Samsung Galaxy S8. Image: Samsung
Samsung has lifted the lid on what’s in store for the Galaxy S8, revealing when you can get it and what it can actually do.
Never before has the release of a Samsung phone been so important. The Galaxy S8 follows a year in which the company’s finances were hit by hard-to-ignore hardware problems, and arrest warrants were issued for members of its management in South Korea.
The release – and subsequent pulling – of the Galaxy Note7 over cases of exploding batteries significantly harmed Samsung’s reputation and public image, with the device being banned by all airlines due to safety concerns.
Goodbye, button
The South Korean giant is now pinning much of its hopes on recouping some of the billions of dollars it lost on the Galaxy Note7, with the launch of its new flagship phone, the Galaxy S8.
The S8 will come in two bezel-less screen (‘Infinite Display’) sizes of 5.8in and 6.2in, with no physical buttons.
The Gorilla Glass 5 screen will be ultra-HD, with Samsung adding that it is the world’s first mobile device certified by the UHD Alliance as ‘mobile HDR premium’.
This results in a screen with a resolution of 2960 by 1440mm on both phones – 570ppi on S8 and 529ppi on S8 Plus.
Infographic: Samsung
Performance
In terms of performance, the S8 has 4GB of RAM, with an octa core (2.3GHz and 1.7GHz) 64-bit processor. The S8 Plus has a slightly more powerful octa core (2.35GHz and 1.9GHz) processor.
While it comes with 64GB of internal memory, the S8 will retain the ability to add on another 256GB with an external micro SD card.
The S8 smartphone offers a 3,000mAh (S8) battery, with the S8 Plus boasting 3,500mAh, and both come with wireless charging compatibility, similar to the last few models.
Bixby assistant makes debut
One of the noticeable things to come with this phone is its range of biometric security features, which now include an iris scanner and facial recognition, because a fingerprint scanner just wasn’t enough.
Another new addition is Samsung’s personal assistant, Bixby.
Users can shop, search for images and get details about nearby places with Bixby’s image recognition technology, with Samsung planning to expand its capabilities through other apps on a wider ecosystem.
Image: Samsung
When does it go on sale?
For potential Irish customers, Samsung has confirmed that it will open pre-orders from today (29 March) until 19 April, from select operators.
Pre-ordered devices will then be received from 20 April, and it will go on general sale in Europe on 28 April.
Unfortunately, Samsung is still keeping schtum on how much both models will cost, but it plans to release details in the near future.
At its unveiling, Samsung’s president of mobile, DJ Koh, made a reference to the Galaxy Note7 debacle.
“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,” he said.
