 | |
 Samsung Galaxy S8 (left) and the S8+ (right) | |
| Brand | Samsung |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Samsung Electronics |
| Type | Smartphone (S8) Phablet (S8+)[1] |
| Slogan | Unbox Your Phone |
| Series | Galaxy S |
| First released | April 21, 2017; 7 years ago (2017-04-21) |
| Availability by region | April 21, 2017 April 28, 2017 April 29, 2017 May 5, 2017 May 12, 2017 May 18, 2017 May 25, 2017 June 8, 2017 |
| Discontinued | February 25, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-02-25) |
| Units sold | 41.067 million[2] |
| Predecessor | Samsung Galaxy S7/S7 Edge |
| Successor | Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ |
| Related | Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Samsung Galaxy A8/A8+ (2018) |
| Compatible networks | 2G,3G,4G,LTE |
| Form factor | Slate |
| 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) |
| Weight |
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| Operating system |
|
| System-on-chip |
|
| CPU |
|
| GPU |
|
| Memory | 4 or6 GBLPDDR4XRAM |
| Storage | 64GBUFS 2.1 / UFS 2.0 in some devices |
| Removable storage | microSDXC, expandable up to256 GB |
| Battery | Non-removable
|
| Charging | Fast charging up to 9W Qi wireless charging |
| Rear camera | 12 MP (1.4 μm),f/1.7,OIS,4K at30 fps, 1440p at 30fps,1080p at60 fps,720p at30 fps, slow motion 720p at240 fps |
| Front camera | 8 MP, autofocus, 1440p/1080p/720p video recording at 30fps |
| Display | (bothDiamond PenTile) |
| Sound | Sound and audio features e.g. speaker(s), audio jack, vibration motor, etc. |
| 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) |
| Data inputs | |
| Water resistance | IP68, up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) for 30 minutes |
| Model |
|
| Codename | Project Dream Cruiser (Galaxy S8 Active) |
| Made in | China |
| Other |
|
| Website | www |
| References | [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] |
TheSamsung Galaxy S8 andSamsung Galaxy S8+ areAndroidsmartphones produced bySamsung Electronics as the eighth generation of theSamsung Galaxy S series. The S8 and S8+ were unveiled on 29 March 2017 and directly succeeded theSamsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, with a North American release on 21 April 2017 and international rollout throughout April and May. TheSamsung Galaxy S8 Active was announced on 8 August 2017 and is exclusive to certain US cellular carriers.
The S8 and S8+ contain upgraded hardware and major design changes over the S7 line, including larger screens with a talleraspect ratio and curved sides on both the smaller and larger models,iris andface recognition, a new suite ofvirtual assistant features known asBixby (along with a new dedicated physical button for launching the assistant), a shift fromMicro-USB toUSB-C charging, andSamsung DeX, adocking station accessory that allows the phones to be used with adesktop interface with keyboard and mouse input support. The S8 Active features tougher materials designed for protection against shock, shatter, water, and dust, with a metal frame and a tough texture for improved grip that makes the S8 Active have arugged design. The Active's screen measures the same size as the standard S8 model but loses the curved edges in favour of a metal frame.
The S8 and S8+ received positive reviews. Their design, screen quality, and form factor received praise, while critics also liked the updated software and camera optimizations. They received criticism for duplicate software apps, lackluster Bixby features at launch, and for the placement of the fingerprint sensor on the rear next to the camera. A video published after the phones' release proved that the devices' facial and iris scanners can be fooled by suitable photographs of the user.
The S8 and S8+ were in high demand at release. During the pre-order period, a record one million units were booked in South Korea, and overall sales numbers were 30% higher than the Galaxy S7. However, subsequent reports in May announced sales of over five million units, a notably lower first-month sales number than previous Galaxy S series models.
On March 11, 2018, Samsung launched the successor to the S8, theSamsung Galaxy S9.
Before its official announcement, media outlets reported on rumours and information from industry insiders. In December 2016,SamMobile reported that the Galaxy S8 would not feature a 3.5 mmheadphone jack,[13] later reported to be a false rumor.[14] In January 2017,The Guardian reported on bigger screens for both of the two phone sizes, with edge-to-edge "infinity" displays and very limited bezels, and an iris scanner.[15] Additionally,The Guardian stated that the phones would come with 64 gigabytes of storage and support microSD cards, useUSB-C connectors, and feature a "Bixby" intelligent personal assistant.[15][16][17] Soon after,VentureBeat revealed photos of the phones and additional details, including the lack of physical navigation and home buttons, in which the fingerprint sensor was moved to the back of the phone.[18][19][20]Evan Blasstweeted in mid-March about color options for the phones.[21][22]
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ were officially unveiled on 29 March 2017, with pre-orders beginning on 30 March and official U.S. release on 21 April 2017.[23][24] FollowingBest Buy retail listings in March,[25] Samsung opened pre-orders for unlocked U.S. handsets on 9 May 2017, with availability starting 31 May.[26][27]
The devices have also been released internationally. On 21 April 2017, they were made available in South Korea,[28] Canada,[29] and Taiwan.[30] On 28 April, they were made available in the United Kingdom,[31] Australia,[32] Ireland,[33] and Russia.[34] followed by Singapore one day later.[35] On 5 May, they were made available in Malaysia.[36] New Zealand,[37] Pakistan, India,[38] the Philippines,[39] and Thailand.[40] followed by Brazil on 12 May.[41] On 25 May, they were made available in China,[42] and Hong Kong.[43] On 8 June, they were made available in Japan.[44]
In July 2017, pictures of the Galaxy S8 Active were leaked onReddit,[45][46] and the following month,AT&T "accidentally" confirmed its existence through a document in a promotional campaign.[47][48] It officially became available for pre-order, exclusively through AT&T, on 8 August 2017, with in-store purchase available 11 August.[49]VentureBeat reported in late September that the device would also become available throughT-Mobile in November,[50] and Samsung subsequently confirmed both T-Mobile andSprint availability in early November.[51]
The Galaxy S8 and S8+ both feature1440pOLED displays, with an 18.5:9 (37:18) aspect ratio taller than the16:9 ratio used by the majority of smartphones released until then. The S8 has a 5.8-inch panel, while the S8+ uses a larger 6.2-inch panel. The displays on both devices curve along the side bezels of the device, with minimal bezels that Samsung markets as an "infinity display", and the display panel itself have rounded edges.[23] They useDCI-P3, offering what screen-testing websiteDisplayMate describes as the largest nativecolor gamut, highest peak brightness, highest contrast rating in ambient light, highest screen resolution, lowest reflectance, and highest contrast ratio.[52][53]
The S8 features an octa-coreExynos 8895 system-on-chip and 4 GB of RAM; models in North American and East Asian markets utilize theQualcomm Snapdragon 835 instead. Both chips are manufactured by Samsung with a10 nm process.[23][54] They contain 64 GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card.[23]
In the United States, the S8 and S8+ are available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, and Arctic Silver color options, whereas gold and blue are available internationally.[23] The blue option was made available in the U.S. in July 2017.[55][56]
Unlike past Galaxy S series models, the S8 line does not feature physical navigation keys, electing to use on-screen keys instead.[23] However, unlike other implementations, the home button can still be activated if it is hidden or the screen is off. The S8's display features pressure sensitivity limited to the home button.[57] To prevent the home button fromburn-in damage, its position moves slightly.[58][59]
