Samsung Galaxy J8 hands-on impressions

If you go by its spec sheet, the Galaxy J8 looks like a slightly downgraded version of the Galaxy A6+ (our review) that seems targeted at those with a lower budget. The Galaxy J8 loses out on the 24-megapixel front camera of the A6+, has a polycarbonate body instead of a metal unibody, and the display is of lower resolution. The rest is pretty much the same, so I wasn’t very keen on doing a full review of the Galaxy J8 once it arrived at my doorstep.

But I switched to the Galaxy J8 just the same, and it’s been a day or so since I’ve been using the phone. What are my impressions of the device after the short time I’ve had with it? Well, that’s exactly what we will find out in this hands-on.

Galaxy J6 hands-on impressions

The Galaxy J8, simply put, feels like a mix of the Galaxy J6 and Galaxy A6+. It leans more towards the latter in terms of how big it is for one-handed usage, while losing the premium feel because of the plastic at the back. Where the Galaxy J6 feels nice to hold, the J8 is simply too large and also very light for its size, which takes away the reassuring heft one would like to have on such a smartphone.

Samsung also seems to have put some of the usual limitations of Galaxy J series phones on the Galaxy J8. There’s no auto brightness option, for one. And, while the same Snapdragon 450 chip powers the two, the clock speed on the J8 is lower and it also lacks support for 5GHz networks. The latter is a regular omission on Samsung’s J series phones, but here it’s a sign of how the J8 isn’t as similar to the A6+ as its specs may indicate.

The display also looks a tad pixelated because of the HD+ resolution on the 6-inch Infinity display screen. But it’s not too bad and is also likely to result in better performance over the Galaxy A6+. Of course, whether that’s actually the case remains to be seen. The same goes for the dual rear camera and the battery life, which I’m hoping are similar to the A6+’.

But with the kind of differences I’ve already noticed, I can only draw a conclusion after proper testing, so look forward for our full Galaxy J8 review in the coming weeks for a final verdict.

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The Galaxy J6 is one of Samsung’s most beautiful ‘plastic’ budget phones

With the Galaxy J6, Samsung has managed to do what everyone had been asking for years: make a budget phone that doesn’t let you down with the user experience. The Galaxy J6 is quick, has long battery life, and features a high-quality Infinity display, all of which combine to make the phone better than you would expect for its tag. And, after getting hold of the blue Galaxy J6, I’ve realized this is also one of Samsung’s most beautiful budget smartphones.

Galaxy J series phones now in more colors

The Galaxy J6 has a polycarbonate unibody, which is perhaps a first for a budget Galaxy considering those with a plastic back usually have a removable battery. The J6 doesn’t, and that’s part of the charm as far as the device’s build quality is concerned. And, as you can see in the pictures of the blue J6, it’s a pretty phone with the right color. Samsung has mostly stuck with black and gold as the color options for its budget devices, but that is no longer the case. It’s perhaps the Chinese competition that has driven Samsung to mix up the color choices, as companies like Xiaomi and Huawei have been releasing affordable phones in attractive colors for quite some time now.

The Galaxy J6 also comes in shades of violet and pink in some markets, and we’re sure it looks as good in those colors as well. What’s nice to see is that Samsung didn’t just focus on the J6’s looks. Again, as mentioned in our Galaxy J6 review, the phone is a package that defies expectations, and the new color options make it one of the Korean giant’s most beautiful “plastic” budget smartphones yet.

Take a look at the pictures, and let us know what you think!

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US-carrier bound Galaxy Tab A now spotted in a benchmark

Just a couple of days back, we came across what appeared to be the US-carrier specific 4G variants of the Galaxy Tab A (2017) on the Wi-Fi Alliance website. The Wi-Fi certification listings revealed SM-T387V, SM-T387T, SM-T387P, SM-T387AA, SM-T387VK, and SM-T387R4 model numbers, indicating a launch on all the major US carriers.

At the time of the report, we were not sure if Samsung will launch an upgraded variant of the Galaxy Tab A (2017), but now a Geekbench listing for the SM-T387V model, presumably the Verizon version, has revealed some information about the specifications. The available data appears to hint that the 4G variant will probably sport an upgraded processor and Android OS version.

Will run Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box

According to the benchmark, the US 4G version will come with a Snapdragon 430 chipset, which is a slight upgrade over the Snapdragon 425 in the Wi-Fi variant. The listing also confirms once again that the tablet will run Android Oreo 8.1 out of the box, up from Android Nougat 7.1 in the current model. The amount of RAM, however, remains the same across the variants at 2 GB.

We currently don’t know when this tablet is going to launch, but Wi-Fi Certification is always a good indicator the launch is around the corner. Also, if this tablet is a minor upgrade over the existing Galaxy Tab A (2017), it is possible the current model will start receiving the Android Oreo 8.1 update very soon.

