Samsung Galaxy S8 :: A few additional observations
by Volker Weber
Before I return the S8 to Samsung a few additional observations, in no particular order:
- Battery life is much better than I expected. Even on the 3000 mAh battery of the smaller model. I never ran out of power and quick charge is really quick.
- When I first tried a curved screen on the S6 edge, I loved the screen and I hated how often I would misplace the cursor while typing. The S8 is completely different. Palm rejection is almost perfect.
- When reading or watching videos, I often wished there was more bezel to hold on to. I still find the iPhone much more usable.
- Having three different biometrics looks like an advantage. But I'd rather have only one, but one that works well. Face detection isn't secure, iris recognition does not work well enough and looks awkward, finger print reader on the back is worse than on home button in the front.
- Being able to put the back button on the left side was a major benefit to me.
- I love the always-on screen. It's perfectly designed.
- S8 is as smooth as a glass pebble. And just as slippery. I haven't dropped any other device as often as the S8. Buy a skin!
- The Bixby button is located under your index finger when you turn the phone on with your thumb. Every time I press this button accidentally, I hate Samsung a little but more.
I will wipe the device on Monday and return it to Samsung the day after.
Comments
No "editor refuses to give it back" award for this?
Nope. But I can have one if I ever need it.
I have had it for two weeks and was expecting to like the hardware, but strongly dislike Samsung's additions to the OS (coming from a nexus 6P, and a series of Nexus phones). I am surprisingly in love with the device, and the VR headset is absolutely amazing. With a cheap Spigen bumper, it's not slippery at all. Didn't try any of the other biometrics options (face recognition = clearly snake oil at this stage, expecting similarly poor performance for the iris recognition, sticking with fingerprint at this point). The fingerprint sensor on the Nexus 6P was better - in placement and reliability of recognition, it seems that the surface area on the Galaxy S8+ is just too small to work well. But the placement has become a non-issue after a week's use.