Image used with permission of the copyright holderSamsung had one of the most successful years for a company in 2016, excelling out of the gate with the impressive Galaxy S7, before spending the last half of the year behind the Galaxy Note. 7 fiasco.
The South Korean tech giant needed to hit it all out of the park with this year’s flagship, so it took its time, neglecting to reveal the Galaxy S8 during Mobile World Congress in February, and revising its security protocol in the meantime. Now, finally, Samsung is back — and making a statement in the process. The Galaxy S8 appears to be one of the most significant steps forward, especially in design, of any new product in the company’s flagship line.
But last year’s Galaxy wasn’t bad either, and while the S8’s exterior certainly fits the revolutionary bill, it remains to be seen whether Samsung’s latest can boast significant enough improvements to warrant an upgrade – especially when the S7 can be had for significantly less after a year on the market. How do they compare? We meet them head-to-head to find out.
Glasses
Samsung Galaxy S7
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Samsung Galaxy S8
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| Size | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 millimeters (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 inches) | 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm (5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 5.36 ounces (152 g) | 5.47 ounces |
| Screen | 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED | 5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 pixels | 2960 x 1440 pixels |
| AXIS | Android 6.0 Marshmallow (upgradable to 7.0 Nougat) | Android 7.0 Nougat |
| Storage | 32/64 GB | 64 GB |
| microSD card slot | That | That |
| NFC support | That | That |
| Processor | Qualcomm MSM8996, Snapdragon 820 (USA) Samsung Exynos 8890 (International) | Qualcomm MSM8988, Snapdragon 835 (USA), Exynos 8895 (International) |
| working memory | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, GSM, HSPA+ | Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ |
| Camera | Front 5 MP, rear 12 MP with OIS | Front 8 MP, rear 12 MP with OIS |
| Video | 2160p 4K UHD | 2160p 4K UHD |
| Bluetooth | Yes, version 4.2 | Yes, version 5.0 |
| Fingerprint sensor | That | That |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate | Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, iris scanner |
| Water resistant | Yes, IP68 | Yes, IP68 |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,000 mAh |
| port | Micro USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Fast charging | That | That |
| Wireless charging | Yes, Qi and PMA | Yes, Qi and PMA |
| Market | Google Play Store | Google Play Store |
| Offers in color | Black, white, gold, silver | Black, Silver, Orchid Gray (US models), Blue, Gold (International models) |
| Availability | AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile | AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Samsung |
| Price | 570 dollars | Starting at $720 |
| DT review | 4 out of 5 stars | First recording |
In the US, the Galaxy S8 swaps its predecessor’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 system-on-chip for the newer, more powerful 835. Elsewhere, the S8 will get Samsung’s new Exynos 8895, replacing the 8890 seen in the international variant of the Galaxy S7. Both Qualcomm and Samsung chips were comparable in performance last year, and it seems to be the same this time around.
Whichever S8 you buy will be capable of seriously fast download speeds over LTE — up to 1,000 Mbps, to be exact. Carriers will soon start rolling out their gigabit-class LTE networks in limited capacities, and – unlike the S7 – the S8 is future-ready with the necessary hardware to take advantage of the new infrastructure that will roll out over the next few years.
The Galaxy S8 also uses Bluetooth 5.0, which offers improved range and data transfer, although not at the same time. It’s still far better than the Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity on the S7.
In terms of memory, the S8 retains the 4GB of RAM from its predecessor. However, Samsung thankfully followed the example of Apple and LG and decided to increase the base storage in the S8 to 64 GB, compared to half in the S7. As usual, if you want, you can add a MicroSD card to increase that total.
The extra processing power, future-proof LTE connectivity and more stock storage make the Galaxy S8 the clear winner in the specs race.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Design and display
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
Just as the Galaxy S7 had a Quad HD Super AMOLED panel, so does its successor. But that doesn’t mean they share the same resolution — the S8 has a slightly higher resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels. That difference is due to the size of the Edge screen, which is used by both the S8 and S8 Plus.
The S7 offers a 5.1-inch screen, while the S8 has a much larger 5.8-inch curved screen. While that may sound too big, the Galaxy S8 is quite compact because Samsung has massively reduced the bezels — so you get more screen in a similar frame. To make room for this edge-to-edge panel, Samsung had to remove the physical home button. He chose a pressure-sensitive home button on the screen, similar to Android’s on-screen buttons. Meanwhile, the fingerprint sensor has been moved to the rear, to the right of the centrally placed camera.
