Help me keep my Samsung S8+

[TheRealAlex]

A few things upfront. Having used the Note 5 now for almost two years and a 7 Plus I am having a hard time adjusting to the "skinniness" of the S8+. It just harder to hold and if dropped the side curved edges by design can not be protected. I have installed a Caseology case and a Tempered glass screen protector. I'll list the negatives that are troubling me.

#1. Tempered glass screen protectors don't work right not sure why but I've always installed fully adhered tempered glass screen protectors the entire glass is wet and you apply it. With the S8+ the Curved edges cause warped views and you can see rainbow adhesive marks. This never happen with flat tempered glass as on my Note 5, iPad Pro 9.7" or 7 Plus. I'll link to the Only properly applied S8+ tempered glass I've seen.

#2. Colors not as dep or vibrant as Note 5 or IPhone 7 Plus accurate. I can deal with super vibrant and vivid colors of OLED on the Note 5 and I respect the IPhone super accurate colors and whites. The S8+ colors and Whites are not as accurate as the iPhone 7 Plus or as punchy or rich as the Note 5.
#3. Smaller than the Note 5 and 7 Plus. While both devices are 5.7" and 5.5" respectively they are 16:9 and years of developer use opening streaming video or webpage links you name it even funny reddit pictures they always default open to a display filling size. The S8+ while larger uses an odd format and links text pictures always default to a much smaller aspect ratio. It's also Functionally Smaller. The S8+ always has this virtual functions bar popping up with the 3 function buttons which takes up screen real estate. And Smaller again in providing a bad experience. When watching for testing purposes the Movie Batman Dark Knight Rises. The Note 5 provides as satisfactory 16:9 viewing experience you se everything as on your 55". 4K TV but smaller. With the S8+ You can pick from A smaller than the Note 5 viewing option where 16:9 is shurnken even smaller to fit. Or a Way Stretched Out Wider Option which Cuts off some of the vertical height and movie details.
#4. When every Premium top tier device LG V30, Pixel XL 2, Note 8, 7s Plus and IPhone 8 etc etc are going Dual Camera the S8+ still has the same 12MP camera and lens.
#5. No stand out feature. The LG V30 will probably be a Quad DAC Audio lovers dream, the IPhone 8 well it's gonna be amazing, the Pixel XL 2 that has Google's immediate software updates and optimizations. The Note 8 has the Stylus and mega size. And the S8+ is left with no definition of identity other than a bigger Galaxy S8.

So it's ends up being functionally smaller, harder to hold and use, worse to protect and less pleasing to look at. Than the other devices.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

I'm not sure your title matches your post. It doesn't look like you are asking anything, you just seem to be summarizing why you don't like the s8.

I'll respond anyway.

1. Can't change that, it's the design.

2. Opinion. The screen can be adjusted, but the screen is regarded as the best available by many reviewers.

3. Again...what can we do to change this? You can hide the navigation bar.

4. You knew this phone didn't have a dual camera, so why did you buy it if that was important? It has one of the best, fastest cameras on the market. I just took it on a two week road trip, and took 100s of photos and videos....the camera is superb.

5. It's obvious you don't like this phone, so just return it. Do you need a forum post to justify the return? How is he iPhone 8s stand out feature "it's going to be awesome"? The s8 has an industrial leading design, battery life, camera, waterproofing, wireless charging, amazing screen, tons of features....and is just a great all around phone. Just like most of the phones you mentioned....

 

[michael9891]

How come you describe the iPhone 8 as going to be amazing, yet all you do in the iPhone section is warn everyone off it because it lacks certain features, is too small & it'll be sold out until next summer?

I'd have taken the S8+ back before I took the time to write an essay on why I don't like it.

 

[macfacts]

0. Should be easier to hold with a case.
1. Just don't use them.
2. Try the 3 different color modes in the options
3. If you don't like the black bars then you're stuck with the only option of returning your s8+.

 

[Septembersrain]

My issue with any of these upcoming and current devices is the lack of bezel.

I'm probably in the minority but I don't mind big bezel. It makes the device easier to hold, take photos with, and not accidentally touch the wrong part of the screen.

