 "Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ to launch in India on 19 April: Here’s all you need to know")
After its grand global announcement in New York, Samsung is finally bringing its flagship smartphone for the current year, the Galaxy S8 to India on 19 April. The launch event is set to take place in Delhi at 12:00PM and we will be there to give you all the details, including the device’s price tags as soon as launch takes place.
Compared to previous years, Samsung this year decided to go with a polished all-rounder that seems to not just cover the basics, but also brings something new in the form of the Infinity display and the Samsung’s Bixby digital assistant.
Hardware
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is also expected to be launched in India in two variants like it has internationally. This would include the Galaxy S8 with a 5.8-inch display and the Galaxy S8+ with a 6.2-inch display both of which come with the same 1,440 x 2,960 resolution but with different 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh batteries respectively.
The displays are Super Amoled units which have now been tagged as Infinity displays, because the bezel is only visible at the top forehead and the bottom chin, meaning that the entire front face is just the display and nothing else.
But thanks to the Infinity display, Samsung had to move the fingerprint reader on the back, next to the camera. So after years of having it placed on the front, users may find it annoying to reach for it at the back.
Another detail that is new, is the use an invisible home button. While the hardware keys at the bottom (along with that fingerprint reader) have been removed thanks to the new display, Samsung even with its software navigation keys has included an invisible Home button, that will deliver haptic feedback when pressed, giving users the impression of pressing down on a physical home button. While there are no buttons on the front and the back, the usual volume rocker and power button on the sides is now accompanied by a dedicated Bixby button to summon the new voice assistant.
The device features a polished metal chassis that is covered by curved Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the back. It is expected to be available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Artic Silver, Coral Blue and Maple Gold at launch.
This time around Samsung has gone in with Type-C reversible port at the bottom and even thrown in IP 68 rated dust and water resistance.
| Smartphone | Samsung S8 | Samsung S8+ |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size (inch) | 5.8 | 6.2 |
| Resolution (pixels) | 1,440 x 2,960 | 1,440 x 2,960 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 570 | 529 |
| Display Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Dimensions(mm) | 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 | 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 |
| Weight (gm) | 155 | 173 |
| Dual SIM | Yes (Variant) | Yes (Variant) |
| SIM Type | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Connectivity Types | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 83, Exynos 8895 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 83, Exynos 8895 |
| CPU Cores | Octa-core, Octa-core | Octa-core, Octa-core |
| CPU Clock Speed (GHz) | 4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo and 4x2.3 GHz & 4x1.7 GHz | 4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo and 4x2.3 GHz & 4x1.7 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 540 | Adreno 540 |
| RAM | 4GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| Ruggedness | IP68 | IP68 |
| On-Board Memory | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| Expandable Memory | Yes, upto 256GB | Yes, upto 256GB |
| Sensors | Iris scanner, fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Heart-rate, SpO2 | Iris scanner, fingerprint, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Compass, Barometer, Heart-rate, SpO2 |
| Primary Camera | 12MP, f/1.7 | 12MP, f/1.7 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Yes | Yes |
| Camera Array | Single Camera | Single Camera |
| Autofocus System | Phase detection | Phase detection |
| Secondary Camera | 8MP, f/1.7 | 8MP, f/1.7 |
| Video Capture | 4K | 4K |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| OS Version | Android 7.0 Nougat | Android 7.0 Nougat |
| AI (Smart Assistant) | Yes, Bixby | Yes, Bixby |
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | v5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX | v5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared | No | No |
| Fingerprint Scanner | Yes, Rear button | Yes, Rear button |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB Type | Type-C Reversible connector | Type-C Reversible connector |
| USB Standard | USB 3.1 | USB 3.1 |
| Battery (mAh) | “>3,000 | “>3,500 |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes |
| Colors | Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold | Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold |
| Prices in India | To be announced | To be announced |
Software
Software would indeed be the highlight of Samsung Galaxy. No, we are not talking about Android 7.0 Nougat coupled with TouchWiz, but Samsung’s second attempt at a voice assistant called Bixby.
Samsung Bixby is your typical voice assistant that will get things done in a manner similar to what you can already accomplish with Google Assistant on your current flagship. But it does have a few news tricks up its sleeves.
Bixby comes with Bixby Vision that will let you search by pointing the Bixby camera at an object. Bixby Vision basically detects what a user is looking at and provided related information which could either be related search results, images, or even app links to buy a product. The best part about Bixby is its ability to automate tasks or practically do anything in an app using voice that can otherwise be accomplished by touch. Indeed this would need support from third-party app developers. But sadly, users will not get to use the voice features of Bixby because it just won’t be available at launch. According to a statement issued by Samsung, Bixby’s voice features would only be available from spring this year.
What else is new?
At the hardware level, there is one new thing. It is called Samsung Dex and Dex is basically an attempt to ape Microsoft’s Continuum which is basically an emulated desktop-like OS. All you have to do is place your Samsung Galaxy S8 into a dock that connects the smartphone to keyboard, mouse and monitor. Once that’s done, you basically end up with a larger screen to play and work with.
And well, if you are switching from an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus , you will be treated to a 3.5mm jack as well.
Pricing
We expect the price tags to start from Rs 50,000 with the bigger model easily hitting the Rs 60,000 mark. Also Samsung would be launching the Galaxy S8 and S8+ two days before the international launch on 21 April.
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