We are been in Samsung Mobile Philippines high-end smartphone launch events since the Galaxy S5 days but it came at the right for this blog for a chance to put in a flagship device in our review table for the first time. This is our Samsung Galaxy S8 review.
On build quality and display, hands down to the S8 with it's dual edge display and AMOLED Quad HD+ in it. The glass-covered phablet is very good. For this review, they gave us a chance to borrow the Black Onyx variant which gave us less to fingerprint smdges. Because of it's 18.5:9 display aspect ratio, that 5.8 inch phablet for me felt like I held a less than 5-inch smartphone. That aspect ratio also gave me more convenience especially in multi-window mode. Usually, I have a set-up of 1/3 for video and 2/3 of the screen for the rest like social media or note apps. Once you appear the keyboard to type in, the video size will almost not gonna decrease the size unlike on counterparts with 16:9 display solution
The Samsung Experience UI 8.1 just flies on every app task that I threw in from social media, games and so much more.
For the Philippine market, they chose the variant with Exynos 8895 octa-core processor built on 10 nm architecture. On calls, texts, mobile net, GPS, NFC. WiFi - the S8 definitely excelled in the connectivity department.
On benchmarks, the Antutu score that I got is over 172.000 on perfomance mode and the Quad HD+ ressolution on. Almost all of the available sensors are also inside on this high-end phablet
The battery performance story for us is a mixed bag but not that bad at all. In mid power saving mode (display resolution can only be set at FHD+) on our video battery rundown test, the S8 went down after over 16 hours of playtime out of it's 3,000 mAH which is very good. As the S8 can allow you to set different display resolutions from HD+, FHD+ and Quad HD+, battery life went the distance for me more on HD+ (but you cannot set the mid battery saver mode on) against the FHD+ with battery saving mode on. I cannot put this thing on a 24-hour day but to be save on a 16 to 17 hour working day for me, I am happy to survive with the S8 on 5 ot 6 hours of battery life.
On camera department, I really missed the extensive pro option which my midrange smartphone has so I have no choice but to be on the capable auto mode on different situations which the S8 again proved to be one of the best cameras on a smartphone. Color accuracy, adapting to different situations, image processing speed and the output especially on low liight, the S8 was very good as I enjoyed some night and sunset shots within Filinvest City. The selfie camera is nothing but great for my taste
On audio via the 3.5 mm. audio jack, S8 is also good but above it for me on the current Samsung smartphones that I handled is the surprising Galaxy J7 Pro. In addition, I am happy to know that the S8 has USB OTG support
Powerful and efficient processor, design and display that is really a headturner, very good battery life and excellent camera on auto mode for me are the pros that you can consider on purchasing the S8 but I badly missed the radio and the pro mode which I hope it will come out with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8. The price of Php 39,990 might be a little steep against the likes of LG G6, Huawei P10 Plus or HTC U11 but hey, you are paying for that unique overall look that others can imitate just yet. Samsung Galaxy S8 for me is 4.25 out of 5