The Galaxy S8 Active features a rugged design and significantly tougher materials to make it shock, shatter, water, and dust resistant. It has a larger battery than either of the regular S8s, at 4000 mAh. Unlike the previous phones in the Active line, the S8 Active does not have tactile buttons, instead using onscreen keys like the regular variants of the S8. It also no longer has the dedicated action button of previous versions which could be reprogrammed to be a shortcut to favorite apps, with the action button being replaced with the Bixby button. The "infinity" edge display of the standard models is removed, and replaced with a metal frame and bumpers in the corners to protect from shocks, while the back is fitted with a "rugged, tough texture for a secure grip". Its screen also measures 5.8 inches, the size of the regular S8, and has quad HDSuper AMOLED in 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The S8 Active is sold in Meteor Gray, but AT&T also has a Titanium Gold color.[49]
WhileThe Verge claims that the S8 uses the same 12-megapixel rear camera as the S7, though with software improvements,[23] a report fromPhoneArena claims that the phones carry new, custom camera modules.[60] In addition, the S8 has a Pro Mode, which functions similarly to a DSLR camera and has custom options forshutter speed,ISO, andcolour balance. It also supports the raw imagery formatDigital Negative. The front-facing camera was upgraded to an 8-megapixel sensor with autofocus.[23][61] The S8 featuresfingerprint andiris scanners; the fingerprint reader is relocated to the rear of the device, to the left of the camera, due to the removal of the physical home button.[23] In addition to an iris scanner, the S8 also features face-scanning as an option to unlock the phone.[62][63]Face recognition technology had previously been implemented in earlier models since theGalaxy S III.[64]
The S8 and S8+ use non-removable 3000 and 3500 mAhLithium-Ion batteries respectively, as compared to 3000 and 3600 mAh on theSamsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge respectively. Samsung stated that it had engineered the batteries to retain their capacity for a longer period than previous models.[61]
The S8 supportsAirFuel Inductive (formerly PMA)[65] andQiwireless charging standards.[23] Due to the recalls of theSamsung Galaxy Note 7, Samsung said in a press conference it is committed to stricter quality control and safety testing procedures on all of the company's future products.[66]
The device can charge at 9watts (5V 1.8A) through an ordinary USB and 12.5 watts throughUSB-C power delivery (5V 2.5A). Charging speeds upwards of 15 watts (9V 1.67A) is attainable through QualcommQuick Charge 2.0,[67] however fast charging is disabled during operation of the device (while the screen is turned on), throttling charging speed down to less than half, regardless of temperature.[68][69][70][71][72]
Samsung also launched a Galaxy S8+ with 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM exclusively in China and South Korea, and a bundle offer in the countries provides both the exclusive model and the Samsung DeX docking station.[73][74] The unique variant was also released in India in June 2017.[75]
The T-Mobile US version of the S8 Active also supports the company's 600 MHz LTE network that was starting to be rolled out at the time the device was announced.[76]
TheSamsung Galaxy S8 Keyboard Cover is an accessory for the2017 smartphone Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+.[77] It released in early 2017 priced at $59.99,[78] The biggest criticism of the Keyboard Cover was the navigation buttons switching to default everytime you use the case.[79] The keyboard is also default toQWERTY Keyboard.[80]
The Keyboard Cover does not use Bluetooth, meaning it doesn't drain Battery Life. When you equip the Keyboard Cover, the screen shrinks,[79] but the word prediction is still available from the screen.[81] In March 2017, theSamsung DeX station, official SamsungQI wireless charger, and the Keyboard cover got leaked.[82][83][84][85]
The S8 and S8+ were one of the very few phone models on the market that offered built-in support for a physical keyboard, thus competing for a market held almost exclusively byBlackBerry at the time. For these models, Samsung offered a specialty plastic case which featured a clip-onQWERTY keyboard that could be removed or added by the user at will. While not in use, the keyboard could be clipped to the back of the case. When in use, the OS detected the keyboard and adjusted the screen size and proportions accordingly, so that other software could be used normally. The keyboard model was EJ-CG950BBEGWW for the S8 and EJ-CG955BBEGWW for the S8+.[86]
The Galaxy S8 is one of the first smartphones to supportBluetooth 5, supporting new capabilities such as connecting two wireless headphones to the device at once.[87] It is also bundled with Harman AKG earbuds.[88][89] Both smartphones have improvedsatellite navigation over the predecessors by includingGalileo receivers.
