Samsung Galaxy S8+ review: Infinity and beyond

18 April 2017
What was once an impossible fantasy - a sketch in someone’s book, a render of an ambitious concept - is now a reality. These are just some thoughts that come to mind holding the Galaxy S8+, the big and bold next step Samsung took.

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  • AnonD-521587
  • kcM
  • 21 Apr 2017

Anonymous, 19 Apr 2017While many sony fans are way too much....I must say sony is... morelol bro sony has been ahead. Its samsung that has caught up and surpassed sony. Sony was ahead of its time back when the z2 was released. It had ip68, great design and materias, front duo speakers, best camera, best display etc. Samsung didnt stand a chance.

Samsung eventually caught up wiith the z2/z3 of sony. Sony needs to innovate again to beat samsung. xzp is a good step.

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    • AlienNextDoor
    • JK1
    • 21 Apr 2017

    James, 21 Apr 2017I dont like the aspect ratio. Pity it is just pitched to g... moreNote 4 is still such a great phone. I feel somewhat bad about selling mine and buying an S7. Apart from a tiny bit faster I don't really see the difference. Perhaps there's also the fact that the Note was easier to hold because it was really grippy since it's back isn't glass.

    Honestly other than bragging rights I've no idea why people keep buying new phones.

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      • AnonD-77443
      • v6J
      • 21 Apr 2017

      Black S8+ (Exynos) turned up an hour ago. Have plugged in my free 256GB SD card (thanks GN7)
      Initial thoughts are.

      - The black looks great and the device feels really well built.
      - Glad they are going black cables and accessories
      - Initially it looks a touch long but doesn't take long to feel normal.
      - The S8 is grippier than the GN7. Not as grippy as my GN4.
      - In relation to the black strips. On the Black phone it is really difficult to notice so not an issue.
      - The Samsung phone data transfer system is really slick.
      - The curved edges are gentle and don't create issues.
      - The screen is whiter and a lot brighter than the S7. Viewing angles are a lot better also as is the performance outside. My GN4 screen looks terrible in comparison
      - The camera has an 18.5:9 resolution (4032x1960). Personally i will be using 16:9.
      - The camera performance is a massive step up on the S7 for inside pics. Haven't checked outside yet.
      - Forgot to check the ram before installing apps. Currently it is using 1.6/4.0GB when cleared.

      On the downside.
      The fingerprint scanner location isn't great. Would be better below the camera.
      I have hit the bixby button a few times by accident. The volume rocker keys could be a touch lower.
      Putting the SD card in the tray was a little fiddly.

      Will post more later once i have used and tested it but overall it is awesome so far.

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        • James
        • YPa
        • 21 Apr 2017

        I dont like the aspect ratio. Pity it is just pitched to gaming. As for everything else, like most mobiles of recent years, there is nothing that is a real step up in technology or usability. One could sit back with their 3 year old mobile and still do everything that is needed. I am certainly not going to rush out and pay top dollar for this. I might add I do own a Samsung, and have always used them with great satisfaction. But I am still stuck with a few Note 4's, which still do a great job. Just replaced the battery with a genuine item and off we go for another 3 years of trouble free business.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • tug
          • 21 Apr 2017

          Ro, 20 Apr 2017Is this a phone i can carry with me for next 3-4 years? i ... moreWhat you're asking for is impossible unless in the next 3-4 years some sort of an indestructible screen tech can be made possible. Bezels are still required in product design as a means of structural integrity = durability and necessary space to loop in the secondary circuitry. Now that Samsung has already proven a middle ground approach, R&D can't be done just because we want it to happen NOW.

          The problem with people in general; asking for fantastical features without providing any solutions 99% of the time.

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            • AlienNextDoor
            • JK1
            • 21 Apr 2017

            AnonD-647708, 19 Apr 2017Nope, you'll buy next year or in 2019, at tops. In 2018, S7... moreNooe, I won't. My s4 on kitkat can still run 99% of apps. I doubt things will change. Even then there's always custom roms.
            By the time I nees an upgrade because of a deteriorated battery midrange phones will be as good as S7 is now.

              Anonymous, 20 Apr 2017I badly want to buy this phone s8 not plus version . But on... moreLOL no comments. Android apps are still not comparable with iOS counterparts and I mean Android, Pixel and sorts, not this heavily bloated skinned android with second voice assistant with a dedicated hardware key even. But then again there are people who think S7 doesn't lag, so for them S8 should be a top notch phone. But for people like me who care about smoothness/consistency over long term Samsung is dead.

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                • Anonymous
                • xgY
                • 20 Apr 2017

                There is nothing that wss impossible in this phone

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                  • AnonD-314089
                  • 8R$
                  • 20 Apr 2017

                  S Ammy always up front. Again the best smartphone of the year.

