Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Essence distilled

21 April 2017
When 5 inches is the de-facto standard for a compact Android handset, yet you want to prove that more is always better, what do you do? If you're Samsung, you make a 5.8-inch phone that's as compact as a 5-incher.

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  • D
  • AnonD-130048
  • 8PH
  • 22 Apr 2017

AnonD-130048, 22 Apr 2017I love your reviews, guys. Really consistent, and very good... moreMy personal dilemma in this regard is:

I'm a drummer and percussionist (and tech-addict, hahahahah).
I currently own a Galaxy S that's getting really old, especially on the battery department (I have to charge it at least 3 times a day, besides de overnight charge).

So, I guess it's time for a new device. I'm between the S7 Edge and the S8 (Plus? Not sure. The battery review will be crucial here, since I'm kinda disgusted of poor battery life right now. But for the size I prefer the portability of the regular S8).

But being able to record my jam sessions and rehearsals (VERY LOUD, I even play in some Brazilian drum bands with 30 people.... Well, imagine loudness) and get a usable audio after that would be very very desirable.

The final consideration is price. The S8 is way beyond my budget right now, but I could afford a 128 GB S7 Edge.
So... Buying the S7 Edge now or stick with annoying frequent chargings (and occasional dead batteries) of my S6 and wait for the next iPhones be launched so Samsung will be forced to lower the price of the S8?

    • J
    • Jagganath
    • HDQ
    • 22 Apr 2017

    I have just wasted several very tedious hours trying to disable android apps that nobody needs or can even use (such as Cell Broadcast ) that constantly interrupts, with several other Google apps, my picture-taking and my ability to record my radio programmes on my G4 (Hi-Def BBC) , because these stupid things switch off recording, which continues, but you play back a track that has suddenly no sound at all!!, and I am wondering hard IF Samsung load the entire Android Google repertory as well, etcetera, though I know they cannot even manage a radio, let alone a digital recorder, polite cough, because, longwindedly it would be good to actually yourself be able to get a bare phone and then AFTER you have read all about them, download, Google Play, Google Pay and all that bloatware instead of having it all permanently stuck on your new narrow playstation machine. Is there, pray, a phone with nothing but the phone and camera and radio and recording all simply working without interruptions, you know, like you camera, or TV recorder do?? Anybody know?

      • D
      • AnonD-130048
      • 8PH
      • 22 Apr 2017

      I love your reviews, guys. Really consistent, and very good standardized tests.
      I would like to make a suggestion.
      It's a multimedia device, and most of that (aside of maybe tactile) is audiovisual.
      You do a complete and thorough analysis of the visual part.
      Input: cameras
      Output: screen(s)
      But about audio...
      Output: speakers, phone jack
      Input: microphones

      So... Would it be possible to design a microphone, maybe auxiliary input audio testing? Audio quality of videos, the default sound recorder of the device...

      I think it would be really interesting. Knowing that your videos will sound good/bad/muddy/crispy/harsh/soft/too quiet...

      For instance, I know that the Galaxy S8/S8+ has high AOP microphone. It's a novelty for the Galaxy S line, approaching the likes of the old Lumias and HTCs, and more recently LG V20 (and G6? Not sure).

      But how do they compare? Do they all sound the same? Is there a better choice?

      Hope you consider this idea.

      Cheers!

        • F
        • Force Majeure
        • m}J
        • 22 Apr 2017

        Anonymous, 21 Apr 2017A lot of people love phones 5" it aboveMore than a lot, but that doesn't change the fact that there are only 1-2 phones with better screens and hardware out there today, under 5". I can only think of Sony's and Samsung's A-series.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • thg
          • 22 Apr 2017

          AlienNextDoor, 22 Apr 2017No it's not. The screen is 0.6 inches bigger, no matter the... moreBut they did start this phablet bandwagon. They're going at it head-on. The next thing we know, their Note8 could be sporting 6.4" or larger display sizes but would still be in a form factor equivalent or smaller than, say, the Xperia Z Ultra phablet for comparison

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 6jq
            • 22 Apr 2017

            AnonD-292864, 21 Apr 2017I tried it at a tech store. S8 is perfectly usable with one... moreNo it's not , you cannot reach both the notification bar and the navigation bar without adjusting your grip. That's a plain physical impossibility and no matter how much Samsung marketing will try to convInce us other wise , people did not spontaneously grew ET like fingers.

