Mid-range phone with premium features
Samsung’s new Galaxy A8+ has a lot to offer those who want performance in a device, writes Loong Wai Ting
I’M looking to replace my old phone which I have had for more than three years now. But with so many models in the market today, I have a problem choosing the right one while keeping to a budget.
DESIGN
The Samsung Galaxy A8+ certainly looks like a premium phone. Even friends and my tech junkie cousins had a lot of praise for it at our recent Chinese New Year gathering. Honestly, it was rather amusing to see them ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the new phone.
The phone looks really great. Both the Galaxy A8 and Galaxy A8+ have the same design, with the only difference being their height. The Galaxy A8+ is taller and wider compared to its sibling.
Some would prefer the Galaxy A8+ for its better grip and feel while the Galaxy A8 is more comfortable to hold due to its slimmer body.
A quick check on the Internet reveals that many users have complained about the fingerprint scanner at the back of the phone, just below the main camera. I couldn’t agree more.
Being a first time user, it takes me a while to locate the scanner. But once I got used to it, I could easily find it without having to turn the phone around. However,it’s annoying that the scanner has been placed so close to the main camera.
Samsung has done the right thing with its speaker position. I love how it is located above the power On/Off button. This means I will not accidentally cover or muffle the audio when watching my favourite South Korean dramas while tilting the phone horizontally. Because of this, the audio distribution is great and crystal clear. Also, having the volume keys on the left side of the phone allows me to easily control the volume using my fingers. Samsung has also retained the position of the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is at the bottom, right next to the USB-C charging port.
However, neither the Galaxy A8 nor the Galaxy A8+ features that curving infinity edge like the S8 and S8+. The bezels itself aren’t as thin as you’d expect in S8 or S8+. However, the rear glass panel has a subtle curve on its side where it meets the aluminium frame.
The A8+ at 191 grammes is also significantly heavier and bigger than the S8+ (173 grams).
FEATURES
The Samsung Galaxy A8+ packs quite a punch when it comes to display. It features a 5.6-inch full HD Super AMOLED display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 1080x2220 resolution.
The images are crisp while the colours seem to pop out from the screen. The display is definitely more vibrant than my old phone, and whenever I stream my favourite K-drama, I get to see the actors and their costumes in stunning detail.
The A8+ is powered by an Exynos 7885 Octa-core processor (2.2GHz dual + 1.6GHz hexa) and 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage. Like most new Samsung phones today, the A8+ also comes with features such as face recognition, enrich selfie camera functions, Always ON display, secure folder, Bixby home and reminder (almost like a personal assistant) and my Samsung app.
When it comes to battery life, I’m equally impressed by it as well. One single charge on its 3,000mAh battery can last me a whole day. On days when I hardly use the phone, except to check my emails, it can last me up to two days.
The phone is also IP68 rated, which means it is dust- and water-resistant up to 1.5 metres for up 30 minutes. So users need not worry if the phone is accidentally dropped into a puddle or a kitchen sink full
of water.
VERDICT 4/5
CAMERA
The camera (16MP) is also one of the highlights of this excellent device. Over a long weekend recently, I challenged myself to take photos using its built-in camera. Of all the camera mode settings such as Pro, Panorama and HDR, my favourite is the food option. Even when I’m not taking pictures of food, I use this to take photos of sceneries and people, and the results are equally amazing.
All my photos look pretty good, even in low-light environment. But the photos tend to be blurry with noise, especially in low-light places.
If you like taking selfies, you’ll love the Selfie Focus on this phone. It lets you achieve that bokeh effect without having to rely on photo editing apps. With the Beauty Mode on, you’ll love those flawless selfies even more.
CONCLUSION
If you’re looking for a mid-range phone that doesn’t break the bank, you may want to consider the Samsung Galaxy A8+ which is priced at RM2,499.
The highlight for me is definitely the camera. With its good quality camera, I can now look forward to ditching my bulky DSLR.