2024-11-07

Samsung Galaxy S8

Samsung Galaxy S8 is an Android smartphone manufactured by Samsung Electronics as the eighth generation of the flagship Galaxy S series. The device was unveiled on March 29, 2017 as a direct successor to the Galaxy S7 model. The launch in the North American market took place on April 21, 2017, followed by a gradual rollout of the phone in other international markets in April and May of the same year.

Major innovations

The S8 introduced significant design changes and major hardware improvements over its predecessor. The standout feature was the larger screen with increased aspect ratio and curved edges. The manufacturer has also implemented innovative biometric security methods in the form of an iris scanner and facial recognition system.

New features and solutions

An important innovation was the introduction of the Bixby voice assistant, for which a dedicated physical button was provided on the device's body. Samsung has also decided to change the charging standard from Micro-USB to the more modern USB-C connector. A Samsung DeX docking station was unveiled along with the phone, allowing the smartphone to be used in a desktop-like mode, with keyboard and mouse support.

Samsung Galaxy S8 i S8+

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

By DoerNoc - http://doernoc.deviantart.com/art/Galaxy-S8-and-S8-Plus-673359729?ga_submit_new=10%3A1491521186, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=57773089

Active version

on August 8, 2017, a ruggedized version of the device, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Active, was unveiled, available exclusively from select carriers in the United States. This model featured increased shock, water and dust resistance, as well as a modified design with a metal frame and special texture to improve grip. Unlike the standard S8, the Active version lacks a curved screen in favor of a flat display protected by a reinforced bezel.

First party

The smartphone received a positive reception from reviewers, who particularly appreciated its design, display quality and ergonomic dimensions. The updated software and optimized camera were also recognized. However, the duplication of system apps and the initially limited capabilities of the Bixby assistant have been criticized. Also controversial was the rear-mounted fingerprint reader, located adjacent to the camera lens. After the device's release, it was discovered that security systems based on facial and iris scanning could be fooled with properly crafted photographs of the user.

Development history

Pre-release period

Ahead of the official launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8, industry media have been heavily covering reports and leaks from industry insiders. In December 2016, the SamMobile portal published information about the alleged abandonment of the 3.5mm headphone jack, which later turned out to be a false rumor.

First leaks

The turning point came in January 2017, when the British newspaper The Guardian revealed detailed information about the upcoming flagship. According to the publication, the smartphone was to receive a larger infinity display with minimal bezels and an iris scanner. Also confirmed is the presence of 64 GB of internal memory expandable with a microSD card, a USB-C port and the implementation of a smart assistant called Bixby.

More information

Shortly thereafter, the VentureBeat website showed the first images of the device, revealing the lack of physical navigation buttons and home button, as well as the relocation of the fingerprint reader to the rear panel of the case. In mid-March, well-known whistleblower Evan Blass shared information on Twitter about available color variants.

Premiere and introduction to markets

The official launch of the Galaxy S8 took place on March 29, 2017, and pre-sales began the next day. The phone hit the US market on April 21, 2017. Following earlier listings in the Best Buy store, Samsung launched a pre-sale of unlocked models for the U.S. market on May 9, with availability starting May 31.

International expansion

The manufacturer has planned a systematic introduction of the device to more international markets. on April 21, the smartphone made its debut in South Korea, Canada and Taiwan. A week later, on April 28, the Galaxy S8 appeared in the UK, Australia, Ireland and Russia, and a day later in Singapore. In the first days of May, the device went on sale in Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, the Philippines and Thailand. may 12 saw the premiere in Brazil, and May 25 in China and Hong Kong. The Japanese debut took place on June 8, 2017.

Active version history

In July 2017, photos of a beefed-up version of the Galaxy S8 Active were leaked on the platform Reddit. The following month, operator AT&T accidentally confirmed the existence of this model through documentation of a promotional campaign. Official pre-sales of the Galaxy S8 Active, initially exclusive to AT&T, began on August 8, 2017, with retail sales starting on August 11. In September, VentureBeat reported on the device's planned availability on T-Mobile's network starting in November, which Samsung officially confirmed in early November, also adding information on availability with carrier Sprint.

Technical specifications

Display

Samsung Galaxy S8 features a 1440p OLED display with an unusual 18.5:9 (37:18) aspect ratio. The 5.8-inch screen featured curved side edges and minimal bezels, which Samsung described as an "infinity display." According to specialized portal DisplayMate, the display offered the widest native color gamut, the highest peak brightness, the best contrast ratio in ambient light, the highest resolution, the lowest reflectivity and the highest contrast ratio among smartphones available at the time.

Processor and memory

At the heart of the device was an octa-core Exynos 8895 processor, although the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip was used in North American and East Asian markets. Both chips were manufactured by Samsung using a 10-nanometer technology process. The smartphone features 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage expandable with a microSD card.

Color variants and design

In the United States, the Galaxy S8 was available in three color variants: Midnight Black (black), Orchid Gray (gray) and Arctic Silver (silver). In July 2017, a blue color version was also launched in the U.S. market, which was previously only available in select international markets.

User interface

An innovative solution was the replacement of physical navigation buttons with on-screen buttons. Even so, the home button retained functionality even with the screen off thanks to pressure recognition technology. To prevent screen burn-in, the position of the virtual home button moved slightly.

