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Sheldon PintoJun 29, 2018 10:26:39 IST
While my last comparison saw the legendary Moto G in its latest iteration stack up against the mighty Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro, a few new smartphones have been launched recently so it makes complete sense to add these new smartphones to the mix and then take a broader look at which one you should go in for.
Another reason for this comparison is the recent launch of the Samsung Galaxy J8. Now, Samsung has been making several attempts at releasing new budget smartphones with new software features, but they somehow always paled in comparison to the current king of the ring, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro that currently retails at Rs 14,999. Samsung’s Galaxy J8 is priced at a hefty Rs 18,990 and sees Samsung attempt to take the crown from the Redmi Note 5 Pro. But there are several smartphones in the hierarchy that the J8 will have to tackle before it even gets a chance to contest with Xiaomi’s contender.
The Samsung Galaxy J8.
So what does the Samsung Galaxy J8 bring to the table?
Not much. Samsung’s banking on some new software camera features to woo in customers for its budget dual camera offering.
On paper, here's how the phones compare and an overview of which phone has the edge.
Design: Moto G6
The design is similar to Samsung’s slightly pricier Galaxy A6+ smartphone, just that the J8 uses polycarbonate (plastic) instead of metal on the A6+. The design is strictly Samsung with the typical rounded corners, but lacks a display with rounded corners to go with the overall design theme. Indeed, the winner here is the Moto G6 with its metal and glass design, one that looks good enough to make me forget its Snapdragon 450 SoC inside.
The Motorola Moto G6 looks and feels premium. Image: tech2/Sheldon Pinto
Display specs: Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1
Moving to the display, it is indeed one the of the Galaxy J8’s weak points. Samsung has included a Super AMOLED display with an HD+ (720 x 1,480) which seems a bit too less, when compared every single contender in this comparison. It’s actually a tie between the Xiaomi and Asus here, but we liked Asus’s display a wee bit more.
Power specs: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
Next up is the choice of SoC. Samsung has gone in for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 SoC which is pretty much the stuff that Xiaomi chucks into its entry-level smartphones (read the Redmi 5). Both the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 and the Redmi Note 5 Pro do a lot better here and the difference will be visible only for those who love playing graphics-intensive games on their smartphones. If you are not one of them, the Moto G6 is still a better choice than the Galaxy J8. If you look for better multi-tasking capabilities, the 6 GB Redmi Note 5 Pro is your best deal right now, and it is still priced lower than the Galaxy J8 at Rs 16,999.
The ZenFone Max Pro is the best choice for battery life and stock Android. Image: tech2/ Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee
Camera specs: Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
This is a comparison done on solely going by the specifications on paper. But while we have yet to review the Samsung Galaxy J8 we have reviewed its contenders in the recent past.
With that it’s easy for me to conclude that the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is still at the top with its AI chops. Samsung’s run rate with cameras, on their mid-range and budget devices, has not been too great in the past, (and so was Xiaomi’s until the Note 5 Pro) and I don’t expect to see a sea change with this one either.
Going by their spec sheets, Samsung does have an edge here with wider apertures and bigger sensors.
Samsung's highlight with the J8’s camera are its bag of party tricks. The camera offers a features such as Background Blur Shape, Portrait Dolly, and Portrait Backdrop. Out of the three Portrait Dolly seems to be the new camera feature that lets you move the background while keeping your subject steady in the foreground. It looks cool, but we are not sure how many would buy this smartphone just for it. If you don't know what it means, check out this video.
