iPhone 8 Plus (€899) or Galaxy S8 (€599)

[ThatsMeRight]

Another thread about what device to get? Yep!

So, currently I've got a Galaxy S7 Edge and I have saved some money so I can get a new device. Before getting the Galaxy S7 Edge, I always owned iPhone (3GS, 4, 5, 6 Plus, 6S).

Currently, I am still in doubt about which device to get. The iPhone 8 Plus (at €899 [~$1060]) or the Galaxy S8 (at €599 [~$710]) There are a few reasons why I am considering the iPhone:

Reasons to go back to iPhone
- Siri (voice recognizition on iPhone is miles ahead of what I have on my S7 Edge)
- Immediate roll-out of new software updates
- Less (known) security issues
- Better privacy settings
- I find the dual-camera system really interesting

And than there is the Galaxy S8
- Higher waterproof rating
- Amazing OLED display which is always-on
- Modern, sleek design with very slim bezels
- Headphone jack
- Great multitasking capabilities

I believe I will especially miss the OLED display and small bezels when going back to an iPhone 8 Plus. Obviously, the iPhone X fixes that but I am unwilling to pay €1159 (~$1370) when the Galaxy S8 costs almost half as much. And even the iPhone 8 Plus costs a staggering €300 (~$350) more than the Galaxy S8.

I am intending to keep my next device for at least 2 years, but I fear that the software updates won't last as long on a Galaxy S8.

So... advice is needed.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I am intending to keep my next device for at least 2 years, but I fear that the software updates won't last as long on a Galaxy S8.

The resale value of the iPhone in a few years' time compared to the S8 might balance out some of the initial costs of the devices, but we're looking far in the future at this point.

Personally I'd suggest the iPhone even with the initial cost. iOS is far less resource intensive than Android and the CPU in the iPhone absolutely slays. Just look at the raw performance differences on Geekbench - over double the per-core performance:

https://browser.geekbench.com/ios_devices/50
https://browser.geekbench.com/android_devices/376

So you have some reassurance that not only is it the fastest phone to buy today, but it has ample headroom to smoothly run future iOS iterations. And it will be updated with the latest versions of iOS for many years to come.

Ultimately it depends what you need from a phone. Aesthetically the Galaxy may be nicer for your needs, but as a tool that works reliably, quickly, consistently, and has great aftersales support to back it up, there's no contest. I hate wasting time troubleshooting; I just want something that works reliably and has swift support if it doesn't. In the long run I think the initial higher cost would make that worth it.

If you want to justify the extra price, think it this way: you'll be living with this device daily. Over a two year period, it's half a euro a day for the difference between the Galaxy and the iPhone.

I am extremely biased though - hence why I'm here. Hopefully my case has some objectivity.

 

[Zaft]

Another thread about what device to get? Yep!

So, currently I've got a Galaxy S7 Edge and I have saved some money so I can get a new device. Before getting the Galaxy S7 Edge, I always owned iPhone (3GS, 4, 5, 6 Plus, 6S).

Currently, I am still in doubt about which device to get. The iPhone 8 Plus (at €899 [~$1060]) or the Galaxy S8 (at €599 [~$710]) There are a few reasons why I am considering the iPhone:

Reasons to go back to iPhone
- Siri (voice recognizition on iPhone is miles ahead of what I have on my S7 Edge)
- Immediate roll-out of new software updates
- Less (known) security issues
- Better privacy settings
- I find the dual-camera system really interesting

And than there is the Galaxy S8
- Higher waterproof rating
- Amazing OLED display which is always-on
- Modern, sleek design with very slim bezels
- Headphone jack
- Great multitasking capabilities

I believe I will especially miss the OLED display and small bezels when going back to an iPhone 8 Plus. Obviously, the iPhone X fixes that but I am unwilling to pay €1159 (~$1370) when the Galaxy S8 costs almost half as much. And even the iPhone 8 Plus costs a staggering €300 (~$350) more than the Galaxy S8.

I am intending to keep my next device for at least 2 years, but I fear that the software updates won't last as long on a Galaxy S8.

So... advice is needed.

I would go with the GS8. The 8 Plus is not 300 Euros better, they are very similar at this point.

 

[Puddled]

Major OS updates are apples/oranges with iphones and android. it is a boring argument these days to say that iphone updates are better. They are certainly different, but better? Hmm. I don't believe so. You have to remember that core functionality in android is done via GPS, not bulk OS updates like IOS and really, Android comes fully featured, with things not held back for newer devices. If it is made for it, an android will running it.

