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Samsung's Galaxy S III phones by the carrier, by the numbers

You have 18 different Galaxy S III options to choose from in the U.S., and they're not all equal. Jessica Dolcourt breaks down your options.

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Jessica Dolcourt Senior Editorial Director, Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Thought Leadership, Speed Desk and How-To. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica led CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
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Jessica Dolcourt
2 min read

Samsung Galaxy S III buddy share
Choosing which Galaxy S III handset you want may not prove so easy. Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Editors' note: CNET has yet to review the Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular versions of this phone, but if you want to get an idea of what you can expect from them, read the full reviews for the Samsung Galaxy S3 for T-Mobile and AT&T.

Within the month of June, Samsung and its five carrier partners will sell a whopping 18 versions of the Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich superphone, what when you count variations in color and capacity.

AT&T, for instance, will sell the Galaxy S3 in three hues, including an exclusive red shade later this summer. Yet if you're dying for 32GB of storage with AT&T, you'll need to plan to use a microSD card.

While prices seem to be level cross-carrier, the data network is another major differentiator. Sprint and T-Mobile have yet to launch LTE networks. For now, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S3 phones will ride its HSPA+ 42 network, which independent evaluator RootMetrics reports is actually pretty fast. Sprint will offer 3G.

Meanwhile, regional carrier U.S. Cellular covers 25 percent of its customer base with LTE, with plans to expand to 54 percent 4G coverage by the end of the year.

If you intend to bag yourself a Galaxy S3 soon and you have carrier flexibility, take a close look at the chart above. The seemingly identical phones vary more than you think.

Read my full hands-on take of the Samsung Galaxy S3 here.

First Look
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S III is a looker

Within the month of June, Samsung and its five carrier partners will sell a whopping 18 versions of the Samsung Galaxy S3 Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich superphone, what when you count variations in color and capacity.

AT&T, for instance, will sell the Galaxy S3 in three hues, including an exclusive red shade later this summer. Yet if you're dying for 32GB of storage with AT&T, you'll need to plan to use a microSD card.

While prices seem to be level cross-carrier, the data network is another major differentiator. Sprint and T-Mobile have yet to launch LTE networks. For now, T-Mobile's Samsung Galaxy S3 phones will ride its HSPA+ 42 network, which independent evaluator RootMetrics reports is actually pretty fast. Sprint will offer 3G.

Meanwhile, regional carrier U.S. Cellular covers 25 percent of its customer base with LTE, with plans to expand to 54 percent 4G coverage by the end of the year.

If you intend to bag yourself a Galaxy S3 soon and you have carrier flexibility, take a close look at the chart above. The seemingly identical phones vary more than you think.

Read my full hands-on take of the Samsung Galaxy S3 here.

First Look
Watch this: Samsung Galaxy S III is a looker

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