In our Samsung Galaxy S8 review, you will find out what we think of the eighth generation of this popular smartphone line. It is the first in the series without the marked Home button. It is also the first to buy only a rounded edge screen. But that's just the beginning of the story. Note: Also check our 6.2 inch Galaxy S8 Plusoverview page .
Key Conclusions Galaxy S8 Review:
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus are mainly due to their ...
- impressive design, construction quality, and display,
- solid performance on camera and battery area,
- nice software,
- and (with sufficient light) smooth user identification.
A little bit sorry is that
- that identification is not 100% waterproof and works less smoothly in low light,
- the crazy Bixby button for some time bounces without real Bixby,
- The AKG headset is good, but the "tuned" sound is a gimmick.
Samsung Galaxy S8 review
And then he was there: the Samsung Galaxy S8. The device that has to make the mistake with Note 7 should be forgotten. Beyond the fast first impressions we took the time to get to know the device. In daily life, for weeks. How does he do it in real life? How practical is the Infinity Display now? How (on) handy the finger scanner, how smooth the face recognition? That, and more, you read here, in our comprehensive Galaxy S8 review.
Design
What can be said about the most discussed smartphone design of 2017, other than that the device is indeed very well-connected. If, after a month, we lay next to the Galaxy S7 Edge , this one seems less sophisticated. The Galaxy S8 (Plus) is a solid block of glass and aluminum, whose appearance does not get bored quickly - with the screen on, but also with the screen.
However, there are some disadvantages to report, apart from predictable sensitivity to fingerprints. The Galaxy S8 is such a solid block, that we had to regularly find what's up again, and what the bottom. The lack of clear features on the front side - no logo, very beautiful - makes sure that we sometimes got upside down again. Of course, a little better attention offers relief, but the confusion has taken place quickly.
On the other hand, we must mention that Samsung has taken clear steps to ignore unwanted touches. Although on the Galaxy S8 (Plus) of course, it is very minimal, it did not happen that unintentional touches had unwanted effects.
We have also noticed so much of the alleged fragility. Our Galaxy S8 has made some flavors, but still looks sober. Of course, this is partly a matter of happiness, but it is also clear that the device does not always cause direct damage to each accident. The fact that he is also water resistant is an extremely pleasant occurrence. Of course, it must be said that this has not been a unique feature for a long time.
The last update after a long time with the Galaxy S8 is that every other device looks boring. Just like at the time of the Galaxy S6 Edge , we suspect it will be difficult to use another device with a less futuristic display. That's not bad, but keep in mind that you will not soon find a more traditional model.
Screen
That Samsung's AMOLED screens are the display of salmon in the display area is known. And the Infinity screen of the Galaxy S8 is clearly the surpassing step of this screen technology.
That's not the case because Samsung has chosen this time to just give every color variant of the Galaxy S8 (Plus) a black front. With the screen you will not soon see where it starts, and where the screen edges stop, and if you also use a black background image, the effect is complete. All in all, we agree with DisplayMate's experts when they say that the Infinity screen is the best on the market .
Hardware, Performance
We can also be short of the Galaxy S8 (Plus) hardware. In our test period, performance was stable, and the phone always responded smoothly to everything. Ensuring that 4 GB of work memory anno 2017 would be too tight for a top-of-the-range smartphone to be completely unfounded.
No, just like the screen, we have no complaints about hardware and performance after a month of intensive use. On the contrary, the Galaxy S8 does reliably and quickly what to do, no matter what you're doing.
Software
We will continue this tone when we talk about the Galaxy S8 software. As a seasoned Galaxy user, we can say that the device's Samsung Experience interface is by far the finest.
A good example of a small update that appears to be very pleasant after a few weeks, swipes upwards to switch between home screen and app overview. The first week you're still typing a mistake - and you can also restore the trusted Apps icon, if you want to - once used to this, it seems a useful improvement. Samsung has also thought of the extra long design of the display: applications that do not fill the entire screen itself, you can force it to do so . Usually the result is fine.
The same goes for sweeping over the finger scanner - about that thing later - to show your notifications. Once used, it is very useful, even if this is not the intention. A finger slides quickly along the scanner, as shown by our experience.
The somewhat chaotic situation in which Samsung used to have its Knox environment, and also - for the less fanatic use - a Safe Mode, has now been solved. The Secure Folder is secured in a variety of ways, and provides space for everything you want to provide extra low protection. Whether this is your work email, a memo with your bike lock code, or an app you do not want the kids to play with. Everything goes in and is fully functional. Of course, this already knew of other recent Galaxy devices (Galaxy A3 and A5 2017, Tab S3), and after a while with the Galaxy S8, it is all the more obvious that this is a great feature.
