[Poll] Are you happy with the specs of the Galaxy S8 and S8+?

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ earlier today, finally ending months of speculation about its new flagship smartphone. We now have all of the official details about the Galaxy S8′s specs, features and availability.

Speaking of specifications, are you happy with the specs that Samsung’s new flagship smartphone is offering? Or do you think that Samsung should have provided more given how much it’s charging for this handset?

Vote below and let us know in the comments section what you think and what specs you would have liked to see in its new flagship.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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PSA: Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will have dual SIM capability in some markets

Yes, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will have two SIM slots in some markets, following in the footsteps of the Galaxy S7, S7 edge and Note 7. Samsung is yet to confirm which markets will receive the dual SIM variants, but if you need to check, simply head over to Samsung’s website for your particular country and see the Galaxy S8/S8+ listing. If your market is getting the dual SIM variant, the phones will be listed as the Galaxy S8 (Dual Sim) and Galaxy S8+ (Dual Sim).

Dual SIM smartphones are popular in Asian markets, so the dual SIM models should come to countries like India, Dubai, and China. Samsung hasn’t mentioned if the S8 and S8+ will have a hybrid slot or separate slots for two SIM cards and a microSD card, but we’re certainly hoping it’s the latter given the company has a lot of real estate to work with on its new flagships. The batteries aren’t very big on these handsets, either, so fingers crossed that having to choose between two carriers or a microSD will be a thing of the past.

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Pre-order Galaxy S8 from Best Buy and save big

All four major carriers in the United States – Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint – have confirmed their pricing and pre-order details for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. You can choose to buy the new flagship from either one of those carriers or wait until May for the unlocked units to arrive.

If you have no issues with buying a carrier-locked handset then perhaps you should go the Best Buy route. If you pre-order Galaxy S8 from Best Buy you stand to save quite a bit of money. It’s offering customers up to $100 off the Galaxy S8+ and $50 off the Galaxy S8 when they pre-order the handset via BestBuy.com or their local retail store.

Pre-order customers will receive a free Gear VR with Controller headset and the Oculus content bundle over and above this discount which can also be clubbed with select details available for Verizon, AT&T and Sprint customers.

Best Buy starts taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ tomorrow. It will be released on April 21. Customers can put money down for the new flagship at Best Buy stores, including the Samsung Experience Shops inside Best Buy outlets.

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Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on Sprint are HPUE-enabled, pre-orders open March 30

Sprint was the last of the four major carriers in the United States to confirm the pricing and pre-order date for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The carrier has also pointed out that both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are HUPE or High Performance User Equipment enabled on its network.

HPUE enhances the Sprint network experience with increased coverage, more capacity and faster speeds on capable devices. Sprint says that users with HPUE devices will experience better speeds when streaming videos, mobile gaming, and other online services.

HPUE is capable of extending Sprint’s 2.5GHz coverage by up to 30 percent to almost match its midband 1.9GHz spectrum performance which results in improved indoors coverage and performance.

Sprint has confirmed that it’s going to start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ from tomorrow. Available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray and Arctic Silver the Galaxy S8 is going to cost $31.25 per month for 18 months and the Galaxy S8+ $35.42 per month for 18 months on the carrier’s leasing plan.

Pre-order customers will receive a free Gear VR with Controller headset and the Oculus content bundle.

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Verizon Galaxy S8 pre-order date and price confirmed

Like its rivals T-Mobile and AT&T, Verizon has also confirmed that it’s going to start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ from tomorrow. Customers with Verizon Unlimited on the carrier’s device payment plan can get the new flagship for $15 per month for 24 months when they trade in an eligible device.

All pre-order customers will receive a free Gear VR with Controller and the Oculus content bundle. Verizon is also offering them the Experience Box for $99 which is actually a $550 value.

The experience box includes the Gear VR with Controller bundle, a 256GB Samsung microSD card and a pair of Harman Kardon headphones.

Pricing for the Galaxy S8 without trade-in is $30 per month for 24 months and for the Galaxy S8+ it’s $35 per month for 24 months. The handsets have a full retail price of $720 and $840 respectively.

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ is going to be released on April 21. All carriers and retailers in the United States are sticking with this release date.

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AT&T Galaxy S8 pre-orders open tomorrow, offers free device and additional incentives

The second largest mobile carrier in the United States has confirmed that it’s going to start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ starting tomorrow. It has plenty of offers that customers can take advantage of if they plan on getting the new flagship.

Those who pre-order it on the AT&T Next plan can get up to $750 in credits for another Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ which essentially makes the second device free, a Samsung Gear VR with Controller as well as the Oculus content bundle.

