Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+

[fairywishes1]

Apologies if this duplicates or its posted in the wrong place but my previous topic seemed to disapear after I edited it!!!

Would really appreciate fellow forum members advise and experiences with the S8 and S8+ please.

I've watched every review I could find on and handled countless devises in local stores but I'm still torn between the S8 and S8+ especially as I tend to only replace my handsets ever 4 yrs!

I'm currently using the S4 still and although I prefer this size phone realistically I know what I've been using my phone for in recent years has drastically changed since upgrading from the S2 to the S4 over 4 yrs ago when I used them only  to text and call people.

I now mostly use the S4 not as a phone but a type of tablet for facebook, emails and surfing the internet with my laptop consigned to collecting dust under the sofa thus why although put off by the weight and size I'm seriously considering the S8+ rather then the smaller narrower S8. 

Was suprised and dismayed to find the S8 was a smaller and narrower phone then the S7 edge even though technically the screens bigger on the S8.

Although I always keep my phones in protective flip cases and would carry it in a handbag am nervous as hell about the durability of the edge screens.

Would really appreciate experiences people have had with both these handsets please.

[BandOfBrothers]

When I was deciding myself on upgrading from my Samsung Galaxy s7 edge to the Samsung Galaxy  s8 or s8+ the following factors helped me make my mind up whether I stayed with current s7 edge or changed to the 8 or 8+

• For me there was too many accidental palm touches even with the palm rejection update on the s7 edge. Due to how the infinity display has been made on the 8 models I get very little of this. 
• I buy my phones directly from Samsung at full price so I looked long and hard at both working demo models in my local Samsung Experience Store, and at reviews on YouTube etc. The 8+ costing nearly £100 more thsn the s8. 
• I looked at how both s8 models rendered internet pages and the sites I use along with this one here. The s8+ really didn't provide that much more content on the page. 
• Another factor to look at is battery life. Even The s8+ has a smaller battery than the s7 edge. 
• I looked at the feel in the hand aspect. How comfortable was both to hold. 
• I looked at finger print scanner placement. 
• Introduction of iris scanner and face recognition.

My conclusions were to choose the Samsung Galaxy s8 , not the s8+ and not keep the s7 edge. 

The reasons why are....

1. The new Chipset and the way the s8 handles optimisation is better than the s7 edge. 
2. It's new chipset and other hardware is better equipped to run Nougat and the new O firmware. Future proofing. 
3. The infinity display is better imo and the way the 'edges' are defined stop / lessen accidental touches. 
4. Due to the optimisation and improved Doze feature the s8 battery is on par with the s7 edge I owned which had a larger battery. I easily attain up to 3 days and I consider myself a power user. 
5. Due to the fingerprint scanner placement on the s8 phones the s8+ is not comfortable for me to reach. I had to slide my hand up the phone to reach it. That said I use the iris scanner for most things including logging into certain sites. 
6. The s8 is so much more comfortable to hold than the s7 edge and is more practical at one handed usage imo thsn the s8+. 

So in conclusion for the extra £100 the s8+ gave a slightly taller screen and slightly larger capacity battery. For me the s8 hit the sweet spot for my wants and needs. 

The Gorilla Glass 5 does a good job but alas with any phone if the unthinkable happens and it is dropped then if your unlucky enough for it to land at an angle etc then the inevitable can occur. 

My s8 has the following protection which adds little to its size. 

Rhinoshield Bumper. 

Dbrand Black Dragon Back Skin. 

Official Samsung Film Screen Protector. 

This is my review. 

Samsung-Galaxy-s8-My-Mini-Review.

[fairywishes1]

Thanks so much for your well thought out reply BandofBrothers.

I'd already read your review before posting this topic.

I'm just so torn :0( you have however helped me in deciding definatley not to get the S7 edge which I'd been toying with.

My logic for the S8+ is based mainly on the knowledge I'll be using it around the house as a tablet day and night and franly very rarely out the house as a phone as I spend most my days at home.

But there just seems to be a niggle in the back of my mind worrying if its too big when using it as a phone.

My husband has an old smart ultra 6 kicking around so I may try using that for a few weeks to see if I can get used to the size.

What colour did you buy?

