Samsung Galaxy S8+ Smartphone: A Flagship Review

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone, released in 2017, was a groundbreaking device that redefined the boundaries of mobile technology. It showcased Samsung’s commitment to innovation, featuring a stunning Infinity Display, powerful performance, and an exceptional camera system. This flagship device quickly gained recognition for its sleek design, immersive multimedia experience, and advanced features.

The Galaxy S8+ boasted a captivating 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a near bezel-less design, making it a visual masterpiece. Its powerful Snapdragon 835 processor and generous RAM ensured smooth multitasking and seamless gaming performance. Furthermore, the dual-aperture camera system delivered exceptional image quality in various lighting conditions, while the integrated Bixby voice assistant offered a new level of convenience and control.

Performance and Battery: Samsung Galaxy S8+ Smartphone

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ is a powerhouse device, boasting impressive performance and a long-lasting battery. This section delves into the details of its hardware specifications and how they translate into real-world usage.

Processor and RAM

The Galaxy S8+ is equipped with a powerful processor and ample RAM, making it capable of handling demanding tasks with ease. Here’s a breakdown of its core components:

• Processor: The Galaxy S8+ features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or the Samsung Exynos 8895 processor, depending on the region. Both processors are octa-core chips designed for high performance and energy efficiency.
• RAM: The Galaxy S8+ comes with 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for smooth multitasking and running multiple apps simultaneously.

Storage

The Galaxy S8+ offers various storage options to cater to different user needs.

• Base Storage: The base model comes with 64GB of internal storage, providing ample space for apps, photos, and videos.
• Expandable Storage: The Galaxy S8+ also supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot, allowing users to increase storage capacity up to 256GB.

Performance in Various Tasks

The Galaxy S8+ excels in various tasks, including gaming, multitasking, and app loading.

• Gaming: The powerful processor and ample RAM enable the Galaxy S8+ to handle demanding games with smooth frame rates and minimal lag.
• Multitasking: The phone’s multitasking capabilities are impressive, allowing users to switch between multiple apps seamlessly without experiencing performance drops.
• App Loading: Apps load quickly and efficiently on the Galaxy S8+, thanks to the fast processor and optimized software.

Battery Life

The Galaxy S8+ boasts a long-lasting battery that can easily last through a full day of moderate usage.

• Battery Capacity: The Galaxy S8+ packs a 3500mAh battery, which is larger than most other flagship smartphones.
• Screen-On Time: The Galaxy S8+ can achieve impressive screen-on time, typically lasting for 6-8 hours with moderate usage.
• Usage Patterns: Battery life can vary depending on usage patterns, such as screen brightness, Wi-Fi connectivity, and app usage.

Camera System

The Galaxy S8+ boasts a powerful camera system that captures stunning photos and videos. It features a 12MP dual-pixel rear camera with an f/1.7 aperture and a 8MP front-facing camera with an f/1.7 aperture.

Camera Specifications, Samsung galaxy s8+ smartphone

The Galaxy S8+ rear camera features a 12MP sensor with a large f/1.7 aperture, allowing for exceptional light gathering capabilities. The dual-pixel technology enhances autofocus speed and accuracy, resulting in sharp and clear images even in low-light conditions. The front-facing camera, with its 8MP sensor and f/1.7 aperture, enables high-quality selfies and video calls.

Image Quality

The Galaxy S8+ camera delivers excellent image quality across various lighting conditions. In well-lit environments, the camera captures vibrant colors, high dynamic range, and sharp details. Even in low-light situations, the camera’s large aperture and dual-pixel autofocus technology ensure bright and noise-free images.

Camera Features and Functionalities

The Galaxy S8+ camera is packed with advanced features and functionalities, including:

• Optical Image Stabilization (OIS): OIS helps to minimize camera shake, resulting in sharper images and smoother videos, especially when shooting in low-light conditions or while moving.
• Autofocus: The dual-pixel autofocus system provides fast and accurate focusing, ensuring sharp images even in challenging lighting conditions.
• Shooting Modes: The Galaxy S8+ offers a wide range of shooting modes, including:
  • Auto Mode: The camera automatically adjusts settings for optimal image quality.
  • Pro Mode: This mode allows for manual control over settings like ISO, shutter speed, and aperture, giving users greater creative freedom.
  • Panorama Mode: Capture stunning panoramic views by stitching multiple images together.
  • Food Mode: Enhance the colors and textures of food photos.
  • Slow Motion Mode: Capture slow-motion videos at 240fps or 960fps for dramatic effects.
  • Hyperlapse Mode: Create time-lapse videos with accelerated motion.
• Live Focus: This feature allows for adjusting the depth of field after capturing an image, blurring the background to create a professional-looking portrait effect.
• AR Emoji: This feature allows users to create personalized animated emojis based on their own facial expressions.