AT&T is also offering them a deal on the Gear S3 smartwatch which they can buy for $49 with a two-year service agreement and a Gear S2 or Galaxy Tab E for just $0.99 when the two-year service agreement is activated.

AT&T customers can pre-order the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on its Next plan for $25 and $29.34 for 30 months respectively with an eligible service plan. The incentives will certainly be enticing for many customers so it would be in their best interests to read the terms and conditions by clicking on the source link below before placing an order.

Galaxy S8 pre-orders can be placed starting tomorrow via AT&T’s website and retail stores.

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T-Mobile Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ pre-orders open tonight, price and incentives confirmed

Samsung’s new flagship smartphone has been officially announced today. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. Samsung has confirmed that it’s going to release the new flagship on April 21 and now its carrier partners are gradually coming out with pricing and availability information.

T-Mobile has just confirmed that customers can pre-order the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ starting tonight at 9 pm PT via its website. Those who pre-order it from T-Mobile or buy it from MetroPCS at launch will receive a free Gear VR with Controller and Oculus content.

The Galaxy S8 is going to cost $30 down on T-Mobile with equal monthly payments of $30 for 24 months on the T-Mobile EIP with a full retail price of $750. On Demand customers can buy it for $0 down and $33 per month.

The Galaxy S8+ is going to cost $130 down and $30 per month for 24 months on EIP at a full retail price of $850. The down payment and monthly payment amount remain the same for On Demand customers. Pre-orders can be placed online or via the carrier’s retail stores.

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Galaxy S8′s bundled AKG earphones will also be sold separately for $99

Samsung had confirmed long before it made the Galaxy S8 official that the upcoming flagship will come bundled with a pair of AKG-branded earphones. This has been made possible by Samsung’s recent acquisition of Harman International which owns many premium audio brands including AKG. This partnership has also brought AKG-tuned audio to the Galaxy Tab S3.

Samsung says that these new AKG earphones that come in the box with the Galaxy S8 have a hybrid canal fit for better noise cancellation and have an anti-tangle cord. This seriously improves Samsung’s headset offering with its flagship smartphone and justifies the higher cost of the new flagship to some extent.

The company has also confirmed today that these AKG earphones will be sold separately as well for $99 so if you’d like to use them with an older Samsung device or just want what seems to be a good pair of earphones, you can buy them without having to splurge on a new smartphone.

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Samsung posts official introduction video of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

Just a few hours ago, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+. If you had been waiting to find out more about this device then you may have already read the countless posts, articles and hands-on reviews that have cropped up online. If you’d like to hear more about this handset from the proverbial horse’s mouth then check out Samsung’s official introduction video for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

The video starts off by walking you through years of Samsung smartphone design. It shows the evolutionary leaps that the company has made over the years to become more innovative. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ doesn’t seem to be the end of those efforts, rather, they feel like the beginning of something new.

An era of sleek and minimal design led by Samsung, at least that’s what the company would have you believe. Check out the official introduction video of Samsung’s new flagship smartphone below.

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Unlocked Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will be sold by Best Buy in May

Samsung’s carrier partners in the United States have confirmed that they will open pre-orders for the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ by tomorrow and will release the handset on April 21. However, what about the customers who want a factory unlocked unit? They will be delighted to know that this time around, they won’t have to wait for too long.

It took three months for the unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge to become available in the United States after the carrier-locked versions were released. With the Galaxy S8, customers will only have to wait for a few weeks.

Best Buy has confirmed that it’s going to start selling unlocked units of Samsung’s new flagship in May. It has already put up listings on its online store for both variants, asking $724.99 for the Galaxy S8 and $824.99 for the Galaxy S8+.

It remains to be seen though how many customers actually decide to purchase the unlocked model given Samsung’s poor track record of providing timely updates for the unlocked Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S7 edge in the United States.

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Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ displays are set to Full HD+ resolution by default

The newly announced Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ feature 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch dual-edge curved Super AMOLED displays, respectively. Moreover, these QHD+ (2960 x 1440 pixels) displays have an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 compared to 16:9 aspect ratio on previous Galaxy smartphones from Samsung.

It is now being reported that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ displays are set to Full HD+ resolution by default. Samsung moved to a default screen resolution of Full HD on the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge when it released the Android 7.0 update for the smartphones, and it looks like the company will continue with a similar resolution for its newly announced flagship smartphones.

Dropping the resolution to Full HD+ (2220 x 1080 pixels) might decrease the strain on the processor, thereby possibly increasing battery life. However, the screen resolution might change to QHD+ while using the smartphones with the new Gear VR virtual reality headset for sharper visuals.

Of course, you can manually change the screen resolution from the display settings menu to HD+ or QHD+, as per your liking.

 

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The Galaxy S8′s virtual navigation keys can be customized, home key is always on

If past sales are any indication, a few million folks will be buying the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ after the devices go on sale. For many, especially those coming from a Samsung device, will have to get used to the new software navigation keys on the S8/S8+. Samsung has made the home button pressure sensitive to ease the transition for consumers, and it turns out the company has also added the ability to customize the software keys.

Samsung isn’t one to shy away from offering as many customization options as possible, and this applies to the new software keys as well. First, you can set a custom color for the black bar behind the keys. Second, you can switch between right and left placement for the back and overview (recent apps) keys. This will be welcomed by fans of stock Android, which has the back key on the left. Samsung has always kept the back button the right (something we agree with when it comes to one-hand usage), but with the S8 and S8+ having narrow displays, it makes sense for the company to let the user choose based on his/her preference.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8+ and Galaxy S8+ hands-on

The home button also gets a few settings to play around with. On the S8 and S8+, the home button is always visible, no matter if you have the Always On Display feature on or not. There is an option that, when enabled, will let you go directly to the home screen (skipping the lock screen) if you hard press the home button when the screen is off. The amount of pressure required for the hard press can also be customized. Want to get the feel of Samsung’s hardware home button? Just set pressure sensitivity to the max!

Samsung has clearly put some thought behind this, and it’s not surprising, as it is a tall order asking millions of consumers to adjust to a new way of using a Galaxy device. Don’t worry about the camera quick launch feature, though: that feature has now been shifted to the power button.

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Samsung posts official hands-on videos of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+

You must have already read a lot about the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ by now and would rather want to see the devices in action. Samsung knows that too which is why the company has posted ten official hands-on videos of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on its official YouTube channel.

These shorts videos will walk you through some of the biggest changes that Samsung has made with this flagship series. You’ll take a look at the hardware design, user experience design, the artificial intelligence-powered Bixby assistant, the camera, multiple biometric authentication features, Samsung’s Desktop eXperience, Samsung Connect, the Galaxy S8′s Infinity Display and more.

The entire playlist is now up on Samsung’s official YouTube channel but for your convenience, we’ve embedded it down below. Click on the icon in the upper left-hand corner of the video box to open the playlist or just play the first video and let it roll on its own.

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The Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone to feature Bluetooth 5.0

The Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+, which were announced earlier today, are the first commercial smartphones in the world to feature Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. It’s a huge connectivity upgrade over Galaxy S7 and S7 edge’s Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity. Bluetooth 5.0 offers substantial gains in speed, range, and music quality.

The new version of Bluetooth theoretically offers twice the speed and four times the range. However, that’s not the only new thing in the Galaxy S8 and S8+. These smartphones can also stream audio wirelessly to two Bluetooth speakers or headphones simultaneously, also allowing users to control volume on both the headphones separately.

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Galaxy S8 Mobile HDR Premium certification promises a vivid viewing experience

HDR or High Dynamic Range is all the rage these days, popping up on devices like TVs and gaming consoles. Without getting too technical, HDR basically promises a more vivid viewing experience with colors that pop to provide a more true-to-life experience. You obviously need compatible content and display to take advantage of HDR.

Samsung pointed out during its presentation today that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have been awarded the Mobile HDR Premium certification by the UHD alliance. This certification signifies the ability of the Galaxy S8′s impressive Infinity Display to support HDR content.

The company has inked partnerships with the likes of Amazon Video and others to bring their HDR content to its latest flagship device. More information about these content partnerships will be provided once the handset goes on sale next month.

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This is what Bixby can do on the Galaxy S8

Samsung confirmed before it had even unveiled the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ that the upcoming flagship will come with a new artificial intelligence-powered assistant called Bixby. During its presentation today, Samsung provided more details about what Bixby can do on the Galaxy S8.

Samsung claims that Bixby can do almost everything in response to a voice command that the user can do by tapping on the display. That’s a tall claim. So basically, Bixby can help you share information or content inside an app with a friend.

For example, if you’re looking at a photo inside the gallery you can press on the dedicated Bixby button and tell it to “Send this to Cindy.” It will then present you with a list of contacts named Cindy in your phone if there are more than one. Bixby knows when to ask for more information so it will prompt you to tell it which the correct contact is and what service you want to use to share the photo through.

