Will Samsung Get Back on its Feet with the Brand New Galaxy S8?

Samsung Galaxy S8: Breakthrough or Yet Another Failure?

Samsung never fails to impress with its new gadgets packed with innovative technologies, but this year’s Galaxy S8 release aims to attract even greater interest. Will Samsung get back on its feet after the epic failure of the exploding Galaxy Note 7? Let’s check it out.

Price

The new Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ were officially revealed a week ago, on 29 March, and from 28 April will be available in the UK at £689 for the S8 model and the £779 for the S8+.

Hardware

When it comes to hardware, the new device hasn’t gone too far from its predecessor. The smartphone has the following specs:

12-megapixel rear camera with the same specs
3000mAh battery capacity
Same 4GB of RAM
SD card slot
Waterproof body
Wireless charging
Single speaker
A faster Exynos 8895 and Snapdragon 835 processor
64GB of storage
USB-C port

As you can see, there are some improvements to the device's hardware, but they hardly make the Galaxy S8 a game-changer.

Display

WIthout doubt, the Korean tech giant has made a leap forward with the stunning design of its new flagship model. Samsung returns to its old strategy, releasing two devices with different screen sizes. The smartphone display boasts a WQHD+ resolution, or the unparalleled 2960 x 1440 pixels. The new 18.5:9 screen aspect ratio called Univisium is perfect for the edge-to-edge, bezel-less and full-frontal Infinity Display. The main question is whether the battery life numbers presented by Samsung were measured with the full WQHD+ resolution, or at the default FHD+ setting. We’ll have to wait for feedback from the first owners to know for sure.

Battery Life

As expected, after the misfortunes of the Galaxy Note 7 that exploded in users’ hands, power management and safety have become the highlights of the new Samsung models. The S8 has a 3,000mAh battery on board, while its big sister the S8+ is equipped with a 3,500mAh battery, both benefitting from a cutting-edge eight-point battery safety check. The smartphones can be charged via USB Type-C or wirelessly.

Iris Scanner & Fingertip Recognition

Samsung has got rid of the home button, meaning the fingerprint scanner has had to be relocated to the rear of the device. It’s likely to take some time before you’re used to placing your finger right next to the camera to unlock, but the iris scanner with advanced facial recognition capabilities will ease this task. Additionally, there is an on-screen pressure-sensitive home button, which users press firmly to receive fast feedback.

Bixby and DeX

Samsung is striving to catch up with its competitors Apple and Google, launching its new personal assistant, Bixby. Besides executing voice commands and performing visual search, the new AI can predict your next actions with a special home screen called Bixby Home. Samsung has also introduced a new docking station called the DeX Station, which is native to Galaxy S8/S8+ phones. Once plugged into the dock, the smartphone transforms into a desktop computer with support for monitor, keyboard and mouse. Of course, it won’t substitute your PC, but will provide a flexible and handy option for those who like to do business on the go or while travelling.

All in all, the new Galaxy S8 is a cutting-edge device with a stunning design and truly innovative technologies. However, it’s still too early to give any definitive verdict - we still need to wait for the smartphone’s first owners to share their feedback. Meanwhile Apple has patented liquid metal usage, which can mean that the next iPhone may come with a glass rear panel. We’re patiently waiting for the devices to come to market for us to test and compare.