Battery specs: Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1
The clear winner here is Asus’s ZenFone Max Pro M1. It packs in the highest capacity battery out of all the contenders in the lot and also beats the Redmi Note 5 Pro to the crown. Samsung on its J8 offers a 3,500 mAh battery and with this it only trumps the Moto G6 when it comes to capacity.
| Smartphone | Samsung Galaxy J8 | ASUS Zenfone Max Pro | Moto G6 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro |
| Display Size (inch) | 6 | 5.99 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
| Resolution (pixels) | 720 x 1,480 | 2,160 x 1,080 | 2,160 x 1,080 | 2,160 x 1,080 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 274 | 402 | 424 | 403 |
| Display Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Dimensions(mm) | NA | 159 x 76 x 8.5 | 153.8 x 72.3 x 8.3 | 158.6 x 75.4 x 8.05 |
| Weight (gm) | NA | - | 167 | 181 |
| Dual SIM | NA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Connectivity Types | GSM / WCDMA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / WCDMA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / VoLTE |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 |
| CPU Cores | Octa-core | Octa-core | Octa-core | Octa-core |
| CPU Clock Speed (GHz) | 8 x Qualcomm Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz | 8xQualcomm Kryo 260 @ 1.8 GHz | 8 x Qualcomm Cortex-A53 @ 1.8 GHz | 4x Kryo 260 @ up to 1.8 GHz & 4x Kryo 260 @ up to 1.6 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 509 | Adreno 506 | Adreno 509 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3, 4, 6 GB | 3, 4 GB | 4,6 GB |
| Ruggedness | NA | – | p2i-rated | – |
| On-Board Memory | 64 GB | 32, 64 GB | 32, 64 GB | 64, 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | Yes, up to 256 GB | Yes, up to 2 TB | Yes, up to 256 GB | Yes, upto 256 GB |
| Sensors | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass | Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Ambient light, Proximity, Magnetometer, Ultrasonic | Fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass |
| Primary Camera | 16 MP f/1.7 aperture + 5 MP f/1.9 aperture | 13 MP and 5 MP | 12 MP f/1.8 aperture and 5 MP f/1.8 aperture | 12 MP, f/2.2 and 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Optical Image Stabilisation | No | No | No | - |
| Camera Array | Dual Camera | Dual Camera | Dual Camera | Dual Camera |
| Autofocus System | NA | Phase detection autofocus | Phase detection autofocus | Phase detection |
| Secondary Camera | 16 MP | 8 MP | 16 MP | 20 MP |
| Video Capture | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@60/30fps | 1080p |
| Flash | LED | LED | LED | Dual-LED |
| OS Version | Android 8.0 Oreo | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 8.0 Oreo | Android 7.1.1 Nougat-based MIUI 9.2 |
| AI (Smart Assistant) | Google Assistant | Google Assistant | Google Assistant | Google Assistant |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 GHz+ 5 GHz | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | v4.2 | v4.2, A2DP, LE | v4.2, A2DP, LE, EDR | v4.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No | No | No |
| Infrared | No | No | No | Yes |
| Fingerprint Scanner | Yes, Rear | Yes, Rear button | Yes, Front | Yes, Rear button |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | Yes, FM Radio | Yes, FM Radio | Yes, FM Radio | Yes, FM Radio |
| USB Type | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-Go | Type-C | microUSB v2.0 |
| USB Standard | USB v2.0 | USB v2.0 | USB v2.0 | USB v2.0 |
| Battery (mAh) | 3,500 | 5,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 |
| Fast charging | NA | No | Yes | No |
| Colors | Blue, Black, Gold | Deepsea Black, Grey | Indigo Black | Black, Gold, Rose Gold, Blue |
| Prices in India | Starting at Rs 18,990 | Starting at Rs 10,999 | Starting at Rs 13,999 | Starting at Rs 14,999 |
Conclusion
Samsung’s really not got much going with its Galaxy J8 here even if we go just by the specifications on paper. It’s not the best looking smartphone in the lot, nor is it the most powerful device. Add to this the steep price and the plastic construction and you are better off with Moto G6 that looks better and is still a lot cheaper.
With that said, Xiaomi is still retains its ‘king of the ring’ title with its Note 5 Pro being the all-rounder (with the best camera) while the Moto G6 wins the beauty contest. And Asus is your best choice for an almost stock Android experience with a focus on battery life. We will let you know the complete verdict on the Samsung J8 after we are done reviewing it thoroughly.
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