Freshly leaked 'Galaxy S3' photo seems to confirm earlier images

By Alex Dobie
last updated

We've averaged at least one Galaxy S3 rumor or leak per day over the past week, and it's a trend that shows no sign of stopping. Today UK blogs PhoneArena and KnowYourMobile both received a new photo purporting to show the Samsung Galaxy S3, and from what we can tell of the (admittedly grainy) image, it's a very close match to what we've seen in earlier leaks. The rounded edges closely resemble the outline in a teaser image by Samsung Denmark, and the device chassis itself is a dead ringer for a purported manual sketch that cropped up yesterday.

The inclusion of physical buttons is the most interesting thing we can glean from this latest image -- if this is indeed the final Galaxy S3 design, then it seems earlier plans to go buttonless were abandoned. And it's also worth noting the extremely thin bezel between the screen and the edge of the device -- Samsung seems to have shaved a few millimeters off this space compared to the Galaxy Nexus.

With the clock ticking down to the May 3 announcement event in London, it's possible we'll see even more leaks and speculation in the days ahead. Keep it locked to AC for all the latest.

Source: PhoneArena, KnowYourMobile

Alex Dobie
Alex Dobie
Executive Editor

Alex was with Android Central for over a decade, producing written and video content for the site, and served as global Executive Editor from 2016 to 2022.