 

[widgeteer]

My issue with any of these upcoming and current devices is the lack of bezel.

I'm probably in the minority but I don't mind big bezel. It makes the device easier to hold, take photos with, and not accidentally touch the wrong part of the screen.

Amen to this. The obsession with "bezel-less" strikes me as odd. We need *something* to hold on to as we use these things.

As for the OP: it sounds like you straight up don't like the phone. Why do you want to be convinced to keep it? With all the options available to you, why saddle yourself with something you're not in love with?

 

[nviz22]

If you don't want to keep the S8+ for those reasons, get rid of it asap.

I didn't keep mine because of dealing with issues with Samsung's awful customer service and lack of transparency with honoring promotional trade in offers in a timely fashion.

 

[TheRealAlex]

How come you describe the iPhone 8 as going to be amazing, yet all you do in the iPhone section is warn everyone off it because it lacks certain features, is too small & it'll be sold out until next summer?

I'd have taken the S8+ back before I took the time to write an essay on why I don't like it.

its gonna be amazing because its Apple I respect their "it just works" philosophy.
[doublepost=1502066209][/doublepost]

My issue with any of these upcoming and current devices is the lack of bezel.

I'm probably in the minority but I don't mind big bezel. It makes the device easier to hold, take photos with, and not accidentally touch the wrong part of the screen.

agreed I feel like Manufactueres decided how do we make devices less sturdy more prone to damage. I honestly believe the next evolution after No Bezels will be No Frame. Its just gonna be An All Glass Device. And the purpose will be You can't repair it you can't open it period.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I only have two minor issues with my S8+.

1) The speaker is too easy to mistakenly cover while gaming or watch video.

2) Sometimes on the Camera, there is a slight delay between the time you press the record button and when it starts recording, ONLY when you have it set to 4K UHD recording.

Other than that, everything else is flawless for me.

 

[5105973]

You make some valid criticisms. For me, I think things look too astonishingly gorgeous on the S8+ screen, but not accurate. When I need an accurate view of photos I took, I look at them on my iPhone or iPad. There is a way to set the display to be accurate, but then I have to give up the custom calibration that eliminates the pink edges on my display. I do love to look st my photos on the S8+ because they "pop".

The camera has its strengths and weaknesses relative to my iPhone 7 Plus camera. I know what the strengths are and make use of them. It's got a fabulous HDR mode. There are some great things you can do with the panorama feature to make videos! The camera software lets you customize so many settings to get some tough shots.

I get great sound and control over my sound on the S8+. It doesn't have the fancy DAC my HTC 10 has but it compares well.

But yeah, overall the big selling point was the new display. If it's not impressing you, by all means sell it and get what you would prefer.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

You make some valid criticisms. For me, I think things look too astonishingly gorgeous on the S8+ screen, but not accurate. When I need an accurate view of photos I took, I look at them on my iPhone or iPad. There is a way to set the display to be accurate, but then I have to give up the custom calibration that eliminates the pink edges on my display. I do love to look st my photos on the S8+ because they "pop".

You get pink edges on AMOLED photo mode?

 

[torana355]

I see people commenting on the accuracy of the S8 plus screen. I suggest you do some research before saying something that could not be further from the truth. The S8 has the most accurate display out of any phone on the market. Don't confuse the S8's camera being inaccurate (its adds colour and makes photos punchy) with the screens accuracy. I think GrumyMom sums it up best with the exception that in basic mode it will be more accurate then even the iPhone/ipad screen.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

its gonna be amazing because its Apple I respect their "it just works" philosophy.
[doublepost=1502066209][/doublepost]

agreed I feel like Manufactueres decided how do we make devices less sturdy more prone to damage. I honestly believe the next evolution after No Bezels will be No Frame. Its just gonna be An All Glass Device. And the purpose will be You can't repair it you can't open it period.

It probably will be great, but you don't know that yet. You can't discredit device using a yet-to-be-released device.

I have owned every iPhone and Galaxy since the iPhone 4s/Galaxy S2 (with the exception of the s3 and s4). Up until recently, aka I matured a little, I bought every iteration, each year. I would be happy with my current Galaxy/iPhone, only to get caught up in the hype and spend the money to move to the next phone. What have I learned?

