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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  • snZ
  • 24 Apr 2017

When are we getting the battery endurance? It's been 3 days now... :(

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    • AnonD-270570
    • rKW
    • 24 Apr 2017

    Anonymous, 24 Apr 2017Retina display is the kind of display that allows for indiv... moreI can't believe people like you exists, Retina display isn't any display technology, it's just the same IPS lcd named as retina display by Apple for marketing.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retina_Display
    Click, read then comment crap

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      • Anonymous
      • 7sj
      • 24 Apr 2017

      AnonD-270570, 23 Apr 2017There's nothing like a retina display, it's not a technolog... moreAccording to Apple, retina is still king in 2017.

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        • AlienNextDoor
        • JK1
        • 24 Apr 2017

        AnonD-77443, 24 Apr 2017I have both the S8+ and GN4 on my desk. I guarantee you tha... moreIf you reaaaaally need fast camera opening, good low light and really fast autofocus...then yea, go for the s7 or s8.

        However, as the gsmarena picture comparison shows, note 4 DOES have slightly better outdoor pictures in bright light. A lower aperture and more mpx make that happen. So if you mostly take nature pictures like I do, then the Note 4 is better. However, I still have my Nokia 808 for that which is 10 times better for that, and my S7 for low light.

          Very good review. Waiting for battery life full review.

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            • Anonymous
            • 6jq
            • 24 Apr 2017

            AnonD-270570, 23 Apr 2017There's nothing like a retina display, it's not a technolog... moreRetina display is the kind of display that allows for individual pixels to not be recognized at 11 inches of distance (screen eye distance) or greater. Apple defined the term perfectly, we're you not paying attention?

            Yes it's a neologism which was invented to disallow people from typing everything that I just did, you just refer to it and people instantly realize what you are talking about ... apart from some Samsung geniuses as it turns out ... for them you have to type the whole shebang and constantly explain to them every last term 'cause they're so deeply confused about everything (else they wouldnt give blind alegiance to a refrigerator company)

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              • AnonD-270570
              • rKW
              • 24 Apr 2017

              Does it support UFS cards?

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                • AnonD-77443
                • v6J
                • 24 Apr 2017

                AlienFromNextDoor, 23 Apr 2017According to the comparison tool no camera shoots better pi... moreI have both the S8+ and GN4 on my desk. I guarantee you that the S8+ is a better camera in good and low light. That said, all good phones in the past few years take good photos in good light.

                I'm not talking about shooting at night, I'm talking about shooting indoors where you don't have brilliant lighting or sunshine. In these cases my S8+ is so far ahead of my GN4 it isn't funny. The S8+ has a lot more detail, a lot less noise & better colours (which you would expect with a phone that is nearly 3 years newer).

                The reason i want a good camera? I have a 10 month old daughter and am sick of great photo opportunity's being let down by a poor camera.... the lightning quick focus is also great for baby photos. Spending AU$1349 doesn't worry me if it means I get better photos of my family. I do have a Canon SLR but it doesn't fit in my pocket.


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                  • Anonymous
                  • v0q
                  • 24 Apr 2017

                  Anonymous, 23 Apr 2017Not the first 1080p Amoled (I meant to type first 1080p Amo... moreHTC DROID DNA is the very first Smartphone to feature a 1080p screen

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                    • AnonD-270570
                    • rKW
                    • 23 Apr 2017

                    Anonymous, 23 Apr 2017Not the first 1080p Amoled (I meant to type first 1080p Amo... moreThere's nothing like a retina display, it's not a technology like amoled which has real meaning. Retina display is a marketing term used by Apple to make its poor display sound better.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • 6jq
                      • 23 Apr 2017

                      Anonymous, 23 Apr 2017You have mistaken my friend...the Sony Xperia Z was the fir... moreNot the first 1080p Amoled (I meant to type first 1080p Amoled)

                      Basically S4 was the first to have a retina display with perfect blacks. Before it (S3) was sub-retina and every other other brand had poor blacks/contrast.

                      Since the S4 Amoleds have obviously been better , but not by that far. So I regard S4's screen as the last jump, ever since it's all evolutionary progression.

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                        • AnonD-664145
                        • NwI
                        • 23 Apr 2017

                        Thanks for the new production of Sumsung Galaxy"8"I'm fun and lover of Sumsung products with almost ten quensective years up to now I'm with Dual Sumsung Galaxy"7"edge with duration of 4 months now my suggestion why this new production doesn't have dual model to enable the user free to select between the single and dual design
                        Regards with many thanks
                        Ndallamah Saeid (Alhj)

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                          • Anonymous
                          • Ydg
                          • 23 Apr 2017

                          thanks for posting something on the new earbuds that come with it. Not a big deal at all or anything

                            AnonD-585282, 23 Apr 2017Hope you won't mind if I call S8 as an explosive device. Be... moreOh I guess you still not aware that only the note7 was having such fiasco and it already been killed. While your LG entirely infamous bootlooping problem is still in tuck. You may leave the "burst in flame" joke as of now untill there's actually an S8 or other Samsung phone having that again. Just enjoy you bootlooping LG bwahahaha

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                              • Anonymous
                              • f3g
                              • 23 Apr 2017

                              Anonymous, 23 Apr 2017It's not hard to state that Samsung is not trying anymore. ... moreYou have mistaken my friend...the Sony Xperia Z was the first 1080p screen.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • 6XU
                                • 23 Apr 2017

                                Cool phone but not for everyday use.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • Xs{
                                  • 23 Apr 2017

                                  Nice

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                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 6jq
                                    • 23 Apr 2017

                                    AnonD-657883, 23 Apr 2017You're trying so hard looking for negatives and still you c... moreIt's not hard to state that Samsung is not trying anymore.

                                    There was a time that S series was choke full of features and hardware was in the cutting edge. Apart from the screen nothing else is cutting edge on this phone. That's not a hard to come by observation, it's how Samsung changed with the times and it always surprises me when people come in to defend her.

                                    Compare S8 to S4

                                    S8 has top screen and that's it (SoC is also top but everybody is using it this year).
                                    By comparison S4 had top battery (biggest of its time + removable)
                                    Top Ram (nobody had more)
                                    Top camera (Samsung had the best android camera at the point)
                                    Top Screen by far (first 1080p screen)
                                    First phone to feature IR

                                    ...and in general S4 was choke full.

                                    S8 is far less impressive.

                                    For example there are already better cameras out there. Phones from last year beats it performance wise (3T still performs better day-to-day), battery is a step back compared to last year.

                                    It's *really* underwhelming for a $900 phone.

                                      AnonD-657883, 23 Apr 2017I did not use a Samsung phone since galaxy s3, I am actuall... moreA Samsung's major con is its software, always was, and probably always will be. This phone can't keep consistent frame rates at even 720p, in comparison with other phones' 1440p! How hard is it to read a review I don't understand.

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                                        • Anonymous
                                        • 6jq
                                        • 23 Apr 2017

                                        Nick.B, 23 Apr 2017please take your time with your 170$ more expensive s8: ht... moreI was talking of G5 vs G6 ...

                                        Basically all/most flagships have very similar cameras at this point. It's silly to give top dollar for better phone camera at this point. If all you care is camera just buy the cheapest flagship grade camera phone and you're golden (LG G5 at this point).

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