From more than one angle, the Galaxy S8 is the most important Android smartphone of the year. To Samsung, it's a chance to regain the public trust; to gadget nerds, it packs more cutting-edge features than any other mobile; and to normals, it's the phone they're gonna see plastered across every billboard from here to the holidays. Still, there are some important questions to ask before pulling the trigger on a smartphone that straddles the $800 mark. Does it deliver a big enough improvement over last year's model? Are its new stretched screen and heavier-than-ever interface assets or impediments? And most crucially: does the Galaxy S8 even have a place in a world where you can get three quarters of its features for half the price, in phones like the Moto Z Play and OnePlus 3T?
To find out, I dual-wielded a Galaxy S8 review device and a Galaxy S8+ review device for seven days, toting them around Massachusetts to photograph the forests of Salem, take phone calls amid the gusts of Gloucester, and even Snapchat some seagull dive-bombs. To see what I learned, join me for the MrMobile Galaxy S8 Review / Galaxy S8+ Review ... and then hop over to Android Central's Galaxy S8 Review for the rest of the story!
Reader comments
Galaxy S8 review: Redemption in glass
Well balanced review hitting the high points while acknowledging the shortcomings. Much appreciated.
I should be getting mine tomorrow.
Best reviewer out there, right next to MKBHD! I can't wait to watch another awesome review Mr. Fisher.
I agree he is one of the best, if not the best reviewer , but i really do not like the Mr Mobile name.
I'm pretty sure "Mr. Mobile" is intended to be a bit cheesy, to go with Fisher's sense of humor.
I wonder how Americans pronounce Gloucester...
Gloss-ster
Since there a multitude of "Americans", I would imagine that it is pronounced many different ways. Is that not true of almost any group?
Glossta is common for locals, myself included, as is "Cah" for car.
Don't you start your "cah" with your khakis?
question: im new to the galaxy line, i thought the galaxy's with the edge had notifications displayed on the edge? or is that completely outdated?
That may have been a thing on the Galaxy Note, the first edge screen phone. But that was also 3 years ago. From my experience with the S7 edge, the side screens only really exist to get in the way and make contact with your palms whenever you try to reach across the device.
Hmm.. I never have that issue but I have a case
You can download "edge panels" that perform different functions and swipe from the edge to access them. One that you can download is a notification panel that puts your notifications on the edge if you want.
My experience with the s7 edge that i had a year now is that its a gimmicky. Harder to keep from scratches and that its edge display is underdeveloped. I rather have a flat screen rather than the curved untill they really come up with a scratch proof screen.
Quite a good point that is worth adhering. Moto Z Play and One Plus 3T are one step ahead of Galaxy S8