Battery and charging

Galaxy S8 is equipped with a 3000 mAh battery. Samsung asserted that it had used new engineering to ensure that the battery would retain its capacity for longer than in previous models. Smartphone supported AirFuel Inductive (formerly PMA) and Qi wireless charging standards. In the wake of the Note 7's battery problems, Samsung has instituted more stringent quality control and safety testing procedures.

Charging capabilities

The device supported charging at 9 watts via standard USB and 12.5 watts via USB-C (5V 2.5A). It was also possible to charge quickly with up to 15 watts of power thanks to Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology, but when using the device (with the screen on), the charging speed was reduced by more than half, regardless of temperature.

Connectivity

In terms of connectivity, the Galaxy S8 stood out as one of the first smartphones to support Bluetooth 5.0, enabling, among other things, simultaneous connection to two wireless headphones. The set included headphones by AKG brand owned by Harman. The device also offered improved satellite navigation with Galileo support.

Camera and biometric security

The 12-megapixel main camera is equipped with Pro mode, offering DSLR-like capabilities, with options for manual shutter speed, ISO and white balance settings. It also supported the RAW (Digital Negative) format. On the front, an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus is placed. The fingerprint reader has been moved to the rear panel of the case, next to the camera. In addition, in addition to an iris scanner, the smartphone offered a facial recognition function for unlocking the device.

Feature	S8
Manufacturer	Samsung Electronics
Type	Smartphone (S8) Phablet (S8+) [ 1 ]
Completion of production	March 16, 2018 ; 6 years ago ( 2018-03-16 )
Operating system	Original : Android 7.0 "Nougat" with Samsung Experience 8.1 Current : Android 9 "Pie" with One UI Version 1.0 (without Treble) [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Unofficial alternative : One UI 2, Android 11 , Android 12 , Android 13"
Connectivity	Physical and wireless e.g. USB type-C, Bluetooth 5.0 (LE up to 2 Mbit/s), 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz) WiFi, NFC, location ( GPS , Galileo , GLONASS , BeiDou )
Processor	Exynos: Octa-core (4× 2.3 GHz M2 Mongoose & 4× 1.7 GHz ) Cortex-A53 (GTS) Snapdragon: Octa-core (4× 2.45 GHz Kryo & 4× 1.9 GHz Kryo)
RAM	4 or 6 GB LPDDR4X RAM
Internal memory	64 GB UFS 2.1 / UFS 2.0 in some devices
Display	2960×1440 1440p Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, HDR10 S8: 5.8 in (150 mm), 225 ppcm ( 572 ppi ) S8+: 6.2 in (160 mm), 208 ppcm ( 529 ppi ) (both Diamond PenTile )
Sound	Sound and audio features e.g. speaker(s), audio jack, vibration motor, etc.
Dimensions	S8: 148.9 mm × 68.1 mm × 8.0 mm (5.86 in × 2.68 in × 0.31 in) S8+: 159.5 mm × 73.4 mm × 8.1 mm (6.28 in × 2.89 in × 0.32 in)

Reviews and technical problems

Reviewer ratings

Samsung Galaxy S8 has received an enthusiastic reception from technology reviewers. Dan Seifert of The Verge website described its design as "stunning," stressing that the device has been "refined and polished literally to a shine." He also appreciated that it "really doesn't resemble any other phone." The hardware was described as "virtually flawless." Particular praise was given to the new software, which was surprising, since Samsung was previously known more for its clumsiness than for the elegance of its interface. Criticism, however, has been levelled at the Bixby assistant, which offered very limited functionality at launch, and the presence of duplicate apps.

Performance and controversy

In terms of performance, reviewers noted that the S8 was "fast and responsive," but did not significantly stand out against competitors such as the Google Pixel, LG G6 or iPhone 7. There has been controversy over the placement of the fingerprint reader, although according to reports from South Korea, Samsung originally planned to integrate it directly into the screen, but failed to perfect the technology before the launch.

Expert opinions

Chris Velazco of Engadget praised the device's design, noting the precision metal and glass construction. The display was also recognized, described as "amazing." The user interface was rated as "subtle and thoughtful." Brandon Russell of TechnoBuffalo noted, however, that the camera did not match the quality of the Google Pixel.

Bixby Assistant

Even before the official launch, it was announced that Bixby would support "7-8 languages." In the end, the assistant only debuted with support for Korean and American English, and its US launch was delayed until July 19, 2017.

Sales success

Galaxy S8 has been a significant commercial success. In South Korea, more than 720,000 pre-orders were placed during the week, a significant increase over the 100,000 Galaxy S7 orders. By mid-April, the number had risen to one million. Samsung announced that sales of the S8 were "the best ever," exceeding the Galaxy S7's performance by 30%. In May 2017, it was reported that more than 5 million copies had been sold.

Technical problems

After the release, users reported several significant technical problems. Some displays suffered from a white balance problem, causing a reddish tint to the screen. Samsung initially explained this as a characteristic of the adaptive display, but eventually acknowledged that it was a software glitch and released a corresponding update in May 2017.

Security issues

Biometric safeguards were also controversial. Shortly after the launch, it was discovered that the facial recognition scanner could be fooled with a photo of the user. In May 2017, researchers at the Chaos Computer Club proved that the iris recognition system can be cracked using a contact lens and a suitable photo of the eye.