Database Develop

[Q] S3 Mini vs. S3

Hi there!
I'm looking for a new phone to buy around februari 2013. I'm torn between the S3 and the S3 Mini. I listed up my Pro's and Con's beneath. Will there be as much xda software development for the S3 Mini as for the S3? I mean roms cyanogenmod, MIUI,.. All that cool stuff? I'm a huge android fan and love to root my android phones and customize them with custom roms
GALAXY S III MINI
Pro: Super comfortable size
Con: No LED-notification light, battery life, memory, no auto-brightness + how about android development?
GALAXY S III
Pro: everything is awesome + huge android development
Con: size
PS: I bought a Galaxy Note 7 months ago and it was way to big for me to handle, even when I used it for months.. It wasn't all that comfortable, so that's why i'm seriously considering a MINI over an S3... But I love the S3 in all other ways more (more features etc.).
Can you help me with my questions?
thanks!

sdequant said:
Hi there!
I'm looking for a new phone to buy around februari 2013. I'm torn between the S3 and the S3 Mini. I listed up my Pro's and Con's beneath. Will there be as much xda software development for the S3 Mini as for the S3? I mean roms cyanogenmod, MIUI,.. All that cool stuff? I'm a huge android fan and love to root my android phones and customize them with custom roms
GALAXY S III MINI
Pro: Super comfortable size
Con: No LED-notification light, battery life, memory, no auto-brightness + how about android development?
GALAXY S III
Pro: everything is awesome + huge android development
Con: size
PS: I bought a Galaxy Note 7 months ago and it was way to big for me to handle, even when I used it for months.. It wasn't all that comfortable, so that's why i'm seriously considering a MINI over an S3... But I love the S3 in all other ways more (more features etc.).
Can you help me with my questions?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
about s3 mini hope with new update software 4.1.2 the notification led solve. if about software .

S III Mini
Honestly, the S III Mini is still a bit overpriced (at least in my country), tho I got it a few days ago and I really like it. Was a HTC Desire user, and was looking for a same size phone. This one has all the Desire lacked in terms of hardware, but the development is not that shiny because of the chipset. If you can find, S II would probably be a good choice.

I've been using the S3 Mini for about a month, and I'm quite satisfied with it! The thing is, the 4.1.2 Update was extremely disappointing, and there are very few devs out there supporting it! I've been thinking of taking up ROM porting, just because of that :silly: Anyway, I don't expect much from my effort...
Besides that, you have summarized pretty much everything considering these two devices. I would highly recommend that you buy the normal S3 if you want to install custom ROMs, and generally mess around with it.

i think s 3 mini will be great 4-6 month later , since we have not much hh owner+developer , and its diff version on each region..
i just hope there will be offcial CM.10.1 for this phone.. hope not too long
well ofc ill go s 3 if i want to choose which one the best... but i just cant afford the price lol

For me, I went out on a mission to buy a new phone, as my wildfire buzz' battery died and repair wanted £15 for a new batt'. Considering the buzz wouldn't even sell for that amount, new phone it is.
So I was going to get the S3 knowing about cm (but hating the size), and i saw the S3 mini. Looked up the hardware specs and bought it straight away.
Shame about the lack of updates and cm though
I wish I knew more about porting too.
Sent from the dark side on my GT-I8190

I have an s3 mini and my father has an s3, imagine the old man trying to use it, he is about to sell it and buy an iphone. Anyway, the no led thing was the thing that bugged me the most, i solved it with bln mod from the xda forum, that makes the lights of the buttons to blink on new messages, but of course i had to pay.
On my overall experience (software, hardware, apps, size, etc) i will always choose the s3 over the s3 mini, the size is not that much of a problem considering that it almost doubles the mini in specs, mods and developing
I hope it helps you, my advice, don't buy an s3 mini
Sent from my GT-I8190 using xda app-developers app

nanogi said:
I have an s3 mini and my father has an s3, imagine the old man trying to use it, he is about to sell it and buy an iphone. Anyway, the no led thing was the thing that bugged me the most, i solved it with bln mod from the xda forum, that makes the lights of the buttons to blink on new messages, but of course i had to pay.
On my overall experience (software, hardware, apps, size, etc) i will always choose the s3 over the s3 mini, the size is not that much of a problem considering that it almost doubles the mini in specs, mods and developing
I hope it helps you, my advice, don't buy an s3 mini
Sent from my GT-I8190 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you mean you have to pay? Bln kernel is free to use..
Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk 2

Why revive such an old thread
Sent from my GT-I8190N using xda app-developers app

vonuzu said:
What you mean you have to pay? Bln kernel is free to use..
Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to make lights blink i use bln control pro, i could not do it with free version
AssToast said:
Why revive such an old thread
Sent from my GT-I8190N using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because I can

nanogi said:
to make lights blink i use bln control pro, i could not do it with free version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use NoLED. It's free, and since our screens are AMOLED, it won't use a lot of battery.

