Samsung shrinks Galaxy S III

Apple has upsized the iPhone display. Now Samsung is releasing a smaller version of its S III. The two phones will meet in the middle.

Samsung said today it will release a downsized version of its  flagship Android smartphone, the Galaxy S III, on Friday (initially in Europe).

The current Galaxy S III has a monster 4.8-inch display.

The shrunk-down model will feature a 4-inch display - the same size as Apple's recently released iPhone 5.

The "mini" option of the S III will sell alongside the larger version.

Beyond its smaller screen, other features are expected to be the same as the 4.8-inch Galaxy S3.

The new model was confirmed Samsung’s president of mobile business, JK Shin.

A spokeswoman for Samsung NZ told NBR, "Samsung is in discussions with all operators on the potential of introducing this handset to the New Zealand market."

Keep it thumbable
An Apple rep recently told NBR a key aim with the iPhone 5 was to increase screen size, but keep the handset "thumbable."

If one thumb can reach all parts of the screen, a phone can be used in one hand.

Some find a 4.8-inch screen just too large for that - as well as a sap on battery life.

One of NBR's few objections to the S3 has been it's just not thumbable. Samsung just took that objection off the table.

Toe-to-toe
During its last quarter, Apple sold 26 million iPhones (it did not break down sales by model). Over its first three days, the iPhone 5 sold five million, a new record for the company.

Samsung sold 50.5 million smartphones during its most recent quarter.

It does not break out individual model sales in its quarterly reports, but the company has said the S III sold 20 million during its first 100 days. It expects the handset, released in May, to sell 30 million by year's end.

On Monday, Samsung previewed its full-year earnings. The company said it would report a record profit of $US7.3 billion, or double last year.

Samsung did not breakout unit sales in its preview, but said stronger than expected smartphone and high-end TV sales had fuelled its growth.

Tablet scrap
The Korean company is also competing with Apple in the tablet market, where its Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Note have made limited impact so far on Apple's iPad.

Apple is expected to release a 7.85-inch iPad later this month or during November.

The Wall Street Journal quotes sources who say the initial production run will be 10 million.

The pair have also expanded their multi-front legal war, with Samsung taking patent action against the iPhone 5, and Apple appealing to have its $US1 billlion damages win in a California court raised to $US1.6 billion.