Galaxy S8 plus or keep 7plus

[phrehdd]

I am in the process of trade in of my iPhone5s for the Samsung S8+. I am sure I'll have momentary buyers remorse that will last until I get the hang of the phone and after that - I'll be happy that with a few quick Android adjustments, a couple of apps to let me connect to my rMBP.

1) Got a good deal on the trade in of my 5s to the S8+.
2) I can instantly change the icon menu screen to a 3x4 matrix via Android itself which makes the icons and accompanying text larger (no need to put on glasses). Other areas also nicely adjustable and not Apple's lame 'work around.'
3) the iPhone 7+ single port/plug for audio and power was unacceptable.
4) the iPhone 7+ came in 32gig or 128. I need more than 32 and paying for 128 was not going to happen. Samsung S8+ comes with 64 gigs storage and is expandable via card.
5) Overall look and feel is more flexible with Android. For those who like some of the screens of IOS, there are apps that make screens that emulate the IOS look and feel. I may dabble with it for fun.

I admit to wanting to get the 7+ and trying really hard to justify it. In the end I couldn't as the delta between the two phones tipped in the favour (for me) of the Samsung. I would be remiss if I didn't say there are things about the 7+ I would prefer such as 2 speakers on the phone and I prefer the camera set up for lower light snaps as example.

 

[Susurs]

3 months and a new iPhone will be out...

 

[pete480]

Definitely wait until the 8 comes out...unless you're bored with iOS.

 

[mib1800]

Whether the pain of moving from Apple eco-system (iphone 7 or even future 8) is worth or not, I have compiled a list of things you may gain by moving to S8/Android:

Hardware

- Large OLED infinity WQHD+ display with high 85% screen/body ratio
- Wireless Charging
- Fast Charging (full charge in 1 hr 30 mnin)
- Headphone jack
- Dual SIM card (some countries)
- MicroSD card support (additional 256 GB)
- Built-in pedometer + heart rate/SP02/stress sensor
- IRIS scanner - for security
- USB/UTG
- Bluetooth 5.0

Connectivity

- WIFI Display (or miracast) built-in. Mirror phone screen to any wifi-capable TV without need of any additional setup/intermediate hardware. Plus if you connect a wireless mouse/keyboard via UTG to phone then you have pseudo-desktop

- DLNA built-in support : stream music/video to any DLNA enabled devices without needing any setup.

- Sidesync : operate phone from any PC/mac within wifi network. Phone screen appears as a virtual window in PC/mac. You can use PC mouse/speaker to make calls or continue editing or run any apps in the phone from the PC. Similar to Iphone hand-off but more flexible.

- DEX docking station- transform phone into a desktop.

- Transfer any files between any devices via Wifi-Direct / BT. No additional setup/hardware requirement.

- Plug in disk/thumbdrive/mouse/gamepad directly to phone using usb cable and use. Easily and quickly transfer out your files/photos/videos. Or just play a video off your portable drive. Or use a gamepad to play games. Or use mouse to interact with phone.

- Play music to 2 different sound devices via BT 5.0. Also set individual app to specific sound source e.g. map to always use phone speakers

- File System: something fundamental that we have been using that is missing in Iphone.

- VR headset support - something new to experience


OS / Software

AOD - always on display. simple and yet very useful. Plus you can theme it as well.

Multi-Window - run apps in 2 separate top/bottom windows or popup windows. e,g continue to view youtube while you are doing a whatsapp chat.

Secure Folder - it is like a second login environment. It has a separate copy of system settings/file-system. You can install a second copy of your app here and it runs in its own separate data space. e.g. with dual-sim, you can concurrently run 2 copies of whatsapp (one for work number and the other personal) and get notify at the same time. Or setup another Google account in secure folder to sync confidential email at same time with your other accounts.

Game launcher - a separate environment to launch games. You can set sound, notify on/off, no accidental touches, boost performance etc

Immersive mode - set the top status or bottom navigation (or both) to auto-hide to maximise screen area. Can set exclusion for certain apps. Can have floating panel with home, back, task buttons for easy one handed use.