For security, Android and samsung is good for three years. Its not an issue.

For Privacy, i think Samsung are better than iphone in some respects. Secure folder using Knox is very good. The security options on the galaxy are excellent, including remote access and activation.

For Voice, well, S Voice is a function only service. Works great for making calls and opening apps, but its not AI. Google assistance is the best out there and is available on S7. I don't know why you are using Svoice tbh. Download Allo and get talking!


To me, all of your issues are legacy issues which are (and haven't been for ages) no longer an issue in android. My advice is to choose which OS you want and ignore manufacturer.

 

[convergent]

I can't believe the OP has Siri in the plus column for iPhone?

 

[Zaft]

I can't believe the OP has Siri in the plus column for iPhone?

Yes I found that odd. Coming from an iPhone owner Siri is not that good.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

I can't believe the OP has Siri in the plus column for iPhone?

Yes I found that odd. Coming from an iPhone owner Siri is not that good.

In my language, there is no proper alternative on Android. Siri is great to use while driving. Haven't tried Bixby, though.
[doublepost=1508516275][/doublepost]

Major OS updates are apples/oranges with iphones and android. it is a boring argument these days to say that iphone updates are better. They are certainly different, but better? Hmm. I don't believe so. You have to remember that core functionality in android is done via GPS, not bulk OS updates like IOS and really, Android comes fully featured, with things not held back for newer devices. If it is made for it, an android will running it.

For security, Android and samsung is good for three years. Its not an issue.

For Privacy, i think Samsung are better than iphone in some respects. Secure folder using Knox is very good. The security options on the galaxy are excellent, including remote access and activation.

For Voice, well, S Voice is a function only service. Works great for making calls and opening apps, but its not AI. Google assistance is the best out there and is available on S7. I don't know why you are using Svoice tbh. Download Allo and get talking!


To me, all of your issues are legacy issues which are (and haven't been for ages) no longer an issue in android. My advice is to choose which OS you want and ignore manufacturer.

Yeah, except updates take ages to roll out. On iPhone, if a new update is out, all users will be able to download it instantly. On Android, you'll have to wait for the manufacturer... which can take months.

Additionally, there are monthly security upgrades on Android which are downloaded in the background. Still, it's not uncommon to lag behind two or three months.

 

[Zaft]

In my language, there is no proper alternative on Android. Siri is great to use while driving. Haven't tried Bixby, though.
[doublepost=1508516275][/doublepost]
Yeah, except updates take ages to roll out. On iPhone, if a new update is out, all users will be able to download it instantly. On Android, you'll have to wait for the manufacturer... which can take months.

Additionally, there are monthly security upgrades on Android which are downloaded in the background. Still, it's not uncommon to lag behind two or three months.

Very true, Siri has much better language support.

 

[convergent]

In my language, there is no proper alternative on Android. Siri is great to use while driving. Haven't tried Bixby, though.

Siri does possibly have an advantage for language support. I find Google Assistant to work more reliably for me than Siri, when driving. But I speak English. Bixby isn't for that type of thing... and doesn't have good language support. Its designed to control the device... like change settings, set alarms, take pictures, etc.. not asking for directions and such.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

Bixby is awesome. In fact, it is the only assistant I like using. It genuinely saves time.

The Galaxy S8 is good but can lag sometimes. Just like my Note 8. I would suggest another alternative : Nokia 8. I was using this the other day and it flies! If you can wait, get the Nokia 9 when it comes out. The advantage with the 8 is that it has high end hardware with promised updates ( not sure for how many years) and it has so far not been found to siphoning off data like OnePlus.
And the price on the 8 is not as ridiculous as the Pixel’s

 

[mib1800]

Another thread about what device to get? Yep!

So, currently I've got a Galaxy S7 Edge and I have saved some money so I can get a new device. Before getting the Galaxy S7 Edge, I always owned iPhone (3GS, 4, 5, 6 Plus, 6S).