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                    • Like a G6 :v
                    • Gxx
                    • 20 Apr 2017

                    Nick.B, 20 Apr 2017my 300$ lg v20 takes better photos please save your 900$ a... moreEven the S7/S7 Edge are better.

                      my 300$ lg v20 takes better photos
                      please save your 900$ and buy else not s8/+

                        • R
                        • Ro
                        • 7kM
                        • 20 Apr 2017

                        Is this a phone i can carry with me for next 3-4 years?
                        i feel the bezel-less technology will get better and this phone maybe just a stepping stone to the ultimate no bezel display; maybe in 1 years time.

                        something about this phone makes me feel is not complete, not completely bezel-less, somewhere in between. i dont want to regret being stuck with this phone when u have a full screen with no bezel display in a year or two!!!

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • w9x
                          • 20 Apr 2017

                          I badly want to buy this phone s8 not plus version . But only wondering that the apps on android is not as per with iOS app ( I don't hate or love any brand) . Since I love customisable user interface (android ) and good responsive apps (includes 3rd party as well ) I am thinking to move from iOS to android . Would you think I will have the same experience with s8 ? Last android I used was in lollipop. Need real android user answer. These are my options s8 , pixel or iPhone 7 plus -

                            Anonymous, 20 Apr 2017No doubt: the cameras on LG phones are WAY better than the ... moreI keep seeing samples from all phones and can't agree with you. G6 has an excellent camera, no doubt, but its no way better than Pixel's. Pixel currently leads the camera phone section and in my feeling will continue to do so until Pixel 2 or iPhone 8 comes. The image stacking and blending tech is something which takes away the lead there from other flagship phones, even when the Pixel has no better camera hardware than others (the sensor is still bigger than the likes of iPhone and kinds anyway). Smartphone cameras are forced to depend on software post processing as they will always have smaller sensor in comparison with dedicated cameras, so something has to make up for image quality, and Google nailed it there with the image stacking option, period. Have never seen any phone taking photos in low light that much consistently, and on top of everything it comes with pure android to sweeten things even more.

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                              • AnonD-632062
                              • Hxc
                              • 20 Apr 2017

                              Wonderful extensive review, GSMArena! Samsung has definitely thrown in the kitchen sink as far as specs and especially, software are considered. That's a good thing!

                              The camera (both front and back) looks great although the panorama algorithm is horrible. Hopefully a SW update will fix it.

                              I'm a little disappointed about the new 10nm chipsets (SD 835/ Exynos 8895) as they didn't really stamp their superiority as they were expected to.

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                                • AnonD-656673
                                • gMJ
                                • 20 Apr 2017

                                NewNicknameAgain, 20 Apr 2017Exactly, so you can't conclude on something you haven't see... moreYes, because he has the privilege. But I've seen hundreds of different smartphone displays and most of the time it favours amoled. Best of the kind LCDs from Apple, HTC don't stand a chance against Samsung displays of previous generation, like from s6.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Xu6
                                  • 20 Apr 2017

                                  Anonymous, 19 Apr 2017Who are you? Are you the lawyer of the person that I respon... moreYou should compare it with xz premium specs not price...

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                                    • AnonD-98399
                                    • tZk
                                    • 20 Apr 2017

                                    actually the wifi test for this phone is truely no meaning . GSMarena suppose change the test method more near to our daily usage experince.
                                    conclusion are : 10 hours battery life in wifi test similar to 4pm left only 24% battery life. I not even the play game in my Samsung A7 , regularly browse the web. so this S8+ remain unable live without powerbank.

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                                      • AnonD-77443
                                      • v6J
                                      • 20 Apr 2017

                                      Tann Hauser, 20 Apr 2017Guess you obviously live in Inner Earth, as you only care ... moreMost high end phones take good pics in good light now days. To me the real test is what happens in low light and the S8 wins hands down from what i have seen. Sure there are plenty of other factors that come into play.

                                      That said, I'd love nothing more than Nokia, Sony, LG or apple to bring out a camera that blows everyone else away. The best way to get better phones is through competition.

                                      Money wasn't an issue, I just wanted a phone with a great camera. S7 is too small and im not a fan of sony, lg, iphones etc for various reasons.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • gB8
                                        • 20 Apr 2017

                                        ithehappy, 20 Apr 2017Go check DPReview's conclusion and other websites' reviews ... moreNo doubt: the cameras on LG phones are WAY better than the ones on the S7. Sammy fanboys are just not open-minded to admit it. Personally, I use a Huawei and still have to admit that the LG G6 camera is the best smartphone camera available right now.