Galaxy 8 Phone: Everything You Need to Know

The Galaxy 8 phone is a game-changer. It was announced in August 2017 and released on September 15, 2017.

The phone features a 5.8-inch screen size, which is larger than some other models. It's also designed with durability in mind, featuring a stainless steel frame and Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

The Galaxy 8 phone has a powerful battery life, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. This is a significant improvement over previous models.

Its sleek design and advanced features make it a top choice for many users.

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The Galaxy S8's design is a game-changer. The phone features an Infinity Display that stretches from edge to edge, giving you the most screen in the least amount of space.

The Galaxy S8 and S8+ both have 1440pOLED displays, which is a significant upgrade from previous smartphones. These displays have an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, making them taller and more immersive.

The screens on both devices curve along the side bezels, with minimal bezels that Samsung calls an "infinity display". The display panel itself has rounded edges, making the phone feel sleek and modern.

The Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch panel, while the S8+ uses a larger 6.2-inch panel. This means the S8+ has an even more expansive display, perfect for watching videos or browsing the web.

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The Samsung Galaxy S8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Samsung Exynos 8895 processor, both of which are manufactured by Samsung with a 10 nm process. This ensures fast performance and efficient battery life.

The phone comes with 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for smooth multitasking and running demanding apps. You can also expand your storage up to 256GB using a microSD card, perfect for storing your favorite music, videos, and photos.

The S8 features a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2960x1440 (529 ppi), providing an immersive viewing experience. The phone is also water-resistant with an IP68 rating, so you don't have to worry about accidental splashes or spills.

Here's a brief overview of the phone's specifications:

The Samsung S8/S8+ Specifications are quite impressive. The devices run on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system.

The S8 and S8+ feature a 6.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2960x1440 and a pixel density of 529 ppi. This provides a crisp and clear visual experience.

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The processor options include Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Samsung Exynos 8895, both of which are high-performance chips. The storage capacity is 64GB, with the option to expand up to 256GB via microSD card.

The devices have 4GB of RAM, which is sufficient for smooth multitasking. The rear camera is a 12MP Dual Pixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture and 1.4-micron pixels, along with optical image stabilization.

Here's a summary of the key specifications:

The devices also feature a 3500mAh battery, USB-C charging, and IP68 water resistance rating.

The chipsets in the Samsung Galaxy S8 are a key component of its performance. They are manufactured by Samsung using a 10 nm process.

Both the Exynos 8895 and Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chips are used in the S8, with the Exynos chip used in international models and the Snapdragon chip used in North American and East Asian markets. The Exynos 8895 is an octa-core system-on-chip.

The S8 features 4 GB of RAM, which is expandable via microSD card. The internal storage is 64 GB, but can be expanded up to 256 GB.

Here's a comparison of the two chipsets used in the S8:

The camera on the Galaxy 8 phone is a real standout feature. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera that takes clearer and brighter photos with more detail and less artifacting than the S7.

One of the key improvements is low-light performance, which has taken a significant step up. Shots taken in very low light show noticeably more detail on the S8 compared to the S7.

The front-facing camera has also been upgraded to 8MP with autofocus, making photos of yourself look great. However, it can be a bit soft in low light, but it keeps skin tones warm.

The phone can record video in true 4K with the main camera and 2,560-by-1,440 with the front camera, both at 30fps. There's also a 60fps 1080p slow-mo option.

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As for battery life, it's actually better in real-world practice than it is in benchmarks. With the same size battery as the S7 driving a larger, brighter screen, you can expect around 5-7 hours of screen time.

If you drop the screen resolution to 1080p or reduce the brightness, battery life can last up to 12-24 hours. The good news is that the phone's quick charging feature is very quick, charging from zero to 100 percent in about an hour and a half.

The Galaxy S8 has the best phone camera I've seen, with clearer and brighter pictures, more detail, and less artifacting compared to the S7.

The S8's 12-megapixel camera outperforms the Pixel in low light, with sharper detail, less artifacting, and slightly better colors.

Low-light performance has taken a significant step up, with noticeably more detail on the S8 compared to the S7.

The front-facing camera has improved from 5MP to 8MP, and it's gotten autofocus, making photos of yourself look great with sharper focus on faces and backgrounds going slightly out of focus.

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As light gets lower, the front-facing camera gets a bit soft, but it keeps skin tones warm, which I prefer over the Pixel's approach that makes my face look pale and dirty.

The main camera records video in true 4K at 30fps, while the front camera records at 2,560-by-1,440 at 30fps, and there's also a 60fps 1080p slow-mo option.

Both cameras are excellent video cameras, just like the S7's was, with OIS on the main camera and not on the front camera.

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The battery life on the S8 is a bit of a mixed bag. In our benchmarks, it fell short of the S7, but in real-world use, it's actually quite impressive.

Dropping the screen resolution to 1080p can help extend battery life, getting you up to 7 hours and 39 minutes.

In general, I found that the S8 had no problem lasting through the day, even with the screen at half brightness. I was able to use it for 12 hours a day without needing to charge again, and I was still left with around 30 percent battery.

The good news is that the S8's quick charging feature is very quick, charging from zero to 100 percent in about an hour and a half.

The Galaxy S8 launched with the Android 7.0 "Nougat" operating system, which was a significant upgrade at the time.

The phone's proprietary Samsung Experience (formerly TouchWiz) user interface and software suite provided a unique user experience.

Bixby, a suite of assistant functions, was designed to interact with Samsung's bundled applications and other supported services. It allowed for voice commands, generated cards based on user interactions, and performed searches using object recognition via the camera.

The Galaxy S8 received 2 years of major Android OS updates and 2 additional years of security updates, totaling 4 years of updates.

You could access a PC-like desktop environment on an external display using the Samsung DeX docking station, with support for mouse and keyboard input.

The default music player on the Galaxy S8 was Google Play Music, with exclusive features like uploading up to 100,000 tracks to the cloud storage.

New users got a three-month free trial of Google Play Music, similar to Pixel smartphone users.

The Bixby assistant was also supported by the app, and more Samsung-exclusive features were promised to be added in the future.

In May 2017, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ were announced to support the Daydream virtual reality platform after a software update.

The Galaxy S8 was one of the first Android phones to support ARCore, Google's augmented reality engine.

The official Android 8.0 "Oreo" update was released in February 2018, followed by the Android 9 "Pie" update in February 2019.

A workaround made available via third-party tools allowed users to unofficially upgrade to One UI 3.1, based on Android 11.

The Galaxy 8 phone has had its fair share of security concerns. In May 2017, researchers from the Chaos Computer Club posted a video showing that the S8's iris recognition system can be fooled with a contact lens and a suitable photograph of an eye.

Samsung acknowledged the issue, stating that they were aware of it and would respond quickly to resolve it. This vulnerability highlights the importance of regularly updating and patching security features.

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The reception of this issue has been mixed. Many people have expressed frustration with the lack of transparency in decision-making processes.

The public's trust in institutions has been eroded due to a lack of clear communication and accountability. This has led to widespread dissatisfaction and mistrust.

Some have pointed out that the issue has been exacerbated by the reliance on outdated technology, which has hindered the ability to effectively communicate with the public.

The consequences of this lack of transparency have been severe, with many feeling disenfranchised and unheard.

One of the main issues with our current system is that it relies heavily on fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. This is a major concern for the environment and our planet's future.

The use of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change, with carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion accounting for around 65% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2017, researchers from the Chaos Computer Club successfully fooled the S8's iris recognition system with a contact lens and a suitable photograph of an eye.

This vulnerability was made public in a video posted by the researchers, which highlighted the potential security issue with the system.

Samsung acknowledged the issue, stating that they were "aware of the problem" and would respond quickly to resolve it if a new method challenging their security efforts emerged.

The company's response suggests that they take security concerns seriously and are committed to addressing them in a timely manner.

The Galaxy S8 is available from every major carrier in the US, including some prepaid carriers. An unlocked version will follow in May or June.

Prices vary across carriers, with Walmart's Total Wireless offering the phone for $659. You can also find the phone at AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile for $750 each.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is priced at $750 as tested, which is a significant investment for a top-of-the-line smartphone.

This price tag puts it in the premium category, but it's worth noting that the S8 is considered the best phone at nearly everything it does, according to the review.

If you're looking for a phone that can handle all your needs, from connecting to the internet to playing games, the S8 is a great option to consider.

It's not the cheapest option on the market, but its capabilities and performance make it a worthwhile investment for those who want the best.

The Galaxy S8 is available from every major carrier in the US and several prepaid carriers.

Prices in the US vary, with options starting from $659 on Walmart's Total Wireless and going up to $750 at AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile.

If you're looking for a deal, you may be able to find one at big-box retailers like Best Buy or Target.

An unlocked version of the Galaxy S8 will be available in May or June.