Samsung Galaxy S8

[Mammasaid]

TheAngryDog said:

ZesPak said:

Ok, had mine for a day now.

First impressions: it's the first time I can remember "upgrading", it didn't really feel like a leap. More like a small incremental upgrade. It's deffo a lot more compact than my 6P while I don't feel I'm losing out on a lot of screen real estate.

Pro:

• Camera is deffo a lot faster at taking pictures
• More compact with a lot of screen real estate
• Waterproof
• Wireless charging
• Better reception in poor reception buildings
• Better DAC for listening to music
• the screen is just better, and it gets retina-burning bright. Don't need that now but sure will come in handy when I'm outside in the sun.
• The box was very complete, no skimping out on anything, even got some really good AKG headphones with it. Probably the best I've ever had boxed with a phone.
• Vibration is a lot better than it was on the 6P
• At first I wasn't sure about the tall screen, but it's actually brilliant: you still have some space above when a keyboard pops up and you have more space to put two apps on top of each other, ex on this forum and youtube at the same time.

Con:

• Seriously samsung... for every very good standard android app there apparently is a half baked samsung app (which only target seems to be to get you to create a samsung account). FFS
• Seem to have a lot of "pocket dialing", the phone doing all sorts of stuff while locked and in my pocket. I can probably turn off the screen stuff but still getting used to the menu's
• No front stereo speakers
• Finger print is a lot more flush and a bit off centre. Will probably get used to it but not as easy as on the 6P.
• What is this Bixbi stuff and how do I destroy it, kill the people that were responsible and rape their wife and burn their children?

Edited by ZesPak on Friday 19th January 15:27

Bixby (and its infernal button) and the finger print scanner location is what puts me off this phone. I am definitely more tempted by the offerings from OnePlus, Honor and Huawei tbh.

Agree with all of the above, have mine 2 months now. Bixby doesn't worry me now as I've just got used to not pushing the button, and now I have Nova launcher installed, the Samsung app are all hidden. I've also got used to the fingerprint scanner location (being left handed probably helps in this respect).

[Luke.]

TheAngryDog said:

Bixby (and its infernal button) and the finger print scanner location is what puts me off this phone. I am definitely more tempted by the offerings from OnePlus, Honor and Huawei tbh.

Don't let it put you off what is a truly fantastic phone. I find the fingerprint sensor fine and that's on the S8+ and I ain't got the biggest hands. And Bixby can be disabled. Go for it.

[Herbs]

If you get a Spigen case, then it helps align your finger up every time.

[davek_964]

Bixby is pointless but as mentioned you can disable it now.

I find the fingerprint scanner perfectly good.

It really is a great phone.

[Mr Happy]

TheAngryDog said:

Bixby (and its infernal button) and the finger print scanner location is what puts me off this phone. I am definitely more tempted by the offerings from OnePlus, Honor and Huawei tbh.

OnePlus are a company that are perpetually shooting themselves in the foot with larger and larger calibre weapons as they go.

Not only was the OnePlus 2 found to have ridiculously invasive spyware preinstalled, the OnePlus 5 (or 5 something) also did, slurping user data and sending it back to a server controlled by AliExpress/Alibaba, they've also apparently had their site compromised and card details leaked recently as well: https://www.fidusinfosec.com/oneplus-checkout-hack...

Speaking as the previous owner of both a OnePlus One and OnePlus 2 - I'd never buy another device from either OnePlus or Oppo (their parent company) ever, despite the price/performance ratio. My S8+ does everything I need a phone to do - couldn't be happier with it.

[xjay1337]

Yes there are several apps, and also avaiability within the Native OS, to disable Bixby fully.

I have a Spigen case and a compatible screen protector, still an excellent phone, fast, lasts long, and waterproof. Great for rubbing it in my Mrs face when she had a heart attack from nearly dropping her phone in the sink, I simply threw mine in there and said "HAHAHAHAH".

It's an exciting life.

[Jonnny]

Herbs said:

If you get a Spigen case, then it helps align your finger up every time.

Yep, Spigen Thin Fit.. Never have an issue with the FPS now.

It's a brilliant phone, but I am now looking forward to the S9 next month. Think I'm going to go Plus on the next one.

I really hope it gets something to rival Apples Portrait mode, that does produce some damn good pictures.

[ZesPak]

TheAngryDog said:

Bixby (and its infernal button) and the finger print scanner location is what puts me off this phone. I am definitely more tempted by the offerings from OnePlus, Honor and Huawei tbh.

I was looking at the oneplus, but the S8 is actually a better phone in every conceivable way. With the cashback, the price isn't that far off either.

Waterproof, wireless charging, amazing camera and screen,...

[TheAngryDog]

ZesPak said:

TheAngryDog said:

Bixby (and its infernal button) and the finger print scanner location is what puts me off this phone. I am definitely more tempted by the offerings from OnePlus, Honor and Huawei tbh.

I was looking at the oneplus, but the S8 is actually a better phone in every conceivable way. With the cashback, the price isn't that far off either.

Waterproof, wireless charging, amazing camera and screen,...

Where is the cash Back from?

I looked at the S8 in cpw but I wasn't blown away by it. I was more impressed by the wife's Huawei P10.

I'm going to wait for the P20 and S9.

