Samsung Announces the Launch of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+
Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are now official. The tech giant's range-topping Android smartphones will become available for pre-order tomorrow, on March 30. Retail sales will kick off on April 21.
The new smartphones feature new design language, headed by a large curved display with no side bezels and lack of front buttons. Their lengthy spec sheets also include a new intelligent interface called Bixby. The phones will be available in three colors โ Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, and Arctic Silver.
All-New Infinity Display
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ pack all-new curved Super AMOLED screen panels by Samsung โ a 5.8-inch unit for the former and a 6.2-inch one for the latter. Dubbed Infinity Display, the screens have an 18:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2,960 by 1,440 pixels.
With no side bezels, the curved Infinity Display dominates entirely the front of both devices, leaving you with the feeling that you are holding nothing but a screen. It also makes the phones feel a lot smaller than their display sizes suggest.
Cutting-Edge Processor
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are the first Android smartphones to hit the shelves with Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 835 chipset. Developed with a cutting-edge 10-nanometer manufacturing process, the SoC delivers improved performance compared to its predecessor, coupled with better energy efficiency. It also supports ultra fast Cat. 16 LTE network connectivity.
Samsung has equipped every Galaxy S8 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ultra fast UFS 2.1 internal storage. A microSD card slot for easy expansion is also on board.
Bixby
The latest Galaxy smartphones are the first Samsung products to feature Bixby โ an intelligent user interface that will allow users to complete almost every task on their device with voice commands. The new feature has a dedicated button on the side of both devices.
Bixby will be aware of the content on the device's display every time you open it. The assistant has been designed to work in tandem with touch controls
The new interface will launch with a handful of supported commands that work with pre-installed apps on the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Its functionality will expand further going forward.
Sleek New User Interface, SmartThings Integration
Both phones run Android Nougat out of the box. Google's OS has been dressed in Samsung's sleek new user interface with colorful, yet minimalist icons and a host of customization features.
The latest user interface has Samsung SmartThings integration. This means that you will be able to control supported appliances, including lights and robot vacuums from your phone.
A Multitude of Biometric Scanners
In addition to a fingerprint scanner placed alongside the camera on the back, both phones also feature an iris scanner. There's also the option to log into each device via facial recognition.
Of course, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ also have a heart rate sensor. It utilizes the LED flash on the back of each device.
Improved Front and Rear Cameras
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ feature a 12MP main camera with dual-pixel autofocus, bright f/1.7 lens, and improved image processing compared to the one found in their predecessors. Of course, the camera is capable of capturing 4K video.
A new 8MP image sensor is in charge of capturing selfies. Just like the main camera, it's sitting behind a fast f/1.7 lens.
All the Galaxy Essentials
As expected from high-end Samsung smartphones, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. This means that each device can spend up to an hour under 5 feet of water.
Wireless charging is also on present on both devices, as is support for fast battery top-ups via a USB-C cable. The Galaxy S8 has a 3,000 mAh battery, while the bigger model packs a 3,500 mAh one.
Samsung has kept the standard audio jack intact in the Galaxy S8 family. Every phone will come bundled with a pair of high-end earbuds by AKG.
A Desktop Dock
In addition to the usual bevy of protective cases, Samsung also introduce a desktop dock for Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The accessory features a duo of full USB inputs, an HDMI and Ethernet connector, as well as one USB-C ports.
Samsung has designed a custom desktop interface that turns on once you plug the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ into the dock. The tech giant has partnered with Microsoft, so Microsoft Office apps for Android appear with desktop interface. You can also run virtual Windows on both phones thanks to their powerful hardware.
Even More Immersive Gear VR Headset
Samsung unveiled a new Gear VR headset alongside the new phones. The accessory comes bundled with a wireless controller, which makes all virtual reality experiences more interactive.
The Gear VR controller comes with touchpad, as well as a trigger button. It also has a built-in accelerometer.
New Samsung Gear 360
Samsung unveiled a new Gear 360 camera with water resistant body and improved ergonomics. The gadget can capture immersive 4K videos, as well as immersive 360-degree photos.
The camera will be compatible will all high-end Samsung phones, going back to the Galaxy S6. It will also be compatible with iPhone.
Our Initial Impressions
We left our initial encounter with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ truly impressed. Both devices are a leap forward from the Galaxy S7 family, offering an even sleeker design, better hardware and ergonomics, as well as an improved user interface.
Combined, the phones' new features and available accessories are all but certain to appeal to the Galaxy faithful. They are also more than likely to entice new users to hop on the Samsung bandwagon.
Photos by Stefan Vazharov
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