[Q] Are you happy with your phone?

I am about to order a new phone in next couple days and still thinking between Xperia and GS3. I know there is new generation of both coming soon, but I would upgrade anyway at the end of the year.
1. How is performance?
2. Signal quality?
3. Build quality?
4. Rom development?
Thanks for all your input!
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

encho said:
I am about to order a new phone in next couple days and still thinking between Xperia and GS3. I know there is new generation of both coming soon, but I would upgrade anyway at the end of the year.
1. How is performance?
2. Signal quality?
3. Build quality?
4. Rom development?
Thanks for all your input!
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several threads about this in the general section and the Q&A section.
However,
1) Very good, IMHO excellent
2) Brilliant
3) Brilliant
4) Getting better all the time

gregbradley said:
There are several threads about this in the general section and the Q&A section.
However,
1) Very good, IMHO excellent
2) Brilliant
3) Brilliant
4) Getting better all the time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

All of the above are true but if you want to get custom roms make sure that the bootloader can be unlocked!
My only complaint about my phone is that I can't
Click the thanks button if I helped!
Sent by G.L.A.D.O.S.

1) Great.
2) Very good for phone, average for wifi.
3) Great.
4) Good, hope it gets even better.

Galcactus said:
All of the above are true but if you want to get custom roms make sure that the bootloader can be unlocked!
My only complaint about my phone is that I can't
Click the thanks button if I helped!
Sent by G.L.A.D.O.S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is that? Are there some models where it can't be?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

encho said:
Why is that? Are there some models where it can't be?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes!

Sorry, I am new to this device, any way to recognize them, like serial or model ID?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

encho said:
Sorry, I am new to this device, any way to recognize them, like serial or model ID?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier-branded phones usually cannot be unlocked officially thru Sony's dev site. Get it from retail store and it's unlockable easily.
Tapatalked from my TX

1. How is performance?
Using wifi connection at home I do not find using the phone slow compared to a i5 desktop, so I would say great.
2. Signal quality?
Similar to my work BB Bold
3. Build quality?
Good, but I have not pressed the (power) button(s) lots as the phone is new, so usage is still low
4. Rom development?
I have nothing to compare it to, but the chaps here are all knowledgagable and Greg maintains a useful thread with links to many ROMs
I could get the s3 £100 over 2 years and maybe I would go for that (got this phone last week, and the s3 offer came on the w/e). But now I am happy putting that money towards the next upgrade.
Also this phone is a bit smaller, which is good.

Thanks to all, seems owners are quite happy with it which matters the most. I have seen some unfavorable reviews on the net, so that was a biggest issue for me. The only thing about this phone might be that the development seems a bit slow. I am used to switching between stock/cm/miui roms and first and last are not updated that often (we are still waiting for Sony's JB and MIUI is outdated at this stage), and generally the development thread seems not to be very active.

I switched from s3 to TX a few days ago. Sony's interface is fantastic and is 100x better than Samsung's touchwiz.
A minimal amount of bloatware and is very close to vanilla android IMO, anyone agree with me?
Development of cm in s3 with exynos are suffering many issues due to Samsung not providing sources to developers.
I don't like the jump from ics to jelly bean in s3, it seems like Samsung can't implement buttery smooth ui and just kept adding bloatware. Even galaxy nexus ui is faster than s3. Although multi window is nice.
Build quality is definitely better on Sony and TX feels like a premium while s3 got too much plastic.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2

wednesday13 said:
I switched from s3 to TX a few days ago. Sony's interface is fantastic and is 100x better than Samsung's touchwiz.
A minimal amount of bloatware and is very close to vanilla android IMO, anyone agree with me?
Development of cm in s3 with exynos are suffering many issues due to Samsung not providing sources to developers.
I don't like the jump from ics to jelly bean in s3, it seems like Samsung can't implement buttery smooth ui and just kept adding bloatware. Even galaxy nexus ui is faster than s3. Although multi window is nice.
Build quality is definitely better on Sony and TX feels like a premium while s3 got too much plastic.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's useful info. Also I found about that bug that bricks some S3 devices, which is really ridiculous.

