You wouldn’t have guessed it, but Samsung’s Galaxy S8 flagship is here. Yep, it’s been the leakiest of leaky launches this year, so I'd say you already know everything worth knowing. But before you close this page, I’ve finally got my paws on this year’s Galaxy S offering, and crikey am I impressed.
This Galaxy S8 launch was a bizarre one. I knew every insignificant little detail before I’d even properly set my eyes on the blooming thing. This year’s Galaxy S8 had been leaked to no end, and there wasn’t a stone left unturned by the time I sat down with it.
That’s not to spoil the allure, though. Those leaks haven’t done the Galaxy S8 justice. I heartily recommend getting some proper playtime like I have, and I guarantee you’ll be as taken aback as I was. This year's Galaxy S8 is a wondrous smartphone.
That big, headline-grabbing feature lies in that monstrous 5.8in, 1,440 x 2,960 display. It’s not the first display of this size – the Note 7 packed a 5.7in display after all – but there’s something special about this one. Try and spot those bezels: they’re virtually non-existent.
Yep, there’s barely a hint of bezel to be found. This is a 5.8in display crammed into what is essentially a 5.2in handset. How has Samsung done this? Well, a dash of engineering wizardry for starters.
LG followed a similar big-screened route with its G6, but Samsung’s Galaxy S8 raises the bar again, and there’s a big reason for that. Remember that Edge suffix of previous phones? That’s no longer a thing, as both the S8 and its plus-sized 6.2in brother have the wraparound 'Edge' display as standard.
It's fair to say that Samsung has got the S8's design bang on. Merging key design elements from past Samsung handsets, the S8 retains those perfect chamfered, rounded edges complete with a tapered edge on either side. Pair that with its slim 8mm profile, and you get a device that’s not only exquisitely elegant but also fits comfortably snug in the palm of your hand.
The S8 is gorgeous, then, but you have to pay a pretty penny for one. Priced at £689, that Galaxy S8 is stonkingly expensive. That’s almost £100 more than the Google Pixel, and £30 shy of Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus. This isn’t a flagship for the frugal.
Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Specifications, release date and price
So, what’s crammed inside that pricey Galaxy S8? Below, you’ll find a quick at-a-glance view of the Galaxy S8 specs and features, as well as UK release date and price information ahead of launch. Stay tuned after the specs to read my first impressions of the performance and an early verdict on Samsung’s Galaxy S8.
| Samsung Galaxy S8 | |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Display | 5.8in Quad HD+ (1,440 x 2,880) AMOLED |
| Camera | 12-megapixel f/1.7 |
| Storage | 64GB |
| Price | £689 |
Let’s start with that 10nm CPU. Samsung says the S8 is the first smartphone to use such a processor. Typically, we see improved power efficiency the smaller the manufacturing process, so we should see the 3,000mAh battery last a decent bout longer than its competitors. If Samsung’s previous launches are anything to go by, battery life will hardly be cut short.
READ NEXT:Best phone battery life 2017
That chip will come in two flavours. As is usually the case, US owners get the latest Qualcomm processor (in this case, a Snapdragon 835) while Europeans are treated to Samsung’s own Exynos 8835 chip. Early benchmarks seem to indicate that Samsung’s own chip is a smidge quicker than Qualcomm’s, although this will require proper testing come launch.
Samsung says we should see 10% faster processing speeds over last year’s model, and a sizeable 20% bump in graphics performance. Don’t forget about that 4GB of RAM, either. Expect a full performance analysis as soon as I get a handset in for review.
Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Bixby
It may sound like a snooty English butler, but Bixby is set to shake up the way you use your smartphone. In a similar realm to Google’s Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa, Bixby replaces the naff S Voice of previous Samsung models, and will provide proper control over the Galaxy S8 experience.
There’s a wealth of information and features buried in Bixby’s AI brain. Out on your travels and spot an interesting statue or building? Just snap a picture and tell Bixby to look up more details. Need some more loo roll? Take another picture and you’ll be directed to the appropriate shopping page for that product.
It’s not all about the camera, either. Bixby helps with calendar organisation, can set reminders, stream content to your TV and speakers, or control any IoT-connected device in your home. Best of all, there’s no awkward command to shout to activate it. Just press the Bixby button on the left side, and bark out your orders.
Sadly, the UK Bixby launch is unconfirmed at the time of writing. Korean and US owners get Bixby on day one, while UK English is expected to show up a little later. I’ll update this review as and when Bixby becomes available.
Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Camera
Scroll up and look at those specs again. Notice anything unusual about this year’s camera? Yep, it’s exactly the same as the S7. In an odd move, there’s no camera update this year with Samsung sticking to the same 12-megapixel rear snapper complete with f/1.7 aperture. The "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" mantra rings true here.
There is but one teensy difference that sets it slightly ahead of its predecessor, though. Chipset improvements have seen an interesting new feature brought to light, in the form of multi-shot image processing. Every time you press the shutter button, the camera will take three pictures, merging them all together to form the sharpest image possible.
READ NEXT:Best phone camera 2017
The latest version of Samsung’s camera software was also spotted. Akin to this year’s Galaxy A5 and A3 launches, specific shooting modes can be accessed via quick swipes to the left and right, rather than having to navigate through convoluted menus. Perfect for the one-handed photographer.
Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Early verdict
2017 is a decisive year for the South Korean tech firm. After an explosion-filled 2016, Samsung has a lot to prove, but the S8 looks to be the leg up the company is desperately searching for.
The S8 may see only marginal improvements over last year’s S7, but that monstrous 18:9 display on the front is well worth the price of admission alone. It’s faster and should have an extended battery life if that improved 10nm chip is anything to go by.
Is it worth your hard-earned cash, though? We’ll have to wait until release to decide, but initial impressions are encouraging. At first glance, the Samsung Galaxy S8 looks to be the crème de la crème of smartphone flagships, but it has a heck of a lot to prove.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 launches in the UK on 28 April for £689. Expect my full review in due course.
