HTC One X+ vs Samsung Galaxy S3 vs Apple iPhone 5 review

In regular lighting conditions, we found that the Galaxy S3 had the weakest camera of the three. While legible and far better quality than those taken on cheaper Android smartphones, photos taken on the Galaxy S3 weren't nearly as vibrant as those taken on the One X+ and iPhone 5.

Testing the iPhone 5 and One X+ cameras head to head, we found that HTC's flagship smartphone was slightly better at taking photos in regular lighting conditions, with its photos looking slightly clearer and having stronger colours.

The same was true when we tested the One X+ and iPhone 5 cameras in low light conditions, where again pictures taken on the HTC device came out clearer. We believe this could be down to the custom F2.0 camera lens HTC has configured in the One X+, and it consistently proved better at capturing detail in dim lighting conditions.

When it came to testing video capabilities, we again found that the One X+ was the best. While all three smartphones can shoot high definition 1080p video, the footage shot on the One X+ was far smoother, with its stabiliser proving more effective at dealing with the odd shake or bump than those on the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5.

Winner: One X+.

Storage
When it comes to internal storage, all three devices are fairly generously equipped. The One X+ is available in 32GB and 64GB models while the iPhone 5 and Samsung Galaxy S3 are available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models.

However, when it comes to value, the iPhone 5 is the clear loser, with the 32GB and 64GB models costing an eye-watering £200 more than comparably specified One X+ or Galaxy S3 handsets.

On top of this, we have to concede the round to the Galaxy S3 simply because it has a microSD card slot, meaning that users can upgrade the device's storage capacity.

Winner: Galaxy S3.

Battery
When it comes to battery, none of the three devices are great. The iPhone 5 comes fitted with a non-removable 1,440mAh lithium polymer battery, while the Galaxy S3 and One X+ are both powered by 2,100mAh batteries.

However thanks to the iPhone 5's smaller screen, the battery life of the iPhone 5 still managed to generally match if not exceeed the battery lives of the chunkier Galaxy S3 and One X+.

With regular use, making the odd call, sending a few emails, listening to some music and occasionally checking maps, Facebook and Twitter, we found that the iPhone 5 usually lasted eight to 10 hours on one charge.

By comparison. the Galaxy S3 and One X+ with the same usage usually died slightly earlier, generally lasting between seven to nine hours before petering out.

Winner: iPhone 5.

Overall winner: One X+.

Summing up, picking which of these three smartphones is the best of the bunch is a tough call. But in our opinion, the One X+ is presently the best top-end smartphone available in the UK. Its solid design makes the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 feel slightly flimsy in comparison, and it is the most powerful smartphone we've ever reviewed.

That said, this isn't all that surprising given the fact that the One X+ is a much newer device than the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3, which are both midway through their respective lifecycles.

Because of this, we think that the One X+'s reign might be a short one, especially considering that the eagerly anticipated Galaxy S4 is due to debut soon. µ

This article was originally published on V3.