Bixby is also deeply integrated into native apps like the Camera. Bixby understands what the user is seeing in the Camera app so it can provide information about any landmarks, show places to eat and drink around that landmark and enable you to shop online by scanning a barcode.

The assistant is also aware of your needs. Swiping right on the homescreen will bring up the contextual Bixby screen which will display cards similar to what you get in Google Now. It will show cards from gallery, email, and third-party apps like Uber. It will know how to prioritize these cards as well.

For example, if you take an Uber to work every morning, it will eventually learn this habit over time and always place the Uber card at the very top. It’s also integrated with Google Play Music so it can stream songs from that service and even remind you when a new album lands on Google Play Music.

Bixby is only going to get better with time and given that Samsung has already confirmed that third-party developers will eventually be allowed to access Bixby on the Galaxy S8 well, we’ll certainly see a lot of interesting Bixby integrations in the months to come.

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New batteries in Galaxy S8 would degrade less quickly compared to the S7′s

Even though Samsung has increased the screen sizes of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ compared to that of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, battery capacities haven’t been increased accordingly. Is Samsung too confident in the power efficiency of its new processor and display used in the Galaxy S8? Well, Samsung has an interesting explanation to the questionably small battery capacities inside the Galaxy S8 and S8+.

According to a new report from Android Police, Samsung claims that the new-generation batteries that are used in the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ would lose substantially less effective capacities over the same amount of time compared to the batteries used in the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge. The company said that a typical year’s worth of usage leaves the Galaxy S7 with just 80% of its original battery capacity. In comparison, the Galaxy S8 would preserve about 95% of its original battery capacity.

Samsung didn’t explain as to how it managed to accomplish this impressive feat, but it could be a combination of new advancements in battery technology and new power management systems that are developed by either Samsung or its partner companies. If you hated how the battery life on a Samsung smartphone degraded over time, the Galaxy S8 and S8+ should do better in that regard, at least as per the company’s claims.

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Galaxy S8 is the first smartphone to achieve gigabit LTE speeds

The Galaxy S8 has the unique distinction of being one of the very first smartphones on the market that’s capable of hitting gigabit LTE speeds. This has been confirmed in a video published online by T-Mobile which shows the Galaxy S8 hitting some enviable LTE speeds, however, the test is being conducted in a lab and isn’t necessarily indicative of real-world conditions.

This isn’t surprising, though, given that it has been known for a while now that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor has the company’s X16 LTE modem that’s theoretically capable of hitting gigabit LTE speeds. Samsung appears to have dibs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 at least for a few months which means that the Galaxy S8 will claim this distinction all to itself until a rival flagship comes out with a Snapdragon 835-powered device.

Samsung’s own Exynos 8895 processor which will be found in some variants of the Galaxy S8 is also capable of hitting gigabit LTE speeds so this isn’t a claim to fame that will be exclusive to the Snapdragon 835-touting variant of the new flagship.

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New Samsung Gear VR with Controller goes on sale in April for $129

At the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Barcelona last month, Samsung unveiled the new Gear VR with Controller. As the name suggests, it comes with a wireless controller. The headset supports both microUSB and USB Type-C ports so it’s compatible with the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S6 series as well as the Galaxy Note 5.

There’s nothing really new about the headset itself aside from some minor tweaks. It’s the wireless controller that demands attention. The controller has a clickable touchpad, volume keys, navigation buttons and a trigger button.

The touchpad makes it very easy to navigate the user interface and interact with VR games and apps. Samsung didn’t really confirm last month when the new headset with controller is going to be released and how much it’s going to cost.

A representative from Oculus, which has partnered with Samsung on the Gear VR, confirmed today that the new Gear VR with Controller is going to be released in April for $129.

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Galaxy S8 April 21 release date confirmed

Samsung today confirmed the official release date of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The new flagship smartphones have been unveiled today and it goes without saying that many are interested in finding out when they will be able to get their hands on one.

The company has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ will go on sale starting April 21. If history is any indication, this is going to be the release date for markets like South Korea and the United States. It will arrive in other markets later.

Pre-orders should open in the coming days but that’s certainly going to vary by market, carrier and retailer. More information to follow in the coming days.

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Galaxy S8 offers five security features, more than any other device

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ today, going into the details of all of the new features that the flagship provides. It has officially confirmed today that the Galaxy S8 features an iris scanner which brings yet another way to secure access to the device. It’s interesting to note that the Galaxy S8 offers five security features with which you can protect your device, that’s more than what any other device offers right now.

