Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Galaxy S8: More screen, but hefty price tag
NEW YORK — Samsung ’s new Galaxy S8 phone is stunning.
As is the price. The S8 starts shipping Friday for about $750 — $100 more than the iPhone 7 and last year’s Galaxy S7 when it launched. A larger sibling, the S8 Plus, goes for about $850.
The S8 is for those who want elegance — and are willing to pay for it. Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus smartphones are for those who want elegance — and are willing to pay. nearly 15 percent more display space than last year’s comparable models. But the phones themselves aren’t wider. In fact, the phones feel more comfortable thanks to sides that curve around to the back. Though a larger display drains the battery faster, my tests of streaming video found that the new phones consumed power more slowly than last year’s models. And even with constant use — taking photos, watching video and playing music and podcasts — the new phones still made it to bedtime with power to spare. The S8 has an iris scanner to let you unlock the phone by looking at it. But you have to swipe the screen first and position it from your face at just the right distance.
I’m sure Samsung, a South Korean company, meant no offense, yet I was ticked off when the phone instructed me, an AsianAmerican, to “open eyes fully.”
The fingerprint scanner was faster and more convenient for unlocking the phone. But you have to be careful not to smudge the adjacent camera lens by mistake.
Samsung is introducing a digital assistant called Bixby, but voice features aren’t ready yet. Voice dictation does work with a reminder feature, though. Bixby will also highlight appointments, trending stories and app suggestions, much as existing features on iPhones and other Android phones already offer.
One promising feature aims to provide translations and product information using the phone’s camera.