When did galaxy s8 come out? Review of Samsung Galaxy S8. The best big but small smartphone. New features and functions on S8 and S8 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are the first major new products from Samsung after the failure of the Galaxy Note 7. It was already clear from pre-orders that the Galaxy S8 will become one of the best-selling smartphones of 2017, even though it is $100 (5,700 rubles) more expensive than the S7.

Cool smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8 - Reviews

The Galaxy S7 Edge also has impressive capabilities, and it costs $400 (22,500 rubles). Should you pay $750 (42,200) for the new Galaxy S8? I think so - not only because of the better screen, but also the high build quality, stylish design with powerful performance. Let's take a closer look at the new Samsung flagship.

The surface of the Galaxy S8 smartphone is smooth and soft to the touch, thanks to the use of glass in the design, there is no gap between the back and front panels.

The screens of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels, the image is very clear. The Super AMOLED display is highly bright and color accuracy is guaranteed with HDR Premium certification. This is the best screen we've ever seen on a smartphone. The edges of the display are rounded and there is minimal bezel at the top and bottom. The screen occupies 83% of the front panel.

The diagonal of the Galaxy S8 Plus is 6.2 inches, the S8 has 5.8 inches. On large screens, even using email is convenient, but the frameless design takes some getting used to - while testing the S8 Plus, at first I constantly activated the screen when I picked up the smartphone.

The all-glass design makes Galaxy S8 smartphones slippery, fragile and prone to fingerprints. You have to keep a microfiber cloth on hand at all times for cleaning.

The power button is located on the right side of the device, while the dual volume rocker and Bixby voice assistant button are on the left. For the first time, Samsung has not added a Home button to the front panel.

The headphone jack is located at the bottom, to the left of the USB Type-C port. Also, at the bottom there is a single speaker, which has the same problem as the Google Pixel and LG G6 - it is covered with your hand when using the smartphone in landscape mode. The sound quality is good, but the iPhone 7 sounds louder.

The back is not as impressive as the front, and is almost no different from the Galaxy S7. The camera is located next to the flash, heart rate sensor and fingerprint scanner. Both versions are thin, pleasant to the touch and have excellent build quality, although the S8 is smaller, making it easier to hold in your hand.

Features and Features

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are powered by an Exynos 8895 processor with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded thanks to a MicroSD card slot.

I got a Galaxy S8 that kept freezing, especially when opening the notification tray and recent apps section. A factory reset fixed the problem and everything worked as it should, but everyone should be prepared for this.

The games Asphalt Xtreme and FIFA Mobile never froze, although Dawn of Titans lagged at some points, but this happened rarely. Applications launch quickly and easily, and multitasking allows you to use several programs at the same time.

In the benchmark, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus surpassed the Google Pixel in performance, and in some respects they were better than the iPhone 7 Plus.

While the initial issues have passed and we've enjoyed the smooth performance of the Galaxy S8, Samsung obviously won't be able to push out updates and optimize the performance of its new smartphones as quickly as Google and Apple do.

operating system

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a stylish and user-friendly user interface, with icons evenly spaced and fonts easy to read.

The absence of a physical Home button gives the smartphone a more modern look. In its place is an area of ​​the screen that, when pressed and held, will take you to the home screen from any application. The navigation icons can be swapped, placing the Back button on the left and Recent Apps on the right. This is how they are located on most Android smartphones.

There are many options for changing the interface: adjust the screen resolution, turn on and off the use of edges, change the position of the brightness slider on the notification panel, activate the LED indicator, and so on. The Galaxy S8 has many useful features to suit every taste. For example, Smart Stay allows you to keep the screen backlit only when you're looking at it.

Multitasking is better here than on any other Android phone - using the split screen, you can move application windows as you like, or launch Picture in Picture mode and place one on top of the other.

The Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone to use Bluetooth 5, with 4x the range of Bluetooth 4.2 and 8x the bandwidth (2x the data transfer speed). This means you can move 200 meters away (with line of sight) from your smartphone and still listen to music via Bluetooth headphones. In addition, you can now stream music to 2 different Bluetooth devices at the same time.