[BandOfBrothers]

You're very Welcome @fairywishes1

In regards to initial dimensions of a phone I remember back when I moved from an iPhone 5s to the iPhone 6 Plus , and at first it appeared massive and had a little bit of buyers remorse and nearly returned it for the iPhone 6 !

But after a few days of using the iPhone 6 Plus I adjusted to it's dimensions and then in comparison when holding another model type of phone that phone just felt tiny in comparison to the 6 Plus  !

I'm sure you'll adjust.  

As I mentioned the size difference between the s8 and s8+ didn't really bring much for me to the table in benefiting from the slightly extra real estate (screen size) as it didn't really add that much extra page content on the screen.

I'm sure it would come in handy for watching YouTube videos and media content but please be aware the ratio aspect the s8 and s8+ uses which current video makers have yet to catch up with means currently you either get two black bars down either end or if you toggle on the 'stretch'  feature a bit of the top part of the video is cropped but it's not cropped aggressively. 

Just to mention also the new Samsung Experience 8.1 Grace Ui is much lighter and slicker than TouchWizz. 

I chose the Midnight Black Colour.

[fairywishes1]

Came back to this thread again banofbrotherd to re-read all the information you kindly listed.

Am so torn right now and needing to make a choice as this temp smart ulta 6 is driving me nuts.

After everything you wrote I was pretty much set on the S8 but I find myself drifting back towards the S7 edge in rose gold. I like the width of the screen and alas am finding it hard on the smart ultra with no home button so am wondering if I'd be better with the S7edge. Its currently at an amazing price on Amazon.

Being a girl I'm also utterly enamoured with the look of the rose gold lol.

Is the S7 edge in your opinion so very different performance wise to the S8?

[BandOfBrothers]

In my opinion due to the chip inside and optimisation improvements the s8 handles Nougat much better @fairywishes1

The s8 does not suffer from accidental palm touches like with the s7 edge. 

The edges of the s8 are differently manufactured to the s7 edge making it more comfortable to hold. 

Also with a view to future proofing my opinion is the s8 will probably run the new Android 8 Oreo better. 

Of course this is my opinion and personal experience with both phones. 

The Samsung Galaxy s7 edge is a good powerful handset. 

[DRUIDDOODE]

@fairywishes1 wrote:

Came back to this thread again banofbrotherd to re-read all the information you kindly listed.

Am so torn right now and needing to make a choice as this temp smart ulta 6 is driving me nuts.

After everything you wrote I was pretty much set on the S8 but I find myself drifting back towards the S7 edge in rose gold. I like the width of the screen and alas am finding it hard on the smart ultra with no home button so am wondering if I'd be better with the S7edge. Its currently at an amazing price on Amazon.

Being a girl I'm also utterly enamoured with the look of the rose gold lol.

Is the S7 edge in your opinion so very different performance wise to the S8?

Hi fairywishes1

Just to add BANDOFBROTHERS

Is 100% in regards to the accidental screen touches but I have a U.A.G military drop tested case that eliminates all screen touches which I found hard to adjust hence U.A.G also you can get some good deals at the moment if you go ahead.

If you decide on a S7 edge make sure you check out the coral blue option as I think it's the best colour ever on a smartphone 

Also I'm hoping for the Oreo update although it will be a while but use nougat works brilliant with the grace interface 

---

[fairywishes1]

Thanks for your reply Druiddoode

Yup decided on either pink gold or colbalt blue S7 edge @ £419 from online retailer "A" but had 3wk delay or £429 with £10 voucher back from high street retailer "A" I'll prob go with high street "A".

Choice was taken away in the end as can't get 40% VAT/TAX back on Used-Like New from "A" Warehouse deals thus has to be New.

No doubt the S8 is a better phone but just felt cosmetically it didn't wow me and the lack of a home button would be annoying.

Am very interested in the UAG case the fragility of the glass S7 edge greatly concerns me. My S4 lasted 4 years in a flip case with no smashes.

[DRUIDDOODE]

Hi fairywishes1

No problem.

Regarding the case there are some interesting video's on you tube under U.A.G S7 EDGE DROP TEST that are worth a look 

In one a young guy drops is phone about 20 feet off is roof and it survives.

You have found a great couple of prices there as well

[fairywishes1]

Yup had previously seen them they are hard to watch!! Ouch!

Just wondered though, having been used to flip cases what do you do about protecting the glass on the screen?