Bought a new Samsung phone a couple of days ago. It’s called Samsung Galaxy A8. This is a phone where Samsung has tweaked some stuff on. It’s my first 2018 phone to buy! Yes Samsung also released a 2016 edition Galaxy A8 a few years ago.
First of all they have moved the fingerprint sensor on rear side to be located below the camera. Much better location than on Galaxy S8 where it’s side by side with the camera which makes it harder to reach and easy to confuse with the camera. Samsung should have created some space between the camera and fingerprint scanner on Galaxy A8 but they didn’t.
On front side the phone reminds me about LG G6. Which is a bit cool design but for some the borders will be a bit of a turn off at the bottom. On Galaxy S8 it comes with less bezel.
This phone feels great in my hand. It’s easy to hold. But I still don’t like glass phones how it has become a thing. This phone just as Galaxy S8 sports glass back which will probably break fairly easy. These days you need a case to protect expensive phones.
Another downside is how you can’t remove the back side. Removable batteries was a feature that made Samsung phones have an edge compared to other companies. Now they are going the Apple direction and just want to maximize profit.
The button locations are great. I like how the speaker is on right side. Better location than at the back where it may block sound. The phone is very slippery which is a downside. Especially the glass front. May easy slide off a table. Just as Sony Xperia phones are famous to be doing.
I like how the phone still comes with 3.5mm audio jack for wired sound listening. It doesn’t have a curved front screen like Galaxy S8. So it’s more basic like the Galaxy S6 screen. The borders have a nice rounded design which reminds me about an iPhone.
Haven’t had time yet to play with it so much but it’s running on Android 7.1.1 Nougat. I really hope it get’s an Android Oreo update in the future. Double tap on front display without having to push a button to unlock is super cool!
The fingerprint sensor is a bit annoying how it’s not rounded so you can feel your finger reach the outside of the scanner. It feels too small. A rounded design would be better on scanner like the one we have on Huawei Mate 9. But the fingerprint scanner seems to perform better than my Galaxy A3 2017 that constantly can’t detect my finger the 2-3 first times.
Great that it comes with USB Type C for charging. Even though it’s expected for a mid-range 2018 device. Good how it comes with IP68 water resistance. Will be doing videos on this device on my YouTube channel called adrianisen which I run.
Overall I’m pretty satisfied. Much better designed than Galaxy A5 2016 edition. Samsung has managed to try to create unique designed phones and they have succeeded amazing with Galaxy J5 2017, Galaxy A5 2017 and Galaxy A8 2018. Samsung keeps delivering interesting designs. Yes their phones are still too expensive. But at least I feel they try something new.
In the future I want Samsung to stop making their devices so slippery. And want them to fix the fingerprint magnet problem many of their phones are starting to have.
I want Samsung to bring back some mid-range plastic phones. Since plastic in terms of durability is amazing. And it doesn’t need a case because it’s already durable. I like the more premium feel you have with the new devices but please. Stop the glass for once! It’s a bad material to use on phones! This is something I have dedicated a whole article about.
I think it can be fun to do some videos trying out the speed on Galaxy A8 and compare it to for example iPhone 6 or iPhone 7. Also I think I will do a standard Coca-Cola test! Usually Samsung water resistant devices tend to hold up pretty well in that category!
Yaaay, a new Sammy phone! They have definitely stepped up their design game, I love how they're tweaking new features and adding stuff to their phones, I'm especially interested to see how the camera will be on this one.
I owned the A5 from 2017 which was a solid budget phone, never had the A8 though, excited to see more about it. :)
The Galaxy A5 2017 and A3 2017 both have super awesome designs. Or at least better than the disaster with Galaxy A3 and A5 2016 designs! First look for me the camera seems to be performing great. Sammy has lots of experience with cameras and tend to not have huge problems with their lenses. I use my Galaxy A3 2017 as a mobile hotspot for my Internet. Seems to overheat less than Sony Xperia Z3 Compact. 😼
In Italy costs around €500 in stores but comes with Gear VR. I hope the price will drop to €320-300 later this month.
Yeah I hope so too! Samsung is raising their prices haha. Still a bit painful for me to do an investment in Galaxy Note 8 with it's heavy price tag of 900-1000 euro. Eventually in the future even phones will probably be renting solutions. That's where the world seems to be going in all rent and share. Less ownership.
Very good phone it is, well done... All the best
I think it's the best phone from Samsung for 2018
Is this phone supposed to be better than the S8?
Great photography dear..Keep it up...
thanks for sharing this news
Actually there's no best phones :)