Samsung's facial recognition technology doesn't work 100% of the time, especially in low light, but it's still faster and more reliable than a fingerprint sensor. An iris scanner is also available on the Galaxy S8, although it's not as powerful.

The worst performer is the fingerprint sensor in the new S8 series. The scanner is difficult to reach on the Galaxy S8 Plus, and you won’t be able to use it to control your smartphone, as is now fashionable. The Samsung Galaxy S8 sensor is located close to the camera, so users will often get confused and touch it by mistake. Samsung is aware of this issue and advises cleaning the camera more often, but this could have been avoided by simply placing the fingerprint scanner below, as is done on almost all other smartphones.

The main 12-megapixel camera hasn't changed much compared to the S7. Given enough lighting, the Galaxy S8 takes high-quality photos with accurate colors. If there is not enough light, sometimes the clarity decreases, but as a rule, even in the dark, the photos turn out to be of high quality.

Unfortunately, Samsung hasn't added anything new to the regular camera, such as a second lens. There are still several modes to choose from, including Selective Focus and Panorama. In Pro mode, you can change the shutter speed, focus and ISO.

More impressive is the 8-megapixel front camera, which has a lot of fun filters and masks, like in Snapchat. By rotating the camera to the sides in Wide Selfie mode, you can “stitch” pictures into one, taking a panoramic selfie.

Samsung Voice Assistant

Samsung's new digital assistant is disappointing; the first version doesn't even support voice command recognition. The only functions available are Bixby Home, Reminder and Vision.

Home displays a variety of information, such as your current pedometer reading, upcoming calendar events, weather forecast, and trending Twitter posts. But, in practice, it’s easier and faster to look at the corresponding applications separately, since the Bixby button is too slow and unreliable.

Reminders is an analogue of reminders in Google Inbox or Google Assistant. Assistant can still be used by pressing and holding the on-screen Home button.

The most useful feature is Vision. Augmented reality technology allows you to receive information about different objects in real time. For example, you can point your camera at a pair of shoes and find out how much they cost on Amazon.

Samsung has promised a lot, but at the moment Bixby is an unfinished service.

Battery Samsung Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S8 Plus uses a 3,500 mAh battery, the Galaxy S8 – 3,000 mAh. By the end of the day, with intensive use (watching streaming videos, listening to music, filming videos, etc.) both smartphones will be discharged up to 25%. Under normal load, they are discharged to 40% in the evening.

Fast wireless charging is supported via the USB Type-C connector - a new standard that not everyone has gotten used to yet.

Bottom line

Samsung Galaxy S8 is a smartphone with high build quality, excellent screen and camera. The battery is standard, designed for 1 day of operation. The Bixby voice assistant is still terrible, but you can turn it off and use Google Assistant.

There are plenty of decent smartphones that cost less than the S8 and S8 Plus - Google Pixel, LG G6 and iPhone 7 - but none have such a high-quality display. It's worth considering buying the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus when you're aiming for the top-end smartphones and are willing to pay $750 (42,200 rubles) or more.

Advantages

• Gorgeous display
• High build quality
• Cool Features
• Improved user interface
• Waterproof

On this page we have collected all the latest information about the new flagship Samsung Galaxy S8.

Specifications of Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus

• Screen: 5.8-inch curved panel with a resolution of 2960 by 1440 pixels (Galaxy S8 Plus has a 6.2-inch with the same resolution)
• CPU: Exynos 8895, 8 cores up to 2.5 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB LPDDR 4
• Camera: Main 12 MP with 1.7 aperture, front 8 MP
• Battery: 3000 mAh with support for fast and wireless charging (Plus version has 3500 mAh)
• Release date: March 29, 2017
• Expected price in Russia:~54,000 rubles (price S8 Plus ~60,000 rubles)
• Features: Thin frames, no mechanical buttons, IP68

Here you can find general information and news about both smartphones. For detailed information, prices, reviews and specifications for a specific model, see the links below:

The technical characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy S8 will, as always, be at the top level. We will see a new 2K display with a significantly increased diagonal, a powerful Exynos 8895 processor, 4 GB of RAM, an iris scanner and other innovations. The minimum amount of memory should increase to 64 GB. The Galaxy S8 body will be made of aluminum alloy and glass panels. Their resistance to external influences should improve, in particular thanks to more durable Gorilla Glass 5.