The first is the iris scanner which creates an eyeprint of the user to control access to the device. Then there’s the fingerprint sensor which now resides at the back of the device. Samsung’s new flagship even has facial recognition which quickly provides access to the device when the user picks up the phone.

It retains the conventional Android security features such as pattern and password which can also be used to control access to the phone. So the Galaxy S8 offers Iris, Face, Fingerprint, Pattern and Password features for access control. That’s impressive, to say the least.

Which one do you prefer the most? Let us know in the comments below. Don’t forget to check out our hands-on of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+.

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Here are more details regarding the Galaxy S8′s camera sensors

The Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus have just been made official, and they bring improvements in quite a few areas, including the display, performance, and connectivity. However, as per the specifications, there doesn’t seem to be a significant upgrade in terms of the rear-facing camera. As opposed to Apple, Huawei, LG, and Honor, Samsung still hasn’t started utilizing dual-camera setups in its smartphones even though the Exynos 8895 processor supports such camera configurations.

The Galaxy S8 duo feature 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras with F1.7 aperture, OIS and Dual Pixel phase-detection autofocus. Even though these specifications appear similar to that of the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, there’s a slight difference. As opposed to last year, System LSI (a Samsung arm) is said to be the sole manufacturer of Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus camera sensors. However, we won’t count on that information just yet. As always, there’s a chance that Samsung might source at least some units from Sony (rumored to be the IMX333).

The 8-megapixel front-facing camera on the new smartphones features autofocus mechanism, a first from Samsung. This 1/3.6-inch camera sensor is being manufactured by System LSI as well, and it has an aperture of F1.7 and QHD video recording abilities. Both cameras can activate the HDR mode whenever necessary, depending upon the lighting conditions. Hopefully, those important selfies would come out much better than the Galaxy S7′s front-facing camera. There’s still no OIS for the front-facing camera, though.

Samsung is claiming that its new phones feature “enhanced image processing” for better images in low-light conditions. There are some new effects, filters, and stickers for a fun camera experience. Whether or not there’s an improvement in the image quality remains to be seen, though. We’ll test the cameras on both these smartphones during our review before commenting on the image quality. We will also try to compare the camera performance of the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S8 in a comparison review.

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Samsung Connect Home is a mesh Wi-Fi router that can also be a SmartThings Hub

Apart from the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung also announced its first mesh Wi-Fi router: Samsung Connect Home. However, we’re talking about Samsung here, which is known to push the boundaries. Samsung Connect Home can also act as a SmartThings Hub, so buyers can use it to control SmartThings-compatible IoT products.

The Connect Home is a small puck that can replace your big and unwieldy Wi-Fi router. Since it’s a mesh Wi-Fi router, you can add more modules as and when necessary and place them in spots where the Wi-Fi signal isn’t strong. Multiple Connect Home modules (each offering an Ethernet in and an Ethernet out ports) work together to create a mesh, which offers a superior and more stable Wi-Fi signal everywhere in your home.

Samsung’s new mesh Wi-Fi router can also act as a SmartThings Hub, so you can control hundreds of smart IoT and connected home products that are compatible with Samsung’s IoT platform. This includes Amazon Echo speakers, Bose speakers, Google Home, Leviton products, Philips Hue platform, sensors from Halo Smart Labs, dozens of Samsung products, and more.

At the press conference today, the South Korean electronics giant showcased how you can use your Galaxy smartphone to see what’s inside your compatible Samsung refrigerator when you’re at a grocery store without a shopping list. In an ideal environment, the company wants you to be able to control all your connected home products through your smartphone and the Connect Home.

The company is selling two variants of Connect Home routers. The normal variant has 2×2 MU-MIMO antenna array, a slower processor, and its maximum theoretical speed is 866Mbps. The Pro variant has 4×4 antenna, a faster processor, and a maximum speed of 1.7Gbps. Both routers also feature Bluetooth 4.1 wireless connectivity in addition to Wi-Fi.

Samsung claims that each individual Connect Home unit can cover an area of up to 1500 square feet, and consumers can buy them individually or in a pack of three. The Pro variant of the Connect Home isn’t being offered in a pack of three right now. Pricing and availability details are scarce, but we will report back as soon as any such information arises.

Image Credits: The Verge

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SamMobile Daily Recap: March 29, 2017 — The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are official!

Samsung took the wraps off the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ today, which means we published a lot more stories than usual. Most of the coverage took place as our readers in the US (and other regions) were waking up — so, like usual, we’ve created a daily recap to help fill you in on everything you need to know.

