Samsung galaxy s8 plus what colors. Samsung Galaxy S8 review - detailed characteristics of the flagship
Samsung phone The Galaxy S8 was released relatively long ago by industry standards - March 29, 2017. But thanks to the power reserve provided by the manufacturer, the smartphone remains relevant to this day. The model differs from its predecessors in its larger screen, as well as the absence of a “home” button. It has been replaced by a tactile element - it is located under the glass. A similar technology was used on the iPhone 7. Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S8 are positive, users liked it.
The design of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is somewhat different from its analogues. The first thing you should pay attention to is that the Samsung inscription above the screen is missing. The company's engineers simply could not find a place for it. At the same time, the shape of the smartphone is unique; in terms of design, there are no analogues on the market today. What sets the phone owner apart from other smartphone users.
The flagship itself is made of glass and metal. You should be careful when using it. The device is not only slippery, but also instantly covered with fingerprints. It is worth using napkins more often - this will keep your smartphone looking attractive throughout the day. Glass completely covers the front and back sides of the case. The frame is made of metal.
The model is presented in several colors simultaneously:
- ⦁ golden;
⦁ blue;
⦁ gray;
⦁ black
WITH reverse side the speakers disappeared. The case itself is assembled as reliably as possible. But there is a small gap between the glass of the front panel and the metal frame. The nail doesn't fit there. But dust will easily get in. This is especially unpleasant if the phone is black. Contamination will immediately become visible against a dark background.
There is a fingerprint sensor on the back cover - right next to the lens. Moreover, the latter is now made flush with the plane of the body. There is a heart rate monitor, as well as an oxygen saturation analyzer in the user’s body.
The smartphone is a good solution for those involved in sports. It is possible to keep a training diary, film automatic mode indicators of your body. A stylish and expensive case will set the S8 owner apart from other smartphone users.
Design and ergonomics
The curve of the Samsung Galaxy S8 case strongly resembles the geometry of the Note 7. But at the same time, the model in question is small and lies comfortably in the hand. The Samsung Galaxy S8 easily holds up when compared to its closest competitor, the iPhone 8, in terms of characteristics and appearance. The dimensions of the model are relatively small:
- length – 148.9 mm;
- width – 68.1 mm;
- thickness – 8 mm.
Moreover, the weight is only 152 g. The model will look great both in a strong man’s palm and in thin women’s fingers. The device is universal. The geometry of the case and the location of the home button make it comfortable for everyone, regardless of the length of the fingers and the width of the palm. The S8 doesn't feel big. The main reason for this is that it is a little elongated compared to its counterparts with the same screen diagonal.
Thanks to good balancing, it is convenient to work with the phone; despite the sloping body, it does not slip out. On the left side there is a “swing” that makes it easy to adjust the volume. It is also located there special key to launch the Bixby assistant. It doesn't work in our country. But can be found in Google Play special application, allowing you to easily reassign a button to another action.
Display
The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the first thing that attracts attention. Moreover, developers and marketers together even came up with a special name for it - Infinity Display. The display occupies 97% of the front area of the body and has a QHD+ resolution (2,960 × 1,440 pixels). The installed screen is of very high quality, there are no dots.
SuperAmoled matrices were used during assembly. This is the latest generation, improved in comparison with those used in the Note 7 model. The automatic brightness control algorithm has undergone significant changes, depending on external lighting conditions. Experts have improved a mode called AlwaysOn Display. Buttons located on the screen are hidden when applications are running. The display diagonal is exactly 5.8 inches.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 model began to use technologies that were previously used only in the development of televisions. In addition, the phone itself constantly analyzes the image present on the screen. Not only is there a light quantity indicator, but also an analyzer RGB colors. It independently, without user intervention, adjusts screen tones in accordance with external conditions.
Serious advantages over competitors include the use of Mobile HDR Premium technology. It was developed literally in 2017 specifically for devices that support 4K resolution. According to experts, the screen in the Galaxy S8 is the most technologically advanced in the world. Its main differences:
- automatic brightness adjustment sets 1000 candelas at maximum illumination - you can easily read even small text under sunlight;
- DCI-P3 Color is used - also used in TVs with 4K resolution;
- there are simultaneously 2 sensors that analyze the amount of light - on both front panels;
- night mode eliminates the presence of blue color in the light spectrum - this allows you to avoid excessive stimulation of the psyche;
- a separate circuit is built in to work with Always On technology, which can significantly save battery power.
Equipment
The delivery package contains a standard list of items:
- the smartphone itself;
- a device for connecting to a 220 V electrical network to recharge the battery;
- paperclip – allows you to remove the tray to place a SIM card in it;
- headset type AKG – wired type;
- special adapter for connection additional equipment– OTG;
- instructions.
The OTG cable deserves special attention. With its help, you can connect various external devices to your smartphone. Including all kinds of storage media. This USB flash drives, as well as other equipment. The AKG headset allows you to listen to music. It cannot boast of an impressive sound. But for watching movies, videos from the Internet are perfect. The device is delivered in a cardboard box.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy S8
Even a year after its release, the device remains relevant. This may be due to the characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy S8:
- CPU – Exynos 8895, 8 cores, 2.3 GHz each;
- built-in video accelerator – Mali-G71 MP20;
- volume of RAM (random access memory) – 4 GB;
- ROM volume ( permanent memory) – 64 GB (several GB are deducted for installing the operating system).
It must be remembered that the model is produced for different markets with different technical characteristics. For example, the Chinese version is equipped with not 4, but 6 GB of RAM. In the USA, the exclusive Samsung Galaxy S8 is sold on the Snapdragon 835 processor. This is why some devices show higher results in various synthetic tests.
Performance
Various software tests don't always show how fast the Samsung Galaxy S8 is. But it is worth noting that there is no gap at all between clicking on the application icon and launching it. Even in comparison with the S7 and Note 7, which have never had any complaints in terms of speed, the S8 is a serious winner.
Separately, it is worth highlighting the changes in terms of memory. The improvement is already visible in the transition from UFS 2.0 to UFS 2.1. This allows you to significantly reduce the time required to boot your smartphone. In addition, the switching time between various applications decreases to a minimum. It was the S8 that became the first device from Samsung equipped with UFS 2.1 memory.
Among users alternative devices There are still rumors about the slowness of Samsung smartphones. But such stereotypes are usually a consequence of attitudes huge amount third-party software on the device. Samsung Galaxy S8 review will give you an idea of real performance devices.
Cameras
Using the device to take pictures and record videos is appropriate - the Samsung Galaxy S8's camera is worthy of all praise. The front resolution is as much as 8 megapixels, while it is fast. The maximum open aperture is f/1.7. Due to which the pictures even with significant disadvantage Lights can be made bright and sharp. There are many built-in effects.
It seems to many that the main camera with a resolution of 12 megapixels has remained the same. DualPixel technology is used. As with earlier models, Sony is the supplier. Separately, we need to dwell on the increased system performance. Samsung photo Galaxy S8 is more saturated. The camera model has its own memory.
Due to this, the speed of work increases by an order of magnitude. There is also a comfort mode called Burst Mode. Thanks to it, you can take several dozen pictures in a row. The high performance of the system allows the camera to focus faster and handle complex scenes better. This is especially noticeable in comparison with the Galaxy S7.
Photo
A special feature of the Samsung Galaxy S8 photography is the ability to form a panorama with an impressive 50.6 megapixels. Which makes the quality of the pictures simply fantastic.
A high-power LED flash will highlight shadows and also make the subject more detailed in the shadows.
Video
Shooting video on the Samsung Galaxy S8 is as good as shooting photos. It is possible to shoot video up to Ultra HD resolution. Recording is carried out at a speed of 60 frames per second. There is electronic image stabilization. But only in Full HD mode. In night mode, the video will also delight the smartphone user. Dynamic range, bright colors and good range elaboration at high ISO - all this makes shooting an easy and fun experience.
Front-camera
The characteristics of the front camera in comparison with the external one cannot be called outstanding. But it offers a completely acceptable result. Perfect for filming yourself while traveling.
Care must be taken when working in areas with insufficient lighting. It all depends on the amount of light and other factors.
Sound and music playback quality
The sound of the Samsung Galaxy S8 deserves special attention. Since Samsung uses completely new development. It constantly analyzes the actions performed by the user. For example, if the owner of a smartphone is talking on Skype, the volume in the headphones is automatically increased. All frequencies and extraneous noises that can interfere with communication are also cut off.
In addition, the smartphone constantly evaluates the sound level around the device itself. Automatic adjustment to the situation is carried out. Moreover, the sound processor does not carry out all these actions; only the amplifier is used to solve the assigned tasks.
Another “trick” of the model is the automatic recognition of repeating sounds. For example, if headphones constantly rub against clothing or skin, then the device tries to remove such noise from the music while listening to it. The sound quality depends on the headphones used, as well as the sound profiles that are used in a particular case.
Samsung has designed and assembled the included headset in accordance with technical parameters S8 models. All the delights of musical compositions are perfectly revealed thanks to the Cirrus Logic SC43130 DSP. Main feature The best thing about the module is its versatility, it fits well with most headphones - no exceptions.
Communication capabilities
Like competitors, Samsung Galaxy S8 supports USB Type Since version 3.0. This is the first smartphone of its year to feature the Bluetooth communication protocol. latest generation– 5.0. There is also aptX, as well as other built-in audio codecs for audio playback. There is an LTE module; the frequencies used will depend on the specific operator, as well as the country in which the device is used. Moreover, in an LTE network, the device shows the maximum possible data download speed.
In a network in Moscow with the cellular operator MTS, the download speed reached 430 Mbit/s. Moreover, the theoretical limit of this indicator is only 450 Mbit/s. There is dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11. There are simply no major improvements from Samsung in this direction.
operating system
At the time of release of the device, the latest operating system was installed on it - Android 7.0. The proprietary Experiense 8.1 shell is installed on top. It functions quite quickly and features proprietary animation. In some ways it is similar to similar effects in Windows.
The GPU processes all actions in the operating system as quickly as possible, without delays, lags, or artifacts on the screen.
Autonomy
The standard Samsung Galaxy S8 battery has a capacity of 3,500 mAh. Charging can be done in two ways:
- via a standard USB Type C connector;
- using a wireless charger.
Moreover, in the second case, recharging is carried out automatically - you just need to place the device on a special wireless station. Separately, several energy saving profiles should be noted. They became more aggressive. This allows you to save battery and extend the operating time of the device. For example, video playback time is 18-19 hours with maximum brightness.
Pros and cons of a smartphone
Samsung Galaxy S8 has its pros and cons. The main advantages include:
- elongated display - this makes it convenient to use;
- high-quality parts, bright screen;
- high-quality cameras, the ability to shoot video in Ultra HD resolution;
- comfortable interface and performance;
- notification indicator, protection from dust and moisture;
- external speaker volume.
There are also obvious disadvantages. The Samsung Galaxy S8 smartphone is discussed in detail in the review; the main disadvantages include:
- the case is easily soiled - fingerprints always remain;
- the rear glass is highly scratch-prone;
- if you use your smartphone for games, the edge of the USB connector constantly rubs your finger;
- fragile design requires the use of a cover;
- lack of a convenient way to quickly unlock the device.
In general, all the disadvantages are easily offset by a large number of advantages. The device copes well with all the functions assigned to it.
Comparison with competitors
As the main competitor in this price category for the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the iPhone 8. Comparison of the device according to the main parameters:
- The S8's display is 5.8 inches versus 4.7 on the iPhone 8. The advantages of Samsung's product lie not only in size, but in more advanced technology and resolution;
- in terms of performance Snapdragon processor 835 is a notch lower than the A11 Bionic. Apple's developments in this industry are products of a completely different category (this is easily confirmed by the Geekbench test);
- The cameras of these devices produce almost identical results. Apple's product has some advantage in brighter light;
- A wireless charging station comes standard with Samsung products. For an Apple product, you will need to purchase it separately;
- in respect of offline mode both devices will not let their users down. Samsung Galaxy S8 lasts 1 hour longer in active talk mode.
Overall, both devices will be an excellent solution. But it is worth remembering that there are differences in performance and functionality. It is important to take into account the fundamental differences between operating systems.
Final review
Although Samsung model Galaxy S8 was released a relatively long time ago (more than 1 year ago) and is still in high demand in stores. The reason for this is good performance, high-quality images and long battery life. It is worth remembering that the use of this device Without a cover there is a risk of scratches on the rear window. There are other operating nuances.
Samsung Galaxy S8 shows good performance regardless installed processor. The quality of communication is at the highest level. The ability to work with Wi-Fi in two bands simultaneously deserves special attention. Another advantage is that the cost of the model decreased significantly within a year after its release.
Salute, friends! Today we decided to prepare a review for you in which you will find out what is included in the Samsung Galaxy S8 package, so to speak, what equipment it has. Everyone wants to make sure after the purchase that he received all the appropriate components. Therefore, read the article, compare everything with your purchase, and do not forget to share it on social networks :)
Write in the comments how you like the new paperclip design :) Mmm... that wonderful feeling when you first open that black velvety box of the Galaxy S8, that beloved smell of newness. Let's twist it, turn it in our hands, let's see what's inside!
Let’s read and check what’s included in the Galaxy S8 kit:
- Actually a phablet.
- Charger.
- USB cable.
- AKG headphones with built-in microphone.
- Ear pads of different sizes, for our ears.
- A paperclip for removing SIM cards and flash drives.
- Adapter with micro USB
- OTG adapter.
- Instructions, user manual.
Agree, quite a sufficient number of accessories. While previous models in this series may have included white headphones, here we see headphones included with the Samsung Galaxy S8 in black. Apparently Samsung company I've settled on dark colors for now.
Related products
Along with the main accessories, additional ones were presented; they are not included in the standard Galaxy S8 package and must be purchased separately.
- Among the additional innovations, the main focus is on the Dex docking station. Its capabilities allow us to synchronize our phablet with a monitor, keyboard, or computer mouse. This will allow us to decide various tasks, acquiring abilities personal computer, agree, this is useful know-how.
- You can also purchase Gear VR virtual image glasses.
- Behind them was the Gear 360 camera. The camera, which shoots in 4K directly from the gadget in 360-degree format, cannot leave any blogger, or simply someone who likes to shoot high-quality videos, indifferent.
- Along with these innovations, Samsung representatives presented branded cases for the Galaxy S8. Of course this accessory represents highest quality. However, today, few people can be intrigued by them.
Now tell me, after all this, can the Galaxy S8 package leave its users indifferent? Unpacking this model, you will never think that manufacturers skimped on accessories for the smartphone. Personally, we liked the headphones included with the Galaxy S8 the most.