Set default app - you can set any app to be default to handle different kind of files/data.

Shortcut - create shortcuts icon to anything: direct dial/sms, to open battery usage in Settings directly, open specific screen of an app directly etc. Place shortcuts anywhere - in homescreen, notification, side panel etc.

Home/Launcher - fully customizable with themes, widgets, icon packs and live wallpapers - no more boring grid of icons. You can also use other launchers as well. Personalize your UI anyway you like.

Smart Lock - unlock phone at certain pre-specified locations (incl BT/Wifi/geo locations)

Side panels - clip part of screen as image/gif/OCR text. Many useful add-on panels as well.

Samsung Health - put a widget to show your steps, measure your heart rate/sp02/stress, track your workouts all using the phone only.

App Store: Many app stores. You can also side-load apps giving you flexibilities and benefits.

Other Niceties - 1) record phone calls. 2) smart stay to keep screen on while you are looking at it. 3) Screen recorder to record what's happening on screen 4) answer call by pressing volume key 5) reduce UI size for one handed use 6) take continuous screen shots


Automation

There are unlimited possibilities with Android multi-tasking capability. You can setup tasks which the phone can do automatically for you. This opens up quite a lot of use cases not possible with Iphone. These are some examples I have running in my phone.

- auto set ring/network profile depending on situations (at home/work/outdoors)
- auto send SMS when near pickup location (great if you pick up someone regularly)
- redirect important calls to covering when you are engaged.
- start call recording when calls from certain persons.
- auto change wallpaper based on events.
- mute/unmute ring based on calendar meetings.
- timed ring profile.
- tap on NFC sticker - initiated certain tasks.
- auto send canned SMS to birthday
- smart lock
- pull files from certain ftp/http locations to phone periodically or when certain parameters changed
- selective sync from cloud storage to local folders
- auto start/close apps when certain app is started.
- start music app when headphone is plug in
- start certain app(s) on phone remotely or using a SMS.
-set screen to landscape when certain apps are launched.
-auto read out received sms/whatsapp under certain preset conditions like driving/phone turned over/etc
- plus quite a few others.

 

[I7guy]

Nice list. Completely subjective though as to it one or more of these are important to the individuals: e.g. Dual camera lens or external storage.

For example to me, longevity, support and native communications(FaceTime and iMessage) that my family have are important. External memory, oled, aid are unimportant. with my aw I can leave my cell phone and not carry the darn thing around or stare at the screen continuously. As with all lists of this type ymmv.

But the list will be good for those who know nothing about android or iOS or the hardware therein.

 

[phrehdd]

My first couple of days with the S8+ from Samsung (having traded in my iPhone 5s) was quite the experience. I'll be honest in saying there is much I liked about iPhones and most of that is related to familiarity and more basic usage. With the S8+, I have a bit of a learning curve as well as perhaps 'too many' options so I am keeping it simple until I have a better feel. I'll get back later on some pros and cons (and where I personally stumble with no reflection on either device).

One thing I can say, even after 1 day with the S8+, I returned to my iPhone 5s to "reset" before sending back for the trade and it felt dramatically small as in tiny.

The only "fun" app I will explore later is one that makes the Android phone look and feel like an iPhone just to mess with some friends of mine. ; )

 

[Tig Bitties]

Had the 7 Plus for 5 months, really liked it a lot, but certain iOS stuff frustrated me, so I wanted to go back to Android. Picked up the S8+, really great phone, but just not for me, returned it 48 hrs later, and went back to my old Nexus 6P.

I cleaned and wiped my 6P and installed a brand new fresh ROM, and have to say I couldn't be happier. Stock Android is just the best to me.

So my new phone will either be the iPhone 8 ( but all depends if Apple finally updates iOS 11 with some much needed revisions, and better notification system ) otherwise will be the Pixel XL 2

 

[Hieveryone]

im so tempted to get the galaxy s8 plus, I've had iPhones from the start but they are getting boaring. My only worry is my kids use ipad to text me, so I'm guessing skype can replace that if I go with the s8.
BTW Are we looking at a 7s to come out before the iPhone 8 ?

