Technology

Galaxy S3 takes world's best smartphone award

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The Samsung Galaxy SIII phone at the launch at Hilton Hotel Nairobi, July 05, 2012.

Samsung’s flagship high-end device the Galaxy S III has been voted the world’s best smartphone at the on-going Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The South Korean firm beat global brands such iPhone 5, Lumia 920, and HTC Droid DNA to emerge tops at the 2013 Global Mobile Awards.

The win tightens Samsung’s grip on the smart devices segment where it also bagged the 2012 best smartphone of the year with its Galaxy S II brand.

The Seoul-based company was also named the best device manufacturer for the second year running.

The 4.8 inch Android-powered phone was launched into the Kenyan market in July last year and currently retails at Sh49,999 at Safaricom outlets.

Apple’s iPhone 5 is ranked the world best-selling smart device, selling 27.4 million units compared to the S III which has moved more than 16 million devices.

Nokia’s Asha 305 was voted the best entry level phone, continuing its dominance in the segment where it also won last year’s award with its C3 model.

Nokia last year unveiled its line of low-cost smart feature phones under the Asha series which primarily target young users keen to access social media on the go, music and sharing content.

The Finnish giant has now turned to Microsoft’s Windows Mobile in its high-end devices series dubbed Lumia. The top end Lumia 920 powered by Windows Phone 8 trades in Kenya at Sh54,999.