109 Comments
  • FIRST POST YES!
    Looks different.. AWESOME!!!!!!!
  • No task button.
    Just menu, home, and back.
    Guess that means full screen real estate .
  • Looks alot like the galaxy nexus would have if it had physical buttons.
  • But I'm guessing it'll have a better display and camera. Hopefully it has a better external speaker too.
  • I'm liking the physical buttons, never have liked the software buttons of ICS so this could well go down a treat with me :D wooo for physical buttons!
  • Nice combo Galaxy Nexus <--> Glalaxy S2
  • Looks a little like my old Samsung Solstice....
  • Barely. https://www.androidcentral.com/e?link=https2F2Flink... Rectangular with round edges are the only similarities I see.
  • Given that I like the look of my GNex, I approve! However, it's still quite strange that they aren't going the buttonless route unless this isn't the final model. I'd be disappointed if manufacturers don't ever go the soft key route. Also, will there ever be a leak that isn't so damn grainy? :-p
  • if it's gonna have a 4.7 inch screen with physical buttons, it might turn a lot of people off by being too large. I know I'm not gonna get it because of that. Tha GNex is different because while the screen is 4.65 inches, that includes the buttons, making the phone the same size as a 4.3 inch device. While the Note was sort of popular, i can guarantee you it would have sold more if it were smaller.
  • The Nexus is definitely NOT the size of a 4.3 inch device at the longest point. It's even taller than the Epic 4G Touch. It is almost as narrow as the EVO 4G because it's 16:9 ratio. http://phone-size.com/?s=502C36 And this should be plenty smaller than the Note being that it's a smaller screen and 16:9 ratio.
  • Like EeZeEpEe said, the Galaxy Nexus isn't the same size as other 4.3" devices. The on-screen buttons are pretty much pointless because Samsung didn't use them to make the phone any smaller. If this is the GS3 and the screen is the same size as the Galaxy Nexus, then this phone is almost the same exact size as the Galaxy Nexus, if not exactly.
  • In virtually every HTC One X review, they've held it up to a Galaxy Nexus and the phones are almost exactly the same size. The One X has a 4.7" screen with buttons and I do think it turns some people off, but look at how popular the Galaxy Note is.
  • If it was smaller it would defeat the purpose of it being the note and just be another big screen phone.
  • Flawed logic. The bottom bezel of the G-Nex is the same size as other 4.7 inch screened phones, aka the phone is the same size.
  • is this phone going to have physical buttons and capacitive buttons?
  • remember this is the international version in which they have all had physical and capacitive buttons.
  • Man... ...It sure would be nice of Samsung to clear up these questions and rumors... I don't know, maybe they could hold a press conference or something... Maybe sometime in the next week or something... ...I bet if they did something like that people wouldn't have to keep asking questions like this... -Suntan
  • Hmm looks like well a phone. Move along nothing to b giddy about
  • I wish it had on-screen buttons like the Nexus.
  • The most important thing to me is to see if Samsung from finally stepped up the materials used on their phones. It's time to step it up from the Fisher Price plastic Samsung. If you want to use those materials on your entry level handsets that's fine, but everything else needs to start getting better materials. Use of higher quality plastics and lightweight metals are a must at this price point.
  • Did they include a notification light?
  • In the US it could go button less. Especially considering that US carriers never take the single button approach from Samsung. Here's hoping they kill those buttons. Theyre ugly as sin. Also, this could have very well been photoshopped when you look closely. All the buttons that are physical are too shiny.
  • Agreed. I see no reason why Samsung won't be putting out multiple versions of this phone to the carrier's specs as before. Seems to be working well for them.
    While it seems a bit odd they'd go for buttons again it may just be that they expect European S1 & S2 users to find it more familiar. I dunno the hype and leaks (real or not) have got me excited for the 3rd.
  • Clearly this is a fake.... Why are the capacitive buttons lit when the screen is off? On all Galaxy phones when the screen is off the buttons disappear. Can anyone explains this?
  • Probably a bug. I've seen custom ROMs where the capacitive buttons remain lit when the screen is off. It's really not that much of a stretch.
  • I agree. It's very different from the previous leaked pics and video which show on screen buttons.
  • Yes thats what I've thoughts..
  • Yep! Also, why has nobody pointed out that the menu button is still present...that is NOT an ICS button layout! Multitask, Home, and Back are the ICS buttons. This is bogus!
  • I am not buying it This is not a phone this is a tablet
  • *roll eyes*.....yawn...
  • That's exactly the reason I'm buying it. Sick of trying to pinpoint sh!t on my Nexus One screen.
  • This phone is far from a tablet. I am typing this on my Xoom and I also have a galaxy s2 and there is a very huge difference. Phone's with bigger screens are meant for normal to bigger size hands. Not for little tiny princess hands lol. Have you ever even held a actual 10.1" tablet?
  • Looks like every other Samsung plastic hardware. ( not dising have had s2 and currently have nexus.) Would of liked to see something different.
  • Looks like its incorporating metal into its design from what I can see. To me, that is a good move. I would rather have a bit more weight in exchange for a solid phone.