Release date and prices Samsung Galaxy S8 and C8 Plus

Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be released at the end of March 2017. A month after the presentation, the regular model will appear on store shelves at a price of ~54,000 rubles, and the larger version may cost you ~60,000 rubles. This is the estimated cost of smartphones, taking into account that the exchange rate will be 60 rubles per dollar.

Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S8 in Russia will begin on April 7, although this date may change a couple of days in the future.

If you are interested in more detailed information about new products, read our news below.

Samsung representatives confirmed that the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 will receive Android 10

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 will not receive Android 10

Owners of Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 smartphones will be upset to learn that Samsung will not release the Android 10 update for them. Over the past few days, the brand's divisions in several countries have published a roadmap for the release of major updates for their smartphones

Galaxy S8 tested in Geekbench with Android 10 on board

There are quite a few people who are interested in Samsung releasing the Android 10 update for the Galaxy S8. Regardless, it's unlikely that this will ever happen as the phone has passed its two-year cycle.

Samsung Galaxy S8 is now also receiving the June patch

June is coming to an end, but Samsung still has not released an up-to-date security patch for all of its smartphones that it officially supports. Fortunately, today the long-awaited update was released for another smartphone – the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Samsung has improved camera stability in the Galaxy S8 Plus

At the beginning of May, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus was one of the first to receive the latest security patch, and now no one was waiting for the release of a new update. According to the official changelog, it improves the stability of the smartphone camera.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 remained without update to Android 10 Q

Believe it or not, Samsung left Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 users without updating to Android 10 Q. Yesterday, the company published a list of devices that will receive a new major update, and the above-mentioned gadgets are not among them.

Galaxy Note 9 and Galaxy S8 Plus receive March security patch

The first flagship smartphone of the South Korean brand to receive the March security update was the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. After some time, it was joined by other premium devices: the Galaxy S8 Plus and Galaxy Note 9.

S8 users complain about poor battery life after updating to Android 9.0

Most recently, Seoul residents released a stable version of Android Pie for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus in Russia. Before it, the Galaxy Note 8 received the same update.

Samsung releases stable Android 9.0 Pie update for Galaxy S8

The stable Android 9.0 Pie update for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus has been released. A few days ago, the Galaxy Note 8 phablet received similar software in Russia.

Substratum and Swift cannot be installed on Galaxy Note 8 or S8 with Android Pie on board

When Google released the first build of Android P Developer Preview, enthusiasts were concerned that the company blocked the ability to install third-party layers to change the appearance. The company confirmed that this is not a bug in the code, but a security measure.

2017 has many surprises in store for gadget lovers. The Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone is highly anticipated, and for good reason. After all, the device is equipped with many additional features compared to previous models. Samsung Corporation is a global manufacturer of luxury smartphones that are distinguished by performance and quality. This time the developers promise to reach a new level and truly surprise us. Whether they succeed or not, you will find out from today's review.

The Galaxy S8 mobile device will be the third model in the S line, which is capable of taking high-quality photos, has powerful hardware, an innovative display and an impressive amount of RAM. We invite you to watch a short video review of the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Screen

According to preliminary information, it became known that the smartphone will be produced in several versions - standard and Plus version. They will be equipped with 5.1 and 5.5 inch displays. We all know that Galaxy S7 has a screen with QHD resolution. This is more than enough for a smartphone. However, the developers don't think so. They decided to go further and surprise the consumer.

The Galaxy model will acquire 4K screen. Many may think that this is too much for a smartphone, but this is not the case when it comes to VR (virtual reality glasses). The device will have a resolution of 2160x3840 and a pixel density per inch of 806. Fans of mobile gaming will have access to games in HDR and 3D through VR glasses. Many have been waiting for this for a long time.

