Todd Selwyn Head of Mobile at Samsung NZ describes the features and specifications of the new smartphone Samsung S8
Samsung's new phone is hot - in the way that you want it to be.
What is it? Samsung's latest phone, the Galaxy S8, is the first to emerge since last year's embarrassing drama over the Note 7, which was recalled completely after the batteries of several phones caught fire. Thankfully, that hasn't happened to the S8, and its rollout has been smooth and uneventful.As for the phone? I'm happy to report that it has quickly usurped the S7 and become an essential life tool.
What does it do? A lot more than my old S7. The Galaxy is longer and sleeker for starters, meaning you can cram far more apps on your homepage. I have 24 on one page. The S8 and S8+ also come with a 5.8- or 6.2-inch "infinity display" and curved screen, giving it a mini-tablet feel. I also love the facial recognition security feature, which unlocks your phone just by scanning your face. And its longer face makes scrolling through news sites and social media apps far more enjoyable.
What are its best features? The screen, for one. It's been upgraded with 1440 x 2960 resolution capable of playing HDR content. In layman's terms, Instagram and Netflix are just ridiculous. Samsung's also removed the front face button, and moved the fingerprint scanner to the back of the phone. Those changes take a bit of getting used to, but make total sense. As for the cameras and the battery, they're about the same. Both models have 64GB of storage and 4Mb of RAM. And, like the S7, the S8 and S8+ remain water-resistant.
Any downsides? Because the S8+ is so much longer, I've found I have to remove it from my pocket before I walk up stairs or it jabs into my leg. And the curved edges means it can slide out of pockets way too easily. If you see me fumbling around under my car seat, I'm not hunting for coins, I'm looking for my phone. As for Bixby, Samsung's response to Siri, I'm still sitting on the fence.
Okay, so how much is it? Samsung's new phone comes in three colours: midnight black, orchid grey and maple gold. The S8 retails for $1299, while the S8+ comes in at $1499. For that incredible screen, it's worth the extra spend.