encho said:
Thanks, that's useful info. Also I found about that bug that bricks some S3 devices, which is really ridiculous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, also the exynos exploit which a simple apk can root which was discovered by xda poster. Basically, there's no support for exynos devices but US s3 is fine since it uses Qualcomm chip.
Slow update by Sony is worth it I'm sure. Not some fast update by Samsung and HTC but crippled os and can't implement jelly bean properly IMO. Ics is fine also in Xperia and satisfied with it much faster than touchwiz lol
You should properly get a T if you want more development but for sure TX will get cm10 also.
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Development

in addition to the mini galaxy s3 are also a holder of a galaxy w, and this section of the galaxy w I noticed that even came CyanogenMod 10.1 amazing, however the mini galaxy s3 has not yet reached even the CyanogenMod 10, but when you give more consideration to this phone? we are growing day by day we owners of mini galaxy s3 but no one considers
Sent from my GT-I8190 using xda app-developers app

CM10 is being worked on but it takes time without cource for NovaThor U8500 soc. S3 mini is a pretty new model compared to the Wonder and Arco is still in alpha stage with it for W. Just imagine how many hours he must have put in on that project. Just give the devs some time, and i'm sure we'll se an alpha when most things work. :good:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=39699781&postcount=55

R: [Q] Development
everything you say but s3 is a new model, however, there is a serious development. S3 .. do not tell me it is an old model?
Sent from my GT-I8190 using xda app-developers app

You complain too much bro..Give the devs some time..do you think its easy to make a rom without the proper sources?they'll have to write all those codes from scratch..
and if you want..why not make your own?so you wont complain about the slow development here.
Sent From The Palm Of My Hand!!

ponemania82 said:
everything you say but s3 is a new model, however, there is a serious development. S3 .. do not tell me it is an old model?
Sent from my GT-I8190 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all it's not an s3, it's an s3 mini. Can't be compared to s3 when it comes to hardware.
i8190 was released in november 2012 I think and that wasn't a worldwide release. Of course things gets slowed down. Security was also tightned on this one so we didn't get a working custom recovery untill end of januari.
if you really need CM for your device you should pick an older one with official support from CM team.

The normal target date for official CM support is about a year. This means that there's usually a working-ish port ready about six months after the device launched, and this phone launched just five months ago. Give Maclaw time to work on it.

Sorry if this question has been already asked.. I'm not quite sure: Some state that source codes are released, others say they're not. Being on a SGS2 without proper source code, I'd like to know if SGS3 mini documentation is fully available (= developer-friendly).
Thanks in advance,
experience7

Nobody?

experience7 said:
Nobody?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to ask in the CM10 dev thread, there Oliver or other devs working on it will answer your question

Is it worth swapping my S3 for an xperia Z

Hi guys
I'm currently a owner if an S3 and slightly peed off with the lack of sources, battery life on AOSP and etc.... So is it worth swapping my non dev friendly S3 for the dev friendly Xperia Z?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

elspanish88 said:
Hi guys
I'm currently a owner if an S3 and slightly peed off with the lack of sources, battery life on AOSP and etc.... So is it worth swapping my non dev friendly S3 for the dev friendly Xperia Z?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just went from S3 LTE to an Xperia Z and couldn't be happier!

WHAT....... are you crazy. S3 has some of the best development. I don't know what ur talking bout. And if u like the xperia try jovy23's xtremeperia ROM. Its flawless and is as close to xperia as u can get on an S3. Also good on battery.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Its the i9300 just to be clear... To be fair there is a lot if development but I've tried all the ROMs on the s3 stock and AOSP and stock is well terrible and AOSP isn't great for battery life and still has other issues due to Samsung being tight with their sources
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Cant speak for international S3 but from US S3 to XZ is not a big upgrade if any...

See this is the thing the US S3 is better (development wise) than the international.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

elspanish88 said:
See this is the thing the US S3 is better (development wise) than the international.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you looking for developement the XZ is not the place to go...there is like 5 stock rom, 1 kernel, and 5-6 AOSP, AOKP CM10.1 rom...

