source : http://www.knowyourcell.com/
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