  • I will go against the crowd and say that I hope the physical button makes it on the final products, including the U.S. version. If the button can be used to turn the screen on, then it makes it that much easier for my thumb to go from that button to slide across the screen to unlock it.
  • Is that a menu button on the left instead of a multitasking button????
  • I hope so. A dedicated button from the app switcher is overkill IMHO.
  • I'd have to disagree, I think that it is really good and intuitive. Especially once all of the apps are ICS ready and have the three dot menu icon on them. Its gonna make things much easier.
  • After coming off the news that the USA LTE phones will have a dual core chip there is really no reason to wait for this. I honestly see myself getting the EVOLTE over this, i think the only think that would make me wait on this is the ability to turn touchwiz off completely. I personally dont think that is going to happen but i guess we ill see next week. Its going to be pretty hard to beat all the features on the EVOLTE.
  • Touchwiz is an apex download away from being invisible.
  • If you think the S4 is an inferior processor just because it is "dual core", you need to do some freaking research.
  • That wasn't his point at all. He's saying if it comes with the S4, it's not going to be any better than the One X/Evo, so there's no point in waiting for this. But yeah, the S4 is probably inferior to the Samsung's new processor.
  • Not that hard - just have a removable battery, and I know a lot of people who will pick it over EVO LTE ;)
  • Always different strokes for different folks. I for one am a big fan of my international GS2's button lay out. I much prefered it over the ATT version with all capacitive. Being able to wake the phone from a phyiscal home button makes it worth it.
  • Looks like the picture was taken through a glass overlay to help make it grainy on purpose. You can see the photogs shadow on the phone and off to the left. Gotta love rumors!
  • This one looks quite credible, I think this may be the real deal for once. Of course Samsung will now be headhunting a tester who owns a pink phone for leaking the image.
  • While I've warmed to the idea of on screen buttons and would like to see a few more phones released that use them, i love the physical home button on my note. Didn't like the idea of that either before i got it but as a few have mentioned, it's so handy being able to unlock the screen from the bottom, and it's also really easy to find without moving my eyes from the screen when i want to use it, or my menu and back buttons.
  • With too thin of a side bezel it might be easy to accidentally touch the screen just by holding it. I'd want to try it out. I'm also not digging what looks like a chrome boarder. That look was over played a few years ago and looks dated to me. I really like capacitive buttons though. Samsung uses amoled screens and they are prone to burn in. Having capacitive buttons means you won't have to see faint shadows of the navigation bar when you are on a gray or lighter colored background in apps or landscape.
  • so what the hell is THIS????? http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-previewed-within-plas...
  • I think both are fakes, until Samsung's official announcement, I don't believe in any "leaked" photos.
  • This is ugly as hell. I was all excited for this phone to hit Sprint six months after everyone else in the world gets it but with physical buttons? YUCK! I thought the GS3 would be a little bigger than the G-Nex and have better specs and a better camera but basically look very similar to the G-Nex. Here's hoping that the ugly home button is sent packing on the USA version when it is released nine months later. LOL
  • WOUUUUUUUU AMAZING DESIGN ! LIKEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
  • ##Attention##
    Those are NOT physical buttons!
    I've enhanced the image and they are all on-screen!!!
    Yes the glowing Home button is on-screen, use your eyes
  • Are you looking at the same picture? The bottom of the screen is clearly ABOVE the buttons.
  • oh shut up.
  • Wouldn't the screen be on as well?
  • If you look at the home button it is below where the bezel ends and where the radius of the phone is, so there is no way the home button is part of the screen. I think you need to check your eyes.
  • Ugly. I hope this isnt the GS3.
  • Meh.. I don't think this is the final design.. Rather I hope it isn't. Otherwise the hype doesn't seem justified.
  • Look to the left of the reflection of the hand on the phone. There's reflection on the carpet! I was not the first to notice this, I saw a comment on tmonews, and felt dumb for believing this fake so quickly
  • Yep!
  • More likely the phone is behind a piece of glass and that's what the hand is reflecting off of.
  • Hmm, good point too.
  • Ugly.
  • Not a fan of physical buttons.
    BTW this looks a bit fake with the menu button. It'd be a hell of a regression! Just go the HTC way. Or the GN way.
  • reminds me of the Bold 9900
  • Agree with cjbrigol. T-Mo news retweeted this, http://pic.twitter.com/tqlBSufd to correct a previous tweet regarding this.
  • ace, I am with you.. thanks for link.. *thumb up*
  • Kinda looks like my tmo s2 with the chrome trim around it
  • Good to read some positive stories on Android when the rest of the country seems to think Android is walking the plank to it's death. I hope the S3 and the HTC One series can steal the apple thunder and make the haters eat crow...
  • Gs111 looks horrible my Galaxy nexus looks way better idc if the internal s are better g.n is a better all around phone...and DO I SEE WHAT I THINK I SEE ? Its 2012 why are manufacturers still making phones without ON SCREEN buttons smh the phone is too big and the buttonsat the bottom are a joke ... Everyone to stick with their galaxy nexus... This phone is a joke