The Galaxy S8 launched with theAndroid 7.0 "Nougat" operating system with the proprietarySamsung Experience (formerlyTouchWiz) user interface and software suite.[61] The software features a suite ofassistant functions known as"Bixby", which is designed primarily to interact with Samsung's bundled applications and other supported services. The feature allows the use of voice commands to perform phone functions, can generate cards shown on a home screen page (replacing theFlipboard integration formerly featured) based on a user's interactions, and perform searches utilizingobject recognition via the camera.[23]
Bixby supports third-party integration via anSDK.[61] The S8 supports the use of adocking station known as Samsung DeX to access a PC-likedesktop environment on an external display, with support for mouse and keyboard input.[90] On 21 April 2017, coinciding with the phone's official retail date, reports surfaced that the default music player on the Galaxy S8 would beGoogle Play Music, continuing a trend that started with theS7 in 2016. However, for the S8, Samsung partnered with Google to incorporate additional exclusive features into the app, including the ability to upload up to 100,000 tracks to the service's cloud storage, an increase from the 50,000 tracks users are normally allowed to upload. Additionally, new users get a three-month free trial of the service, the same as given to users who purchase Google's ownPixel smartphone. Furthermore, Google stated that more Samsung-exclusive features will be added to the app in the future, and that the Bixby assistant will also be supported by the app.[91][92] Bixby replacesS Voice, the voice recognition technology previously found in Samsung Galaxy models.[93]
In May 2017, Google announced that the Galaxy S8 and S8+ will support the company'sDaydreamvirtual reality platform after Samsung rolls out a software update scheduled for mid-2017.[94][95] In July 2017,Verizon began rolling out an update for its devices, with support for Daydream.[96][97] The Galaxy S8 was one of the first Android phones to supportARCore, Google'saugmented reality engine.[98][99]
In February 2018, the officialAndroid 8.0 "Oreo" update began rolling out to all versions of the Samsung Galaxy S8.[100]
In February 2019, the officialAndroid 9 "Pie" update was released for the Galaxy S8 family.[4]
There are also someCustom Kernels from XDA Developers.
Dan Seifert ofThe Verge praised the design of the Galaxy S8, describing it as a "stunning device to look at and hold" that was "refined and polished to a literal shine", and adding that it "truly doesn't look like any other phone you might have used before". The hardware of the device was described as "practically flawless". Seifert also liked the new software, writing that "Samsung is known less for polish and more for clumsiness. In a refreshing change of pace, the software on the S8 is, dare I say,good [sic]". However, he criticized the Bixby assistant, writing that "in its current state, it doesn’t do much at all", and also criticized the number of duplicate apps. Regarding performance, he wrote that the S8 was "fast and responsive, but so is virtually every other premium phone you can buy, and the S8 isn’t noticeably faster or quicker than aGoogle Pixel,LG G6, oriPhone 7".[101] FellowVerge reporter Vlad Savov felt that the placement of the fingerprint sensor was "a perplexing decision if we consider it as a deliberate design choice", but noted reports from Korea claiming that Samsung had originally intended for the fingerprint reader to be built directly into the screen, but was unable to reach a desirable implementation in time for release.[102]The Verge wrote that "Samsung’s six-month-old S8 has cutting edge features and design with fewer issues than other Android phones" like theGoogle Pixel 2 andLG V30, and that the "OLED screen stretches to the edges of the device and curves on its sides in an almost liquid fashion. It makes the S8 look just as fresh today as it did when it debuted", and pointing out that the S8's popularity and carrier support guaranteed plenty of third-party accessories.[103]
Chris Velazco ofEngadget similarly praised the design, stating that "from their rounded edges to their precisely formed metal-and-glass bodies, they feel like smaller, sleeker versions of the Galaxy Note 7", and also praised the display as being simply "awesome". Velazco also praised the software, calling Samsung's added interface "subtle and thoughtful in its design choices". While noting that the Bixby assistant wasn't ready yet, he did compliment the promised voice features as being more granular than those offered throughSiri orGoogle Assistant, and wrote that "With that kind of complexity involved, maybe it's no surprise this stuff isn't done yet". Also praising performance and the camera, though noting that "The 12-megapixel sensors on the back haven't changed much since last year. That's not a bad thing since they were great cameras to start with", Velazco summarized his review by writing that the devices "aren't perfect, but they're as close as Samsung has ever gotten".[104] Brandon Russell ofTechnoBuffalo claimed that the camera could not beat Google'sPixel smartphone.[105]
