Samsung is getting ready to finally release the Galaxy S8. The device is, at least until September, the most interesting handset to come in 2017. There’s lots of improvements, radical design changes, and the usual hardware refresh. Is the new Galaxy S8 so much better over its predecessor to make you switch from the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge? Is the latest and greatest from Samsung a better choice than the last year’s flagship (at least looking at price-features ratio)? Find out here.
Design Changes
Compared to the last year’s model, the Samsung Galaxy S8 features some noticeable changes. For instance, the latest model is the first one from the Galaxy S line to not feature the Home button at the front. The reason for the lack of the Home button is to shrink down the space below the screen, making the phone more compact while at the same time allowing Samsung designers to put a larger screen and keep the same dimensions.
The Galaxy S8 measures in at 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm and features a 5.8-inch screen, while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge measures in at 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm while rocking a smaller, 5.5-inch screen. By changing the aspect ratio (from 16:9 to 21:9) and shaving off the top and bottom bezels, Samsung managed to pack a huge screen inside a case that’s even smaller than the one Galaxy S7 Edge has, which is a great achievement.
One the other side, the fingerprint scanner had to be moved on the back of the device, making it harder to use it. If you desire a huge screen inside a compact case, along with a superb design, maybe you should switch to the new Galaxy S8.
Display
As we already said, Samsung decided to pack the Galaxy S8 with a 21:9 screen, instead choosing a classic widescreen ratio of 16:9. The result is a taller display, perfect for watching videos and reading books. We are sure most games will also look good on the new display. Both the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S8 feature an AMOLED screen, so there shouldn’t be radical changes regarding image quality.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 does feature a slightly higher resolution (1440 x 2960 pixels) compared to the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge (1440 x 2560 pixels) but in reality, you won’t notice the bump in pixel count. There might be some troubles when browsing (the new display is just too narrow for enjoyable browsing) but for all other tasks, it is a good as the 16:9 ones.
Hardware Upgrades
While the new Samsung Galaxy S8 comes with the latest and greatest from both Qualcomm (Snapdragon 835) and Samsung (Exynos 8895 Octa), the last year’s model is still more than capable of handling any task without breaking a sweat. Snapdragon 835 (4×2.35 GHz Kryo & 4×1.9 GHz Kryo, Adreno 540) and Exynos 8895 Octa (4×2.3 GHz & 4×1.7 GHz) are beasts, but in real life usage scenarios Snapdragon 820 and Exynos 8890 Octa featured on the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge will be more than enough.
Both models feature 4 GB of RAM; The Galaxy S8 features 64 GB of internal storage while the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge comes with a choice between 32/64/128 GB of storage.
Yes, you might notice a faster performance (but only when placing two models one next to another), but differences will be minimal. If wanting to buy the new device for hardware upgrades, better keep your Galaxy S7.
Camera
By just looking at the numbers and features, the two models have practically the same main camera sensors. Samsung didn’t follow the dual camera setup trend, so you won’t find two lenses at the back.
Both main cameras feature a 12 MP sensor (f/1.7, 1/2.5″ sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size) and support phase detection autofocus, OIS and LED flash. They both can record 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps and 720p@240fps videos. On paper, main cameras are the same. So, if thinking about switching because you want a better camera, don’t do it, or at least wait for some camera comparison reviews between the two models.
Battery, Additional Features
The Galaxy S8 features a 3,000 mAh battery. A bit smaller than expected, especially when realizing that the Galaxy S7 Edge features a 3,500 mAh battery while featuring smaller screen. Both models run Android 7.0 Nougat (the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge can be updated to Nougat).
Other features include IP68 certification, Fast battery charging, Iris scanner, and Bixby, the new virtual assistant by Samsung. All features can be found on the Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, except the last two. If you’re an AI assistant fanatic, pick up the new model.
Price, Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy S8 should start at $750. The Galaxy S7 Edge can be found for about Rs 39,990 ($615). While the starting price should be higher than for the last model, the Galaxy S8 does offer a larger screen, a futuristic design, and some new features like Bixby and iris scanner.
On the other side, if you already own the Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, there’s no reason to change it, expect if owning the Galaxy S7 and wanting a larger screen. The last year’s model is still a hardware beast, its screen is superb, and it can be upgraded to the latest Android version.