Users liked a special innovation in the released S7 smartphone, namely the Always On Display function. The display always works with minimal backlight. The AOD function will be greatly improved in the S8 series. You will be able to activate widgets.

Design

Skeptics made the wildest speculations about this. Some said the concept would have a foldable body, citing insider claims. Moreover, many argued that not only the phone’s body would fold, but also its screen. This statement was not groundless, since this technology was patented by Samsung Corporation.

After the presentation of the Galaxy S8, all myths and mysterious statements were dispelled. It became clear that the device would have a classic shape, but with its own improvements. The corners of the smartphone will be slightly smoothed, this will make it more comfortable to hold in your hands. Aluminum inserts will appear on the sides, which will give the phone some solidity and presentability. The model will be much thinner and will have a powerful camera that is capable of high-speed shooting and high-definition photos.

There will be several available color variations:

• Black Onyx;
• Gold Platinum;
• Silver Titanium;
• White Pearl.

Every color looks great.

Characteristics of iron

According to the information provided by insiders, it became known that the device will be produced in two variations:

1. For distribution in the United States, the model will have an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 830, clocked at 3.2 GHz.
2. The version for the rest of the world, and the one that will be available in Russia, will receive an Exynos 8895, 3 GHz processor, which was developed and released quite recently.

These characteristics show that the device’s power consumption will decrease significantly, and the graphics chip will become 75% faster. These are quite impressive figures for a mobile device.

Moreover, there have long been rumors that Samsung is actively negotiating with AMD and Nvidia corporations to use their components in their devices. If the new Galaxy S8 phone is equipped with one of these chips, it will provide a significant performance boost.

Regarding the amount of RAM used, it will be 6 GB high-speed memory, which is enough for working with complex applications.

Battery and camera

Reliable information has emerged that the camera matrix will have a resolution of 12 MP Dual Pixel and will cope well with photos. The aperture has also undergone some changes, naturally, for the better F 1.6.

The optional camera will not only take bright and clear photos, but also record video in 4K resolution at 60 fps.

The front camera also has decent characteristics - 7 MP, f 1.6 QHD resolution.

Regarding the battery, it will have a capacity of 3500 mAh.

Additional features

Among the important innovations:

1. Iris Scanner. This feature will keep your files even more secure. Thanks to the retinal scanner, only you will have access to the information stored in your smartphone.
2. Water Resistant IP Now the gadget is not afraid of moisture.

There are also other additional features that will become known after the release of this smartphone model.

Price

There is only one question: how much does the phone cost? A reasonable opinion is that the price of the new model will be $100 more expensive than the S7 at the start of sales.

Regarding the price in Russia, according to preliminary estimates, the cost will be RUB 54,000. Naturally, these calculations do not take into account the collection of duties. The smartphone is not too cheap.

release date

The presentation is expected on March 29. The planned release of the new model will take place in the second quarter of 2017. It follows from this that this smartphone will appear in Asian markets at the beginning of April.

In Russia, the start of sales of S8 is scheduled for end of April 2017. As you can see, you don't have long to wait. We hope you are interested in the gadget.

Conclusion

A device for lovers of innovation and progressive. The phone is capable of handling complex tasks, including HDR gaming.

Advantages: a camera that takes bright photos, a screen with 4K resolution, 6 GB of RAM, a unique design of the device. I would also like to mention the waterproof case. Now the phone is not afraid of moisture.

To be honest, the advantages of the new model are impressive. What about the shortcomings, because there certainly are. The only one is the price.

Which today is not only the flagship of Samsung, but also one of the most technically advanced smartphones!