[ZesPak]

TheAngryDog said:

Where is the cash Back from?

I looked at the S8 in cpw but I wasn't blown away by it. I was more impressed by the wife's Huawei P10.

I'm going to wait for the P20 and S9.

Just looked into it... not in all regions, I bought mine in NL

[Chicken Chaser]

I'm well aware this is an old thread, but still relevant.

I've been offered an S8 for £11 a month effectively, for 24 months as i'd be retaining the same contract deal I currently have as Sim only.

I'm currently using a Moto G5 plus, which is an excellent phone for the £180 I paid for it, does nearly everything I ask of it and is almost a totally standard Android interface, but the camera is probably the only disappointment. Its good for the price, but its poor at low light and I really struggle to get a non-blurred photo out of it when the light drops.

Is it still worth going for the S8? It seems like an incredible price considering what they are sim free (currently £480)

[Dromedary66]

The S8 is a great phone so unless you were planning to get an S10 or Galaxy X (if that is to be believed) next Spring, then I'd say go for it.

However you mention low light poor quality photos. I'd say all phone cameras are terrible in low light conditions due to the miniscule size of the sensor.

I have to use the flash in low light or the quality is shoddy on my S8+. So don't expect that to be amazing, although I am not sure what the G5 is like in low light as to whether there would be a significant improvement there.

[castex]

Chicken Chaser said:

I'm well aware this is an old thread, but still relevant.

I've been offered an S8 for £11 a month effectively, for 24 months as i'd be retaining the same contract deal I currently have as Sim only.

I'm currently using a Moto G5 plus, which is an excellent phone for the £180 I paid for it, does nearly everything I ask of it and is almost a totally standard Android interface, but the camera is probably the only disappointment. Its good for the price, but its poor at low light and I really struggle to get a non-blurred photo out of it when the light drops.

Is it still worth going for the S8? It seems like an incredible price considering what they are sim free (currently £480)

I've a year to go on, I think, £27 per month. No regrets; it's a fab phone.

[Chicken Chaser]

Dromedary66 said:

The S8 is a great phone so unless you were planning to get an S10 or Galaxy X (if that is to be believed) next Spring, then I'd say go for it.

However you mention low light poor quality photos. I'd say all phone cameras are terrible in low light conditions due to the miniscule size of the sensor.

I have to use the flash in low light or the quality is shoddy on my S8+. So don't expect that to be amazing, although I am not sure what the G5 is like in low light as to whether there would be a significant improvement there.

Yeah I know its not going to rival a DSLR, or even a compact but I've seen some rather tasty night shots with these newer top of the range smartphone cameras. The G5 ramps the ISO up and introduces a lot of grain, but still cant seem to manage a decent shot. I'd never have paid £500+ for a phone when these budget phones probably do 80-90% of what the top ones do for under £200 but at £264 it seems to be a bit of a steal.

[Oakey]

Chicken Chaser said:

Yeah I know its not going to rival a DSLR, or even a compact but I've seen some rather tasty night shots with these newer top of the range smartphone cameras. The G5 ramps the ISO up and introduces a lot of grain, but still cant seem to manage a decent shot. I'd never have paid £500+ for a phone when these budget phones probably do 80-90% of what the top ones do for under £200 but at £264 it seems to be a bit of a steal.

How do you know they're really from these phones (unless you've had a go with one physically)? I saw an advert on TV recently for a smartphone that was boasting about it's camera and showing all these wonderful images and at the bottom of the screen was a disclaimer along the lines of "additional hardware / software used for images". I think it might have been for the iPhone.

[cobra kid]

Oakey said:

How do you know they're really from these phones (unless you've had a go with one physically)? I saw an advert on TV recently for a smartphone that was boasting about it's camera and showing all these wonderful images and at the bottom of the screen was a disclaimer along the lines of "additional hardware / software used for images". I think it might have been for the iPhone.

I think the additional hardware was a Nikon D90 SLR!

[Chicken Chaser]

S8 arrived the other day and I've been having a good play with it the last couple of days, trying to set it up as best as I can as I usually prefer vanilla Android.

Pretty pleased, don't like the rear finger scanner as the Moto G5 plus could be scanned still sat on the table. Needs to be picked up for any biometrics.

Looking for a case now. Like some of the Spigen options but want a glass protector on it and it seems to be one or the other? Anyone found a protector which is glass and works with the Spigen neo hybrid or rugged case?

[Mr Happy]

Chicken Chaser said:

S8 arrived the other day and I've been having a good play with it the last couple of days, trying to set it up as best as I can as I usually prefer vanilla Android.

Pretty pleased, don't like the rear finger scanner as the Moto G5 plus could be scanned still sat on the table. Needs to be picked up for any biometrics.

Looking for a case now. Like some of the Spigen options but want a glass protector on it and it seems to be one or the other? Anyone found a protector which is glass and works with the Spigen neo hybrid or rugged case?

The Whitestone Dome glass protector works with the spigen neo hybrid, that's the exact setup I have on my S8+

[Chicken Chaser]

Mr Happy said:

The Whitestone Dome glass protector works with the spigen neo hybrid, that's the exact setup I have on my S8+

Ouch at £40!

[Dromedary66]

Dropped my S8+ from pocket height onto kitchen tiles, has survived so far. Seems to be a sturdy beast.