I personally wanted the S8 but I heard that it doesn't have force touch or an acceptable equivalent to me for Live Photos.

But other than that the s8 is stunning.

 

[Radon87000]

Nice list. Completely subjective though as to it one or more of these are important to the individuals: e.g. Dual camera lens or external storage.

For example to me, longevity, support and native communications(FaceTime and iMessage) that my family have are important. External memory, oled, aid are unimportant. with my aw I can leave my cell phone and not carry the darn thing around or stare at the screen continuously. As with all lists of this type ymmv.

But the list will be good for those who know nothing about android or iOS or the hardware therein.

The hardware is not subjective. Its a better phone. Proof is the fact that most of what you read on that list is on iPhone 8

 

[Lerxt]

Don't really believe 80% of those claiming they have or are going to have an s8. Really, you wouldn't be here if you did, so I just write you off as the Samsung Army still trying to convince me to buy an inferior phone on a crap OS.

 

[I7guy]

The hardware is not subjective. Its a better phone. Proof is the fact that most of what you read on that list is on iPhone 8

The opinion on which you prefer and which is better is subjective; that is not up for debate. I don't care about sd card or oled, that's subjective. I do care about dual camera lens and soc; which makes the iphone better. (see how that works?) A tow-hitch on a F-150 does not make it a better vehicle than a WRX STI.

I don't know what's in the next rumored "iphone x" (maybe there is a link to apples website), but I do know, putting in a chip that is already existing, is not proof of anything.

 

[Radon87000]

The opinion on which you prefer and which is better is subjective; that is not up for debate. I don't care about sd card or oled, that's subjective. I do care about dual camera lens and soc; which makes the iphone better. (see how that works?) A tow-hitch on a F-150 does not make it a better vehicle than a WRX STI.

I don't know what's in the next rumored "iphone x" (maybe there is a link to apples website), but I do know, putting in a chip that is already existing, is not proof of anything.

So you dont care about the iPhone 8?

 

[I7guy]

So you dont care about the iPhone 8?

I'm not sure based on the rumors I'm all in on the next iPhone, but whether I "care" about it somehow morphed from "what is better". Strange deflection.

 

[Radon87000]

I'm not sure based on the rumors I'm all in on the next iPhone, but whether I "care" about it somehow morphed from "what is better". Strange deflection.

That's Coz you said in your post that you don't care about OLED when that's the star of the show in the iPhone 8. What's even funnier is that Apple is implementing a file manager on iOS so it would be interesting to see what the people who thought it was inefficient and they didn't care about it are gonna say
[doublepost=1496649698][/doublepost]

Don't really believe 80% of those claiming they have or are going to have an s8. Really, you wouldn't be here if you did, so I just write you off as the Samsung Army still trying to convince me to buy an inferior phone on a crap OS.

Android is superior to iOS in a lot of areas and its not a crap os nor is it a crap phone. Proof being that most of what you see on the S8 is coming on the iPhone 8

 

[I7guy]

That's Coz you said in your post that you don't care about OLED when that's the star of the show in the iPhone 8. What's even funnier is that Apple is implementing a file manager on iOS so it would be interesting to see what the people who thought it was inefficient and they didn't care about it are gonna say
[doublepost=1496649698][/doublepost]
Android is superior to iOS in a lot of areas and its not a crap os nor is it a crap phone. Proof being that most of what you see on the S8 is coming on the iPhone 8

There is no "star " if the show in the rumor mill for the iPhone. Unlike android everything works together seamlessly.

And correct oled is not a selling point for me no more than a tow hitch on a car. And if the rumor mill is a file manger I'm sure it won't be an unholy mess like windows or android.

 

[mib1800]

Unlike android everything works together seamlessly.

And if the rumor mill is a file manger I'm sure it won't be an unholy mess like windows or android.

Totally unsubstantiated, subjective, bias and erroneous.

