Intro
After the failure of the Note 7, Samsung quickly got the attention of the consumer on their S8/S8+ flagships. The big brother, the Galaxy S8+ with 6.2-inch display is what we got as a test unit.
So hang in there as we share our report. This is the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Review.
The S8/S8+ is pack with features from its hardware department down to the software component. The Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display will feed your eyes with super crisp and detailed image. Viewing videos are immersive most especially on HD content.
Table of contents:
Design and build
The S8+ is wrapped by a glass from front to back. The screen curves towards the edges and it is the same implementation of the glass at the back. This makes the device looks thinner when you hold it.
Now because of the glass finishing, the device becomes a fingerprint magnet.
The S8+ dimension is 6.28 x 2.89 x 0.32 inches. The extra height is magnified making it looks like not proportion. Currently, it is the only device that we got hold with this kind of unbalanced dimension.
They also stressed the new feature Bixby by adding a physical button on the left, just below the one-piece volume control. This button will confuse you all the time thinking that this is the volume control.
The Hybrid Nano-SIM card tray is up top and with the black version, it blends with the color leaving it unnoticeable over time. The dual SIM setup both enjoy 4G/LTE unless you want to add more storage to the existing 64G thru the SIM2
The placement of the camera, flash and fingerprint scanner, design-wise is okay. However, when you start to use the fingerprint scanner to unlock your device, you’ll start to wish that the fingerprint scanner is mounted somewhere else.
Display and UI
Infinity Display: a bezel-less, full-frontal, edge-to-edge screen. This is where the S8+ is different from all the other. And the edge-to-edge screen is well optimized. Images and icons don’t over-stretch to the edge. Holding it won’t hide anything on the screen.
The home button of the S8+ is an on-screen one. This is the first for Samsung to accommodate the infinity display.
The curved edge to the right was also used to put favorite apps and tools which you can configure to your liking. That’s the right edge. The left edge has no role.
And because it is equipped with Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2960×1440) at 529 ppi, the display is stunning.
Camera
The S8+ does not follow the current trend. There is no dual camera setup, instead, they still use the same megapixels as the S7. However, the S8+ uses a new sensor.
Here are the specs of the rear camera of the S8+
- Dual Pixel 12MP AF
- OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
- F1.7 Aperture
- Pixel size: 1.4µm
- Sensor size: 1/2.55″
- FOV: 77
- Max Zoom: 8x (digital)
- Pro mode
- Panorama
- Slow motion
- Hyperlapse
- Food mode
- Save as RAW file
Sample raw shots
The rear camera is a fast shooter and you can shoot like a pro with its manual camera feature. Photos have yellowish color in general.
Also, there is no need to download the Snapchat app to have fun with your photos. This is already built-in to the S8+ camera app.
Front camera sample
I have to warn you though: it is kind of difficult to take selfies with the S8+. First, because it is slippery and again the proportion issue I mentioned earlier.
Sample video shot by Galaxy S8+
Performance
All credits go to the 64-bit Octa-core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad) paired with Mali-G71 MP20. Plus the combination of 4GB RAM + 64GB of storage is the best of what’s under the hood.
No hiccups, you can run all apps anytime you want. No problem.
However, there is a heating issue here. When you start to take photos or record videos, in no time the device will heat up. It is bearable but it becomes uncomfortable over time.
IP68 rating is one of the best features on the Galaxy S8+. You no longer worry if it rains or you take photos beside the pool. I even did the extreme: I felt that the device is so dirty, I washed it with running water.
Battery
There is a 3,500mAH built-in battery at the back of the Galaxy S8+. With casual usage, you can expect an 8-hour workhorse on this device. And because fast-charging is enabled on S8+, in 1..5hours, the 3,500mAH is fully charged already.
Verdict
This flagship has the best specs under the hood but is decorated with lots of marketing ploys. There are so many features that are not usable. Bixby? We don’t need another Google Assitant. Samsung DeX? Who says it really works. Go ahead and let’s see if you can finish one spreadsheet with it. Oh, the fingerprint scanner isn’t ergonomic, most especially when you are left-handed.
Pros
- Flagship specs
- Fast-shooting camera
- 60fps 1080P video recording
Cons
- Hybrid SIM, no dedicated microSD slot
- Over priced
- Fancy features