Write in the comments what you would like to see in addition to the smartphone :)
Video: Looking at the contents of the Galaxy S8 packaging
Samsung's flagship smartphones have long moved into the category of the most anticipated of the year. Indeed, the interest in the Galaxy S8 turned out to be simply enormous, and it was also increased by the fact that this was the first top-end Samsung smartphone in seven months, released after the problematic Note 7. Therefore, the company understood perfectly well that they needed to release an excellent product that could overcome past failure. Let's see what Samsung has done by taking a closer look at the capabilities of the Galaxy S8.
Contents of delivery
In the box with the Samsung Galaxy S8, users will be able to find a compact charging brick, a USB to USB Type-C cable, a USB to USB Type-C adapter, and headphones created in collaboration with AKG.
Design, materials and ease of use
In the new smartphone, Samsung continues to use the design ideas inherent in the Galaxy S7 edge and Note 7. Already in these models, the company’s desire to move away from the use of large frames around the screen, creating the illusion of their complete absence, was evident. In the Galaxy S8, this has become the cornerstone of the entire smartphone design, the centerpiece of which is the “infinity display”, as Samsung calls it.
The company really managed to fit a 5.8-inch screen into a body measuring 148.9x68.1 mm. And since it occupies 84.26% of the front panel of the smartphone, and its side edges are slightly curved, it seems as if you are holding only the display in your hands.
But making thin frames is half the battle to create a really good design. Therefore, Samsung used rounded corners and edges to bring the appearance to a consistent style. So even the corners of the display on the Galaxy S8 are rounded to match the shape of the body. This approach allowed Samsung to get rid of the logo on the front panel without any doubts, because indeed, the Galaxy S8 is difficult not to recognize.
The back of the case is not as expressive as the front, but there is a certain style and symmetry here too. The camera block no longer protrudes from the body, but has a thin frame with a small protrusion. In line with the camera, on the right and left sides of it, there is an LED flash, a heart rate sensor, and a fingerprint scanner.
Main body materials: glass Gorilla Glass 5, covering the front and back panels, as well as an aluminum frame on the edges. The latter is now polished and painted in the color of the body, thanks to this, as well as the tight fit of all panels, it seems that the Galaxy S8 is cut from a single piece of glass.
The use of such materials gives a pleasant feeling from using the smartphone, but makes the case easily soiled. Therefore, and given the fact that glass is not the most durable material, when buying a Galaxy S8 you should also think about choosing a case. By the start of smartphone sales, Samsung promises to begin supplying a number of branded cases to Ukraine.
Despite the larger screen, the Galaxy S8's body is slightly smaller than the Galaxy S7 edge, and thanks to its rounded edges, it fits well in the hand. At the same time, the sides of the display in the S8 do not bend as much as in the S7 edge, so there are practically no accidental clicks here.
The controls in the S8 have also changed; the function keys are now virtual, however, they are convenient to use. The “Home” button even understands the degree of pressure, simulating it with vibration, so after a little getting used to it it’s easy to find it blindly. By the way, in the settings you can change the location of the control keys, choosing the standard one for Samsung or for “pure” Android.
The Galaxy S8 case is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard; it can be immersed in fresh water to a depth of 1 meter and for up to 30 minutes.
Display
As mentioned above, the Galaxy S8 display occupies almost the entire front panel, and its diagonal is 5.8 inches. Samsung traditionally used a matrix Super AMOLED, but with a non-standard resolution of 2960×1440 pixels and the same aspect ratio of 18.5:9. Because of the latter, the screen is smaller in width and larger in height when compared to traditional models with a 16:9 ratio. You quickly get used to this, at least in the Galaxy S8 it’s still convenient to reach the top edge of the display.
The S8's 5.8-inch screen area is 85.12 cm2 versus 92.16 cm2 for the model with the same diagonal but 16:9 aspect ratio. However, this is larger than the 5.5-inch display area of the Galaxy S7 edge - 83.39 cm2. So, it's an achievement on Samsung's part in this regard that they've managed to fit a larger screen into a body that's smaller than the S7 edge.
It is important to note that the 18.5:9 aspect ratio has virtually no effect on the interface of Android applications; in most cases, they adapt perfectly to it. The user even has a choice: use the program with its standard aspect ratio or stretch it to fill the entire screen. To do this, there is a separate button in the multitasking menu, which is needed for older applications without the ability to scale.
As for games, everything is more complicated here, since in some of them, when adapting to the 18.5:9 ratio, the edges of the display are eaten away by the control keys. However, it’s not for nothing that Samsung used a black front panel for all body colors; thanks to it, if you don’t stretch the game across the entire screen of the S8, the black stripes along the edges of the image do not attract attention.
The situation is the same with videos, most of which are shot in 16:9. For example, YouTube has the ability to adapt a picture to its aspect ratio Galaxy screen S8, but in this case it will be cut off a little at the top and bottom.
The S8 display itself shows good color reproduction and viewing angles. In the settings, you can select one of the preset modes in which the screen changes the display of colors, making them colorful or more natural.
Our measurements showed generally good factory calibration with more than 100% coverage of the sRGB color space, a bias towards “warm” tones, an almost reference gamma and uniform backlighting.
Basic:
Movie:
For those who want to get a completely “warm” display, there is a “blue color filter” in the settings.
Another interesting item in the screen settings is the choice of resolution: HD+ (1480×720), Full HD+ (2220×1080) and WQHD+ (2960×1440).
At maximum resolution, the Galaxy S8 displays an image with a pixel density of 570 pixels per inch. This is more than enough to avoid seeing even a hint of grain on the display. But I can’t help but note that it’s not there with Full HD+, and even HD+. Moreover, each of these resolutions has its own impact on the autonomy of the smartphone, so the standard 2220×1080 pixels can be called optimal, while WQHD+ is only necessary for VR.
Like the S7 edge, the S8 can display useful information on the locked display, such as time, date, battery charge, calendar, an image of your choice, and alert icons. This function called Always on Display and it works thanks to a Super AMOLED screen in which each pixel is individually illuminated.
Unlike the previous version, it has become a little smarter, for example, when the phone is in your pocket, the display turns off completely to save battery power. In addition, the image brightness level in Always on Display mode is adjusted depending on the lighting.
The Edge function, which allows you to place a curtain on the edge of the display, which can be pulled out to gain access to various panels, has also not gone away. They help you quickly launch your favorite programs, access contacts, and display a variety of information in the form of widgets.
It includes four tools with which you can cut out an area of the screen, recognize text on an image, make a GIF animation from a video fragment, and also cut out an area of the screen and pin it on top of other programs. The latter is convenient, for example, if you need to rewrite some data, or you simply need it in front of your eyes.
Platform and performance
The Galaxy S8, which will be sold in Ukraine, has a 10-nanometer Samsung Exynos 8895 processor. This chip uses 4 energy-efficient cores ARM Cortex A53, operating at a frequency of 1.7 GHz, as well as 4 high-performance cores of Samsung's own design, the frequency of which reaches 2.35 GHz. The top Mali-G71 MP20 accelerator is responsible for graphics processing; it is 40% faster than the Mali T880MP12 chip in the Galaxy S7 edge.
The smartphone also has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. At the same time, there is a slot for microSD memory cards, and it is hybrid, that is, you can install either two nano SIM cards, or one nano SIM and a memory card.
In real use, the Galaxy S8 shows high level performance, both in the interface and applications. At the same time, there is no dependence on the display resolution; the device works equally quickly.
If you look at the results of synthetic tests, the Galaxy S8 is one of the most productive smartphones in the world.
Fingerprint scanner, facial recognition and iris unlocking
The S8 has the ability to unlock using face, iris, and fingerprint recognition. All these methods have different levels of protection; for example, the facial recognition function can be deceived by placing a photo under the front camera. However, the iris scanner and fingerprint scanner are relatively reliable.
The fingerprint scanner in the Galaxy S8 is located on the back of the case, next to the camera unit.
This is not the best placement, as your finger often ends up on the camera itself. There are rumors that Samsung wanted to use Synaptics technology in the S8, which allows you to place a fingerprint sensor under the display glass. But, as often happens, the new technology took more time to perfect, so we still had to find a place for a regular fingerprint scanner. It was found right next to the camera, and not under it, which would have been more logical. It is difficult to get used to this position of the scanner, but it is quite possible; on the third day of use, accidental clicks began to happen much less frequently. And then I tried carrying the Galaxy S8 in a case, and this problem almost disappeared.
The fact is that the scanner, like the camera unit, is flush with the body. In the case, it ends up in a separate niche, which is easy to blindly fall into with your finger. At the same time, the scanner works very quickly and understands touches from any angle.
The iris scanner is located on the front panel, next to the camera. It is infrared, so it works in both light and darkness. In general, it works well, the recognition speed is high. However, it may not work in very bright sun. If the user wears glasses, then everything will depend on the ambient lighting; glare on the glass will not allow the scanner to recognize the iris of the eyes, but if they are not there, then it will work through glasses.
Interface
Galaxy S8 runs Android 7.0 operating system with a slightly modified interface called Samsung Experience. We must give the company its due; it has done a good job of optimizing the OS for its hardware platform, and the interface logic itself is almost the same as in “pure” Android 7.0. Samsung designers redrew the icons, notification curtain with quick settings, as well as system applications.
In general, the interface has become visually easier and more pleasant to use, the animation in it works smoothly, without freezing or twitching. There is no more access to the menu separate button in the interface, you just need to make a gesture on the main screen from bottom to top or top to bottom.
During the first setup of your smartphone, you can choose whether to install a browser, mail, music and video player, as well as other applications from Samsung or not. Accordingly, if you are accustomed to applications from Google, then now the interface will not contain programs that duplicate their functionality.
The Briefing panel, which was one of the home screens in Samsung smartphones for several years and aggregated news from various sources, has been replaced by Bixby. Or rather, it was integrated into it in the form of a widget. The Bixby panel itself can also be removed from the desktop, but there is a separate key on the left side of the Galaxy S8 to launch this virtual assistant. Let's take a closer look at Bixby.
Bixby
Last May, Dag Kittlaus and Adam Cheyer, who worked on Siri, . It was based on the idea that third-party developers themselves could integrate their programs and services into the assistant. And Viv, in turn, would provide them intelligent system voice input. Already at the time of the demonstration, Viv supported integration with 50 programs. And this is really important because virtual assistants are generally closed systems. As a result, in October last year, Samsung bought the developers of Viv, and together with the presentation of the Galaxy S8, introduced its virtual assistant Bixby. The mechanism of its operation involves analyzing what programs the user uses and what information he needs. Thus, Bixby will gradually add functional widgets to its panel, which should save the user's time. For example, in the morning it can show the weather forecast, the day's schedule, and the cost of an Uber ride to work if you regularly use this service.
In addition, Bixby can create reminders; you can even add a separate application to the menu for this. Unfortunately, while Bixby can be called more of a beta version, it does not always launch quickly, it does not have voice input, and in general its functionality in Ukraine is still limited. Still, it's an interesting endeavor and interesting to see how it develops.
Camera
The main camera in the Galaxy S8 is 12 megapixels with an f/1.7 aperture, optical and digital stabilization, a 6-lens system and a sensor with fairly large 1.4μm pixels. As you can see, the camera characteristics have not changed compared to the S7 edge, however, the S8 uses a new revision of the camera module, as well as new processing algorithms. As a result, the camera began to work faster and the detail of images in low light increased slightly.
In addition, the camera can now by default save images simultaneously in JPEG and RAW, even in automatic mode.
And an interesting innovation has appeared in the interface: the shutter button can now be pulled up to zoom in on the image through digital zoom, and also down to return the image to initial position. It is very comfortable.
In good lighting in automatic mode:
In good light with HDR:
In low light in automatic mode:
In low light with HDR:
In poor lighting with flash:
Macro:
Other examples of shots in good lighting:
In backlight:
In poor lighting:
The front camera in the Galaxy S8 is 8-megapixel with f/1.7 aperture. It has HDR support, the ability to stitch several pictures into one to increase the viewing angle, and also backlit the screen when shooting in low light.
In general, there are not very many changes in the main camera, but they are there, and today these characteristics are enough for the Galaxy S8 to be one of the best in terms of image quality.
Audio
The Galaxy S8 has one external speaker, but even despite the protective membrane against water, it sounds quite loud; if you wish, in a not very noisy environment you can watch videos without headphones or listen to music.
Complete in-ear headphones AKG sound good, they convey the stage in detail, low, mid and high frequencies, but sags a little in the bass. Overall, these are the best set of headphones I've ever heard. By the way, separately they will cost as much as $100.
The Galaxy S8 itself plays at the level of other Samsung flagships recent years, which is generally good, although given the purchase of Harman, I expected some significant innovations. Apparently, we will see them in the company’s new flagships. Fortunately, the sound settings in the S8 have not gone away; there is an equalizer and a proprietary Adapt Sound function, which allows you to adjust the sound in the headphones to suit your hearing.
Another option in the Galaxy S8 that can be classified as audio is new standard wireless data transmission Bluetooth 5.0. Now it supports connecting two wireless headphones. There is support for the A2DP profile and aptX codec.
Autonomy
After problems with Note 7, Samsung had to change the approach to batteries in its smartphones. Firstly, they began to be tested more thoroughly, increasing the number of tests. And secondly, they stopped trying to fit a high-capacity battery into a compact case. It is for this reason that the S7 edge has a 3600 mAh battery, and the Galaxy S8 has a 3000 mAh battery. But the main question here is not the capacity of the battery, but what autonomy the smartphone has. I measured the S8 at a display brightness of 200 cd/m2 at all three resolutions in the PCMark Work 2.0 test. The following results were obtained:
With HD+ resolution (1480x720) - 8 hours 46 minutes
With Full HD+ resolution (2220x1080) - 7 hours 38 minutes
With WQHD+ resolution (2960x1440) - 6 hours 59 minutes
For a smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery, this is very good results. At the same time, as you can see, resolution significantly affects autonomy. I used the Galaxy S8 with Full HD+ resolution and this was enough for 1.5 days of work with 6 hours of active screen.
Long, frameless, with great camera and highest performance
Recently, Samsung officially presented its long-awaited flagship smartphones Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Even despite major setbacks in the recent past, Samsung's flagship devices not only continue to be the main competition for Apple's iPhones, but are also some of the most technically advanced Android smartphones. Compared to the previous (seventh) generation, a lot has changed here, from the overall design to the location individual elements in particular, not to mention the improved hardware and updated software. Not all the changes are for the better, but there are so many of them that we can say that Samsung decided to start from scratch. It is worth noting that, to the delight of many, the difference in the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ models is only in size; almost everything else is the same. There are no various modifications with varying amounts of built-in memory or RAM, different performance, the presence or absence of certain elements. The user does not need to agonize over the choice; they just need to decide on the preferred dimensions of the device. The technical characteristics of both models are almost identical, so we’ll start by listing them this review, choosing the Galaxy S8+ model as a sample.
Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Model SM-G955F)
- SoC Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa, 8 cores: [email protected] GHz (Exynos M1) + [email protected] GHz (ARM Cortex-A53)
(another modification of the smartphone is based on SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 835) - GPU Mali-G71
- operating room Android system 7.0
- Touchscreen Super AMOLED 6.2″, 2960×1440, 529 ppi
- Random access memory (RAM) 4 GB, inner memory 64 GB
- Nano-SIM support (2 pcs.)
- MicroSD support up to 256 GB
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
- WCDMA/HSPA+ networks (850/900/1900/2100 MHz)
- FDD LTE Band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 66 networks
- Networks TD LTE Band 38—41
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz) MIMO
- Bluetooth 5.0LE
- GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, BDS
- USB Type-C, USB OTG
- Main camera 12 MP (f/1.7), autofocus, 4K video
- Front camera 8 MP (f/1.7), autofocus
- Waterproof IP68
- Proximity, lighting, heart rate, magnetic field, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer
- Iris scanner, fingerprint scanner
- Battery 3500 mAh, fast charging
- Wireless charging (WPC, PMA)
- Dimensions 160×73×8.1 mm
- Weight 173 g
Contents of delivery
The Samsung Galaxy S8+ received a stylishly designed matte black cardboard box with a laconic design as packaging. The lid is not completely removable, it folds back like a box. The contents are neatly packaged in separate cells.
The kit, in the best Samsung traditions, turned out to be extensive. The smartphone package includes a USB Type-C connecting cable, a network adapter with variable output current and voltage 5/9 V 1.67/2 A, an unusually shaped key for removing cards, a Micro-USB - USB Type-C adapter, a second USB adapter- USB Type-C.
The company also included high-quality wired dual-driver stereos in the kit. AKG headphones with a set of replaceable linings of intra-channel type.
Appearance and ease of use
The design of the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ turned out to be unusual and attractive. The streamlined body is made entirely of metal and glass, there is no plastic here. A metal frame rounded on all sides, symmetrically tapering at the sides and widening at the top and bottom ends, connects two glass panels - front and back. Gorilla Glass 5 is used as a coating; the glass has noticeable curves on the sides. The frame in the front plane of the screen is completely hidden behind the curve of the glass, so here we can talk about a truly frameless option.
The body of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ is absolutely symmetrical; the back side is also completely covered with Gorilla Glass 5 with curved edges. The edges of the glass are rounded so much that they flow almost seamlessly (not counting the frame) into one another, creating a complete shape without a single sharp corner or straight edge. For this shape, Samsung marketers dubbed their new brainchild a “smartphone without borders.”
The Samsung Galaxy S8+ looks very attractive. And although such a design may seem too “sleek” and “pampered”, but these are modern realities, the vast majority of users liked it.
Due to the unusual aspect ratio of the display (not 16:9, but 18.5:9), the body turned out to be very elongated in height. At the same time, the absence of a frame on the sides of the screen in the front plane made it possible to make the body so narrow that it is quite comfortable to hold in the hand even with a screen diagonal of 6.2 inches. True, the device is quite slippery due to its glass panels, smooth frame and streamlined shape.
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The curved edges of the front glass work in conjunction with the corresponding software in the same way as in previous models series Galaxy Edge. Above the screen you can find full set elements, including led indicator events and even an iris scanner.
The scanner works tolerably, but the process of setting the lock and constant recognition is quite tedious, because this system only works in certain light conditions and at a certain distance from the eyes. It is much easier and faster to use the fingerprint scanner, although its location here causes some confusion.
There are no more control buttons under the screen, only on the screen itself. This is not typical for Samsung; its Galaxy smartphones have always had a hardware key on the front (in latest models- with an integrated fingerprint sensor). Now its place has been taken by a virtual button on the screen, but it is also not quite ordinary. To ensure that the static button, which is constantly illuminated in the Always On Display mode, does not cause pixel burnout, it was made movable. Thus, the seemingly static central button on the screen actually constantly moves imperceptibly in different directions.
The fingerprint scanner has been moved to the back. At the same time, it is greatly shifted from the center to the right, so that it is inconvenient for a left-handed person to reach it with his finger. In addition, the tactile area of the fingerprint sensor does not differ from neighboring elements; it is difficult to feel it blindly, you need to get used to it. In general, this is perhaps the most unusual and inconvenient location option so far. of this element Of all the ones we've encountered before, Samsung again went too far with the fingerprint sensor.
Next to the scanner you can find a camera module with a flash, as well as a heart rate sensor familiar to Samsung smartphones. None of the elements protrude beyond the surface, so the smartphone lies stable on the table and does not wobble when you touch the screen. The flash is as bright as possible.
There are no complaints about the operation of the fingerprint scanner itself; it works quickly, clearly and accurately. But, as already mentioned, reaching for it while holding a smartphone in your left hand is very inconvenient.
The slot for installing cards is located at the top end. The cover of the removable slide on which the cards are placed has a rubberized gasket, since the Samsung Galaxy S8+, like the LG G6, meets the IP68 protection category, that is, the case is completely protected from dust and allows immersion in water to a depth of 1.5 m for 30 minutes. However, the developers did not go further: the design here is not designed for harsh operating conditions, like the LG G6, so the hero of the review does not have military standard certification.
A standard hybrid connector is used, into which you can install either two Nano-SIM cards, or one SIM card and one microSD memory card. The slides are made of flexible plastic; the device itself reports the need to tightly close the connector cover to protect it from water.
The volume button has been moved to the left side, here it is adjacent to a separate key for calling the Bixby intelligent assistant, with which you can work with available services and applications via touch screen, voice or text commands. The power key remains on the right side. The buttons are not very large, but handling them is quite comfortable; the keys are easy to feel blindly.
All other interface elements are located at the bottom end. There is a USB Type-C connector installed here, which supports connecting external devices USB mode OTG, the main speaker is brought out here, as well as a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a microphone hole. Surprisingly, the developers were unable to install any of the elements exactly; each of them turned out to be offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the end, which spoils the impression a little.
Having studied the structure of the Galaxy S8+ case, let's compare it with the previous Galaxy S7 Edge model. The naked eye can see that the width of these smartphones is almost identical.
However, the Galaxy S8+ has a longer screen with a non-standard aspect ratio, which allows for more surface area to be devoted to the screen. As a result, the Galaxy S8+ with a 6.2″ screen fits as comfortably in the palm of your hand as the Galaxy S7 Edge with a 5.5″ screen.
In addition, the sides of the case of the review hero have become less slippery due to the increased width of the metal frame: the curved edges of the screen on the Galaxy S8+ have been reduced, the frame is now located exactly in the middle between the front and rear panels. So, in general, the changes only benefited the new product.
Samsung Galaxy S8+ is presented on the Russian market in three colors: black (“Black Diamond”), gray (“Mystical Amethyst”) and golden (“Yellow Topaz”).
Screen
Samsung Galaxy S8+ features a Super AMOLED display with protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5 with highly curved edges. The physical dimensions of the screen are approximately 70x142 mm with a diagonal of 6.2 inches, that is, the aspect ratio is 18.5:9. The screen resolution is 2960x1440, the pixel density is about 529 ppi. The corner parts of the screen, like the LG G6, are rounded, there are no side frames as such in the front plane of the screen, the upper and lower segments surrounding the screen are only approximately 8.5 mm in height.
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You can manually adjust the display brightness or set automatic settings based on the ambient light sensor. HDR10 mode is supported. The AnTuTu test diagnoses support for 10 simultaneous multi-touch touches. There is a vision protection mode (preventing eye fatigue). In Always-on mode, information about the current time and date, as well as missed events, is displayed on the switched off screen.
In the screen settings section, you can select the resolution and applications that should be used in full-screen proportions. It seems that the developers first made a screen with an unusual aspect ratio, just to make it “not like everyone else,” and then added various “crutches” to the software so that the programs would work normally with such a screen.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen are better than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photo in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy S8+, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ is slightly darker (photo brightness is 107 versus 115 for the Nexus 7) and does not have a pronounced tint. The ghosting of reflected objects on the Samsung Galaxy S8+ screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, screens without an air gap look better in conditions of intense external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.
When displaying the white field in full screen and manually controlling its brightness maximum value was 370 cd/m² under normal conditions and rises to 580 cd/m² in very bright light. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the brighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when displaying a white field on half the screen and a black field on the other half, we obtained values of 460 cd/m² and 725 cd/m² for the above conditions. As a result, readability during the day in the sun should be at a good level. The minimum value is 1.6 cd/m². The reduced brightness level allows you to use the device even in complete darkness without any problems. Automatic brightness adjustment works based on the light sensor (it is located to the left of the front speaker slot). The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness adjustment slider; the user can use it to try to set the desired brightness level in the current conditions. If in an office environment the brightness slider is set to maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 6.4 cd/m² (dark), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 550 lux) it sets it to 340 cd/m² (excessively bright) , in a very bright environment (corresponding to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to 545 cd/m² (sufficient). If in complete darkness and in an office environment, use the slider to set the brightness a little higher and lower, then the screen brightness for the three conditions indicated above is as follows: 13, 180, 545 cd/m² (ideal combination). It turns out that the auto-brightness function works adequately and to some extent allows the user to customize their work to individual requirements. At any brightness level there is significant modulation with a frequency of approximately 60 or 240 Hz. The figure below shows the brightness dependences ( vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for several brightness settings:
It can be seen that at maximum and close to it brightness the modulation amplitude is not very large; as a result, there is no visible flicker. However, as the brightness decreases, modulation appears with a large relative amplitude; its presence can already be seen in a test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply with rapid eye movement. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.
This screen uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
In the fragment above you can count 4 green subpixels, 2 red (4 halves) and 2 blue (1 whole and 4 quarters), and by repeating these fragments, you can lay out the entire screen without breaks or overlap. For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The location and shape of the subpixels in this version is close to the case of the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and some other newer Samsung devices (and not only) with AMOLED screens. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. However, due to very high resolution they have only a minimal impact on image quality.
The screen has excellent viewing angles. True, the white color, when deviated even at small angles, alternately acquires a light blue-green and pinkish tint, but the black color remains simply black at any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ (profile Basic) and the second comparison participant, identical images were displayed, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera was forced to switch to 6500 K.
White field:
We note good uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field (with the exception of slight darkening and a change in hue towards the curved edges).
And a test picture (profile Basic):
Color rendition is good, the colors are moderately saturated, the color balance of the screens varies slightly. Recall that photography can not serve as a reliable source of information about color rendering quality and are provided for illustrative purposes only. In particular, the pronounced reddish tint of the white and gray fields present in photographs of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ screen is visually absent when viewed from a perpendicular view, which is confirmed by hardware tests using a spectrophotometer. The reason is that the spectral sensitivity of the camera sensor does not exactly match this characteristic of human vision. Note that in this case, the image occupies the height (at this screen orientation) of the entire area available for image display and extends onto the curved edges of the screen, which leads to darkening and color distortion. Also, in the light, these areas almost always glare, which makes it even more difficult to view images displayed on the entire screen. And even the picture of films with an aspect ratio of 16:9 bends, which greatly interferes with watching movies.
The photo above was taken after selecting a profile Basic in the screen settings, there are four of them:
Profile Adaptive display differs in some kind of automatic adjustment of color rendering to the type of output image and environmental conditions:
Saturation and color contrast are greatly increased, it looks terrible. What happens when you select the two remaining profiles is shown below.
Movie AMOLED:
Saturation and color contrast are also increased, but not as much.
Photo AMOLED:
Saturation is slightly lower, but color contrast is slightly higher than in the case Movie AMOLED.
Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen (profile Basic).
White field:
The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed has been increased compared to previous photographs), but in the case of Samsung the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. As a result, with formally the same brightness, the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ visually looks much brighter (compared to LCD screens), since you often have to look at the screen of a mobile device from at least a slight angle.
And a test picture:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens and the brightness of the Samsung smartphone at an angle is noticeably higher. Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the switching edge there may be a step with a width of approximately 17 ms (which corresponds to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to white and back:
In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects. However, dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are different high definition and even some “twitchiness” of movements.
A gamma curve constructed using 32 points with equal intervals based on the numerical value of the shade of gray showed that there is no significant blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.09, which is slightly less than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates little from the power dependence:
Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen.
Color gamut in the case of a profile Adaptive display very wide:
In profile Movie AMOLED coverage is a little narrower:
When selecting a profile Photo AMOLED coverage is adjusted to Adobe RGB boundaries:
When selecting a profile Basic coverage is compressed to sRGB boundaries:
Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:
In case of profile Basic with maximum correction, the color components are already noticeably mixed with each other:
Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. Hence the recommendation - in most cases, watching movies, photographs and everything natural is better when choosing a profile Basic, and only if the photo was taken on Adobe installation RGB, it makes sense to switch the profile to Photo AMOLED. Profile Movie AMOLED, despite the name, is the least suitable for watching movies or anything else.
The grayscale balance is good. The color temperature is close to 6500 K, while in a significant portion of the gray scale this parameter does not change very much, which improves the visual perception of color balance. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) remains below 10 units across most of the gray scale, which is considered good for a consumer device:
(The darkest areas of the gray scale can in most cases be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
For some reason only when selecting a profile Adaptive display It becomes possible to adjust the color balance by three adjustments of the intensity of the primary colors, but due to the too wide color gamut in this profile there is no point in correcting the balance.
Let's summarize. The screen has a very high maximum brightness and has excellent anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors without any problems, even on a sunny summer day. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is acceptable to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works adequately. The advantages of the screen include an effective oleophobic coating, as well as a color gamut close to sRGB and good color balance. At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color (if nothing is reflected in the screen), a noticeably smaller drop in image brightness than LCDs when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include modulation of screen brightness. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is very high. Separately, we note that from the point of view of image quality, curved edges are only harmful, since this design discovery introduces very noticeable distortions of the color tone and reduces the brightness at the edges of the picture, and in ambient light conditions it leads to inevitable glare along at least one long side of the screen.
Camera
The front 8-megapixel camera does not have its own flash, but it has a fast f/1.7 lens and even supports intelligent autofocus with face detection. As front flash You can use the bright “fill” backlight of the screen directly at the moment of shooting. Naturally, there is a mode for retouching selfie photos. The front camera shoots well for its level, there are no special complaints about detail and sharpness, but it’s hard to say that this camera is in any way better than analogues Huawei, for example. Not bad, but nothing more.
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The main camera uses a 12-megapixel sensor with a pixel size of 1.4 microns, as well as a fast lens with an f/1.7 aperture, an optical stabilization system and Dual Pixel technology, which is designed to provide autofocus so fast that even the sharpest movements can be captured in low light conditions. There is a very bright LED flash.
The camera takes pictures in automatic or manual mode. In mode manual settings You can adjust the shutter speed (from 1/24000 to 10 s), photosensitivity (up to ISO 800), white balance and exposure compensation. There is the possibility of retouching images, support for HDR auto and a selective focus mode for changing the depth of field in the finished image. The camera is also connected to the Bixby intelligent assistant, which should recognize subjects, find places and translate texts from the screen.
Using the Camera2 API you can transfer camera control third party applications. It is also possible to save pictures in RAW.
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The camera can shoot video in 4K resolution (3840x2160), but only at 30 fps, and 60 fps is only available in Full HD (1920x1080). There is also a shooting mode in an intermediate resolution of 2560×1440, also at a speed of 30 fps. There is an optical stabilization feature that really makes handheld shooting on the go extremely smooth. In any of the resolutions, the camera copes with video shooting very well: sharpness, color rendition and detail are normal, there is enough brightness, there is no question of artifacts and slowdowns. There are no complaints about sound recording either: the sensitivity of the microphones is high, the sound is clear and loud, and the noise reduction system adequately copes with wind noise.
- Video No. 1 (87 MB, 3840×2160@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
- Video No. 2 (33 MB, 2560×1440@30 fps, H.264, AAC)
- Video No. 3 (28 MB, 1920×1080@60 fps, H.264, AAC)
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Good sharpness across the frame. |
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Good detail in the background. |
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For indoor shooting, the detail is excellent. |
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The camera handles small and complex details well. |
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Good detail when shooting at dusk. |
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The text was done perfectly. |
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The camera copes well with macro photography. |
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Good sharpness across the frame and in the plans. |
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As the shot is removed, the sharpness drops slowly and smoothly. |
We also tested the camera on a laboratory bench using our method.
| JPEG | RAW |
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Lighting ≈3200 lux. |
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Lighting ≈1400 lux. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux, flash. |
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Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. |
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Samsung continues to work on the quality of its cameras. The megapixel race, fortunately, has been forgotten, and now the manufacturer pays more attention to the little things. Even in complex scenes, the camera does not forget about small details, so images look good even in low light. The soapiness is gradually fading away, which means that the program’s algorithms have improved. The program has practically stopped “eating” parts, and sharpening is almost invisible. Of course, if you look closely, you can find both, but this is nitpicking.
A laboratory test confirms that the camera has remained virtually unchanged since the previous generation. However, there are differences, they just lie in little things that are difficult for the stand to reflect. For those who like to tinker with photo processing, the manufacturer has made a very good RAW, which in some situations actually allows you to get better results than in-camera JPEG.
In general, the camera turned out to be quite flagship and will cope well with many different scenes.
Telephone and communications
The communication capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ include support for advanced LTE Cat.16 technology, all three LTE FDD frequency bands of interest to us are supported (Band 3, 7, 20), and there is also support for four TDD LTE bands (Band 38-41). It supports two Wi-Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), has Bluetooth 5.0 LE, and you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels. The developers claim that thanks to support for Wi-Fi 1204-QAM and LTE Cat.16 standards, download speeds compared to previous flagships Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge have been increased by 20% both over Wi-Fi and via the mobile Internet. In the city limits of the Moscow region, the device behaves confidently, the quality of signal reception is not satisfactory, the device demonstrates high speeds in the usual test places, and quickly restores communication after a break.
The device has an NFC module, but it does not support working with electronic travel cards. The USB Type-C connector supports connecting external devices in USB OTG mode; the corresponding adapter is included in the accessory kit. The data transfer speed between a computer and a smartphone via a cable connected in the case of a PC to the USB 3.1 Type-C ports is about 26 MB/s.
The navigation module works with GPS (with A-GPS), with the domestic Glonass and the Chinese Beidou. During a cold start, the first satellites are detected within the first seconds, positioning clarity is maximum. There is a built-in magnetic compass.
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The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. In conversational dynamics, the voice of a familiar interlocutor is clearly recognizable, there is no extraneous noise, the sound is natural, clear, and there is enough volume reserve. The vibrating alert is much higher in power than the average level; its intensity can be changed manually.
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Software and multimedia
The Samsung Galaxy S8+ uses Android OS version 7.0 Nougat with its own proprietary shell as a software platform. There is a convenient option to quickly transfer all data from your old smartphone to the new Samsung Galaxy S8 or S8+ using the OTG adapter that is included in the package.
First of all, it should be noted that the larger display with a changed aspect ratio and high resolution provides more space for any information, text or graphics, so a lot of attention is paid to the dual-window mode. Not every application here can be made to work in a small window; for this, each has a corresponding icon displayed in the menu of recent open programs. That is, you first need to launch and minimize the application to understand whether it has the ability to work in two-window mode, and then find a second one of the same kind. Not a very simple and intuitive option, but you can get used to it. In addition, the size of such windows can be changed. It is also possible to reduce the entire working area of the screen for ease of operation with the fingers of one hand. We can’t say that this functionality is convenient in practice, since all the elements on the screen become too small, especially the virtual keyboard buttons, but it is possible.
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Due to the non-standard aspect ratio of the screen, the video in the player appears with black bars on the sides, but using scaling you can stretch the image to the very edges of the screen. Some games have reported potential display issues, but overall we haven't encountered any issues that can't be resolved.
Another feature of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ screen is the ability to use its curved sides, which are accessible for finger interaction due to the lack of frames. There is nothing new here: as before, you can display an illuminated virtual strip on the side of the screen, which, when pressed, opens a menu responsible for quick contacts and instant access to the most used applications. Also here it becomes possible to select and save any part of the screen with further text recognition.
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But of course, the main feature of the software of the new Korean smartphones was the appearance of the Samsung voice assistant - Bixby, which is a direct competitor to both Siri and Google Assistant, which, by the way, remained in place. According to the developers, Bixby will not only be able to answer questions by collecting information on the Internet, but also identify a product using a camera and search for it on Amazon, translate texts in real time, and recognize landmarks. But the functions that will allow you to fully control your smartphone through voice commands are not yet available and will appear later.
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As already mentioned, the smartphone camera is connected to the Bixby intelligent assistant, which should recognize shooting objects, find places and translate texts from the screen. True, in practice, for Russian realities, he still manages to do all this with difficulty. Even if the main language of the device is Russian, the program will persistently offer to translate from any other language, but not from Russian. The assistant doesn’t yet know everything about the sights either. At the same time, there were no problems with translation from English into Russian.
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There are very few additional programs, and those that exist are mainly represented by a set of Microsoft applications. Of particular note is Game Launcher, a convenient game aggregator that automatically collects all installed gaming applications in one place, and also provides additional functions related to it. For example, it is possible to start recording the gameplay from the screen right during the game, with its further broadcast on the network. You can also use Game Launcher to improve system performance when launching selected games to improve your gaming experience.
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To listen to music, only the standard Google Play Music player is provided, supplemented by a powerful set of manual settings and equalizer presets, as well as Adapt sound technology for headphones. The smartphone comes with dual-driver AKG headphones with very good sound quality for their level. But while the sound in the headphones is fine, the main speaker of the smartphone is not so impressive. It produces a rather monotonous and flat sound, without noticeable depth and richness, although there are no complaints about the purity and volume reserve.
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Performance
The Samsung Galaxy S8+ hardware platform is built on the Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa SoC with 8 cores in two clusters: 4 Exynos M1 cores with a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz and 4 ARM Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 1.7 GHz. This SoC is made using the latest 10-nanometer process technology. The Mali-G71 video accelerator with support for the Vulkan graphics API is responsible for graphics processing. The amount of RAM is 4 GB, and the internal memory is 64 GB, of which about 1.6 GB of RAM and 52.5 GB of ROM are initially free.