Ron Amadeo ofArs Technica noted that the device's unusualaspect ratio resulted inpillarboxing when watching16:9 video without zooming or stretching it. He complimented the feel of the S8, calling it "perfected", but criticized the glass back for being "more fragile" and that "Glossy, slippery glass doesn't feel as good in your hand as metal does, either. For the top-tier premium price tag, we'd prefer Samsung to put in the extra work and use a metal back". He criticized the biometric options for unlocking the phones, writing that "There's an iris scanner, a fingerprint reader, and face unlock. The problem is none of them are any good", and also criticized duplicate apps, writing that "most of which can't be removed and aren't very compelling". Additionally, he criticized Bixby, calling it "an odd addition" due to the phone's Google Assistant functionality already present.[106]
Before the phone's official announcement, reports suggested that Bixby would support "7-8 languages" at launch.[107] Later reports after the phone's announcement clarified that Bixby would only support Korean and American English languages at its release, though noting that more languages would be coming "in the following months".[108][109] In mid-April,The Wall Street Journal reported that Bixby would be launched without support for American English.[110][111] On 19 July 2017, Samsung announced that Bixby had begun rolling out to Galaxy S8 users in the United States.[112][113]
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ broke pre-order records in South Korea, with more than 720,000 units booked in one week, a notable increase from the 100,000 units of theGalaxy S7 and 200,000 units of theNote 7.[114][115] By mid-April, the number had increased to one million pre-orders.[116][117] On 24 April 2017, Samsung announced that sales of the Galaxy S8 was its "best ever". Although it did not release specific sales numbers, it announced that sales of the S8 were 30% higher year-over-year than the Galaxy S7.[118][119] Subsequent reports in May announced that Samsung had sold over five million units.[120][121] Jon Fingas ofEngadget wrote that, although Samsung advertised its pre-order records, sales comparisons to other models on the market were difficult due to unannounced sales figures.[122]
Prior to the official release, it was reported that some Galaxy S8 displays had a badwhite balance, causing them to exhibit a reddish tint.[123] Samsung stated that the Galaxy S8 was "built with an adaptive display that optimizes the color range, saturation, and sharpness depending on the environment", but noted that the device's operating system provides settings for manually adjusting the display's appearance and white balance.[123][124][125] On 21 April, Samsung stated that the red tinting was purely a software issue, and would be patched in a future update.[126]The Investor reported that Samsung would replace the affected devices if a software update did not fix the issue.[127] Updates in various regions started rolling out in early May, fixing the issue.[128][129][130]
Reports surfaced at the end of April 2017 that some Galaxy S8 devices were "restarting by themselves". Samsung has not yet commented on the issue.[131][132]
Shortly after the phone's unveiling, bloggers produced a video showing that the Galaxy S8's facial recognition scanner could be tricked to unlock the phone by showing it a photo of the user.[133][134] In a statement toBusiness Insider, a Samsung spokesperson stated that "Facial recognition is a convenient action to open your phone – similar to the 'swipe to unlock' action. We offer the highest level of biometric authentication – fingerprint and iris – to lock your phone and authenticate access to Samsung Pay or Secure Folder".[135]There is a high possibility that this issue does not exist at all and that the video in question is faked.[citation needed]
In May 2017, researchers from theChaos Computer Club posted a video showing that the S8'siris recognition system can be fooled with a contact lens and a suitable photograph of an eye.[136] Samsung toldBBC News that it was "aware of the issue", and stated that "If there is a potential vulnerability or the advent of a new method that challenges our efforts to ensure security at any time, we will respond as quickly as possible to resolve the issue".[137]
In October 2017, Galaxy S8 users reported onReddit that they were unable to receiveSMS messages, with no fix available and without any comment from Samsung.[138]
| Preceded by | Samsung Galaxy S8 2017 | Succeeded by |
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Authority control databases: National |
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