Year after year, these two phones (at least since the s6) have offered largely equal user experience. I could fault one phone, only to find an equal fault in the other. They use separate, but equally refined way of accomplishing the same things.

The iPhone 8 will be awesome, and in some way, it will most likely have a leg up on the S8/S8+. It really should, the S8 came out in April. But by the time you get the iPhone 8, get used to it, and the newness wears off...the S9 will be a month or two away....and you are left wondering how much better the S9 will be. But the honest answer is, it won't be. The s8/iphone 8 will offer comparable user experiences.

It will come down when you buy a phone, what you prefer, and the current deals offered. If you decide to enjoy the phone, and concentrate more on your life outside these forums, I think you will enjoy whatever device you have.

I know this post is getting long winded, but I just took the s8+ on a two week road-trip, in which it served to navigate, record 100s of videos and pictures, communicate with the outside world, manage my finances, reservations, and generally as my sole tech device. It did amazing, and did not leave me wanting. But the pixel or iphone 7 would have performed equally as well. The point is, the device served to enhance my experiences, rather than enhance my life through my interactions with the device.

My personal opinion on the s8+ vs the upcoming iphone 8 (x) is this:

-The iPhone will be an amazing device from design to functionality, but the S8+ already is.
-Its still going to be iOs, and the S8+ is still going to run android.
-The iPhone 8 is rumored to be really, really expensive. If it really is at the higher end of the rumored price range, one has to start wondering if phones are worth that, and if they are, will they offer a 3 years minimum of optimal user experience (they should for that price). A phone should price should not begin to approach the downpayment on a new car lease.

The biggest advantage, at the moment, that the s8+ has for me is:
-I got the s8+ bogo in April, so the devices are approximately $400 a piece.
-I like both operating systems, but android offers android auto. If you have a car that supports this, it can be a big deal. Carplay looks pretty, and does some things well....but for voice interactions and navigation (via voice interactions), it is not even close. I can instruct my car to navigate, search, call, or message and it works 95% of the time. I test carplay, and it didn't come close. This could change in the future, though.

Anyway, I spent too long typing here, and probably lost track of the original point.

 

[Shanghaichica]

It probably will be great, but you don't know that yet. You can't discredit device using a yet-to-be-released device.

I have owned every iPhone and Galaxy since the iPhone 4s/Galaxy S2 (with the exception of the s3 and s4). Up until recently, aka I matured a little, I bought every iteration, each year. I would be happy with my current Galaxy/iPhone, only to get caught up in the hype and spend the money to move to the next phone. What have I learned?

Year after year, these two phones (at least since the s6) have offered largely equal user experience. I could fault one phone, only to find an equal fault in the other. They use separate, but equally refined way of accomplishing the same things.

The iPhone 8 will be awesome, and in some way, it will most likely have a leg up on the S8/S8+. It really should, the S8 came out in April. But by the time you get the iPhone 8, get used to it, and the newness wears off...the S9 will be a month or two away....and you are left wondering how much better the S9 will be. But the honest answer is, it won't be. The s8/iphone 8 will offer comparable user experiences.

It will come down when you buy a phone, what you prefer, and the current deals offered. If you decide to enjoy the phone, and concentrate more on your life outside these forums, I think you will enjoy whatever device you have.

I know this post is getting long winded, but I just took the s8+ on a two week road-trip, in which it served to navigate, record 100s of videos and pictures, communicate with the outside world, manage my finances, reservations, and generally as my sole tech device. It did amazing, and did not leave me wanting. But the pixel or iphone 7 would have performed equally as well. The point is, the device served to enhance my experiences, rather than enhance my life through my interactions with the device.

My personal opinion on the s8+ vs the upcoming iphone 8 (x) is this:

-The iPhone will be an amazing device from design to functionality, but the S8+ already is.
-Its still going to be iOs, and the S8+ is still going to run android.
-The iPhone 8 is rumored to be really, really expensive. If it really is at the higher end of the rumored price range, one has to start wondering if phones are worth that, and if they are, will they offer a 3 years minimum of optimal user experience (they should for that price). A phone should price should not begin to approach the downpayment on a new car lease.

The biggest advantage, at the moment, that the s8+ has for me is:
-I got the s8+ bogo in April, so the devices are approximately $400 a piece.
-I like both operating systems, but android offers android auto. If you have a car that supports this, it can be a big deal. Carplay looks pretty, and does some things well....but for voice interactions and navigation (via voice interactions), it is not even close. I can instruct my car to navigate, search, call, or message and it works 95% of the time. I test carplay, and it didn't come close. This could change in the future, though.

Anyway, I spent too long typing here, and probably lost track of the original point.

I think this post is spot on. To me the iPhone 8 doesn't sound amazing,rather giving iOS the same features as the S8 has now. However if iOS is your flavour then it will be a good buy.

I'll admit I'm more in the iOS camp these days. However I'm not pleased about the rumoured price of the iPhone 8 because apart from the fact that it runs iOS the features such as bezeless display, iris scanner, wireless charging can already found in flagship android phones which do not cost exorbitant amounts of money
I may and probably will still get the iPhone 8 as I'm so heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. However the note 8 seems to be better bang for the buck based on the rumours and I'm leaning towards picking one up as a birthday present to myself, particularly as the launch day is on my birthday.

 

[nviz22]

I think this post is spot on. To me the iPhone 8 doesn't sound amazing,rather giving iOS the same features as the S8 has now. However if iOS is your flavour then it will be a good buy.

I'll admit I'm more in the iOS camp these days. However I'm not pleased about the rumoured price of the iPhone 8 because apart from the fact that it runs iOS the features such as bezeless display, iris scanner, wireless charging can already found in flagship android phones which do not cost exorbitant amounts of money
I may and probably will still get the iPhone 8 as I'm so heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. However the note 8 seems to be better bang for the buck based on the rumours and I'm leaning towards picking one up as a birthday present to myself, particularly as the launch day is on my birthday.

Note 8 is expected to be priced just slightly below the iPhone 8, so if you're in the market for the former, the latter is in your wheelhouse.

 

[TheRealAlex]

It probably will be great, but you don't know that yet. You can't discredit device using a yet-to-be-released device.

I have owned every iPhone and Galaxy since the iPhone 4s/Galaxy S2 (with the exception of the s3 and s4). Up until recently, aka I matured a little, I bought every iteration, each year. I would be happy with my current Galaxy/iPhone, only to get caught up in the hype and spend the money to move to the next phone. What have I learned?

Year after year, these two phones (at least since the s6) have offered largely equal user experience. I could fault one phone, only to find an equal fault in the other. They use separate, but equally refined way of accomplishing the same things.

The iPhone 8 will be awesome, and in some way, it will most likely have a leg up on the S8/S8+. It really should, the S8 came out in April. But by the time you get the iPhone 8, get used to it, and the newness wears off...the S9 will be a month or two away....and you are left wondering how much better the S9 will be. But the honest answer is, it won't be. The s8/iphone 8 will offer comparable user experiences.

It will come down when you buy a phone, what you prefer, and the current deals offered. If you decide to enjoy the phone, and concentrate more on your life outside these forums, I think you will enjoy whatever device you have.

I know this post is getting long winded, but I just took the s8+ on a two week road-trip, in which it served to navigate, record 100s of videos and pictures, communicate with the outside world, manage my finances, reservations, and generally as my sole tech device. It did amazing, and did not leave me wanting. But the pixel or iphone 7 would have performed equally as well. The point is, the device served to enhance my experiences, rather than enhance my life through my interactions with the device.

My personal opinion on the s8+ vs the upcoming iphone 8 (x) is this:

-The iPhone will be an amazing device from design to functionality, but the S8+ already is.
-Its still going to be iOs, and the S8+ is still going to run android.
-The iPhone 8 is rumored to be really, really expensive. If it really is at the higher end of the rumored price range, one has to start wondering if phones are worth that, and if they are, will they offer a 3 years minimum of optimal user experience (they should for that price). A phone should price should not begin to approach the downpayment on a new car lease.

The biggest advantage, at the moment, that the s8+ has for me is:
-I got the s8+ bogo in April, so the devices are approximately $400 a piece.
-I like both operating systems, but android offers android auto. If you have a car that supports this, it can be a big deal. Carplay looks pretty, and does some things well....but for voice interactions and navigation (via voice interactions), it is not even close. I can instruct my car to navigate, search, call, or message and it works 95% of the time. I test carplay, and it didn't come close. This could change in the future, though.

Anyway, I spent too long typing here, and probably lost track of the original point.

Yeah even given this post I am probably sticking with the S8+ because of price. $19.80 a Month is a steal

and over 12 months its just $237.60 vs most devices at $35.00 a month is $420 for the same 12 months.

and then next year I can get the iPhone 8s Plus which I hope has an OLED display like the Note 8 at 6.3"

 

[spinedoc77]

Amen to this. The obsession with "bezel-less" strikes me as odd. We need *something* to hold on to as we use these things.

As for the OP: it sounds like you straight up don't like the phone. Why do you want to be convinced to keep it? With all the options available to you, why saddle yourself with something you're not in love with?

You bring up a good point, but the counter to that is phone size. I really don't mind the 7+ day to day as I usually wear scrubs, but once I am in jeans or dress pants the size really gets on my nerves sometimes. To have the same screen in a smaller package would be awesome. Of course I don't know how far Samsung goes in addressing these issues because their new phones are now so tall.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I think this post is spot on. To me the iPhone 8 doesn't sound amazing,rather giving iOS the same features as the S8 has now. However if iOS is your flavour then it will be a good buy.

For myself, I really want to see how the AMOLED display, higher resolution, smaller bezels, wireless charging, and new biometrics really makes a difference on iOS. This is going to be bigger than the huge jump from the 3GS to the 4.

 

[nviz22]

For myself, I really want to see how the AMOLED display, higher resolution, smaller bezels, wireless charging, and new biometrics really makes a difference on iOS. This is going to be bigger than the huge jump from the 3GS to the 4.

I hope Apple allows reviewers to test out FaceID, Quick Charge, and the OLED screen. If FaceID sucks and there is no TouchID? I am buying the LG G6 because the HTC U11 and Google Pixel 2 will not offer headphone jacks.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I hope Apple allows reviewers to test out FaceID, Quick Charge, and the OLED screen. If FaceID sucks and there is no TouchID? I am buying the LG G6 because the HTC U11 and Google Pixel 2 will not offer headphone jacks.

FaceID has to be nothing short of excellent if Apple doesn't want a huge facepalm reaction. Plus they are depending on it for secure services like Apple Pay. Unlike Samsung which doesn't, and only allows the Iris scanner and FPS for secure services.

 

[nviz22]

FaceID has to be nothing short of excellent if Apple doesn't want a huge facepalm reaction. Plus they are depending on it for secure services like Apple Pay. Unlike Samsung which doesn't, and only allows the Iris scanner and FPS for secure services.

But it should right because a company cannot stake so much into a major hardware update with banking partners invested into Apple Pay just for it to weaken the current systems in place.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

But it should right because a company cannot stake so much into a major hardware update with banking partners invested into Apple Pay just for it to weaken the current systems in place.

Exactly!!! I wouldn't worry much. But you know people are going to try their best to fool it just for social media clout alone.

One thing I wonder is, if Apple is going to allow multiple faces to be registered? I know plenty of people that share finger print access with others.

 

[nviz22]

Exactly!!! I wouldn't worry much. But you know people are going to try their best to fool it just for social media clout alone.

One thing I wonder is, if Apple is going to allow multiple faces to be registered? I know plenty of people that share finger print access with others.

Maybe if they have something like special business relationships with some clients. Could be available at launch to the public, but chances are one face per phone.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Maybe if they have something like special business relationships with some clients. Could be available at launch to the public, but chances are one face per phone.

That would be an automatic complaint from a lot of users. Plenty people register their significant other's, kid's, or close friend's finger without giving them their password for shared access.

 

[nviz22]

That would be an automatic complaint from a lot of users. Plenty people register their significant other's, kid's, or close friend's finger without giving them their password for shared access.

But is that because Apple fans are more vocal than the average Android user? That could be said about facial recognition with other devices though.