It is worth noting that traditionally for Samsung, Galaxy devices can be based on different SoCs: in this case, it is Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895. As always, the issue of supply of one or another modification will depend on the region. The smartphone we received for testing ran on the Samsung Exynos 8895 platform.
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Based on the results of all tests without exception, the Samsung Exynos 8895 SoC showed maximum results; this is the most powerful mobile platform of all those we have tested so far. Accordingly, the Samsung Galaxy S8+ is one of the most powerful modern smartphones, and it has a significant performance reserve for future updates. The smartphone confidently copes with any tasks in real scenarios, and thanks to a powerful video accelerator, it performs well in the most demanding games. These videos recording gameplay in Modern Combat 5 and Mortal Kombat X were recorded using the built-in means of the smartphone itself using the Game Launcher application.
Testing in comprehensive tests AnTuTu and GeekBench:
For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.
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Testing the graphics subsystem in gaming tests 3DMark, GFXBenchmark and Bonsai Benchmark:
When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).
| Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa) |
LG G6 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 821) |
Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe (Qualcomm Snapdragon 820) |
Honor 8 Pro (HiSilicon Kirin 960) |
Meizu Pro 6 Plus (Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa) |
|
| 3DMark Ice Storm Sling Shot ES 3.1 (more is better) |
2628 | 2409 | 2676 | 1417 | 1869 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (Onscreen, fps) | 19 | 12 | 31 | 18 | 13 |
| GFXBenchmark Manhattan ES 3.1 (1080p Offscreen, fps) | 36 | 24 | 32 | 21 | 24 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (Onscreen, fps) | 57 | 38 | 59 | 46 | 52 |
| GFXBenchmark T-Rex (1080p Offscreen, fps) | 103 | 61 | 92 | 57 | 71 |
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
| Samsung Galaxy S8+ (Samsung Exynos 8895 Octa) |
LG G6 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 821) |
Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe (Qualcomm Snapdragon 820) |
Honor 8 Pro (HiSilicon Kirin 960) |
Meizu Pro 6 Plus (Samsung Exynos 8890 Octa) |
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| Mozilla Kraken (ms, less is better) |
2535 | 2494 | 2931 | 3139 | 13047 |
| Google Octane 2 (more is better) |
9905 | 10036 | 9287 | 10155 | 3116 |
| SunSpider (ms, less is better) |
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Testing has traditionally been done at normal power consumption levels without using power-saving features. In the settings of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ you can find operating modes from high-performance to economical, the choice of which will affect many things, including brightness and even screen resolution.
Continuous reading in the Moon+ Reader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) with auto-scrolling lasted 21.5 hours until the battery was completely discharged, and when continuously watching videos in high quality (720p ) with the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network, the device operates for up to 14.5 hours. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone can work for more than 5 hours.
The smartphone should support fast charging, but we were not able to test this because at the time of writing the review, there was no AC adapter included with the test unit. However, from a conventional charger (5 V 2 A) the device charges quite quickly, within about an hour and a half with a current of 1.75 A at a voltage of 5 V. Wireless charging (WPC and PMA) is also supported.
Bottom line
Prices for the Russian market are as follows: On April 28, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ smartphones went on sale in Russia at a recommended retail price of 54,990 and 59,990, respectively. It is not entirely clear why the difference in the cost of devices that are identical in functionality with a slight difference only in the size of the display and battery is as much as 5 thousand. Be that as it may, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ for 60 thousand, the manufacturer offers one of the best smartphones in many respects, including camera quality, hardware platform performance and very advanced communication capabilities, in an attractive and very unusual case, as well as with a lot of additional functions, many of which, however, were also available in previous models of the series.
At the same time, it cannot be said that the smartphone has become some kind of breakthrough, a new word in the creation of mobile devices and is completely devoid of disadvantages. The single main camera, although it is one of the best on the market, still looks rather strange against the background of the general movement towards increasing the number of modules. We also cannot praise the sound of the main speaker: in terms of sound, the device is clearly inferior to the flagship smartphones of Apple and Huawei. The decision to move the fingerprint scanner to the back side, and even to such an unsuccessfully chosen place, was also very questionable. Well, we can’t help but recall the recent problems with the batteries of Samsung mobile devices catching fire, against the backdrop of which users may now be wary of immediately paying the very high price that the manufacturer asked for its new mobile products. And yet, interest in the flagship devices of the Korean company has not weakened, this is clear. Even those who had no intention of shelling out 60 thousand rubles for a smartphone are now eagerly discussing its capabilities on the Internet. However, something during the testing process remained undisclosed for us, since we did not have the final commercial sample in our hands. Most likely, we are still waiting, at a minimum, to meet with the Bixby assistant, which has been brought to life, as well as with camera firmware updates, which may well expand its already remarkable capabilities.
In conclusion, we suggest watching our video review of the Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone:
We also suggest watching our video review comparing the Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy S7 Edge smartphones:
With similar dimensions to its predecessor model, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, the latest version of the flagship has lost the hardware keys on the front panel. They moved to a display whose diagonal increased to 5.8", thanks to which the screen occupied 84% of the area of the front panel of the smartphone.
Identification
The fingerprint scanner has also moved from under the screen - now it is located in close proximity to the “eye” of the main camera. This location of the fingerprint sensor raises questions regarding the convenience of blindly recognizing a user by fingerprint, since by touch a finger can easily miss and end up on the photo module lens. However, instead of a fingerprint sensor, you can use identification by the face of the smartphone owner or in an even more advanced way - scanning the iris. A special camera for scanning the retina is located near the front camera and works by analogy with that of the “explosive” Samsung Galaxy Note 7 - the sensor detects the owner of the smartphone from a distance of about 25-30 cm from the screen. To achieve maximum scanning accuracy, you must remove contact lenses and glasses in advance.
SuperAMOLED matrix
Following tradition, the smartphone display is built on the basis of SuperAMOLED technology, only its resolution has increased to the WQHD+ format (2960x1440 pixels). The edges of the screen are curved, and when locked, the clock is displayed on it. Current date and time readings practically do not consume battery power with a capacity of 3000 mAh (3500 mAh for version 8+). If you really need to replenish energy reserves, this can be done both through fast charging technology and using wireless energy transfer.
Performance
Samsung has reserved almost all of the first batches of the high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip for the Samsung Galaxy S8. But in most countries of the world, the basis of the gadget’s hardware will be the Exynos 8895 processor, working in conjunction with 4 GB of RAM and the ARM Mali-G71 graphics accelerator. According to the results of the first tests, its own chip is even ahead of Qualcomm's brainchild in terms of performance, earning 6375 points versus 6084 in multi-core mode when tested with GeekBench 4. For the average user, such a high result indicates that the smartphone will run all current applications at maximum graphics settings with good reserve for the future.
Photo and video shooting
South Korean engineers did not follow the popular trend of dual cameras. In return, they equipped the smartphone with an improved version of the 12-megapixel photo module with a maximum aperture of f/1.7. There are practically no equals to her in photography. The 8-megapixel selfie camera with fast autofocus, which allows you to take very high-quality self-portraits, also doesn’t slow down the rear.
Assistant
The smartphone has acquired another interesting feature, which is worth mentioning separately. This Bixby intelligent voice assistant. It makes it easier for a smartphone user to interact with apps and settings, can identify things using the camera and search for them later on Amazon, can translate text in real time, and perform a number of other “smart” functions. Finally, music lovers will be pleased with the fact that the smartphone will come with high-quality AKG headphones. Together with them you will be able to fully enjoy the musical capabilities of your smartphone.