 

[I7guy]

Totally unsubstantiated, subjective, bias and erroneous.

right, now let's discuss my comment.

 

[oplix]

A better device IS a better device. It's not subjective at all. If it was, there would be no reason to upgrade phones.

 

[Radon87000]

There is no "star " if the show in the rumor mill for the iPhone.

Yes its the main reason to upgrade to the 8 other than design. The other features are just gimmicks copied from Android.

Unlike android everything works together seamlessly.

Doesn't work with Windows so its less seamless than Android

And correct oled is not a selling point for me no more than a tow hitch on a car.

Its the main selling point for me and apparently for millions of customers if the super cycle kicks off

And if the rumor mill is a file manger I'm sure it won't be an unholy mess like windows or android.

Already dropped and its a copy of Finder on Mac. Its in no way superior or inferior to Android or Windows. In fact I would say Windows is slightly better as you can directly type in a target path which you cant do on Finder

Hahahahaha Apple agreed with us on he file manager and those who didn't have their foot in their mouth[/quote][/QUOTE]

 

[torana355]

I upgraded from the S7 to the S8 Plus last week and have no regrets, its the best phone ive ever owned. Battery life is the biggest upside for me and of course the display on the S8 plus is just amazing.

 

[I7guy]

Yes its the main reason to upgrade to the 8 other than design. The other features are just gimmicks copied from Android.


Doesn't work with Windows so its less seamless than Android


Its the main selling point for me and apparently for millions of customers if the super cycle kicks off


Already dropped and its a copy of Finder on Mac. Its in no way superior or inferior to Android or Windows. In fact I would say Windows is slightly better as you can directly type in a target path which you cant do on Finder

Hahahahaha Apple agreed with us on he file manager and those who didn't have their foot in their mouth

[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
For me oled is not a reason to upgrade at all, however may be for you, which is fine and dandy. all Apple products work together more seamlessly than android products, so yes, it's more seamless.

You can't know why the masses want to upgrade or whether a rumored display is even a reason.

Nor can you know what functionality will be in iOS file manager if there even is such a thing at release.

 

[b18221964]

im so tempted to get the galaxy s8 plus, I've had iPhones from the start but they are getting boaring. My only worry is my kids use ipad to text me, so I'm guessing skype can replace that if I go with the s8.
BTW Are we looking at a 7s to come out before the iPhone 8 ?

Don't get one. I got one and I am going to sell it. Battery is garbage compare with iPhone 7 Plus.

 

[mib1800]

Don't get one. I got one and I am going to sell it. Battery is garbage compare with iPhone 7 Plus.

The S8 is so much better in battery life than 7plus with this video.

 

[b18221964]

The S8 is so much better in battery life than 7plus with this video.

Yeah I read those reviews on batteries before buying the S8+ but still iOS does a way better job managing battery usage, I don't even play games on my phone. Also those review that tells people they have good battery by turning off mobile data, sync, bluetooth..etc. is just what ever man why do you even use a smart phone.

And also on the S8 you get an alert telling you to put apps to sleep. You don't need to do that on the iPhone.

I don't know why, I try to work with the S8 on a daily routine with the same apps on my iPhone but the iPhone has at least 40% battery left. I never turn off Wifi, Bluetooth or mobile data.

 

[Geert76]

Yeah I read those reviews on batteries before buying the S8+ but still iOS does a way better job managing battery usage, I don't even play games on my phone. Also those review that tells people they have good battery by turning off mobile data, sync, bluetooth..etc. is just what ever man why do you even use a smart phone.

And also on the S8 you get an alert telling you to put apps to sleep. You don't need to do that on the iPhone.

I don't know why, I try to work with the S8 on a daily routine with the same apps on my iPhone but the iPhone has at least 40% battery left. I never turn off Wifi, Bluetooth or mobile data.

After 4 weeks I can assure you the battery on my S8 lasts longer then my iPhone 7. And thats even while using the S8 more intensive (since its a new phone ofcourse) then my iPhone 7.