Software and User Experience

The Galaxy S8+ runs on Android, Samsung’s customized version of the operating system, known as Samsung Experience. It provides a user-friendly interface and a wide range of customization options, offering a unique and personalized experience.

Software Features and Customization Options

Samsung Experience brings several unique features and customization options to the Galaxy S8+. These features enhance the user experience and cater to individual preferences.

• Always-On Display: This feature allows you to see essential information like time, date, and notifications without unlocking your phone, making it convenient to stay informed without constantly turning on the screen.
• Bixby: Samsung’s intelligent assistant, Bixby, provides voice control and contextual awareness, allowing you to interact with your phone using natural language commands.
• Samsung DeX: This feature enables you to connect your Galaxy S8+ to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, transforming it into a desktop-like experience for enhanced productivity.
• Theme Store: Samsung’s Theme Store offers a wide variety of themes, icons, and wallpapers to personalize your device’s appearance.

User Experience

The Galaxy S8+ offers a smooth and responsive user experience. The combination of powerful hardware and optimized software ensures seamless app performance and navigation.

• App Performance: The Galaxy S8+ boasts a powerful processor that can handle demanding apps and multitasking with ease. Apps launch quickly, and transitions are smooth, ensuring a fluid user experience.
• Navigation: The Galaxy S8+ features a large, edge-to-edge display and a responsive touchscreen, making navigation intuitive and effortless.
• Responsiveness: The device responds promptly to user inputs, ensuring a fast and efficient interaction with the phone.

Software Updates and Security Patches

Samsung provides regular software updates and security patches for its devices, ensuring the Galaxy S8+ remains up-to-date with the latest features and security enhancements.

• Software Updates: Samsung releases major software updates to introduce new features, improve performance, and enhance security. These updates are typically rolled out in stages, ensuring they are thoroughly tested before being made available to all users.
• Security Patches: Samsung also releases monthly security patches to address vulnerabilities and protect your device from malicious attacks. These patches are essential for maintaining the security of your phone and your data.

Connectivity and Features

The Galaxy S8+ boasts a comprehensive suite of connectivity options and unique features that enhance its functionality and user experience. This section delves into the details of these features, exploring their capabilities and how they contribute to the overall user experience.

Connectivity Options

The Galaxy S8+ offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring seamless communication and data transfer. These options include:

• Wi-Fi: The S8+ supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, including 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, enabling high-speed internet access and reliable connectivity. It also features dual-band Wi-Fi, allowing users to connect to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks for optimal performance.
• Bluetooth: The device supports Bluetooth 5.0, providing faster data transfer speeds and improved range compared to previous versions. It also allows for simultaneous connections to multiple devices, such as headphones and smartwatches.
• NFC: Near Field Communication (NFC) enables contactless payments and data sharing with other NFC-enabled devices. The S8+ supports NFC, allowing users to make secure payments through services like Samsung Pay.
• Cellular Networks: The Galaxy S8+ supports a wide range of cellular networks, including 4G LTE and 3G, ensuring global connectivity. It also features dual-SIM capabilities in some regions, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously.

Unique Features

The Galaxy S8+ incorporates several unique features that enhance its functionality and user experience. These features include:

• Bixby: Samsung’s intelligent voice assistant, Bixby, is integrated into the S8+, providing a personalized and hands-free way to interact with the device. Bixby can perform various tasks, such as making calls, sending messages, setting reminders, and controlling smart home devices.
• Iris Scanner: The S8+ features an iris scanner that provides an additional layer of security, allowing users to unlock their device with their eyes. This biometric authentication method is highly secure and convenient, offering a more secure alternative to fingerprint scanning.
• Fingerprint Sensor: The S8+ also includes a fingerprint sensor located on the back of the device, allowing users to unlock their device quickly and easily. This sensor provides a reliable and convenient way to secure the device.

Security Features and Privacy Measures

The Galaxy S8+ prioritizes user security and privacy, implementing various features and measures to protect sensitive data. These features include:

• Secure Folder: Samsung’s Secure Folder allows users to create a private space within their device to store sensitive information, such as photos, documents, and apps. This feature encrypts the data, making it inaccessible to unauthorized users.
• Knox: Samsung Knox is a multi-layered security platform that protects the device from malware and unauthorized access. It creates a secure environment for sensitive data and applications, ensuring their integrity and confidentiality.
• Privacy Settings: The S8+ offers a comprehensive range of privacy settings, allowing users to control which apps have access to their personal data. Users can customize permissions for various functionalities, such as location, camera, and microphone access.

Comparison with Competitors

The Galaxy S8+ was a flagship smartphone released in 2017 and faced stiff competition from other high-end devices. Comparing it to its rivals allows us to understand its strengths and weaknesses and see how it stacked up against the best of the best.

Key Specifications and Features Comparison

This table compares the key specifications and features of the Galaxy S8+ with some of its main competitors from 2017.

