BlackBerry has finally launched its new operating system on its BlackBerry Z10 smartphone, but how does it compare to one of the most popular Android devices around? Read our Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10 comparison review to find out.
It's been a long time coming but BlackBerry 10 has finally arrived and with it has come the BlackBerry Z10. It's the first full touchscreen BlackBerry which puts it directly up against the best smartphones on offer.
One of the most popular smartphones of 2012 was the Samsung Galaxy S3 so we've taken these two flagship devices and compared them section by section.
Take a look at the following two articles for more details on each handset.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Design and build
These two phones are quite different in the looks department. With a larger screen, it's not a surprise that the Galaxy S3 is the bigger handset overall at 71x137mm compares to 66x130mm of the BlackBerry Z10. However, at 8.6mm, the Samsung is thinner than the Z10 which we measured at 9.2mm.
The Galaxy S3 and BlackBerry Z10 are effectively the same weight at 133g and 135g respectively.
We don't like the fact that both these phones have flimsy plastic rear covers but the Galaxy S3 has an overall better build quality and much more premium feel to it.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Screen
As we mentioned, the Galaxy S3 has a larger screen than the Z10 at 4.8in. In today's standards the BlackBerry's 4.2in display is quite small.
Samsung and BlackBerry have opted for similar resolutions - 720x1280 and 768x1280 respectively. The Z10 wins on pixel density here wit a whopping 355ppi against 306ppi. It's the highest pixel density of a smartphone we've reviewed to date (incoming Full HD phones will trump this). See Which smartphone has the highest screen resolution?
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Processor and performance
Despite being much older, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has a more powerful processor in the form of its Exynos 4 Quad, a quad-core chip clocked at 1.4GHz which is based on the ARM Cortex-A9 architecture.
The BlackBerry Z10 has a distinctly mid-range sounding 1.5GHz dual-core processor but the handset has twice as much RAM as the Samsung at 2GB so this evens things up a bit.
The core benchmark apps we use aren't available for the BlackBerry Z10 so we can't compare hard numbers. We found performance to be good on both handsets but the Galaxy S3 feels that bit speedier.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Storage
It's another win for Samsung when it comes to storage since the Galaxy S3 comes in a few different was storage options -16GB, 32GB and 64GB. BlackBerry has decided to only launch the Z10 in a 16GB model.
Both have the same potential for adding more storage with each smartphone providing a microSD card slot capable of accepting up to 64GB memory cards.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Cameras
Things are much tighter on the photograpy side of things. The Galaxy S3's 8Mp camera is a common resolution for a smartphone and the BlackBerry Z10 only matches it. Both record video in up to Full HD 1080p and have various and similar software features.
The front cameras are effectively the same, too, at 1.9Mp for the Galaxy S3 and 2Mp for the Z10. Each can shoot video at up to 720p.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Software
The Galaxy S3 is running Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, almost the latest edition of Google's operating system. Samsung uses its own TouchWiz user interface which comes with a number of exclusive features you won't find on other Android handsets. BlackBerry's Z10 is pre-loaded with the firm's brand new mobile operating system, BlackBerry 10.
We like BlackBerry 10 which has turned out to be a smooth and easy to use piece of software. However, it doesn't present any unique and outstanding new features. BlackBerry has created an OS similar to that of Android and iOS but laid out differently with features presented an an alternative way.
The other issue is that the Google Play Store is leagues ahead as an app store and a platform which developers prioritise over Blackberry 10.
Samsung Galaxy S3 vs BlackBerry Z10: Battery
The Galaxy S3's 7.8Wh (2100mAh) battery typically lasted us two days with a power saving mode helping keep the phone going as long as possible. We were disappointed to find the 6.7Wh (1800mAh) battery of the BlackBerry Z10 only lasted us a day, and only just at that.
