Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S7: Specs Comparison
Samsung is hoping to convince consumers to switch from the Galaxy S7 to its new flagship Galaxy S8. But how does the newest device in this smartphone line compare to its cousin, and what do you get for the extra investment? Here is an overview of the features of both devices.
Height and weight
First, the new Galaxy S8 is slightly larger than its predecessor, being about 6mm longer (148.9mm to 142.4mm). Of course, this is barely conceivable to the human eye, and others more obvious physical changes will attract much more attention.
Display
The first of these is the new screen included in the Galaxy S8, which features a wrap-around design, which results in very slim bezels. This means that it is possible for Samsung to increase the size of the screen of the Galaxy S8, while maintaining nearly the same overall device size.
Thus, the Galaxy S8 benefits from a 5.8-inch screen, compared to the 5.1-inch screen included in the Galaxy S7. In addition, Samsung has improved the resolution of the Galaxy S8, increasing it to 1 440 x 2,960 pixels, although the pixel density of both devices remains nearly identical.
Processor
Both of these devices have octa-core processors, but the Galaxy S8 is clocked at a higher speed. The Galaxy S7 has 4 Mongoose cores at 2.3 GHz and 4 Cortex cores at 1.6 GHz, while Galaxy S8 architecture is based on a processor with 4 Kryo cores at 2.35 GHz and 4 Kryo cores at 1.9 GHz.
RAM
Samsung has decided not to increase the amount of memory included in the Galaxy S8, and therefore the 4GB of the Galaxy S7 is retained in this next-gen device.
Storage room
The maximum amount of storage available to consumers of the Galaxy S series remains at 64 GB. Samsung has also discontinued the 32 GB version of the Galaxy S series, which was in the Galaxy S7 generation. Galaxy S8 consumers only have only one model with 64 GB of available storage.
Micro-SD
However, this can be enhanced with micro SD, providing both flexibility and customization for Galaxy S8 owners. Micro SD was also previously included in the Galaxy S7 lineup.
Rear camera
Samsung hasn't made massive improvements to the rear camera included in the S8, and that's immediately apparent from the snapper's specs. The Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S8 both feature a 12-megapixel camera, with exactly the same opening.
But Samsung has included some new innovations that allow consumers to capture higher quality photos. First of all, new image chips have been installed in the device, which helps to deliver superior photographic capabilities.
Galaxy S7 vs. Galaxy S8 specs
Second, and more importantly, the Galaxy S8 has functionality similar to Google Pixel's HDR+ mode, allowing the smartphone to take multiple photos quickly, combining the best attributes of those images into a single final photo. low-light shooting and certainly gives the Galaxy S8 an advantage over the Galaxy S7, although not a major one.
Finally, the 360 degree option included in the Galaxy S8's camera is particularly useful for virtual reality features, and Samsung has pushed this aspect of the smartphone hard.
Front camera
The front camera is another area where Samsung chose to upgrade the Galaxy S8 significantly, with a more powerful 8-megapixel unit included in the new flagship. This compares favorably with the 5-megapixel snapper that was part of the Galaxy S7 version. Selfies are becoming increasingly important with the inexorable rise of social media, and Samsung clearly wants to make the Galaxy S8 as compatible as possible with this part of modern life.
Battery
Samsung has kept the exact same battery used in the Galaxy S7 for the S8, deeming Android's power-saving feature to be good enough to provide an adequate life cycle, so the 3,000mAh unit is still present in the new generation.
USB
The Galaxy S8 has a superior USB system, with the introduction of
USB Type-C
.This reversible technology is significantly more flexible than the standard USB included in the Galaxy S7, and is a welcome addition to the Galaxy S line.
Iris scanner
One of the major new additions to the Galaxy S series with the Galaxy S8 is an iris scanner to help improve security. This was not present in the Galaxy S7 generation and can be considered a major selling point of the new device.
Samsung DeX
The new Samsung Desktop Experience, or Samsung DeX as the Korean company dubbed it, allows the smartphone to transform into a desktop computing environment. Samsung DeX allows the Galaxy S8 to be docked and effectively become a desktop PC .This means that it is possible to set up the Galaxy S8 as a workstation, with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and connect it to a monitor via HDMI.
This is a brand new feature in the S8, which was not present in the previous generation Galaxy S7.
Price
The price of mobile devices is always somewhat controversial when the new generation hits the stores, as many retailers will reduce the price of the previous device in the series, so it is difficult to give an accurate price for the Galaxy S7, but one can be had for around $470 on Amazon.com. This is a significant saving over the new Galaxy S8, even taking into account the new features included in the smartphone, with the brand new device being retailed at $720. However, shopping around for a new Galaxy S8 unit may result in some
good deals
.
Conclusion
The Galaxy S8 will naturally appeal to Samsung completists who are looking for the classiest and most up-to-date version of the range in their hands. With many retailers slashing the price of the Galaxy S7, it has to be said that the well-received predecessor represents excellent value for money for those who don't mind sacrificing some of the new innovations.