Samsung Galaxy S8 Review: A Comprehensive Look at Samsung's Flagship

In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, finding a device that excels in every aspect can be challenging. The Samsung Galaxy S8 aims to be that ultimate smartphone, and after extensive use, here is a detailed review of its features and performance.

Design The Samsung Galaxy S8 presents an unparalleled design, distinguishing itself from other phones on the market. Its narrower body, taller curved edges, and reduced bezels create a device that is both aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically comfortable. Despite being slightly thicker and heavier than its predecessor, the glass front and back, combined with aluminum edges, provide a seamless and luxurious feel. Samsung has opted for a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and on-screen buttons, resulting in an impressive screen-to-body ratio of over 83%.

Display The 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display of the Galaxy S8 is arguably the best in the smartphone industry. With a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio, the display offers sharpness, vibrant colors, excellent contrast, and impressive brightness, even in outdoor conditions. Users can adjust the display settings, including blue light filter, screen modes, and resolution options. However, videos with a 16:9 aspect ratio may require cropping or pillar boxing.

Performance Equipped with an Exynos 8895 Octa-core processor and Mali-G71 MP20 GPU, paired with 4GB of RAM, the Galaxy S8 delivers exceptional performance. The phone handles app loading, switching, and multitasking with ease, and gaming experiences are smooth without glitches or frame drops. However, prolonged gaming or camera use can cause the device to warm up.

Hardware The Galaxy S8 features a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which, while innovative, can be problematic as it often smudges the camera lens. The device retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and features a loudspeaker on the bottom, though it is not the loudest. The virtual home button is pressure-sensitive, providing strong haptic feedback, and can be activated by pressing the area where it resides.

Camera With a 12MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera, both featuring Dual Pixel autofocus, the Galaxy S8 delivers outstanding photography results. The rear camera produces sharp, vibrant images with good depth, excelling in various lighting conditions and scenarios. The camera app includes features like selective focus, slow motion, and HDR, and offers optical image stabilization for video recording. The front camera is excellent for selfies, with fast autofocus and detailed images, though some fine-tuning may be needed.

Software Running on Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung Experience 8.1, the Galaxy S8 offers a refined user interface with sleek animations and improved navigation. The app drawer is easily accessible, and the edge panel provides quick access to people, tasks, and apps. However, the Bixby assistant, while promising, is still under development and can be annoying due to accidental activations. Users wish for an option to disable or remap the Bixby button.

Battery The Galaxy S8 is powered by a 3000mAh battery, which takes about an hour and a half to charge fully using Samsung's Adaptive Fast Charging. During testing, the phone provided around four hours of screen-on time over a 15-hour usage period, which is somewhat disappointing. Wireless charging is supported but requires an additional pad.

Extra Features The Galaxy S8 includes advanced security features like face and iris unlock. The iris scanner is intriguing but can be slow in daily use. Bluetooth 5.0 offers faster pairing, extended range, and the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously. The phone also comes with high-quality AKG earphones. In Nepal, the device is offered with breakage insurance and free Ncell data.

Verdict The Samsung Galaxy S8 is nearly the ultimate smartphone, falling short only in areas like front-firing stereo speakers, fully functional Bixby, better battery life, and improved fingerprint sensor placement. With features like Bluetooth 5.0, IP68 certification, and AKG headphones, it remains a top choice in the current market. In Nepal, where alternatives like the LG G6 are unavailable, and upcoming devices like the Sony Xperia XZ Premium and HTC U11 are yet to arrive, the Galaxy S8 stands as the king of the mobile market until the iPhone 8 is released.

What We Liked

• The stunning design, undoubtedly the best-looking phone used
• The Infinity Display, with sharp, bright colors and excellent contrast
• Smooth performance and top-notch gaming experience
• The best camera performance reviewed, with reliable results in all conditions

What We Disliked

• Poorly positioned fingerprint sensor, leading to frequent smudges
• Lack of an option to disable or remap the Bixby button
• Only achieving around four hours of screen-on time, which is below expectations for a flagship
• Presence of duplicate apps causing confusion

Alternatives to Consider

• iPhone 7Plus: Offers a better user experience with iOS, timely updates, higher performance, superior cameras with 2x optical zoom, and better battery life, though at a slightly higher price.
• Huawei P10 Plus: Expected to launch soon, featuring 6GB RAM, a larger 3750mAh battery, Leica-engineered dual lenses, stereo speakers, and a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, likely priced competitively with the S8.
• Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge: Available at a reduced price, these previous flagships offer good displays and cameras, making them valuable options for those on a budget.