As an owner of Samsung’s Galaxy S II, I’ve taken an interest in a series of rumors about Samsung’s next flagship phone, the Galaxy S III. There’s not much to chew on at the moment, aside from the requisite spec boosts and a promise of an official announcement in February. So in the vacuum of solid information, I present to you my five wishes for Samsung’s Galaxy S III.
Slightly Smaller Display
Even for my long fingers, the 4.3-inch screen on AT&T’s Galaxy S II is a bit too large to control comfortably with one hand, and the display on the T-Mobile and Sprint versions of the phone is even larger. It’s a long shot, but I’d like to see Samsung return to the 4-inch display of the original Galaxy S, or maybe a slightly taller screen if you factor in the software navigation buttons of Android Ice Cream Sandwich.
(MORE: Why a Bigger Cellphone Screen Isn’t Always Ideal)
No Gimmicks and Minimal Bloat
In other words, do away with unnecessary stuff that most people won’t use. The Galaxy S II’s motion controls are a prime example, as is the Vlingo voice app that appears automatically when you double-tap the home button. And please, please, let the rumor of 3D capabilities turn out to be false, lest consumers have to pay for a feature that’s just a cheap novelty.
Nicer Materials
I expect the Galaxy S III to carry on the series’ tradition of slim design, but I hope Samsung is rethinking its use of cheap plastics. No need to slap on kevlar, a la Motorola’s Droid Razr, but a little metal or a soft-touch plastic like polycarbonate couldn’t hurt.
Features, Not Specs
Like its predecessor, the Galaxy S III is rumored to have monster tech specs, including a quad-core processor, a 12-megapixel camera and 2 GB of RAM. I’m not complaining, but also more interested in tangible features than raw power. Let’s see those extra processor cores translate to superior power management and better battery life, and let’s hope there’s more to the camera than extra megapixels — such as a faster shutter and better image stabilization.
A Timely U.S. Launch
Although the Galaxy S II launched in May 2011, U.S. carriers didn’t pick it up until September and October — an eternity if you’re a tech enthusiast jonesing for an upgrade. Carriers, please, don’t let this one slip into the holiday 2012 launch window. People need new phones in the summer, too.