The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus received the familiar Samsung billing of being ‘the next big thing’, and it lived up to expectations both in terms of size, sporting a 6.2 inch display whilst staying within the dimensions of the iPhone 7 Plus with its mere 5.5 inch display, and a number of new features that it would take Apple all the way up to the iPhone X to catch up with.
Much like its smaller cousin, the Galaxy S8, the display on the Galaxy S8 Plus still holds up as one of the best around, with its huge 18.5:9 aspect ratio also making split screen multitasking and general browsing a stress-free and smooth experience. The display’s Quad HD resolution offers a bright, vibrant and high contrast experience, which is especially handy when taking advantage of the fact that the device is VR ready. However, there is also the option to drop down to 1080p Full HD as a battery saving measure with no significant loss in viewing quality.
Also in line with the Galaxy S8, processing power was greatly increased by the jump from a 14nm to the 10nm Exynos 8895 chipset, and despite ‘only’ having 4GB of RAM it hardly feels like it needs more in order to make the most out of the Android Pie operating system. The internal storage space of 64GB will suit most people’s needs without any issues, but there is always the option to expand this by up to 256GB through the all too rare microSD card slot.
The updated chipset has also meant superior battery life despite not receiving a big bump in battery capacity, comfortably lasting the whole day with plenty left in the tank. Even better, when it inevitably does get run down for some reason or another, the fast charging can fully charge the battery in a little over an hour- and through a USB Type-C charging port so even saving time by not having to check and double check that you are not trying to put the charger in the wrong way up.
The cameras of the Galaxy S8 Plus were another standout feature upon release, choosing to optimise its single camera system over opting for the dual camera setup that was becoming popular at the time. The rear camera, with its f/1.7 aperture lens and enhanced optical image stabilisation, captures high quality photos and videos that wouldn’t look out of place coming from a more modern smartphone, in all light conditions. The front camera, greatly improved in terms of the sensors (from 5mp to 8mp) and with the introduction of autofocusing, also punches well above its weight when considering the age of this phone.
The Galaxy S8 Plus may now be almost three years old, and no longer able to compete with the latest flagships, but with a dramatic drop in price over the same time period, it could well be the next big thing when it comes to value phones. Boasting a build quality, user experience, and processing power that is hard to find in similarly priced new releases, the Galaxy S8 Plus should not be casually overlooked.
