Well, we’ll be honest: None of us here at SamMobile have taken the 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 as our main phone, so this post is about our opinion on the Galaxy S8+ after a couple of weeks of usage. Our team is spread across the Netherlands, the UK, Pakistan, and India, so it took a while before all of us had used the S8+ as our primary device. Now that we have, here’s what we think of Samsung’s 2017 flagship phone.
Danny Dorresteijn
I’ve been using Samsung phones for years now. I started using the Galaxy S8+ immediately after the announcement, and I still get the same feeling of amazement when I look at the phone’s design. It looks great, especially at night. Like the phone’s design, my home screen is set up cleanly as well, thanks to the fact that there is no longer a dedicated app drawer button.
Battery life has been way better on the S8+ than on the S8 that I used for our review. I’m not using the fingerprint sensor, and I was quick to email Samsung about the stupid placement of the fingerprint sensor. I’m using the iris sensor and switching to face unlocking from time to time, and both work pretty well. I only hope Samsung will introduce the option to use both (one as primary, other as the fallback option) through an update.
My overall impressions about the phone are still great. Compared to the Galaxy S7 edge, this phone feels special even after a month, and I’m very happy with my Galaxy S8+.
Martin Reinders
I have had the Galaxy S8+ for about a month now, and I must say I’m like it a lot, despite my skepticism early on. The first thing I did was put a case on the phone; I hate scratches, and the phone also becomes easier to grip. Next, I set up smart lock with my Gear S3, which lets me get past the lock screen without any verification. That fingerprint isn’t in the best place, although I have been getting used to it as I use the device more.
I have large hands, but it took some time for me to get used to the size of the S8+ (coming from the S7 edge). I adapted to the increased size fairly quickly, although the phone is a tight fit in my jeans pocket. Battery life has been great, too; after a few charges, I can now get to the end of the day with ease.
I had the task of reviewing the Galaxy S8+, which meant I needed to make to do with Samsung’s TouchWiz launcher. Although Samsung has gotten many things right this time around, I miss the customization of third-party launchers, so I switched to Action Launcher after the review period. The rest of the software is pretty quick, and even after a month, I don’t see any slowdowns.
Way to go, Samsung!
Abhijeet Mishra
Nothing had prepared me for how premium the Galaxy S8+ feels in hand, and it’s the first Samsung flagship that I’ve owned that I keep taking out of its case now and then. There’s just something about using the phone that I can’t describe; that’s in a good way, and Samsung’s smoother and faster software helps add to the overall feel of using the handset. Battery life has been great, too. I’ve been using the phone with two SIMs and Always On Display enabled, and I can easily get by to the next day with around 3 hours of screen time.
That fingerprint sensor is placed way too high for me, and I didn’t even try to get used to it. I’m instead using the option to hard press the home button to unlock the phone by bypassing the lock screen, which is a boon as I’ve always hated keeping my phone secured with a pattern, fingerprint or other security method. I’ve set up the iris scanner for Samsung Pay, and even in the few times I’ve used it, I have to say the iris scanner works quite well.
My main complaint about the Galaxy S8+ is something only Indian users suffer from, and that’s the lack of the quick launch camera feature. Actually, come to think of it, I think the front-facing camera is somewhat finicky, too. I love the increased details it offers over the 5 MP selfie cameras from previous Samsung phones, but the autofocus system can sometimes blur out photos by trying to focus at the last moment. My phone has also picked up minor scratches at the back in a short span of time, but I guess that can be attributed to the generally weaker scratch resistance that Gorilla Glass 5 seems to offer.
Other than that, I’m in love with this phone. Samsung has a winner on its hands, one that feels totally worth the asking price.
Adnan Farooqui
There were two main reasons why I picked the Galaxy S8+ over the Galaxy S8. I wanted a bigger display so that I could have the maximum possible screen real estate for content consumption. I also wanted a bigger battery and felt that the 3,500mAh battery in the Galaxy S8+ would meet my requirements.
I’ve previously mentioned how I had a big smile on my face when I unboxed and held the Galaxy S8+ in my hands for the very first time. It really does take you by surprise and you feel that your money has been well spent. I’ve been using it for over a week now and have no major complaints. The device is nice and quick, the software is much better than it used to be on previous Samsung smartphones, the cameras are great, and the display is impeccable.
The novelty of features like facial recognition and iris scanning has worn off and I find myself using the fingerprint scanner. Despite the sensor being placed on the back, it doesn’t feel like too much of a chore, and you get used to it within a few days. What I don’t like is that Bixby has been limited to just a couple of markets so despite paying almost $1,000 for an unlocked Galaxy S8+, I can’t use one of its biggest features.
Other than that, it’s two thumbs up for the Galaxy S8+.
Asif Iqbal Shaik
The Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ look extremely futuristic, and it has been a while since I’ve felt that way about a smartphone’s design. Even though these phones have larger displays, they are more ergonomic than their predecessors. Right from the way the glass panels meet seamlessly with the metal edges to the way the phones have gentle curves all over, it goes on to show the sheer amount of design and engineering effort Samsung has put into these smartphones. Every time I look at the Galaxy S8 and S8+, I can’t help but think how far Samsung has left the competition behind in smartphone design.
However, I personally feel that Samsung focused a bit too much on just the design, leaving out important bits, like improvement to battery life. I expected better battery life than what I am able to achieve. Also, the whole biometrics authentication scene on the S8 is kind of imperfect right now. Since the fingerprint sensor is badly placed and the iris scanner doesn’t work well under bright sunlight, I am forced to juggle between the two. I really hope that Samsung improves this by implementing an in-screen fingerprint reader in its next phone. I love the new AKG-tuned earphones, but I am slightly disappointed there are no stereo speakers.
After using the S8 and S8+ for almost a month, I think they’re absolutely impressive devices (the best out there), but not perfect yet. Samsung has definitely put its step in the right direction with the new phones, but it can do even better with just a few improvements here are there, and that’s why I am so stoked about the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy S9.
Josh Levenson
The Galaxy S8+ is the best smartphone I’ve ever owned. I’d even go out on a limb and say it’s the first device Samsung has made to date that’s capable of competing with the build quality of the iPhone. Not only does it look fantastic, but it’s also fast and performs well under pressure. It’s the full package.
The only downside for me is that many developers are yet to optimise their applications for the handset’s 18.5:9 Infinity Display. Sure, battery life could be a tad better, but as I mentioned in my first impressions post, Adaptive Fast Charging makes up for having to carry around a charger.
Overall, I’m very impressed with the Galaxy S8+ and would advise anyone looking to upgrade to do so.
As you can see, all of us here at SamMobile love the Galaxy S8+. Our original review may not have been as positive as our current impressions, but we would chalk that up to the fact that we had simply expected too much when the handsets were announced. Samsung has done a great job with its latest flagships, although we would advise everyone to go for the larger Galaxy S8, unless they like carrying around a charger.
What are your thoughts on the Galaxy S8 or S8+?
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