Buzz
The latest releases from Samsung, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, bring forth impressive features and superior design at an affordable price. However, they still have some drawbacks that make users ponder whether these flagship phones are worth the investment. Hence, the following 5 reasons not to buy Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will outline the weaknesses of both the S8 and S8 Plus, providing a comprehensive perspective on this duo.
The rear glass panel of Samsung S8 is prone to cracking.
Undoubtedly, the Galaxy S8 is an aesthetically pleasing and 'premium-quality' device. The curved design of the S8 is quite 'impressive' and 'modern,' with both Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus featuring 'Gorilla Glass 5.'
In the following test, you'll see how the S8 Plus 'resists' against the iPhone 7 Plus. In the initial 2 minutes of the video, the rear glass of the Galaxy S8 Plus only has a few cracks, while the rear glass of the iPhone 7 Plus is 'almost' untouched. Although the phone still functions normally, you can bid farewell to the 'perfect aesthetics' of Samsung.
If you think repairing the Galaxy S8 Plus is easy in case of just cracks, and your issues will be resolved, you're mistaken. iFixit has just released results and scores, and both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus received a somewhat 'poor' rating. They noted that both glass panels are held together with strong adhesive, making it difficult to replace internal components (such as the non-removable battery) and glass (especially on the front, potentially damaging the screen).
There are several other reasons explaining why the rear glass of the S8 is not the best choice. The rear glass of the Galaxy S8 is 'covered' with fingerprints as soon as you take the device out of the box. And your device will look more 'unclean.'
And the final reason to consider that a black glass surface may not be a brilliant idea: phone cases - protective covers, leather cases, accessories (phone case). Most users use phone cases, whether it's silicon or leather, more or less...
Samsung has crafted a beautiful device, but it's quite 'fragile' and comes with a not-so-affordable price - and every user wants to safeguard their device with a phone case. Especially, repairing these phone models is quite challenging.
Samsung's efforts seem to fall short of the goal
Samsung seems to mimic Google's efforts when it comes to apps, and the results aren't outstanding. Creating things like Samsung Internet and S Voice, the manufacturer has provided seemingly useless and even less useful alternatives to stock Android apps for a long time. And now, amidst all the other Samsung bloatware, Samsung is trying to 'force' Bixby onto their devices.
Bixby is Samsung's new virtual assistant. Similar to Apple's Siri or Microsoft's Cortana, Bixby will be seamlessly integrated into the device's operating system.
There's nothing to distinguish this intelligent feature, and even worse, voice activation on Bixby won't be available in the U.S. That means the Bixby you're equipped with is equivalent to classic Google Now, but you won't be able to use voice commands, a central feature, until after the device is released on April 21.
Luckily, you can still summon Google Assistant by holding the virtual Home button, but it's not a convenient solution to launch Bixby - and this is clearly intentional.
To 'invoke' Bixby, you can use the dedicated hardware button below the volume controls - Samsung has tried to prevent users from remapping it to trigger Google Assistant or any other function.
The restriction on users wanting to use the hardware button to access the virtual assistant support on Samsung phones has not been implemented by the company yet.
Almost all smartphones on the market come with some bloatware, but Bixby has been poorly executed for a flagship device. Since Bixby was promoted as a 'central selling point' of the S8, the current state of the feature is sure to 'collapse' user expectations.
You can find better alternatives
Why choose Samsung's new phone when you can opt for better alternatives? With the new Xiaomi Mi 6, the aesthetic appeal (delicacy) is similar to the S8 + Plus, but with superior technical specifications and a price only half that of the Galaxy S8 Plus.
The newly announced Xiaomi Mi 6 model features a Snapdragon 835 processor, similar to the S8 and S8 Plus, with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage - matching the S8 Plus version with 6GB RAM. However, the Mi 6 offers more features: dual 12 MP cameras, a larger 3,350 mAh battery, and a significantly lower price - roughly half the cost of the S8 and S8 Plus. Xiaomi Mi 6 is priced at only $420 compared to the $1,017 for the S8 Plus.
The only limitation of the Xiaomi Mi 6 is its 5.15-inch screen, smaller than the S8 Plus with 6GB RAM 6.2-inch display. Mi 6 is an excellent device, with curved glass on both the front and back, similar to the S8, blending the style of its predecessor Mi 5 with the Galaxy S7.
Outdated Camera
The design of the Galaxy S8 features a new curved display, but the device is not up to par when it comes to photography. The latest trend is dual cameras. LG's newest device boasts a dual 13 MP camera, the iPhone 7 Plus also has a dual camera, and even the Xiaomi Mi 6, among others, incorporates dual cameras. However, not only do the S8 and S8 Plus lack dual cameras, but they also use the camera from their 'predecessor'! The S8 has a 12 MP camera with dual pixel technology, similar to the Galaxy S7.
For Samsung, there have been some minor improvements to the software and front camera. The front camera has been upgraded from 5 to 8 MP, and the camera software now utilizes multi-frame mode - automatically capturing multiple shots.
Fingerprint sensor placed in a 'peculiar' position
One of the limitations of the Galaxy S8 is the placement of the fingerprint sensor. If you've ever swiped your finger over the Home button, you'll notice a change. Since the physical Home button of the S7 disappeared, the fingerprint sensor has been 'moved' to the back of the device.
Instead of placing the fingerprint sensor on the back (similar to the LG G6), in a user-friendly location, Samsung has placed it right next to the camera.
If you're using the phone with your right hand, like most users, you'll have to place your finger over the camera to use it - meaning the camera lens will blur if you continuously use the fingerprint sensor. On the larger screen of the S8 Plus, you can't access the fingerprint sensor without using both hands.
Choosing the best location for the fingerprint sensor that Samsung couldn't achieve before the S8 release could involve placing the fingerprint sensor under the front glass. There have been rumors sourcing from Synaptics to address this issue, but hopefully, it might still happen in the Note 8.
In summary: the lovely glass panel may crack, the fingerprint sensor's position will undoubtedly cause concern, the Bixby experience falls short, and Samsung was quite 'sad' when deciding to 'hang' the camera from previous 'generations'.
If you're considering buying the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus, make sure you're aware of its weaknesses and adjust your expectations accordingly before spending a considerable amount, or you might consider a more valuable phone like the Xiaomi Mi 6.
For users who have purchased the Samsung S8, you can visit Mytour to follow tricks and guides for using the Samsung Galaxy S8, especially guides on changing the screen resolution of the Galaxy S8 and taking screenshots. Changing the screen resolution of the Galaxy S8 helps protect your eyes better when using it at night.