Currently, I am still in doubt about which device to get. The iPhone 8 Plus (at €899 [~$1060]) or the Galaxy S8 (at €599 [~$710]) There are a few reasons why I am considering the iPhone:

Reasons to go back to iPhone
- Siri (voice recognizition on iPhone is miles ahead of what I have on my S7 Edge)
- Immediate roll-out of new software updates
- Less (known) security issues
- Better privacy settings
- I find the dual-camera system really interesting

And than there is the Galaxy S8
- Higher waterproof rating
- Amazing OLED display which is always-on
- Modern, sleek design with very slim bezels
- Headphone jack
- Great multitasking capabilities

I believe I will especially miss the OLED display and small bezels when going back to an iPhone 8 Plus. Obviously, the iPhone X fixes that but I am unwilling to pay €1159 (~$1370) when the Galaxy S8 costs almost half as much. And even the iPhone 8 Plus costs a staggering €300 (~$350) more than the Galaxy S8.

I am intending to keep my next device for at least 2 years, but I fear that the software updates won't last as long on a Galaxy S8.

So... advice is needed.

Save $300 and get the following advantages with the S8. What more can you ask?

Hardware
- Large OLED infinity WQHD+ display with high 85% screen/body ratio and HDR support.
- Fast Wireless Charging
- Fast Charging (bundled)
- Headphone jack
- Dual SIM card (some countries)
- MicroSD card support (additional 256 GB)
- Built-in pedometer + heart rate/SP02 sensor
- IRIS scanner - for security
- IP68 water resistant rating
- USB/UTG
- HDMI out - supports full 4K screen output to TV
- Bluetooth 5.0
- LED Notification Light
- LTE - speed up to Gb

Connectivity
- WIFI Display (or miracast) built-in. Mirror phone screen to any wifi-capable TV without any additional setup/intermediate hardware (like apple tv). Coupled with a wireless mouse/keyboard via UTG to phone then you have pseudo-desktop.

- DLNA built-in support : stream music/video to any DLNA enabled devices without needing any setup.

- Sidesync : operate phone from any PC/mac within wifi network. Phone screen appears as a virtual window in PC/mac. You can use PC mouse/speaker/mic to make calls or continue an editing session or run any apps in the phone from the PC. Similar to Iphone hand-off/continuity but more flexible.

- DEX docking station- transform phone into a full desktop.
- Transfer any files between any devices via Wifi-Direct / BT. No additional setup/hardware requirement.

- Plug in portable disk/thumbdrive/mouse/gamepad directly to phone using usb cable. Quickly transfer out your files/photos/videos. Or just play a video off your portable drive. Or use a gamepad to play games. Or use mouse to interact with phone.

- Play music to 2 different sound devices via BT 5.0 (e.g. share music to 2 BT headsets). Also set individual app to specific sound source e.g. waze to always output sound to phone speakers and music players to BT. Using sound assistant you can set up different sound profiles depending on situations. Use Adapt Sound to fine tune sound to match you.

- Samsung Pay - can be used at more outlets (since it supports both NFC and magnetic strip)

- File System: something fundamental that we have been using (that's missing from Iphone).
- VR headset support - a whole new experience for you to explore

- With Samsung Connect + SmartThings Hub - provide an integrated system to connect/manage your TV/fridge/appliances or home audio/visual and home accessories like lights/sensors.

- Samsung Flow - to connect/integrate with Windows eco-system.
- Download Booster - combine both LTE and Wifi download simultaneously

OS / Software
AOD - always on display. simple and yet very useful. Plus you can theme it as well.
Multi-Window - run apps in separate top/bottom windows or popup windows simultaneously. e.g continue to view you tube while you are doing a whatsapp chat.

Secure Folder - it is like a second login environment. It has a separate copy of system settings. You can install second copy of your app here and it runs in its own seperate data space. e.g. you can concurrently run 2 copies of whatsapp (one for work number and the other personal) and get notify at the same time. Or setup another Exchange account to sync work email which is only viewable in secure folder.

Game launcher - a separate environment to launch games. You can set sound, notify on/off, no accidental touches, boost performance etc

Immersive mode - set the top status or bottom navigation (or both) to auto-hide to maximise screen area. Can set exclusion for certain apps. Can have floating panel with home, back, task buttons for easy one handed use.

Set default app - you can set your own app to be default app to open different kind of files/data. Or change the soft keyboard.

Shortcut - create shortcuts to anything: one touch direct dial/sms, directly open battery usage in Settings, open specific screen of an app directly etc. Place shortcuts anywhere - in homescreen, notification, side panel etc.

Home/Launcher - fully customizable with themes, widgets, icon packs and live wallpapers - no more boring grid of icons. You can also use other launchers as well. Personalize your UI anyway you like.

Smart Lock - auto unlock when phone is connected to certain pre-specified locations (incl BT/Wifi/geo locations)
Side panels - you can clip part of screen as image/gif/OCR text. Many useful add-on panels as well.

Samsung Health - you can have widget to show your steps, measure your heart rate/sp02/stress, track your workouts all using the phone only.

Camera : many shooting mode including sports, raw and dual camera mode.

Bixby - use voice to control phone or get info. Much more deeper integration with phone.

App Store: Many app stores to choose from. You can also side-load apps giving you more flexibilities and cost benefits.

Other Niceties - (1) record phone calls. (2) smart stay to keep screen on while you are looking at it. (3) Screen recorder to record what's happening on screen (4) answer call by pressing volume key (5) reduce UI size for one handed use (6) take continuous screen shot (7) flip phone over to mute call (8) quickly launch camera by double press power button (9) wave hand in front to wake up device (10)

Automation
There are unlimited possibilities with Android multi-tasking capability. You can setup tasks which the phone can do automatically for you. This opens up quite a lot of use cases NOT possible with Iphone. Some examples you can have running in your phone.
- auto set ring/network profile depending on situations (at home/work/outdoors)
- auto send SMS when near pickup location (great if you pick up someone regularly)
- redirect important calls to covering when you are engaged.
- start call recording when calls from certain persons.
- auto change wallpaper based on events.
- mute/unmute ring based on calendar meetings.
- timed ring profile.
- tap on NFC sticker - initiated certain tasks.
- auto send canned SMS to birthday
- pull files from certain ftp/http locations to phone periodically or when certain parameters changed
- selective sync from cloud storage to local folders
- auto start/close apps when certain app is started.
- start music app when headphone is plug in
- start certain app(s) on phone remotely or using a SMS.
-set screen to landscape when certain apps are launched.
-auto read out received sms/whatsapp under certain preset conditions like driving/phone turned over/etc
- and many many more.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

@mib1800 Not everything you name is that relevant, but there are certainly some excellent features on the S8 that you won't find on the iPhone 8 Plus.

 

[convergent]

Save $300 and get the following advantages with the S8. What more can you ask?

Hardware
- Large OLED infinity WQHD+ display with high 85% screen/body ratio and HDR support.
- Fast Wireless Charging
- Fast Charging (bundled)
- Headphone jack
- Dual SIM card (some countries)
- MicroSD card support (additional 256 GB)
- Built-in pedometer + heart rate/SP02 sensor
- IRIS scanner - for security
- IP68 water resistant rating
- USB/UTG
- HDMI out - supports full 4K screen output to TV
- Bluetooth 5.0
- LED Notification Light
- LTE - speed up to Gb

Connectivity
- WIFI Display (or miracast) built-in. Mirror phone screen to any wifi-capable TV without any additional setup/intermediate hardware (like apple tv). Coupled with a wireless mouse/keyboard via UTG to phone then you have pseudo-desktop.

- DLNA built-in support : stream music/video to any DLNA enabled devices without needing any setup.

- Sidesync : operate phone from any PC/mac within wifi network. Phone screen appears as a virtual window in PC/mac. You can use PC mouse/speaker/mic to make calls or continue an editing session or run any apps in the phone from the PC. Similar to Iphone hand-off/continuity but more flexible.

- DEX docking station- transform phone into a full desktop.
- Transfer any files between any devices via Wifi-Direct / BT. No additional setup/hardware requirement.

- Plug in portable disk/thumbdrive/mouse/gamepad directly to phone using usb cable. Quickly transfer out your files/photos/videos. Or just play a video off your portable drive. Or use a gamepad to play games. Or use mouse to interact with phone.

- Play music to 2 different sound devices via BT 5.0 (e.g. share music to 2 BT headsets). Also set individual app to specific sound source e.g. waze to always output sound to phone speakers and music players to BT. Using sound assistant you can set up different sound profiles depending on situations. Use Adapt Sound to fine tune sound to match you.

- Samsung Pay - can be used at more outlets (since it supports both NFC and magnetic strip)

- File System: something fundamental that we have been using (that's missing from Iphone).
- VR headset support - a whole new experience for you to explore

- With Samsung Connect + SmartThings Hub - provide an integrated system to connect/manage your TV/fridge/appliances or home audio/visual and home accessories like lights/sensors.

- Samsung Flow - to connect/integrate with Windows eco-system.
- Download Booster - combine both LTE and Wifi download simultaneously

OS / Software
AOD - always on display. simple and yet very useful. Plus you can theme it as well.
Multi-Window - run apps in separate top/bottom windows or popup windows simultaneously. e.g continue to view you tube while you are doing a whatsapp chat.

Secure Folder - it is like a second login environment. It has a separate copy of system settings. You can install second copy of your app here and it runs in its own seperate data space. e.g. you can concurrently run 2 copies of whatsapp (one for work number and the other personal) and get notify at the same time. Or setup another Exchange account to sync work email which is only viewable in secure folder.

Game launcher - a separate environment to launch games. You can set sound, notify on/off, no accidental touches, boost performance etc

Immersive mode - set the top status or bottom navigation (or both) to auto-hide to maximise screen area. Can set exclusion for certain apps. Can have floating panel with home, back, task buttons for easy one handed use.

Set default app - you can set your own app to be default app to open different kind of files/data. Or change the soft keyboard.

Shortcut - create shortcuts to anything: one touch direct dial/sms, directly open battery usage in Settings, open specific screen of an app directly etc. Place shortcuts anywhere - in homescreen, notification, side panel etc.

Home/Launcher - fully customizable with themes, widgets, icon packs and live wallpapers - no more boring grid of icons. You can also use other launchers as well. Personalize your UI anyway you like.

Smart Lock - auto unlock when phone is connected to certain pre-specified locations (incl BT/Wifi/geo locations)
Side panels - you can clip part of screen as image/gif/OCR text. Many useful add-on panels as well.

Samsung Health - you can have widget to show your steps, measure your heart rate/sp02/stress, track your workouts all using the phone only.

Camera : many shooting mode including sports, raw and dual camera mode.

Bixby - use voice to control phone or get info. Much more deeper integration with phone.

App Store: Many app stores to choose from. You can also side-load apps giving you more flexibilities and cost benefits.

Other Niceties - (1) record phone calls. (2) smart stay to keep screen on while you are looking at it. (3) Screen recorder to record what's happening on screen (4) answer call by pressing volume key (5) reduce UI size for one handed use (6) take continuous screen shot (7) flip phone over to mute call (8) quickly launch camera by double press power button (9) wave hand in front to wake up device (10)

Automation
There are unlimited possibilities with Android multi-tasking capability. You can setup tasks which the phone can do automatically for you. This opens up quite a lot of use cases NOT possible with Iphone. Some examples you can have running in your phone.
- auto set ring/network profile depending on situations (at home/work/outdoors)
- auto send SMS when near pickup location (great if you pick up someone regularly)
- redirect important calls to covering when you are engaged.
- start call recording when calls from certain persons.
- auto change wallpaper based on events.
- mute/unmute ring based on calendar meetings.
- timed ring profile.
- tap on NFC sticker - initiated certain tasks.
- auto send canned SMS to birthday
- pull files from certain ftp/http locations to phone periodically or when certain parameters changed
- selective sync from cloud storage to local folders
- auto start/close apps when certain app is started.
- start music app when headphone is plug in
- start certain app(s) on phone remotely or using a SMS.
-set screen to landscape when certain apps are launched.
-auto read out received sms/whatsapp under certain preset conditions like driving/phone turned over/etc
- and many many more.

Wow... that's quite a list. The pro iPhone 8 folks will say:

- iMessage

Seriously, I think that is what most people in the US are held back by.

 

[Aneres11]

It's funny isn't it - the whole iMessage thing.
I personally have never liked using it. My whole family have iPhones, my partner does, most of my friends do - and we all use WhatsApp...

I often found iMessage a bit tricky to use. There were so many great features to it, but I never knew how to use half of them! I also love whatsapp as it can be used for multiple devices and the interface is great. Anything you can customise like the backgrounds to match my wallpapers etc, is a winner for me!

On the other hand, those who are invested in iMessage and use it extensively with others that are invested - I can totally see why it would put them off switching.

 

[nfl46]

Save $300 and get the following advantages with the S8. What more can you ask?

Hardware
- Large OLED infinity WQHD+ display with high 85% screen/body ratio and HDR support.
- Fast Wireless Charging
- Fast Charging (bundled)
- Headphone jack
- Dual SIM card (some countries)
- MicroSD card support (additional 256 GB)
- Built-in pedometer + heart rate/SP02 sensor
- IRIS scanner - for security
- IP68 water resistant rating
- USB/UTG
- HDMI out - supports full 4K screen output to TV
- Bluetooth 5.0
- LED Notification Light
- LTE - speed up to Gb

Connectivity
- WIFI Display (or miracast) built-in. Mirror phone screen to any wifi-capable TV without any additional setup/intermediate hardware (like apple tv). Coupled with a wireless mouse/keyboard via UTG to phone then you have pseudo-desktop.

- DLNA built-in support : stream music/video to any DLNA enabled devices without needing any setup.

- Sidesync : operate phone from any PC/mac within wifi network. Phone screen appears as a virtual window in PC/mac. You can use PC mouse/speaker/mic to make calls or continue an editing session or run any apps in the phone from the PC. Similar to Iphone hand-off/continuity but more flexible.

- DEX docking station- transform phone into a full desktop.
- Transfer any files between any devices via Wifi-Direct / BT. No additional setup/hardware requirement.

- Plug in portable disk/thumbdrive/mouse/gamepad directly to phone using usb cable. Quickly transfer out your files/photos/videos. Or just play a video off your portable drive. Or use a gamepad to play games. Or use mouse to interact with phone.

- Play music to 2 different sound devices via BT 5.0 (e.g. share music to 2 BT headsets). Also set individual app to specific sound source e.g. waze to always output sound to phone speakers and music players to BT. Using sound assistant you can set up different sound profiles depending on situations. Use Adapt Sound to fine tune sound to match you.

- Samsung Pay - can be used at more outlets (since it supports both NFC and magnetic strip)

- File System: something fundamental that we have been using (that's missing from Iphone).
- VR headset support - a whole new experience for you to explore

- With Samsung Connect + SmartThings Hub - provide an integrated system to connect/manage your TV/fridge/appliances or home audio/visual and home accessories like lights/sensors.

- Samsung Flow - to connect/integrate with Windows eco-system.
- Download Booster - combine both LTE and Wifi download simultaneously

OS / Software
AOD - always on display. simple and yet very useful. Plus you can theme it as well.
Multi-Window - run apps in separate top/bottom windows or popup windows simultaneously. e.g continue to view you tube while you are doing a whatsapp chat.

Secure Folder - it is like a second login environment. It has a separate copy of system settings. You can install second copy of your app here and it runs in its own seperate data space. e.g. you can concurrently run 2 copies of whatsapp (one for work number and the other personal) and get notify at the same time. Or setup another Exchange account to sync work email which is only viewable in secure folder.

Game launcher - a separate environment to launch games. You can set sound, notify on/off, no accidental touches, boost performance etc

Immersive mode - set the top status or bottom navigation (or both) to auto-hide to maximise screen area. Can set exclusion for certain apps. Can have floating panel with home, back, task buttons for easy one handed use.

Set default app - you can set your own app to be default app to open different kind of files/data. Or change the soft keyboard.

Shortcut - create shortcuts to anything: one touch direct dial/sms, directly open battery usage in Settings, open specific screen of an app directly etc. Place shortcuts anywhere - in homescreen, notification, side panel etc.

Home/Launcher - fully customizable with themes, widgets, icon packs and live wallpapers - no more boring grid of icons. You can also use other launchers as well. Personalize your UI anyway you like.

Smart Lock - auto unlock when phone is connected to certain pre-specified locations (incl BT/Wifi/geo locations)
Side panels - you can clip part of screen as image/gif/OCR text. Many useful add-on panels as well.

Samsung Health - you can have widget to show your steps, measure your heart rate/sp02/stress, track your workouts all using the phone only.

Camera : many shooting mode including sports, raw and dual camera mode.

Bixby - use voice to control phone or get info. Much more deeper integration with phone.

App Store: Many app stores to choose from. You can also side-load apps giving you more flexibilities and cost benefits.

