How fast is the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G on Optus?
- — 04 September, 2012 14:27
Samsung today announced that a 4G version of its flagship Galaxy S III smartphone, the Galaxy S III 4G, is about to officially hit the shelves in Australia. Just how fast is this smartphone? We found out first hand today at the Optus store in George Street, Sydney.
Both Optus and Telstra will launch the Galaxy S III 4G in Australia but the big news is that the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G will be the first smartphone to launch on the new Optus 4G network. The network was officially launched today in Sydney, Perth and Newcastle, while 4G services in Melbourne will start from Saturday 15 September.
According to the telco, Optus 4G coverage stretches up to 10km from Sydney's CBD to cover suburbs like Port Botany and Chifley in Sydney's south, Brookvale and Dee Why north of Sydney, Vaucluse and Bondi Beach in the east and Silverwater and Homebush in western Sydney. The 4G network will also service Newcastle, including areas like Maryland, Edgeworth and Cessnock, and will stretch up to 15-20km from the Perth CBD in Western Australia.
The new Optus 4G network promises download speeds of up to 50Mbps, provided you're in a 4G coverage zone.
The new Optus 4G network promises download speeds of up to 50Mbps, which is around seven times faster than what you can achieve on a 3G networks. To put these speed claims to the test, we managed to get our hands on one of the first Samsung Galaxy S III 4G smartphones in the country at the Optus store on George Street, Sydney.
The fastest download speed we managed to achieve in a brief hands-on with the Galaxy S III 4G on the Optus network was around 35 megabits per second (Mbps). In general, 4G data download speeds ranged from just under 20Mbps to just over 26Mbps, while upload speeds ranged from just under 6Mbps up to almost 9Mbps.
In general, 4G data download speeds ranged from just under 20Mbps to just over 26Mbps during our brief test period.
As you can see, the Galaxy S III 4G had between two and four bars of 4G reception during our test. Also keep in mind that with the Optus 4G network only launching today, network congestion is minimal. As more people use the network, you can expect speeds to vary.
The Samsung Galaxy S III 4G had between two and four full bars of Optus 4G reception during our tests.
The Samsung Galaxy S III will be available through both the Optus and Telstra 4G networks in Australia. Optus will get first dibs — it will sell the titanium grey model of the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G and promises customers who pre-order the device by Mon 17 September should receive the phone on Thursday 20 September. Telstra will follow with a launch sometime in October, but there's been no word on pricing or specific availability.
The speedtest app in action of the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G.
Are you impressed with the 4G network speeds of the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G on Optus? Are you planning to upgrade? Let us know in the comments below!
Related content
• Samsung Galaxy S III 4G preview
• Hands on with the Samsung Galaxy S III 4G
• Samsung Galaxy S III 4G coming to Optus, Telstra
• Samsung Galaxy S III review
• Optus 4G network goes live (+ maps, plans, images)
• No 4G Galaxy S III, no problem, says Samsung
• Telstra: 4G will serve 66 per cent of Australia by mid-2013
Comments
Ken Wong
1
Yeah, looks pretty fast to me on 4G!!! Go Optus!
Jacky Chan
2
I agree with Ken Wong. Unbelievable download speed but not sure about the battery consumption on 4G. How long can it last while 4G is on a full day?
Michael Leung
3
Hey Michael Leung! 4G should last I would say at least one and a half day. That's reasonable.
Sigfred Lo
4
Thanks guys for the info! It was really helpful to me! :)
Clement Lee
5
Echo above! :)
Hongning Lu
6
Echo second.
Henry Yam
7
Wow!!! This is a new colour that I have never seem it before. Looks pretty nice. Even better than white and blue!!!
Jeremy Lin
8
I reckon white looks better in my opinion.
Samantha Hung
9
I wish they could release colours like red, pink, purple, etc...
Gloria Yung
10
I agree too.
Glenn Paterson
11
I wish i could give both you Samantha and Gloria one !
Caroline boyle
12
Ive heard raving reviews about the new 4G net work on its speeds but had to advised to take in to consideration before i decide what model i want that battery life of this new model is a let down you dont get the full advantage of having 4G with it going flat so fast you only get up to 12 hours a day with some one like me who hasnt always got time to charge or forgets to and be using this fast speed would it be worth me getting this model?
sean mizzi
13
I think they failed they go to all this trouble to bring out a new model that only runs faster with out improving its flashy look or doing anything about improving its battery life which was a problem with the 3G model i think they were in such a rush to get some thing new on the market they really didnt think about how much improvement this new phone needed to have