  • When will carriers realize that a lot of users do not want a phone that big and want to be able to reach all of the screen with one hand. Where is my 4" top of the line phone?
  • HTC One S would be what I go for if I thought the One X or GS3 was too big. Not sure you can get much higher end than that since it is basically the One X but with a different screen. 4.3" is still pretty big though.
  • Not thrilled with a 540 amoled pentile matrix screen. If there was a 720p LCD or samoled+ version on Verizon, I would probably get it although I still want 4" not 4.3".
  • There's a LG Viper for you.
  • Are you sure that is in fact a physical home button? If you really look at it, it seams to almost glow. Maybe it is a custom digital home button.
  • I thinking that the next GS3 would finally get me to purchase my first Samsung phone but if this is it, I will just stick with my Evo's.
  • Is it me or does the home button look like it's illuminated in the photo ? If it does have an LED (and the picture is genuine of course) could it be that Samsung will FINALLY be putting alert LED on their phone so we won't need to hack BLN into the kernel for notifications ?
  • Galaxy Nexus has a light.
  • @gujupmp88 hasn't the note shipped over 5 million units?
  • The One X is sexier.
  • Will this copy the One X with the overflow menu being onscreen?
  • Wow, it looks like another Samsung slab! ;) As to the bezels on this leaked pic, my Thunderbolt still has less bezel on the top and bottom! :D
  • I'm going to go with fake, the bezel on the right side looks thinner than the bezel on the left, maybe that's just my eyes playing tricks on me though. Screen doesn't look centered on the phone
  • Looks like the same ratio as the Nexus but without the buttons. I certainly hope this is not true. Frankly 16x9 sucks for everything except watching movies. Photos, internet, and overall navigation are better suited for a 4x3 format. The Nexus was a great compromise and I well prefer it to a straight 16x9 or Apples 4x3. If you are going to go 16x9, include the buttons since we only need 16x9 for video, otherwise, go with a 16x10
  • I'm trying to wait...but man I might stick with the Nexus... it look so sleak & sexy. Sprint or VZW?
  • i hope this is a fake. this is hideous.
  • looks exactly like the blackberry bold 9900...
  • If this thing can't make me a milkshake, then I don't want it.
  • Samsung stole the Galaxy Nexus design!!! LMFAO.
  • samsung designed the galaxy nexus you tard
  • NO SHIT! You need new batteries for your sarcasm meter... idiot.
  • Its a fake part of the reflection of the hand holding the camera is reflecting off the carpet.... that doesn't happen lol fake!
    Photoshop fail.
  • It looks to me like this is a photo taken of a picture on another phone or computer screen. There are diagonal streaks that extend past either side of the phone, ever so slightly.
  • I don't know the newly released specs of the Sony hayabusa give me a tingling sensation.
  • I guess I'll be spending my money on the Note 10.1 instead :|
  • If this is what it really looks like I won't be upgrading from the Galaxy S2. I wanted a more modern look, with thin bezel on top and bottom as well... it looks too much like the old one...and i guess the only reason someone would upgrade is b/c of the new processor.
    i still haven't slowed down the current gs2 and i push a phone pretty hard. i wanted something new and fresh looking, along with the specs. i can't imagine this being it...
  • Anyone else consider the possibility that Samsung could release an s3 line of phones, like they did with the original galaxy s, it's part of what has made these lines very successful, internals that are identical or at least nearly identical to each other but with slight hardware differentiation like button layout changes to give the consumers a few options to consider, in one way they take a page out of apples 1 device a year playbook, but at the same time they improve it by offering us some choices (that aren't simply black, white and how much storage you want)
  • There will be two versions released. One for the international flavor and the one in the US. The international version will come with the quad core exynos 4212, and the US version will be dual core S4 versions...... http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2012/04/129_109578.html
  • Even that is still unconfirmed speculation, but I'm not talking slight internal variations that might come with cdma and gsm versions I thinking more along the lines of a version with hardware and/or capactive buttons and a version with on screen buttons, or any other visual hardware changes Sammie might be able to pull out
  • I'll be so disappointed if this thing has physical buttons :(
  • ** FAKE FAKE ** You can see a reflection of the person’s hand on the carpet. Buttons are lit while the screen is off. Nexus photoshopped with fake SGS2-style buttons. Why use a Menu button for multitask?
  • I can't believe people were criticizing the new EVO design. If this is the new Samsung, no thanks. Very lame in the cosmetics department!
  • I'm pretty sure that's a photo of a printed mockup. That looks like paper to me.
  • I'm pretty sure that's a photo of a printed mockup. That looks like paper to me.
  • i really hope the S3 ditches the damn menu button... like WTF??? god....
  • Hmmm, one question. Doesn't an AMOLED screen usually look dark/black compared to an LCD screen (when off)? If the SGS3/III's screen is supposed to be SAMOLED, then why is this screen looking like an LCD?
  • Could be another Galaxy. Galaxy S III will not do well if it looks like this in my opinion. They need something like clear glass or no bezel on the sides.