Samsung’s Galaxy S8 campaign speaks of the smartphone phenomenon as we know it and challenges the accepted standard for our most trusted devices.
The implied claim, that the S8 will redefine the smartphone as we know it, is a big one, even by Samsung’s standards. After the Note 7 debacle though, they need to reclaim their crown as the best Android manufacturer as well as prove to the world that their devices are safe.
After numerous leaks, Samsung has finally unpacked the Galaxy S8 to the world and it’s safe to say that based on first impressions, the company has a winner on their hands.
Not only is the S8 a smartphone with an impressive display, it’s also the focal point of Samsung’s 2017 mobile device ecosystem which includes a new 360 camera, a new Gear VR and DeX.
Some of the key focal points of the S8 and S8+ are:
- Camera: The Galaxy S8 / S8+ has an 8MP f/1.7 Smart autofocus front camera and 12MP f1.7 Dual Pixel rear camera for what Samsung claims is the best low-light, zoom and anti-blur photos with enhanced image processing.
- Performance: Packing powerful performance and connectivity, the Galaxy S8 features the industry’s first 10nm processor, enabling heightened speed and efficiency. It is also gigabit LTE and gigabit Wi-Fi ready with support for up to 1 Gbps.
- Entertainment: The Galaxy S8/S8+ is the world’s first mobile device certified by the UHD Alliance as mobile HDR premium.
- Mobile Security: The Galaxy S8 is built on Samsung Knox, a defense-grade security platform. The S8 also offers a wide selection of biometric technologies including a fingerprint scanner, iris scanner and facial recognition so users can select a secure biometric authentication method that works best for them.
“The Samsung Galaxy S8 ushers in a new era of smartphone design and fantastic new services, opening up new ways to experience the world,” said DJ Koh, President of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The Galaxy S8 is our testament to regaining your trust by redefining what’s possible in safety and marks a new milestone in Samsung’s smartphone legacy.”
The new S flagship device is available in 2 sizes, a 5.8-inch Galaxy S8 and a 6.2-inch Galaxy S8+. Both handsets have the Infinity Display and an almost complete lack of bezels to form a smooth, continuous surface with no buttons or harsh angles.
New Way to Interact with Your Phone
“Bixby is an intelligent interface that will help users get more out of their phone,” says Samsung. With the new Bixby button located on the side of the phone, you’ll be able to conveniently access Bixby and navigate through services and apps with voice, touch, vision and text commands. At launch, Bixby’s Voice function will integrate with several Samsung native apps and features including Camera, Contacts, Gallery, Messages and Settings, with the plan to expand its capabilities to include more Samsung and third-party apps in the near future. Contextual awareness capabilities enable Bixby to offer personalised help based on what it continues to learn about the user’s interests, situation and location.
You’ll also be able to shop, search for images and get details about nearby places with Bixby’s image recognition technology. As the Bixby ecosystem grows, it will connect across devices, apps and services as a ubiquitous interface.
New high-performance earphones tuned by AKG by Harman, offering uncompromised audio for unbeatable sound quality, will come as an in-box accessory. These earphones will have a comfortable hybrid canal fit for better noise cancellation and will be made from anti-tangle metal-fabric material.
The Galaxy S8 will be available starting on 5 May 2017, however pre-orders begin today through local networks as well as on Samsung South Africa’s website and on Takealot.com
At launch, only 3 colours will be available in South Africa with more colours to be launched later in the year.
The 3 launch colours are : Midnight Black, Orchid Gray and Maple Gold.
Cost: S8 R15 499
S8+ R17 499
Specifications:
| Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S8+ | |
| OS | Android 7.0 | |
| Network | LTE Cat. 16*
*May differ by markets and mobile operators |
|
| Dimension | 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm, 152g | 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm, 173g |
| AP | Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm process
*May differ by markets and mobile operators |
|
| Memory | 4GB RAM (LPDDR4), 64GB (UFS 2.1)
*May differ by markets and mobile operators |
|
| Display | 5.8” (146.5mm)1 Quad HD+
(2960×1440), (570ppi) |
6.2” (158.1mm)1 Quad HD+
(2960×1440), (529ppi) |
| 1 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners | ||
| Camera | Rear: Dual Pixel 12MP OIS (F1.7), Front: 8MP AF (F1.7) | |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,500 mAh |
| Fast Charging on wired and wireless
Wireless Charging compatible with WPC and PMA |
||
| Payment | NFC, MST | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80 MU-MIMO, 1024QAM
Bluetooth® v 5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), ANT+, USB Type-C, NFC, Location (GPS, Galileo*, Glonass, BeiDou*) *Galileo and BeiDou coverage may be limited. |
|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Heart Rate Sensor, Proximity Sensor,RGB Light Sensor, Iris Sensor, Pressure Sensor |
|
| Audio | MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB,
FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DSF, DFF |
|
| Video | MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM | |