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Comments
Matt Egan said: I dont know what that means but er thanks Lets say thanks All we can do is report the results of our tests The rest is bias
theredragon001 said: Matt you continue the fanboy gig impeccably amp its quite bemusing Slower browser experience on the BB10 may well show up to be your service providers issue not the handset SMH This is only the 2nd review out of dozens who have done iPhone comparisons to call it a slower browser The iPhones browser is the marginally slower culprit
theredragon001 said: I could tell just by the choice of handsets compared amp the wording that this writer felt he was comparing two handsets he considered INFERIOR to the iPhone Go to hell man The world is sick of Apples fanboys amp Apple itself To own an iPhone is like a rental or lease More power to the open-source potential of Android amp the innovation NOT TO MENTION SECURITY that BB10 may present users with
Bwas1000 said: True but this is a comparison between the GT-I9300 Galaxy SIII and the Z10 not the I9305 or then SGH-I747
Matt Egan said: Just to be clear the SunSpider test measures JavaScript performance and nothing else In my experience the Z10 is not a slow surfer - possibly marginally slower than than the iPhone and the very best Android phones
Bencher said: This is incorrect From current benchmarks the Z10 is a very sloooowww Sunspider score
SomeAppDeveloper said: The iPhone 5 in todays standards is small Youre just a fan boi
Matt Egan said: CONSPIRACY THEORY KLAXONIts entirely possible the readers know things the author doesnt But please dont go down the childish route of suggesting biascorruptionhidden agendas It gets very boring
Joshuawang said: Looks like the readers know more than the author who might have some hidden goal
Ptap90 said: i use a BB10 and its the best OS i have seen so far Better than iOS 5 too
Jared said: Im surprised by how awful this review is - clearly written by someone who isnt willing to give BlackBerry a fair shake Since when is a 42 in display small by todays standards And the build quality feels better on the GS3 Seriously As for speed both phones are quick but the facts at least regarding the browser already show the BB to the fastest And not all 8MP cameras are created equal CNET ran a nice comparison on the camera and found the GS3 the worst of the bunch by a longshot And last on this rant comparing processor power just shows how ignorant this writer is of the BB10 os BB10QNX is a super powerful os that makes extremely efficient use of the processor and comparing it to Android or iOS is like comparing a 300 HP sportscar with a 300 HP cube van that weighs twice as much Theres no comparison Poorly written and researched review
Puck said: BB10 is a realtime OS not a bloated UI on top of a single threaded kernel like AndroidTo put it simply it does more with less hardware
DariusG1996 said: brutal comparison Cant believe the way you worded all of this Seems some people cant help themselves from critizing BlackBerryWhat do you mean by In todays standards the BlackBerrys 42in display is quite small The iPhone 5 has a smaller screen than BOTH of these So STFU I know the iP5 isnt being compared here But in todays standards just makes BlackBerry look s WHEN IT IS NOTWhats the point in making a comparison when your just going to be biased or paradoxical about it
Technogiantz said: BB Z10 has shown tremendous debut sales record ever as per the company sources
Matt Egan said: I dunno about that but Ive been using the Z10 since the launch and I can say it is a strong contender in the high-end smartphone space It doesnt blow away the S3 Nexus 4 iPhone 5 HTC One X or the others but its in that class If you are keen to go back to blackberry I dont think youll be disappointed
Ish said: I was waiting for the z10 to come out for my upgrade but a week before the launch I got an s3 thought if I didnt lime it I would send it back and get the z10 Thing is I have fallen in love with the s3 its my first Android Have been with blackberry for 8 years And it is a welcome change I would only consider going back to blackberry if they had UK stores like Apple so they could be more hands on with their customer service s3 rules ok
Teqno-Logical said: Wow thanks thats very interesting
Chris Martin said: Its the highest pixel density of a smartphone weve reviewed to date incoming Full HD phones will trump thisNever said anything about highest resolution so please read it properly firstIts fair to compare the two beacuse the S3 is still an excellent phone simple
Glen said: The qnx micro kernel in BB isnt the size of Android os It can run up to 8 apps concurrently and has a faster and more html5 compliant browser Doesnt need a quad core
Fred-egoli said: I was really hoping that I could go back to blackberry but after 5 days of trying I have to face the fact that it is just not up there with he android that I got used to now and I will miss the access to apps etc Sooo Z10 is going back tomorrow -