Feature	Galaxy S8+	iPhone 8 Plus	Google Pixel 2 XL	LG V30
Display	6.2-inch Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2960 pixels	5.5-inch Retina HD, 1080 x 1920 pixels	6-inch P-OLED, 1440 x 2880 pixels	6-inch P-OLED, 1440 x 2880 pixels
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 / Exynos 8895	Apple A11 Bionic	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM	4GB	3GB	4GB	4GB
Storage	64GB / 128GB	64GB / 256GB	64GB	64GB
Camera (Rear)	12MP Dual Aperture (f/1.7 & f/2.4)	12MP (wide) + 12MP (telephoto)	12.2MP	16MP (wide) + 13MP (telephoto)
Camera (Front)	8MP	7MP	8MP	5MP
Battery	3500 mAh	2691 mAh	3520 mAh	3300 mAh
Operating System	Android 7.0 (Nougat)	iOS 11	Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 7.1.2 (Nougat)
Water Resistance	IP68	IP67	IP68	IP68
Price (at launch)	$850	$800	$850	$800

Strengths of the Galaxy S8+

The Galaxy S8+ had several strengths that made it a compelling choice for consumers:

• Stunning Infinity Display: The S8+ featured a beautiful edge-to-edge display with minimal bezels, offering an immersive viewing experience.
• Powerful Performance: With the Snapdragon 835 processor, the S8+ delivered smooth and fast performance for demanding tasks and gaming.
• Excellent Camera: The dual aperture camera on the S8+ captured impressive photos in various lighting conditions.
• Water and Dust Resistance: The IP68 rating ensured the phone could withstand accidental splashes and dust.
• Fast Charging: The S8+ supported fast charging, allowing for quick top-ups.
• Wireless Charging: The phone also supported wireless charging for added convenience.

Weaknesses of the Galaxy S8+

While the S8+ had many strengths, it also had some weaknesses:

• Bixby: Samsung’s voice assistant, Bixby, was not as well-received as other assistants like Google Assistant.
• Limited Storage Options: The base model only came with 64GB of storage, which might not be enough for some users.
• No Headphone Jack: The S8+ lacked a traditional headphone jack, requiring users to use USB-C headphones or a dongle.

Comparison with iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 8 Plus was another flagship released around the same time. The S8+ had a larger and more immersive display, while the iPhone 8 Plus had a more powerful processor and a better camera system. Ultimately, the choice between these two phones came down to personal preference and whether you prioritize display size or camera performance.

Comparison with Google Pixel 2 XL

The Google Pixel 2 XL was a strong competitor to the S8+. It featured a beautiful display, a powerful processor, and an excellent camera system. However, the S8+ offered a more premium design and a larger battery.

Comparison with LG V30

The LG V30 was another flagship with a stunning display, a powerful processor, and a great camera system. It also had a unique design with a glass back and a metal frame. The S8+ offered a more streamlined design and a slightly larger battery.

Legacy and Impact

The Galaxy S8+ left a lasting mark on the smartphone industry, influencing both Samsung’s trajectory and the broader landscape of mobile technology. Its innovative design, advanced features, and overall impact on the market solidified Samsung’s position as a leader in the smartphone arena.

Impact on the Smartphone Industry

The Galaxy S8+ set a new standard for design and aesthetics in the smartphone market. Its curved display, minimized bezels, and sleek, premium design became a benchmark for future flagship devices. This shift towards a more immersive and visually appealing design inspired other manufacturers to adopt similar design principles, leading to a more competitive and visually sophisticated smartphone landscape. The Galaxy S8+ also played a significant role in popularizing the use of virtual assistants, with Bixby being a key feature. Its integration with the phone’s hardware and software provided a seamless user experience, contributing to the broader adoption of virtual assistants in smartphones.

Contribution to Samsung’s Success

The Galaxy S8+ was a critical factor in Samsung’s recovery from the Note 7 recall crisis. The device’s positive reception helped restore consumer confidence in the brand and boosted Samsung’s market share. The S8+ series’ success established a strong foundation for Samsung’s future flagship models, allowing them to maintain their leading position in the market. The S8+’s success also fueled Samsung’s innovation in areas like display technology, camera systems, and software optimization, paving the way for future advancements in these areas.

Legacy and Lasting Influence

The Galaxy S8+ is considered a landmark device in the evolution of smartphones. Its impact on the industry is evident in the design trends, software features, and overall user experience of subsequent smartphone models. The S8+’s influence can be seen in the adoption of edge-to-edge displays, the focus on artificial intelligence and virtual assistants, and the pursuit of a seamless and intuitive user experience. The S8+’s legacy continues to inspire innovation and shape the future of the smartphone industry.

Epilogue

The Samsung Galaxy S8+ solidified its position as a leading flagship smartphone, leaving a lasting impact on the industry. Its innovative features, sleek design, and powerful performance set a new standard for mobile devices. While its successor, the Galaxy S9+, offered refinements and enhancements, the S8+ remains a testament to Samsung’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and delivering exceptional user experiences.

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