Other Niceties - (1) record phone calls. (2) smart stay to keep screen on while you are looking at it. (3) Screen recorder to record what's happening on screen (4) answer call by pressing volume key (5) reduce UI size for one handed use (6) take continuous screen shot (7) flip phone over to mute call (8) quickly launch camera by double press power button (9) wave hand in front to wake up device (10)

Automation
There are unlimited possibilities with Android multi-tasking capability. You can setup tasks which the phone can do automatically for you. This opens up quite a lot of use cases NOT possible with Iphone. Some examples you can have running in your phone.
- auto set ring/network profile depending on situations (at home/work/outdoors)
- auto send SMS when near pickup location (great if you pick up someone regularly)
- redirect important calls to covering when you are engaged.
- start call recording when calls from certain persons.
- auto change wallpaper based on events.
- mute/unmute ring based on calendar meetings.
- timed ring profile.
- tap on NFC sticker - initiated certain tasks.
- auto send canned SMS to birthday
- pull files from certain ftp/http locations to phone periodically or when certain parameters changed
- selective sync from cloud storage to local folders
- auto start/close apps when certain app is started.
- start music app when headphone is plug in
- start certain app(s) on phone remotely or using a SMS.
-set screen to landscape when certain apps are launched.
-auto read out received sms/whatsapp under certain preset conditions like driving/phone turned over/etc
- and many many more.

Wow, I hope you C&P that from somewhere, & didn't just write it up just for this topic. Damn! Lol!

 

[lowendlinux]

In my language, there is no proper alternative on Android. Siri is great to use while driving. Haven't tried Bixby, though.
[doublepost=1508516275][/doublepost]
Yeah, except updates take ages to roll out. On iPhone, if a new update is out, all users will be able to download it instantly. On Android, you'll have to wait for the manufacturer... which can take months.

Additionally, there are monthly security upgrades on Android which are downloaded in the background. Still, it's not uncommon to lag behind two or three months.

What's you native language?

Google Assistant works in the three languages spoken in my house (German, English, and French)

 

[ichii]

I have the S8 and iPhone 7 Plus, been switching back and forwards in my opinion iPhone is getting bland with the same design, S8 is a nice new look, but the new design wore off on me. I didn’t like the curved edge I see no benefit in it. Also couldn’t put a tempered glass that stays on. The phone lags and battery life is mediocre, speaker is in a bad location. I know everyone complains about it,but fingerprints sensor is at the weirdest position. Just my negatives on the S8, not sure if that help with your decision. Also I’m not a fan of the iPhone 8, but if I had to choose one knowing what I don’t like with the S8 I’ll stick with the boring iPhone 8.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

What's you native language?

Google Assistant works in the three languages spoken in my house (German, English, and French)

Dutch.

 

[Puddled]

I have the S8 and iPhone 7 Plus, been switching back and forwards in my opinion iPhone is getting bland with the same design, S8 is a nice new look, but the new design wore off on me. I didn’t like the curved edge I see no benefit in it. Also couldn’t put a tempered glass that stays on. The phone lags and battery life is mediocre, speaker is in a bad location. I know everyone complains about it,but fingerprints sensor is at the weirdest position. Just my negatives on the S8, not sure if that help with your decision. Also I’m not a fan of the iPhone 8, but if I had to choose one knowing what I don’t like with the S8 I’ll stick with the boring iPhone 8.

The Iphone speaker is in the same place as the S8 and the iphone screen is also curved somewhat meaning that a tempered glass is equally useless?

 

[ichii]

The Iphone speaker is in the same place as the S8 and the iphone screen is also curved somewhat meaning that a tempered glass is equally useless?

Didn’t know it was curved, I have a full screen protector on my iPhone 7 Plus and have no issues, also the iPhone has two speakers unless that changed with the iPhone 8.

 

[msp3]

Just for ***** and giggles, it's 2019 and on my carrier (Sprint) and at my preferred retailer (Best Buy) the Galaxy S8+ has dropped to about $250 outright (Note 8 to $360 outright), and iPhone 8 is still $600 (MSRP). Samsung prices drop like a rock and resale values are literally junk

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Just for ***** and giggles, it's 2019 and on my carrier (Sprint) and at my preferred retailer (Best Buy) the Galaxy S8+ has dropped to about $250 outright (Note 8 to $360 outright), and iPhone 8 is still $600 (MSRP). Samsung prices drop like a rock and resale values are literally junk

No way you're getting a new Note 8 for $360, unless it's refurbished. Same with the S8+.

 

[AustinIllini]

Good arguments on both sides, but I would probably go iPhone if I had any intention of reselling the device when I was done with it.

 

[tonybarnaby]

I'd buy something used at those ridiculous prices.