Samsung Galaxy Nexus vs Samsung Galaxy S3 [rumours] ~ GoAndroid

This time around we're comparing the latest and greatest Android device, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, with the rumoured Samsung Galaxy S3, but which of these dual-core monsters will come out on top?

The latest Google-centric device to hit the market is Samsung's Galaxy Nexus, a smartphone which aims to bring together the finest parts of Android, and connect them with cutting edge hardware and build quality.
But how well will this new device fare against what's just around the corner? In an effort to find out we've taken it upon ourselves to compare the Galaxy Nexus with a device that's going to be a sure-fire hit when it's released next year, the Samsung Galaxy S3.
So, will the vanilla Google-toting Galaxy Nexus be the order of the day, or will it be the Samsung Touchwiz-based Galaxy S3?
Before we find out we should stress that here at Know Your Mobile we aren't psychic, and as such we're working from the leaked spec of the Samsung Galaxy S3, meaning that things can, and most likely will change before the device arrives.

PowerSamsung has never been a company to scrimp when it comes to horsepower and thankfully neither of these devices show any sign of bucking that trend.
The Galaxy Nexus runs on a Ti-OMAP 4460 chipset, consisting of a dual-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 CPU and a PowerVR SGX540 GPU, which should cope with everything you can throw at it, even if it is a little on the old side.
As you'd expect the Galaxy Nexus comes with 1GB RAM installed, making multi-tasking, switching between apps and general use very spry indeed.
If rumour is to be believed the Galaxy S3 will launch with a Samsung Exynos 4212 chipset that features a dual-core CPU clocked to a massive 1.8GHz. The chipset will also feature a Mali GPU that, quite frankly, makes the PowerVR SGX540 of the Galaxy Nexus appear antiquated.
On top of this top-notch running gear you get 2GB RAM, so not only will the Galaxy S3 run like a whippet with the trots, but it will be at the cutting edge for quite some time, which is something of a rarity in technology.
Both devices come in 16/32GB flavours and support MicroSD cards up to 32GB.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3

CameraThe Galaxy S3 is rumoured to feature a 12-megapixel primary camera with autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, touch-focus, face and smile detection, image stabilisation and 1080P video capture, and the device will apparently also feature the same 2-megapixel secondary camera as its predecessor the Galaxy S2.
The Galaxy Nexus however, ships with a fairly pedestrian 5-megapixel camera, but a few software tweaks allow the snapper to work surprisingly well.
The camera features autofocus, LED flash, touch-focus, geo-tagging and face detection, as well as 1080P video capture and also, according to Google, has no shutter lag, so what you see is what you snap.
In addition to this the Galaxy Nexus features a 1.3-megapixel secondary camera.
The software tweaks on offer in the Galaxy Nexus are nice but we would have liked to see an upgraded sensor on the device really.
Winner - Samsung Galaxy S3

FormSamsung Galaxy Nexus - 135.5 x 67.9 x 8.9 mm, 135g
Samsung Galaxy S3 - TBC
The Galaxy Nexus continues Samsung's ongoing relationship with the painfully thin, which has both pro and con points.
Needless to say the biggest con is that your device may end up banana shaped if you pop it in your back pocket and sit down without thinking. Other than that its skinniness is a nice feature.
The Galaxy Nexus is a nicely designed and built device though, and the rounded off edges and newly designed back-plate offer a solid hand-hold, which is most welcome as it isn't the narrowest smartphone on the market.
As with the rest of the Galaxy range it's crafted almost entirely from plastics, which is a point that is likely to split opinion. Some like it lightweight, others like to be able to feel some of their hard earned pounds and pence when they handle their device.
The Galaxy S3 is a bit of a mystery in terms of measurements. What we can say with some certainty is that it will be crafted from plastics, as with the rest of its kith and kin, and will be thinner than the Galaxy S2, which at 8.55mm is saying something.
Early indications are that Samsung has rounded off the edges of the chassis and made the form a bit more tasteful too, but time will tell.
Winner - Draw

SoftwareArguably the biggest selling point for the Galaxy Nexus is its operating system, notably the version.

It runs on a stock Android 4.0, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich, and this iteration of the OS is a huge leap forward in terms of design, features and maturity.

With overhauled core apps, a nice new UI and tons of new features, including Face Unlock, a newly designed stock font called 'Roboto', in-app spell checking, native screenshot capture, folders and a super-neat new data management tool!

As well as these new bits and pieces you also get access to the thousands of apps in the Android Market, limitless customisation potential and a platform that is fast becoming the most popular smartphone OS in the world.

Another of Ice Cream Sandwich's selling points is that the UI is set in stone, meaning what Google says, goes. No more will you have to wait for your manufacturer to get its grubby mitts on the software and add eye-candy to it before rolling it out to you.

No, from here on in when the updates roll off Google's production line, they come to you.

With this in mind we assume the Galaxy S3 will also feature this fast, smooth, untarnished version of Android too! Which kind of makes this round moot.

Winner - Draw

DisplaySamsung knows how to make mobile displays, and both the Galaxy Nexus and rumoured Galaxy S3 are very well appointed when it comes to screen technology.

The Galaxy Nexus features a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED display that operates at a resolution of 720 x 1280 and boasts a pixel density of 316PPI, which is as close to 'Retina Display' standard as you're going to get without buying an Apple device.

Thanks to this quality screen the visuals on the Galaxy Nexus are stunning. Colours are rich, blacks are deep and your media will look stunning - and that's a promise.

The Galaxy S3 apparently features a 4.6-inch Super AMOLED Plus display too, though if the leaked specification is to be believed it offers up a slightly higher pixel density of 319PPI and a Gorilla Glass fronting to try and woo you..

Whatever the final spec we can say quite comfortably that the display will be good. We have faith in Samsung.

Winner - Draw

So Samsung's Galaxy S3 has come out on top in this little head-to-head. With more power, a beefier camera and other great features helping it to victory, but the Galaxy Nexus didn't do too badly considering it's available now.

Overall the Galaxy Nexus is a decent device boasting some interesting hardware and software based enhancements, but the changes made to Android strategy seem to have limited the device's appeal before it's even got its feet off the ground.

Better, faster and more able devices will be out soon, and they will share the main source of the Galaxy Nexus' appeal. So don't make any hasty decisions.