Samsung Galaxy S II was the biggest launch of any Android phone the last year. It was equipped with specifications no other could boast and an user interface like no other. For me, it was THE super-phone of that year (even Galaxy Nexus doesn’t change my opinion) for which I curiously waited for 3 months after being unveiled in MWC (Mobile World Congress) in February and rushed to buy it on the very first day of its launch in India.
Now, after one year, the industry has started to talk about Galaxy S III and rumors have started to flow. But most of the are a yet-another-usual-specification-rumor talking about increase in its screen size, processor speed etc. None of them talk about what I really want from the next successor of Galaxy series:
1. Notification LED
This. Please Samsung, I want a notification LED on my next phone so that I don’t have to unlock my phone every time to check for missed events. I do use noLED app out of XXXX but it’s no match for a LED.
For the unaware ones, noLED application acts like an on-screen notification light by displaying a small dot for a new event (like a new message or a missed call) on your display. Good app for similar phones without a LED
2. Bigger Battery
For normal users, it’s quite easy to squeeze out of atleast a day or two of usage from Galaxy S2’s battery. But for a heavy user like me who’s always playing with his phone, more than half a day is practically impossible, with the screen sucking almost half the battery power.
I’ve already started envying Motorola RAZR MAXX for it’s massive 3300 mAh horsepower of battery which, according to AnandTech, lasts upto twice longer than Galaxy S II’s 1650 mAh battery. I don’t care if Galaxy S III is a millimeter or two thicker or shorter, I just want a bigger battery Sammy.
3. Better Earphones and Better Audio Quality
From my experience, I’ve found iDevices’ audio quality and earphones from other manufacturers to be better from Galaxy S2’s audio quality and earphones quality respectively. From such a high-end phone, I expect something better.
Samsung packs the same earphones in its $200 Galaxy fit and $600 Galaxy S II. That’s not fair, I want a better one with Galaxy S III.
Stats of nerds: For more detailed information of what I’m talking about, I’d recommend reading Anandtech’s review of Galaxy S II’s audio quality, as described by Francois Simond (supercurio).
4. No Larger Screen Please
In my opinion, my 4.3″ inch screen is the perfect display a superphone should have (with physical buttons). Although being a tall person, I still find it the maximum display size which my fingers can browse without begging my second hand to help. After all, using two hands for a phone is not productive.
I hope all those rumors about a bigger screen aren’t true, I don’t wish to have any bigger phone.
5. Make it Future-Proof for Android 5.0+
Denying Ice Cream Sandwich update to Galaxy S did break many hearts who had shelved good cash on their phone. Although Galaxy S II will be upgraded to Android 4.0 very soon but I believe it will face the same fate as its older brother when next build of Android arrives.
Samsung, we don’t want the same to happen with Galaxy S III. Phones don’t come cheap and your next phone would carry a price tag of atleast $600+. I don’t want it to die before tasting Android 5.0 or further builds.
6. NFC on All Models
I want to see Bluetooth die on the hands of NFC, I want it in Galaxy S III. The possibilities of NFC have been on the rise since recently. Android beam and Google wallet are two good examples I wish to try out but the lack of NFC on international versions of Galaxy S II seldom lets me do it, I can only see them in videos.
Do read my views on NFC and Google Wallet: Could it be the Next Big Thing in Shopping?
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