            Ergonomically speaking S8 is a big step backwards compared to S7 and that's just a fact of human physiology. Same with the battery life btw. Now of you care more about looks be my guest, but it's still *not* the more easily used phone.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 6jq
              • 22 Apr 2017

              AnonD-270570, 21 Apr 2017It's from the future, the next big thing is already here. I... moreYou do know that Mi mix was released 6 months ago and looks much more impressive as it is bezeless in 3 sides instead of just two, right? Also the ceramic + 18k look is much more luxurious looking than the generic S8 look.

                • A
                • AlienNextDoor
                • JK1
                • 22 Apr 2017

                AnonD-292864, 21 Apr 2017I tried it at a tech store. S8 is perfectly usable with one... moreNo it's not. The screen is 0.6 inches bigger, no matter the bezel. I like bezels, gives me something to hold on to. But if you really want to get rid of them that doesn't mean you should increase the display, just reduce the bezels.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • pQr
                  • 21 Apr 2017

                  Camera: No HDR in manual mode, no exposure compensation/brightness compensation with Auto ISO in shutter priority mode (Huawei (I think Motorola, too) and many camera manufacturers offer brightness compensation for Auto ISO in shutter priority mode)

                    • D
                    • AnonD-292864
                    • pix
                    • 21 Apr 2017

                    AlienNextDoor, 21 Apr 2017They can conclude all they want, like every media outlet af... moreI tried it at a tech store. S8 is perfectly usable with one hand. 5.1 or 5.2 inch display is the sweet spot for one handed usage and S8 is around the same size with a with a phone with 5.2 inch display.

                      • m
                      • mir
                      • t7X
                      • 21 Apr 2017

                      I love how they said that the Nokia 808 purview is no longer relevant. But so are several of the other handsets on the sunlight legibility leaderboard. Just making way for samsung to shine. After all. It took them 5 years to finally beat the screen on the nokia.

                        Camera quite lag behind it seems. Screen is ok to be wide but camera not? Human vision is about 120° (if for both eyes), so anything wide feels better. I know that changing ratio won't change fov of camera but it really feels weird to see only half screen used. Feels like old crt screens ratios are back. I wish all cameras used same fov as that "super-wide" one from lg. Shots would feel more natural than just capturing scene as some crop of what we saw.

                          • R
                          • Robbie
                          • n5u
                          • 21 Apr 2017

                          AlienNextDoor, 21 Apr 2017Even if the phone actually were much better than the s7 and... morePersonally, I wouldn't even consider one-handed use as something I even look for. But then I've always had huge phones.

                            • S
                            • Savor
                            • Ibx
                            • 21 Apr 2017

                            ithehappy, 21 Apr 2017So worst position of fingerprint scanner. One of the worst ... moreS8 is overrated just like the S7 edge was overrated because of design. When fanboys start calling phones beautiful or sexy is when they should instead be calling for a mail-order bride, ASAP!

                            W8 for the Note8. For the first time since 2014, the Note8 will be a big improvement from the S phone. More internal storage, more RAM, and far better cameras. Samsung will make Note gr8 again.

                              • D
                              • AnonD-270570
                              • rKW
                              • 21 Apr 2017

                              Anonymous, 21 Apr 2017Mr Samsung PR guy is back. Surprising PR guy well you could say a customer with money to spend on the best.

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • mpN
                                • 21 Apr 2017

                                AlienNextDoor, 21 Apr 2017They can conclude all they want, like every media outlet af... moreA lot of people love phones 5" it above

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • pBC
                                  • 21 Apr 2017

                                  AnonD-270570, 21 Apr 2017It's from the future, the next big thing is already here. I... moreMr Samsung PR guy is back. Surprising

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-270570
                                    • rKW
                                    • 21 Apr 2017

                                    It's from the future, the next big thing is already here. If you don't have an S8 you missed a technological revolution.

                                      • A
                                      • AlienNextDoor
                                      • JK1
                                      • 21 Apr 2017

                                      RaghavaZ, 21 Apr 2017GSMA had concluded the other way around regarding one-hande... moreThey can conclude all they want, like every media outlet afraid to be critical.

                                      The fact is, even 5.1 inch is on the large side when it comes to one handed use. Anything above is terrible. 4.3 to 4.7 is the sweet spot. It's not just the width but height as well. If you can't reach the top of the screen with your thumb without any hand gimnastics it's a fail.

                                        AlienNextDoor, 21 Apr 2017Even if the phone actually were much better than the s7 and... moreGSMA had concluded the other way around regarding one-handed usage and this S8 is actually more compact than the screen size suggests.

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