Updates
If the past says something about the future, we can assume that the Galaxy S8 (Plus) will get at least two major Android updates. That is, in 2018 to Android O, and in 2019 to Android P, how they will be. But at least equally relevant is the fact that Samsung is currently rolling out monthly patches for the Galaxy S5 from 2014. In between, the machine is always in a hurry , but Samsung is hard on its way to provide her top models with at least three or even four years of security patches .
That's all fun and nice, of course, but the Galaxy S8 does contain one big software zipper.
Bixby
With a lot of poeha, Samsung still announces its new, intelligent software assistant, Bixby , for the Galaxy S8 . Immediately after launch and release of the device, it became apparent that Bixby went up some delay. But now, almost a month after release, it's awkwardly silent on this front. In the meantime, we discovered that Bixby will get some functionality in Germany by the end of the year , which does not reduce Bixby's sense of "unnecessary button on your Galaxy S8".
Of course, that is not entirely true. There are now several apps that you can use to provide your Bixby button from a function-to-choice . But although this can be very useful, it does not always work 100% smoothly and smoothly. For example, you can connect to your camera, but to say that your camera app will always start immediately after you press the button, no. We ourselves have occasionally used as an additional home button that is useful for left-handed use, or even completely disabled.
The idea is very exciting: you buy a new smartphone, with a button only later - after half a year or a year, or who knows? - becomes clear what he is going to do exactly. It's a reminder of Samsung's mentality, which you almost forgot because the Galaxy S8 has been so well developed. The South Koreans have grown big by sometimes just trying out many crazy things. Bixby is such a thing again. That's why the Galaxy S8 has an excessive physical button is not even so bad - but well, uhm, just maf. Fortunately, there are also absolutely non-cumbersome things to be found on the device, such as the camera.
Camera
The camera in the Galaxy S7 was of absolute world class . So good that Samsung thought it would be enough to stop a similar model in the Galaxy S8. It is clear that the S8's lead over competition is now significantly smaller. It does not matter that the camera of the S8 is very good. In fact, he is - so much we can now full-tune-well better than that of the Galaxy S7.
Compared to the camera of the S7, we have seen two things repeatedly in the passing of time. First (appears or), the frame rate of the image in the Galaxy S8 camera app is higher. This gives a much more direct, more natural impression if you want to photograph a moving object.
The second, even more important, improvement is the dynamics. Where the Galaxy S7 sometimes tends to just overexposed photos, it's happening on the Galaxy S8 more. In the auto mode, the exposure is always always spot-on.
It does not matter, however, that the further differences between the S7 and S8 cameras are small - to understand the cameras at the back. There is a world of difference between the front cameras. Not only does the Galaxy S8 have a higher 8 megapixel resolution, but the autofocus really helps in making nicer, and especially sharper selfies.
For a few years, your Galaxy could always start the camera very quickly by pressing the Home button twice. If there is no Home button, that is no longer on the Galaxy S8, but Samsung has hidden the same drive behind the Power button. And that's almost, but not quite as convenient. We can conclude this after the last few weeks. The button is in such a position that, after pressing it twice, you have to change the position of your phone in your hand before shooting. It's a subtle difference, but honestly it's fair: it's just just not as practical.
Battery
You already notice: above and beyond this review, the Galaxy S7's mind is now and then. And even if we talk about the battery and battery life of the Galaxy S8 (Plus), there is a comparison by hand. Because Samsung's top models of 2016 did and are doing very well in this area, and the battery capacity of the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus has finally not grown. In fact, that of the S8 Plus even decreased slightly compared to its predecessor, the S7 Edge.
In the meantime, it is clear that the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus do not undermine the S7 and S7 Edge in this area, but do not notice much longer battery life. The more economical hardware - 10 nanometer processor, more efficient memory, etc. - is neatly stripped of the larger screen.
It's the Galaxy S8 Plus, which makes it even more impressive. The difference between both S8 models seems larger than the capacity on paper (3000 vs 3500 mAh) suggests. 7.5-hour screen-hours are no exception (if you do not play or do VR stuff), and we regularly end up with 40 to 50 percent battery charge. And then we had not been particularly economical.
However, there were also days between that even the S8 Plus was exhausted at the beginning of the evening - obviously after a day of intense use, but still without energy-saving game sessions. Interchangeably, we do not want to mention the battery performance, but what was last year's extraordinary battery life will be just a solid performance in the year 2017.
Quickly?
Incidentally, of course, you can charge your Galaxy S8 (Plus) fast via USB Type C port. As part of solid fire prevention, Samsung has ensured that this fast loading occurs only if you do not use your device . Because use makes warm, and fast loading makes warm. And that is happily no longer happening to the South Koreans.