In the list below, you’ll find the stories that went live today. We understand that you’re not going to be interested in all of them, so to help you find what’s important to you, we’ve split them into their respective categories. If you want to see the latest Galaxy S8 news, for example, locate the Phones subheading.

Camera

New Samsung Gear 360 shoots true 4K video in 360-degrees

Deals

Daily Deal: Take 10% off a SmartThings Hub

Firmware News

European Galaxy S6 edge+ Nougat firmware now available online

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ gets Nougat in India and Sri Lanka

Phones

Hands-on with the Samsung DeX accessory for the Galaxy S8

Here are the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ cases in pictures

[Update: YouTube link] Here’s where you can watch the Galaxy S8 launch livestream

Samsung DeX transforms the Galaxy S8 and S8+ into desktops

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ hands-on

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ pricing

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ specs and release date officially announced

Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 edge vs. Galaxy S8/S8+

Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+

Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge vs. Galaxy S8/S8+

Virtual Reality

Hands-on with Samsung’s Gear VR controller

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Wallpaper Wednesday: Sunset

Welcome to the latest edition of Wallpaper Wednesday. This week we’re focusing our attention on five backgrounds featuring sunsets. All of the images are available in a suitable resolution for the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7 edge and just about any other smartphone (or even tablet) on the market.

If any of the following images float your boat and you want to download and set one as your wallpaper, simply tap on a photo to maximise it, then click and hold to save it. Once the picture is stored locally, open up Settings, locate and select Wallpaper, then just tap the image to set it as your background.

Alternatively, you can download a ZIP file containing all of this week’s backdrops by hitting the Download button at the very bottom of this post.

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Bridge

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Coffee

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Mountain Range

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Road

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Stars

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Download

Note: We’ve tried our best to identify the creators of all of the wallpapers featured in this week’s column. However, the images appear to lack copyright information, artist signatures or any real trace of origin. If you created a wallpaper we’ve posted and would like credit, or would rather we remove the image, kindly contact us.

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Here’s how the Galaxy S8 will take better photos despite the same 12 MP camera as the S7′s

When you look at the spec sheet for the new Galaxy S8 or S8+, you’ll likely be left wondering why Samsung hasn’t made any changes to the 12-megapixel rear camera that debuted on the Galaxy S7. The specs for the camera are the same: a 12-megapixel sensor with F1.7 aperture, optical image stabilization, and Dual Pixel autofocus mechanism. So how will the Galaxy S8 offer improved image quality in the photos that it captures? Well, it comes down to the use of the new multi-frame processor inside the device.

What the multi-frame processor will do is take different images of a scene, and then use data from all of those frames to create the final image, resulting in reduced noise and sharper detail. This isn’t an industry-first thing, mind you: The Google Pixel and Pixel XL also use a similar method to achieve great photos, and that is without the presence of features like Dual Pixel focus, high aperture (at least not as high as Samsung’s cameras), or even optical image stabilization. The S8 and Pixel might differ in how many frames they combine for the final image, but the end result is the same: better photos than you might expect the camera can capture.

Read More: Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ hands-on

The Pixel is rather slow at saving the final image; the image saving is done in the background so you can continue taking pictures, but try taking a picture and immediately sharing it and you will need to wait a couple of seconds before you can do so. On the Galaxy S8, the entire procedure will likely be faster, both because of the new 10 nm Exynos/Snapdragon processors and the UFS 2.1 storage on the S8 and S8+. For most intents and purposes, though, regular users will not have any idea what is going on and will only see the camera taking impressive images.

Of course, just how much better the Galaxy S8 camera will be compared to the Galaxy S7 is something only detailed testing will tell. Hopefully, Samsung has likely made enough improvements to supports its decision to keep using the same camera hardware for more than a year.

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Samsung Pay has been used for more than 240 million transactions till date

Samsung Pay was a success pretty much when Samsung announced it, given it’s the only payment service that works on both NFC and MST, making it compatible with pretty much any payment terminal that accepts debit and credit cards. Samsung Pay has gone live in quite a few markets since it was first unveiled, and Samsung has revealed at the Galaxy S8 event that Samsung Pay has been used for more than 240 million transactions so far.

That’s a huge number, one that is bound to make Apple and Google jealous, as their payment services only work over NFC. Samsung Pay works great, and it’s good to see consumers around the world have adopted the service so quickly. Are you one of those use their Samsung device for making payments?

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Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ vs Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+

The Galaxy S6 edge+ was probably the curved Galaxy S flagship that received the least attention, given it came in between when the Galaxy S6 edge took everyone’s breath away and when the Galaxy S7 edge came out as one of the most perfect Samsung flagships we had ever seen. But the Galaxy S6 edge+ wasn’t far from perfection, either, and many owners of the device are likely thinking of upgrading to the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+.

Our full review of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will arrive in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, if you are wondering how the S6 edge+ compares to Samsung’s new flagships on paper, check out the comparison table below. For detailed specs of both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, head over to our devices section.

	Galaxy S6 edge+	Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+
Display	5.7-inch Super AMOLED Edge, Quad HD, 16:9	5.8/6.2-inch Super AMOLED Infinity, Quad HD+, 18:5:9
Processor	2.1 GHz octa-core Exynos 7420, 64-bit, 14 nm	2.3GHz octa-core Exynos 8895 (or Snapdragon 835), 64-bit, 10 nm
RAM	4GB LPDDR4	4GB LPDDR4
Rear camera	16-megapixel, phase detection autofocus, OIS, F1.9, 4K video recording	12-megapixel, OIS, phase detection Dual Pixel autofocus, F1.7, 4K video recording
Front camera	5-megapixel, fixed-focus, F1.9, QHD video recording	8-megapixel, autofocus, F1.7, QHD video recording
Storage	32GB/64GB UFS 2.0, non-expandable	64GB UFS 2.1, microSD slot (up to 256GB)
Software	Android 5.0 Lollipop, upgradeable to Android 7.0 Nougat	Android 7.0 Nougat
Battery	3,000 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge, fast wired charging	3,000/3,500 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge, fast wired charging
Connectivity	4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack	4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Dimensions	154.4 x 75.8 x 6.9 mm, 153 g	148.9×68.1×8.0 mm, 152g/159.5×73.4×8.1 mm, 173g
Other features	Samsung Pay, fingerprint sensor	AKG earphones, 32-bit audio, Bixby virtual assistant, Samsung Pay, IP68 water resistance, fingerprint sensor, iris/face recognition, pressure sensor

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Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S6/S6 edge vs. Galaxy S8/S8+

Samsung has just made the Galaxy S8 and S8+, its flagship smartphone offerings for 2017, official. Both devices offer improvement in most aspects, including the processing speed and displays, compared to their predecessors. However, are those improvements massive enough for you to consider an upgrade?

The release of the Galaxy S6 and the Galaxy S6 edge in 2015 marked an important milestone in Samsung’s smartphone design philosophy. The South Korean smartphone giant introduced a glass-and-metal build, dual-edge curved displays, and non-removable batteries to its premium smartphone lineup.

How much of an improvement do the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ offer compared to the two-year old Galaxy S6 and S6 edge? Some of the notable improvements include a much faster processor, larger displays (and a complete move to curved displays in both the variants), an improved camera autofocus mechanism, IP68 dust and water resistance, and a lot of added security features.

Let’s find out how the Galaxy S8 and the S8+ compare to the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge in the specs comparison table below. For more detailed specs, head to our devices section.

	Galaxy S6/S6 edge	Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+
Display	5.1-inch flat/curved Super AMOLED, Quad HD (2560 x 1440 pixels), 16:9	5.8/6.2-inch curved Super AMOLED, Quad HD+ (2960 x 1440 pixels), 18:5:9
Processor	2.1GHz octa-core Exynos 7420, 64-bit, 14nm	2.3GHz octa-core Exynos 8895 (or Snapdragon 835), 64-bit, 10nm
RAM	3GB LPDDR4	4GB LPDDR4
Rear camera	16-megapixel, OIS, F1.9 aperture, phase-detection autofocus, 4K video recording	12-megapixel, OIS, F1.7 aperture, Dual Pixel phase-detection autofocus, 4K video recording
Front camera	5-megapixel, fixed-focus, F1.9 aperture, QHD video recording	8-megapixel, autofocus, F1.7 aperture, QHD video recording
Storage	32GB/64GB/128GB UFS 2.0 internal, non-expandable	64GB UFS 2.1 internal, microSD slot (up to 256GB)
Software	Android 5.0 Lollipop (upgradeable to Android 7.0 Nougat)	Android 7.0 Nougat
Battery	2,550/2,600 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge wireless Charging	3,000/3,500 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge, and fast wireless charging
Connectivity	4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, Bluetooth 4.2, IR, NFC, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack	4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Dimensions	142.1×70.1×7 mm/143.4×70.5×6.8mm, 132g/138g	148.9×68.1×8.0mm/159.5×73.4 x8.1mm, 152g/173g
Other features	Samsung Pay, fingerprint sensor	AKG earphones, 32-bit audio, Bixby virtual assistant, Samsung Pay, IP68 water & dust resistance, fingerprint sensor, iris/face recognition, pressure sensor

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Specs comparison: Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 edge vs. Galaxy S8/S8+

Samsung’s finally taken the wraps off the much-anticipated Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ — and naturally, we want to see how they compare to their predecessors. Right off the bat, there appears to be a couple of notable improvements, including larger displays and a faster processor.

It’s unclear whether the upgraded internals alone will make it worth the upgrade (you’ll have to wait for our full review to find out), but in the meantime, they’re the best way to judge how much of an improvement the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are. For more details on their specs, click here.

	Galaxy S7/Galaxy S7 edge	Galaxy S8/Galaxy S8+
Display	5.1/5.5-inch Super AMOLED, Quad HD, 16:9	5.8/6.2-inch Super AMOLED, Quad HD+, 18:5:9
Processor	2.3 GHz octa-core Exynos Exynos 8890, 64-bit, 14 nm	Octa-core, 10 nm, 64-bit
RAM	4GB LPDDR4	4GB LPDDR4
Rear camera	12-megapixel, OIS, F1.7 aperture, phase-detection autofocus, 4K video recording	12-megapixel, OIS, Dual Pixel, phase-detection autofocus, 4K video recording
Front camera	5-megapixel, F1.7 aperture, QHD video recording	8-megapixel autofocus, F1.7 aperture, QHD video recording
Storage	32GB/64GB, non-expandable	64GB internal, microSD slot (up to 256GB)
Software	Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, upgradeable to Nougat	Android 7.0 Nougat
Battery	3,000/3,600 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge and fast wireless charging	3,000/3,500 mAh, Adaptive Fast Charge and fast wireless charging
Connectivity	4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm headphone jack	4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
Dimensions	142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm/150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7mm, 152g/157g	148.9×68.1×8.0mm/159.5×73.4 x8.1mm, 152g/173g
Other features	Samsung Pay, IP68 water resistance, fingerprint sensor	AKG earphones, 32-bit audio, Bixby virtual assistant, Samsung Pay, IP68 water & dust resistance, fingerprint sensor, iris/face recognition, pressure sensor

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Here are the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ cases in pictures

Every year, Samsung releases a plethora of new cases to accompany its new flagships. It’s no different with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, although there are a couple of new additions and improvements to existing cases. The new Alcantara cases are especially nice. They are available in several colors and offer a very premium feel. There are a couple of standard bumper cases, and an interesting addition to the lineup are the new two piece cases. These are two separate pieces that work through magnets and can be attached to the top and bottom at the back.

The Clew View Cover has received an upgrade: The see-through upper half that covers the display now has a rubber film that will prevent it from scratching the display. As expected, all of these covers fit the phones well, as official smartphone cases should.

Take a look at all the Galaxy S8 and S8+ cases below.

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Hands-on with Samsung’s Gear VR controller

The virtual reality experience on mobile is getting better, but the steps it has taken towards improvement have been small. For me, it feels like a long time ago that I tried the Gear VR before putting it away and never picking it up again. The main reason then was the lack of content, so I was pleasantly surprised to see how the amount and quality of content has gone up. Of course, the VR experience isn’t top notch yet, primarily because the display resolution on smartphones isn’t high enough yet.

While Samsung isn’t yet offering a solution to that problem, the company is, however, wanting to make controlling the Gear VR an easier affair. To this end, Samsung (and Oculus) introduced the Gear VR controller at MWC 2017. We weren’t able to play around with it at the time but were able to check it out alongside the Galaxy S8. The Gear VR controller is very light, and its design is very unassuming as you will see in the pictures below. It has a couple of buttons and a trackpad; the latter can be used to walk around in games or scroll between menus inside the Gear VR interface.

There are standard navigation buttons (home and back) below the trackpad, as well as buttons for volume control. At the back, you get a trigger similar to the one found on the Xbox and PlayStation controllers, one that you can use inside games (more than 70 games already support the controller) or in the menus as an enter button. The buttons have a nice feel to them, although the controller itself is too light. Light controllers aren’t great in my opinion, but overall, this thing exudes quality and is very convenient to use.

For those who use their Gear VR frequently (especially for gaming), the Gear VR controller is an easy-to-recommend product based on our hands-on experience. Naturally, we’ll have a better understanding of how the controller works in the long run once we review it, but for €39.99, we’d say it would be a wise investment for anyone regularly visiting virtual reality with their Gear VRs.

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