Key Features

• 5.8-inch HD-Infinity display (AMOLED)
• Samsung Exynos 8895 (Europe and Asia) / Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (USA)
• 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage (microSD up to 256 GB)
• 3000mAh battery with wireless and fast charging
• Rear camera: 12 megapixels, f/1.7 aperture and Dual Pixel sensor
• Front camera: 8 megapixels, f/1.7 and autofocus
• IRIS and fingerprint scanner
• Samsung Bixby personal assistant
• Android 7 Nougat with Google Assistant
• Manufacturer: Samsung
• Price in Russia: 43-50 thousand rubles for Samsung Galaxy S8, and 49-55 thousand rubles for Samsung Galaxy S8+

What is the Samsung Galaxy S8 like?

Phones have become a bit outdated. Be it iPhone 7, Huawei P10, Sony Xperia XZ Premium or any other flagship phone, they all look the same. But just when I thought a phone could no longer surprise and delight me, the Samsung Galaxy S8 proved me wrong.

From the moment I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy S8 and its larger 6.2-inch sibling, the Samsung Galaxy S8+, I realized it was even more extraordinary than I expected. This is a phone that looks innovative, a phone that I can't recommend enough!

Samsung Galaxy S8 price

The Galaxy S8 went on sale worldwide at the end of April, priced at £689 in the UK and $720 in the US if you buy it directly.

Headphone jack

Samsung also retained the headphone jack. I would be very surprised to hear anyone think this is a bad idea. Apple's decision to remove the physical headphone connection suggested that it might mean the end of the 3.5mm jack, but Samsung has gone in a different direction by including a pair of very good wired AKG headphones in the box.

Facade or “face of a smartphone”

Like the recently launched LG G6, the front of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is almost all screen and this is what really makes the S8 stand out. Unlike the G6, the display here fades into a solid metal edge.

It has a much thinner curve than the one on the Galaxy S7 Edge. It looks much more like the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, which makes it much easier to use. Accidental touches were common on older Edge phones when simply tapping the screen while holding the device, but I didn't notice this with the S8. There is still a bit of reflection on some of the screen, but it's a small trade-off for such an attractive look.

Home button and fingerprints

As with any phone, not everything is perfect. Having such a large display and tiny bezel means there's no room on the front for a fingerprint-sensitive Home button.

Instead, the button is on the back next to the camera. And for me this is a big disadvantage. First of all, it's tiny, meaning if I actually hit it, it won't recognize my finger. But its real problem is the layout: It's so unintuitive. You have to wiggle your finger around the camera - which, by the way, throws up an app open message to remind you to clean up smudges on the lens - and guess where that scanner is?

It's not clear why it's not in the center, since other phones have a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. I suspect Samsung wanted to build it into the display but just ran out of time.

I'm also not sure how well this phone will perform after a few months of use. The addition of Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back should provide a little more protection, but I was left with a cracked Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S7 after being dropped on carpet from just 2 feet. Hopefully things will be different with the Samsung Galaxy S8, but it still looks like a phone that requires careful handling.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is also prone to picking up fingerprints quite glaringly, but maybe that's par for the course for a device with so much glass and shiny metal. I'd go with the Midnight Gray color option unless you really like the stain.

Screen

Not only has Samsung created what is, in my opinion, the best-looking phone, but it's also thrown in the most beautiful display. Although, considering that Samsung has been demonstrating the best screen technology for several years now, this is not surprising.

There's more to the display than just images. First, it has a new aspect ratio: 18.5:9 rather than 16:9. This means it's taller, essentially giving you more space in volume, but which isn't much larger than the S7. While the Galaxy S7 had a 5.1-inch display, the S8 jumps to 5.8.

That sounds grand, but the phone itself is compact, and Samsung is keen to point out that it can still be used comfortably in one hand. I wouldn't say you can do "everything" with one hand—especially to pull down the notification bar—but it's far from a shovel.

However, the 5.8-inch display size is deceiving in some respects. Don't buy this phone thinking it will have the same screen size as the Nexus 6P or HTC U Ultra in a much smaller body. It's a tall screen, and it's larger than the S7, but it's much narrower than proper phones. The width is slightly wider than the iPhone 7 and noticeably narrower than the Pixel XL.