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Galaxy S10’s triple-camera setup could include a ‘super wide angle’ lens

Recent reports have said the Galaxy S10 might come in three different sizes, with the largest one possibly sporting a triple camera setup at the back. Thanks to the Huawei P20 Pro, the benefits that can be achieved by having three cameras on a smartphone have been made clear (though Huawei also uses AI algorithms to further improve photos), and Samsung is said to be working on a competing setup for the Galaxy S10 camera. Now, an exclusive report from AllAboutSamsung is offering some technical details on the S10’s triple-camera setup.

Dual camera Galaxy S10 could feature a ‘super wide angle’ lens as well

According to the publication, the Galaxy S10’s top model could have the 12-megapixel Dual Aperture lens of the Galaxy S9 as the primary rear camera, with a 123-degree 16 MP (f/1.9) wide angle lens flanking it on one side and a 13 MP f/2.4 lens on the other. It’s possible the mid-sized Galaxy S10 could also come with the “super wide-angle” lens instead of the telephoto lens seen on the Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S9. That might not sit well with those who like the ability to zoom in on a subject with a single tap, while pleasing those who prefer to capture more of a scene in one take.

This wide angle lens won’t have either autofocus or optical image stabilization, much like the setup on LG’s flagships. Seeing as how Samsung’s current flagship cameras already capture a wider scene than most of the competition, getting rid of the telephone lens would be fixing a problem that doesn’t really exist. We’re guessing that’s where the triple-camera setup would come in handy, though, as far as giving consumers a reason to opt for the biggest Galaxy S10 model is concerned.

As AllAboutSamsung notes, these details aren’t final and could change by the time the Galaxy S10 arrives. But it’s interesting to hear about the kind of changes the tenth-anniversary Galaxy S flagship could bring on the imaging front, and we can expect to see more rumors about the same surfacing online in the months to come.

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Galaxy S10 fingerprint sensor may be mounted on the side

If recent reports are to be believed, Samsung is going to release three different models of the Galaxy S10 next year. The company is expected to launch an entry-level model of the Galaxy S10 in addition to the successors of the Galaxy S9 and the Galaxy S9+. Previous reports have suggested that this entry-level model may only feature a 5.8-inch flat Infinity Display while the other two may feature 6.2-inch and 6.44-inch curved Infinity Display respectively.

Samsung is expected to introduce its in-display fingerprint sensor with the Galaxy S10 next year. Word on the street in South Korea is that the display-based fingerprint sensor may only be present on the two premium models. The entry-level model is said to feature a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Galaxy S10 fingerprint sensor

Samsung got rid of the home button with the Galaxy S8 and relocated the fingerprint sensor to the back alongside the camera. It later did that for the Galaxy Note 8 as well. The Galaxy S9 maintains the status quo and so will the Galaxy Note 9.

The in-display fingerprint sensor is widely believed to be one of the new technologies that Samsung introduces with its 10th anniversary flagship. However, a report out of South Korea claims that this technology may not be present on the rumored entry-level Galaxy S10.

One would have expected Samsung to keep the fingerprint sensor at the back for this device in that case but it’s claimed that the company will move it to the side of the smartphone. If the claim is accurate then the fingerprint sensor would be placed on the frame of the device itself.

Some other manufacturers already put the fingerprint sensor in this place. Some Sony flagships have a fingerprint sensor in the power button that’s on the side. Motorola and Vivo have placed it below the power button on the frame.

Samsung will likely limit the in-display fingerprint sensor to the two premium models so that the entry-level model can be priced competitively. Not opting for expensive components such as a curved Infinity Display and a display-based fingerprint sensor will help with that. It may very well be the aim with this model, to lower the cost of entry for customers looking to switch to its flagships.

Samsung is yet to confirm, though, if it’s going to add a third model to the Galaxy S lineup next year. The Galaxy S10 is due in February at the Mobile World Congress 2019.

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Another Galaxy Note 9 variant gets certified by the FCC

The Galaxy Note 9 made its first FCC stop late last month when the model number SM-N960F was certified by the agency. Samsung’s upcoming flagship has picked up other certifications in the last couple of weeks as well. The Galaxy Note 9’s S Pen was recently certified by the FCC and the listing confirmed reports that the stylus will feature Bluetooth support.

Another variant of the Galaxy Note 9 has now been certified by the FCC. It bears model number SM-N9600 which will be destined for the Chinese market.

Galaxy Note 9 picking up required certifications

Samsung has already secured the Galaxy Note 9 China release as the device has picked up the 3C certification in the country. The 3C listing mentioned that the device supports power input of 9V DC/1.67A or 5V DC/2A with fast wireless charging.

We also reported yesterday that the Galaxy Note 9 support pages are now being listed on Samsung’s websites across the globe. With a little over a month to go before Samsung officially launches the device in August, the company has started laying the groundwork for the arrival of its new flagship.

We have already covered all of the expected Galaxy Note 9 features and specs in detail. Aside from the new S Pen that will be able to control music playback, the 4,000mAh battery appears to be the most exciting element. If the Galaxy Note 9 does feature a 4,000mah battery it would be a true powerhouse in its own right and would appeal to a lot of customers who value battery longevity.

Samsung is going to officially launch the Galaxy Note 9 at an event in New York on August 9. That’s also when the company is going to confirm the release date of the handset as well as the pricing information.

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