Otherwise, these phones look pretty similar from the sides and back, right down to the materials. Samsung’s trademark polished glass covers the back of the S8, surrounded by a ring of aluminum.
The screen is really the factor that differentiates the design of both models. The S8’s wider, 18:5:9 aspect ratio lets you watch more content, potentially making multitasking easier.
As long as you can put up with the fingerprint sensor moving to the back, the S8’s luxurious display and stunning screen-to-bezel ratio make for a device that’s both more useful and more aesthetically pleasing than the one it replaces.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Battery life and charging
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
The Galaxy S8’s battery retains the 3,000mAh capacity of its predecessor, but will benefit from Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 that debuted with the Snapdragon 835. According to the chipmaker, this latest iteration of its fast charging technology is 20 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than the previous and can provide five hours of use in five minutes. Like the S7, the S8 will also support wireless charging.
The Snapdragon 835’s 10nm manufacturing process also makes it slightly smaller than the 14nm chip featured in last year’s Galaxy S7, leading to a 25 percent reduction in power consumption, according to Qualcomm. All of these tweaks should help keep the S8 ready and running longer on a charge than the outgoing flagship, despite the battery size remaining unchanged.
When we reviewed the S7 last year, we found its battery life to be satisfactory – if a bit unimpressive – and averaged just over a day of use. A more fuel-efficient processor and improved fast charging capabilities mean the latest Samsung is likely to beat that benchmark.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Camera, software and price
Camera
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
The rear camera of the Galaxy S8 still has 12 megapixels, while the front camera has increased from 5 to 8 megapixels. We were impressed with the performance of the Galaxy S7 last year, especially in low-light conditions, thanks in no small part to the f/1.7 aperture of the rear lens. The S8 doesn’t improve the rear camera, instead focusing on changes on the front.
Samsung has added autofocus to the selfie camera on the S8, making it easier to take a group photo. While the improvement to the primary camera seems to be more iterative this year, the front camera boasts clear improvements that make the S8 a more versatile option in everyday use.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Software
Samsung started rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to the Galaxy S7 in January, and unsurprisingly, the Galaxy S8 will launch with the same version. While Samsung’s core suite of apps will see some modest improvements, such as Music, S Health and the new Family Care parental control app, the main difference between the two models is the addition of Samsung’s personal assistant, Bixby.
Samsung is touting Bixby as a big improvement over its previous S Voice service, and much of that has to do with Bixby’s artificial intelligence. According to the company, Bixby can perform any action you normally do with a tap on supported apps. Users can instantly call up Bixby via a dedicated button on the side of the device, and you can even launch it in the camera app to read QR codes, recognize objects, and more. However, weeks after the S8’s launch, some Bixby features are still not live, including voice recognition — so it looks like you’ll have to wait a little longer if you want to get the most out of Samsung’s new personal assistant.
Ultimately, we’re not sure Bixby will be useful, but there’s also DeX — a dock for the S8 that enables desktop Android mode on an external monitor. Samsung also said it emphasized a more coherent design theme on the S8’s user interface. With all these improvements, Samsung’s latest flagship is the best in terms of software.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
Price and availability
The Galaxy S8 was released on April 21 with all four major carriers in the US. It is available in three colors: Black Sky, Orchid Gray and Arctic Silver. Carrier prices range from $720 to $750 — $100 more than the Galaxy S7 at launch.
Samsung is demanding a premium for this year’s flagship, making it one of the more expensive smartphones on the market today. While the S8’s display and design are vastly improved, the practical benefits aren’t quite as clear, as the S7 was already a powerful device with smooth performance.
With that in mind, the S7 can be had for a lot less — just $570 direct from Samsung and a few dollars more from carriers. Amazon is currently even selling the phone for $430. If you’re not so enamored with the looks of the S8, the S7 is a great alternative.
Winner: Samsung Galaxy S7
Overall winner: Samsung Galaxy S8
After seven iterations of Samsung’s boundary-pushing smartphone — some less significant steps forward than others — the Galaxy S8 delivers impressive design, the latest and greatest in artificial intelligence and class-leading silicon.
The Galaxy S8 is a better device — but is it a few hundred dollars better? That’s a question only you can answer, given your usage patterns and what you prioritize in a smartphone. The upside of this comparison is that no matter which Galaxy you choose, you probably won’t be disappointed.
The article was originally published by Adam Ismail on 03/30/2017. Updated 4/25/2017: Updated information about Bixby in the Software section.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn