With the Samsung G3812B Galaxy S3 Slim, Samsung is clearly aiming at buyers who want a well-rounded phone without too many compromises. Here is our take on what it brings to the table. Announced in 2014, March. Released 2014, March, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
On the front you get a 4.52 inches, 56.3 cm 2 (~64.2% screen-to-body ratio) panel, pushing a resolution of 540 x 960 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~244 ppi density). Colours look punchy and text stays clean, so you will not have much to complain about here. It is not trying to reinvent the wheel with its design, but it does look the part. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Black.
Performance & Software
The Samsung G3812B Galaxy S3 Slim focuses on the essentials rather than chasing raw benchmark numbers. It runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
Photography is handled by a main 5 MP shooter that should cover most situations, from daylight shots to the occasional low-light frame. Expect solid detail in good light, with the usual softness creeping in once the sun goes down.
Battery
There is a Li-Ion 2100 mAh, removable battery inside, which should comfortably see most people through a full day on a single charge.
Our Opinion
After spending time with the spec sheet and what Samsung is promising, here is where we land. Samsung has clearly gone for substance over gimmicks here, and we respect that approach. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. In day-to-day use it feels like the kind of device you can rely on, whether you are replying to messages, scrolling through social media, watching videos or taking the odd photo. Is it perfect? No phone is, and you will always find a sharper camera or a faster chip somewhere else for a little more money. Overall though, the Samsung G3812B Galaxy S3 Slim is easy to recommend to the right buyer. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