Get the Xperia Z!
Skickat från min C6603 via Tapatalk 2

Upgraded from an S3 to the XZ, only because I managed to drop the S3 and cracked its front glass.
Otherwise, I'd still be happy to stay with the S3.
User experience wise, it's not much different with the XZ, the S3 was fast and quick as well. The increased ppi, you can tell if you look for it..but in reality, it doesn't affect your overall experience very much at all.

The Xperia Z is supposed to be getting stock Android and will be sold in the Google Play Store. That I presume will lead to better development of this phone. :good:
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-edition-sony-xperia-z-coming-soon

zac68 said:
The Xperia Z is supposed to be getting stock Android and will be sold in the Google Play Store. That I presume will lead to better development of this phone. :good:
http://www.androidcentral.com/google-edition-sony-xperia-z-coming-soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anyone pay for that will be a fool, i'm sure sony will charge ridiculous price for it...the Dev can copy the system and post it on here.

That's pretty much what I meant. Our phone will benefit from this...if it happens.

G1_enthusiast said:
if you looking for developement the XZ is not the place to go...there is like 5 stock rom, 1 kernel, and 5-6 AOSP, AOKP CM10.1 rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as there is stable AOSP I am a happy chappy, and this is something that just isn't available for the Galaxy S3, neither I9300 nor I9305, and it literally never will be either. Mark my words. S4? Sure. S3? No. Don't buy an S3 if you are interested in ROM development... unless you are talking about ROM cooking I guess, but that isn't really "development".
Also there are like 2 usable custom kernels for I9300/I9305, neither of which run on AOSP.
While we're on the subject, you'll notice -if you look- that the actual developers that own an Exynos-based S3 all seriously hate it and have vowed not to buy any more pure-Samsung devices because of it. Speak to codeworkx on IRC about it if you're interested in hearing more about why the S3 sucks. Suffice to say that I am certainly not purchasing any more Samsung products without first seeing some sources for the device.

Rekoil said:
As long as there is stable AOSP I am a happy chappy, and this is something that just isn't available for the Galaxy S3, neither I9300 nor I9305, and it literally never will be either. Mark my words. S4? Sure. S3? No. Don't buy an S3 if you are interested in ROM development... unless you are talking about ROM cooking I guess, but that isn't really "development".
Also there are like 2 usable custom kernels for I9300/I9305, neither of which run on AOSP.
While we're on the subject, you'll notice -if you look- that the actual developers that own an Exynos-based S3 all seriously hate it and have vowed not to buy any more pure-Samsung devices because of it. Speak to codeworkx on IRC about it if you're interested in hearing more about why the S3 sucks. Suffice to say that I am certainly not purchasing any more Samsung products without first seeing some sources for the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with you. Owner of a exynos s3 and the major problem is they lie to costumers telling that s3 will be upgraded and are delaying this not to damage s4 sales. S3 is a unfinished phone. Samsung never get this beast to fully working. Lags overall do bad memory management. Even s2 sometimes works better. And if you have the chanxe buy instead a n4.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium

I'd love the N4 and I completely understand why the S3 sucks due to sources not being released properly, I've already spoke to codeworx and his answer was "every Sony runs AOSP better"
So I'm going for it!! Good bye S3 and hello XZ
Thanks for your input guys!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

elspanish88 said:
I'd love the N4 and I completely understand why the S3 sucks due to sources not being released properly, I've already spoke to codeworx and his answer was "every Sony runs AOSP better"
So I'm going for it!! Good bye S3 and hello XZ
Thanks for your input guys!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries mate, and welcome to the family! :good:

Rekoil said:
As long as there is stable AOSP I am a happy chappy, and this is something that just isn't available for the Galaxy S3, neither I9300 nor I9305, and it literally never will be either. Mark my words. S4? Sure. S3? No. Don't buy an S3 if you are interested in ROM development... unless you are talking about ROM cooking I guess, but that isn't really "development".
Also there are like 2 usable custom kernels for I9300/I9305, neither of which run on AOSP.
While we're on the subject, you'll notice -if you look- that the actual developers that own an Exynos-based S3 all seriously hate it and have vowed not to buy any more pure-Samsung devices because of it. Speak to codeworkx on IRC about it if you're interested in hearing more about why the S3 sucks. Suffice to say that I am certainly not purchasing any more Samsung products without first seeing some sources for the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S3 international version may suck but U.S version is hard to beat...its what reviewer classify as an Iphone De-throner... and I was using AOKP on my S3...I still missed my S3. My main developer that I like are Faux and Task 650, any other Developer I am grateful for their work but I wont choose them over the two i have. Simply put they are the best at what they do and they are currently rocking Samsung and Nexus device.
THe only reason I am not using AOKP or CM10.1 on this device because A2DP sounds sucks (little bass or detail in sound, it sound like there is too much mid or treble)...I had to switch back to stock rom, not everything on CM10.1 here is fixed, but I imagine it would be soon, hopefully. again I would not advise anyone to buy this phone again, I gave it a try and I dint like it, never again. I remember using the Sony K850i and that was awesome quality stuff from Sony, I missed that phone too.

