Samsung has just removed the wraps off its latest flagship, the Galaxy S8 and its bigger brother the Galaxy S8 Plus. Both phones come with huge wrap-around displays, tiny bezels and sleek metal and glass design. They pack the latest Snapdragon 835 chip from Qualcomm and come with brand new cameras.
Let's have a look at 8 such things that are new and unique about the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus:
1. Infinity Display
The entire front fascia of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ are covered with their gorgeous Super AMOLED displays which have rounded corners and also curve to the sides. The S8 comes with a Quad-HD+ 5.8-inch display while the Galaxy S8+ manages to pack a 6.2-inch Quad-HD+ display in a manageable form factor. Both have Gorilla Glass 5 Protection on the front and back.
2. The home button is still there, just invisible
Samsung has hidden the home button under glass, just below the display up front. Yes, the home button is very much alive and also gives a tactile response when pressed. It just sits below the front glass on the S8. It offers haptic feedback when you try to press it, but its more of a vibration than actual movement. The fingerprint sensor however, has been moved to the back of the phone, just next to the camera module.
3. Iris Scanner on the S8
Yes, the Iris Scanner is making a comeback with the Galaxy S8. Introduced with the Galaxy Note 7, the Iris scanner was one of the fastest ways to unlock your device by just bringing it close to your face. It worked wonderfully well on the Note 7 and the S8 version has received some improvements in accuracy as well as speed.
Comparison: Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S8+ (Plus)
4. Bixby AI Assistant
Bixby promises a more personalized experience across devices, and lets you control all connected devices right from your phone. Moreover, it understands the context of what is happening both on the screen and around you. It leverages this awareness to understand the need of the user and learns from his/her habits to improve itself.
5. The new Front and Rear Cameras
Samsung has gone with its 12MP dual-pixel f/1.7 aperture rear camera on the Galaxy S8 as well with improvements in color accuracy as well as image capture time. The front camera has also been improved with better facial recognition as well as auto focus with a new 8MP sensor, up from 5MP on the Galaxy S8.
6. All new colors
The Galaxy S8 will be available in not one, nor two but six different colors. Come April 21st and you would be able to order the Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy S8+ in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue, Arctic Silver, and Maple Gold color options.
7. Android 7.0 Nougat with Grace UX
Samsung is introducing its new Grace UX with the Galaxy S8 which is a toned down version of TouchWiz and aims to make it simpler to use the interface. The most important features have been highlight while the more expect features are hidden in menus. Moreover, Samsung is following the new Nougat scheme of notifications with a slight twist to the quick launch shortcuts.
8. New Gear VR, Controller, and DeX Dock
Samsung is going all out on VR and Productivity with the Galaxy S8. First we have the new Gear VR which comes with a more ergonomic design, and it has a touch enabled controller which can be separately purchased for $39. Then there's the Samsung DeX dock which enables a desktop like experiece when connected to an external monitor and keyboard/mouse combo. You can edit documents, browse the web, reply to messages using the a large keyboard. The DeX dock comes with a HDMi output, two USB ports, bluetooth connectivity and a fan to keep things cool.
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 plus will be going on sale on April 21st with the S8 starting at $750 (about Rs. 48,700) and the S8+ at $850 (Rs. 55000). You will also get AKG Harman earphones inside the box. Pre-orders start tomorrow, March 30.
