Source: Android Central
The year is 2017. Beyonce announced her pregnancy on Instagram, Prince Harry and Meghan Markel got engaged, Wonder Woman was released in theaters, salt bae became a thing, and the Galaxy S8 was one of the hottest Android phones on the planet.
A lot's changed since then, with the S8 now being nothing more than a distant memory. It's not a phone we actively talk about these days, but there's no mistaking the lasting impact it had on the mobile space.
From our reviews, helpful how-to guides, and more, here's everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S8 in 2020!
Modern marvel
Samsung Galaxy S20
Better than the S8 in just about every way
The Galaxy S8 is an iconic and important smartphone in Android history, but as a device you should spend money on in 2020, it just doesn't cut it anymore. Instead, you should get the Galaxy S20. The S20 is a massive improvement over the S8, offering a glorious 120Hz AMOLED display with virtual zero bezels, the latest Qualcomm processor, excellent battery life, and plenty more.
Time for a Galaxy S8 history lesson
Source: Android Central
Samsung announced the Galaxy S8 and S8+ on March 29, 2017, with the phones going on sale in the United States about a month later on April 21.
The Galaxy S8 succeeded the S7, and it was the first time Samsung got really serious about eliminating bezels. The S8 still looks like a relatively modern smartphone here in 2020, which is quite admirable for a phone that's over three years old. You can't say the same about the S7 or S6, and that's a testament to just how good the hardware of the S8 is.
This was also the first major phone Samsung launched following the disaster that was the Galaxy Note 7, meaning there was a lot of apprehension from people worrying that this would be another phone that exploded and caught fire.
Thankfully, that didn't happen. The Galaxy S8 was just as safe as any other phone, and that combination of safety, excellent hardware, and top-of-the-line specs were enough for Samsung to move beyond the Note 7 fiasco and get people genuinely excited about its phones once again.
Should you buy a Samsung Galaxy S8 in 2020?
Read (and watch) our reviews
As hinted at above, the Galaxy S8 was a darn good phone. We gave it a lot of praise in our initial review, applauding Samsung for the top-notch AMOLED display, snappy performance, good battery life, and reliable cameras. You know, all of the things you'd expect in an Android flagship.
The S8's poor fingerprint sensor placement was an annoying hurdle, as was the forced introduction of Bixby — Samsung's digital assistant that still feels underdeveloped all these years later.
We revisited the Galaxy S8 quite a few times during its lifecycle, checking in on the phone after three months, ten months, and a full year. Each re-review, the phone managed to stand the test of time and remain a worthy recommendation.
- Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ review: Such great heights
- Samsung Galaxy S8 review: Three months later
- Samsung Galaxy S8 review, 10 months later: The go-to flagship holds up well
- Galaxy S8 review, one year later: Much cheaper, still fantastic
Don't expect any updates beyond Android 9 Pie
Source: Android Central
The Galaxy S8 shipped with Android 7.0 Nougat along with the custom Samsung Experience interface, and in March 2019, was updated to One UI 1.0 based on Android 9 Pie.
One UI is quite the upgrade from the old Samsung Experience, offering a much cleaner and cohesive design, less clutter, and an overall more mature experience.
Unfortunately for the S8, it'll be stuck on Android Pie for the rest of its days. Android 10 came and went with no update for the phone, and now with Android 11 set to launch in Q3 2020, any hopes of future software updates for the phone are long forgotten.
Two major OS upgrades isn't awful, but we'd certainly like to see Samsung do a better job at supporting its flagship hardware for more than a couple of years.
- Samsung One UI and Android 10 update: Everything you need to know
- Samsung software update report card: The biggest Android maker gets a B-
Here are a few tips and tricks you may not know
Source: Android Central
Samsung equipped the Galaxy S8 with a metric ton of features and settings to play around with. From customizing your notifications, trying out the different navigation options, and much more, there's a lot to check out.
It can be a little daunting to master everything your S8 is capable of, so we went ahead and did the hard work for you. Below, you'll find a list of various how-to guides that show you how to get the most out of your Galaxy handset.
Take your time, take it easy, and you'll be mastering your phone in no time at all!
- How to enable Dark Mode on Samsung Galaxy phones: Android 10 and One UI 2
- How to change notification settings on Galaxy Phones in One UI (Android Pie)
- How to show all notifications on Galaxy S and Note lock screens running One UI (Android Pie)
- How to get the most from the navigation bar on Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI (Android Pie)
- How to use split-screen multitasking on Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI (Android Pie)
- How to set up RCS Chat on Samsung phones with Samsung Messages
- How to completely disable Bixby on a Samsung Galaxy Phone
- How to remap the Bixby button on your Galaxy S or Note phone
- How to disable and delete Samsung Pay
- How to measure blood oxygen saturation levels with a Samsung phone using Samsung Health
- How to update the software on your Samsung Galaxy phone
- How to get Samsung software updates faster using Smart Switch
The accessory market has a lot to offer
Source: Android Central
As much as we love the Galaxy S8 on its own, that's not to say it can't be improved. There's no denying that it's an incredibly slippery phone, and as such, a screen protector and case will go a long way to ensure it stays in tip-top shape for more years to come.
If you need some help finding the right accessories to buy, here are a few of our top recommendations:
- Best Samsung Galaxy S8 Accessories in 2020
- Best Samsung Galaxy S8 Cases in 2020
- Best Samsung Galaxy S8+ Cases in 2020
- Best Screen Protectors for Galaxy S8 in 2020
- Best Wireless Charging Pads for Galaxy S8 in 2020
- Best microSD Cards for Galaxy S8 in 2020
You should really check out the Galaxy S20
Source: Android Central
The Galaxy S8 has lived a long and prosperous life, but if you're shopping for an Android phone right now, it's no longer one we can recommend you spend money on. Instead, we'd urge you to check out the much more recent Galaxy S20.
Samsung launched the S20 series in March 2020, with the entire lineup consisting of the S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. All three phones bring a lot to the table, with some of the key highlights being their 120Hz AMOLED displays, excellent rear cameras, and huge batteries.
There's some Galaxy S8 DNA still left in the S20, but in just about every single regard, these are bigger and better phones.
Modern marvel
Samsung Galaxy S20
Better than the S8 in just about every way
The Galaxy S8 is an iconic and important smartphone in Android history, but as a device you should spend money on in 2020, it just doesn't cut it anymore. Instead, you should get the Galaxy S20. The S20 is a massive improvement over the S8, offering a glorious 120Hz AMOLED display with virtual zero bezels, the latest Qualcomm processor, excellent battery life, and plenty more.
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