G1_enthusiast said:
S3 international version may suck but U.S version is hard to beat...its what reviewer classify as an Iphone De-throner... and I was using AOKP on my S3...I still missed my S3. My main developer that I like are Faux and Task 650, any other Developer I am grateful for their work but I wont choose them over the two i have. Simply put they are the best at what they do and they are currently rocking Samsung and Nexus device.
THe only reason I am not using AOKP or CM10.1 on this device because A2DP sounds sucks (little bass or detail in sound, it sound like there is too much mid or treble)...I had to switch back to stock rom, not everything on CM10.1 here is fixed, but I imagine it would be soon, hopefully. again I would not advise anyone to buy this phone again, I gave it a try and I dint like it, never again. I remember using the Sony K850i and that was awesome quality stuff from Sony, I missed that phone too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, we were specifically discussing the international version so I don't really see how a comparison to the US version (which is a completely different device) is useful.
Also K850i was a SonyEricsson device! (very important because Ericsson <3)

G1_enthusiast said:
S3 international version may suck but U.S version is hard to beat...its what reviewer classify as an Iphone De-throner... and I was using AOKP on my S3...I still missed my S3. My main developer that I like are Faux and Task 650, any other Developer I am grateful for their work but I wont choose them over the two i have. Simply put they are the best at what they do and they are currently rocking Samsung and Nexus device.
THe only reason I am not using AOKP or CM10.1 on this device because A2DP sounds sucks (little bass or detail in sound, it sound like there is too much mid or treble)...I had to switch back to stock rom, not everything on CM10.1 here is fixed, but I imagine it would be soon, hopefully. again I would not advise anyone to buy this phone again, I gave it a try and I dint like it, never again. I remember using the Sony K850i and that was awesome quality stuff from Sony, I missed that phone too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
US galaxy s3 is dual core. It never get further oficial 4.2.2. And its slower then exynos.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium

testadeferro said:
US galaxy s3 is dual core. It never get further oficial 4.2.2. And its slower then exynos.
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Krait dual-core, big difference. And yes, it is roughly on par with Exynos S3.

Some help please?!

So, guys please help me.I have an OPPORTUNITY to change my xperia sp for galaxy s3 or galaxy s4 mini.Can you please tell me what phone is best here ? and why.

KiaTheKing said:
So, guys please help me.I have an OPPORTUNITY to change my xperia sp for galaxy s3 or galaxy s4 mini.Can you please tell me what phone is best here ? and why.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sp is way to stronger than galaxy s3 and s4 mini as a device... but current 4.3 firmware sucks.. but give sony some time to release new 4.3 bugfixing update...

ParaSense. said:
Sp is way to stronger than galaxy s3 and s4 mini as a device... but current 4.3 firmware sucks.. but give sony some time to release new 4.3 bugfixing update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would go for s3 i think, cause it has better and bigger screen More suggestions?

But can someone tell me something about galaxy s4 mini and im little bit confused.I want to keep phone (s3 or sp or s4 m) for about year.What phone will have better support and can you xplain me.I will be able to run best games on s3 in next years? Is galaxy s4 mini best choice?
Sent from my C5303 using xda app-developers app

What about searching the internet ^_^?

You want a good phone thats not 5" Get Z1 Compact...
There are ALOT of great smartphones if you are willing to pay the price but if you have no cash stick to cheaper ones

For me xperia sp is better than s3 and s4 mini
Just downgrade to 4.1.2!

Keep your xsp, if you must change for one of those two get the s3 its better specs and has about 1000 ROMs or something. Seriously though keep your sp
Sent while my supervisor wasn't looking