At times it's crazy, for example, watching YouTube in the bed with a cable plugged in, and a battery rate that is noticeably slow (so you're used to fast charging). On the other hand, so often we did not do that again, and if you're leaving your Galaxy S8 for a while, it's still loading from 0 to 100% in about a half hour.
Incidentally, for those who lack stamina, there are two energy-saving modes, now called Mid and Max (besides Off ). A combination of settings make it lower consumption, which makes your Galaxy S8 (Plus) longer between charging. This is of course nothing new, but now it is used more logically and organized.
Security
The Galaxy S8 (Plus) is the first Galaxy where we can really spend a complete section on security. Or, better said: all the ways you can protect your phone with different sensors.
Strikingly enough, we have noticed that the rear viewer actually works well , provided you give yourself the time to get used to. The fact that the scanner is always on will make sure you do not have to turn on your Galaxy S8 first. Immediately putting your finger on the scanner is enough to turn on the device and go straight to your home screen.
We use 'm - after a trial and testing period - standard combined with face recognition. With sufficient light, the latter works so well and fast that you almost realize that it is a security. The keywords here are either: sufficient light. In the darkness, face recognition works less well, or at least less quickly.
All of this does not matter if it would be even better if the facial recognition was combined with the iris scanner. For regular unlocking for normal use, the latter is too slow, but in the dark it works just fine. In our default Face Recognition setting with finger scanner, we need to lift the phone in low light. And that's, supposedly, suboptimal.
Get used to
Simply put, the Galaxy S8 (Plus) security in everyday life works incredibly fast and smoothly after a short hassle. We would even dare to claim that the above-described combi works nicer than the old, trusted finger-scanner-in-the-home button. Except in low light, such as in the evening. Of course, it also happens to be circumvented with a pinch like Smart Lock - no lock if you are at home for example - but you have children, you know better.
Moreover, in recent times, face detection and iris scanner can be fooled with the right approach and tools . That is, of course, a pity, and absolutely something to keep in mind. On the other hand, the bar is quite high for the average thief. Again, it's not the case that you even "circumvent" the security of the Galaxy S8. For the average use (s) there are therefore excellent locking methods.
Sound
In our Galaxy Tab S3 review , we already concluded that the AKG tuning of the sound is more gimmick than serious improvement. On the Galaxy S8, in fact, that's not the case, the included earphones - with AKG branding, price: € 99, - are indeed better than what we used to from Samsung. The straightforward audio file has enough to mediate, but let's say: for a pair of earbuds they are most common. You could say that it may also be in this price range, and we agree with you again. But Samsung does.
And more?
Without staying silent, it still seems to be lost to a standard storage capacity on the Galaxy S8, both subtle and significant. Subtle, because it happens more or less between nose and lips. Significant, as compared to a 32GB phone, this is an expansion of more than 100% (from about 24GB of usable space on the S7 to 53GB on the S8). The fact that you can put a micro-SD card on it is of course nice.
However, any use of Samsung Cloud - the South Korean's own cloud service - may be a key. Free are only the first 15 GB. That's scarcely low in combination with a device with the fourfold internal storage.
For a few euros a month, you get a lot more space on Samsung's cloud, but it's no longer free. And while Samsung Cloud is just as convenient, for example, if you want to switch from an old to a new Galaxy phone. Of course, all this has happened with devices with 32GB of storage. But on the Galaxy S8 it is underlined more than double. That said, our conclusions.
Conclusion
Despite the sci-fi look, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are really very solid smartphones with a blend design and display, a water resistant body, excellent battery life and a very good camera. The distance with the competition on battery and camera area is only slightly lower than last year when the Galaxy S7 dropped similar performance.
In addition to impressive building quality, Samsung also makes major advances in software area, and the new identification methods work superficially under many circumstances. However, there is room for improvement, for example, if the iris scanner gets faster, so unlocking in the dark also works effortlessly.
Curious is and stays - for now - that crazy extra Bixby button, where you have so little unless you make a better goal for yourself. And if you have something about the AKG-tuned sound, it's just the question, but the standard earbuds are obviously better than the average earphones you find in a smartphone box.
Ask if the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are worth their high price. In principle, we say yes, even if it's not bad if the AKG tabs (retail value: € 100, -) were optional. Possibly this could have led to a lower price for the device itself.
All in all, Samsung with the Galaxy S8 exchanges a broad market lead in camera and battery area this year for a headline in design and construction quality. An interesting move, which not only generates very handsome phones, but also captures future top models, such as the Galaxy Note 8 .
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