Like most Samsung phones, the AMOLED panel has a slightly odd quad-HD+ resolution of 2960 x 1440. Plus, it's "Mobile HDR Premium" certified, so you'll be able to watch HDR (high dynamic range) streams from Amazon Prime and Netflix. after updating their apps. HDR is probably the most important evolution in TV technology in recent years, offering better contrast and a brighter picture.

Color rendition

Colors are superbly vibrant but manage to avoid oversaturation of brighter hues while still displaying the deepest blacks. Like the iPhone 7, it covers the DCI-P3 cinema color gamut for a much wider range of colors, and in certain situations the brightness can break the 1,000 nit barrier. Considering that most phones, including the LG G6, only go up to 650 nits, this is a very impressive thing. This screen is so bright that I can set it to 25% brightness and it is perfectly visible indoors.

Screen power consumption

Actions that are undoubtedly trying to stretch the rather small 3000mAh battery: when you unlock your Samsung Galaxy S8, it will be set to 1080p, not quad-HD. Most people probably won't notice the difference - and that's fine. But I suggest jumping into the settings and switching. Scaling may leave some apps with strangely large fonts and a softer look to texts and icons. Considering you're spending $600 or $700 on a phone, you'll probably want everything to look better.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the best phone for media addicts and I have started using it instead of the iPad when I watch something on the go. There is a smart "Video Enhancer" mode that boosts contrast and brightness in some apps - Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, etc. - for a pseudo-HDR effect. I wouldn't recommend leaving it on all the time as it drains the battery faster... But it makes a fantastic display even better!

Advantages

• Great display;
• A phone that feels like the future;
• Amazing camera;
• A truly innovative phone.

Flaws

• Terribly installed fingerprint sensor;
• Bixby is a bit underdeveloped.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 will surprise buyers with its performance and versatility. There is no data on the chipset today, but we can say that the average frequency will be 1.2 GHz.

The device will support standard document formats, and it is also worth mentioning the ability to work with VOC, VOX files.

Speaking about the phone, many point to the high security of the metal case. The battery will boast a high capacity.

Support for the PCS1900 standard deserves special attention. Now it will be easier to make calls even from places far from the towers. RAM in the smart device is provided as much as 6 GB.

The interface has certainly been improved, and the main changes will affect the settings of sounds and contacts. There is no data on the built-in frequency in open sources.

Smartphone screen

The manufacturer announced first of all the use of a new AMOLED class matrix. The specified element operates on solar battery elements.

The color correction system is used as in the previous version model. However, brightness and contrast have increased significantly. The viewing angle is approximately 35 degrees. The model will be great for watching movies.

Information on 4k format support has not been confirmed to date. It is also worth mentioning the excellent controllability of the smart phone.

Under the protective oleophobic coating are hidden precise sensors that recognize finger touches and respond to their movements. All this will allow you to quickly manage the icons on the panel and select small links.

Smartphone camera

In addition to the filters, the manufacturer has modified the stabilizer. The focusing remained unchanged. No data on modes available.

If you look at the earlier version of the phone, you can assume that the smartphone will still have options for adjusting exposures. The user will be able to select video encoding functions. The microphone, as always, is controlled from the main panel.

Clarity and brightness can be changed. Zoom data is not yet known. The front camera will definitely work with automatic stabilizer. There is a timer option especially for selfies. Users will be able to choose the clarity and quality of the picture.

Smartphone capabilities

The phone will have the ability to select contacts and block individual users. There is also an option to create local groups. The manufacturer took care of setting up call modes.

Special attention is paid to the interface in terms of the set of messages. The vibration strength is set through the settings. The company has significantly improved its program monitoring system.

The list of useful applications includes error scanners. Their reports can be checked at any time. The smartphone's sensors include an accelerometer and a digital compass. The model's organizer will allow you to keep a business notebook and solve simple everyday tasks.

For the convenience of surfing the Internet, a banner blocker is provided. Control configurations are presented in the main menu. The device panel displays the quality of the network connection by default.

Samsung Galaxy S8 - release date, characteristics, price

Photos of Samsung Galaxy S8

Video review