Galaxy S8 Preorders Were Samsung's 'Best Ever'

[Zirel]

This photo was taken in Canada, the S8 launch day… doesn't seem like that…



Also, there was a lot of pent-up demand from the previous owners of the famous Note 7.

 

[ackmondual]

They deserve the sales, I saw the S8 in person and it blows away the iPhone 7 in terms of hardware and design

makes my phone look antiquated



most of your issues are just with opening the phone, talk about making a mountain out of a molehill

AFAIK, YMMV. On the iPhone side of things, some folks really didn't care that the headphone jack got removed, but for others, it was an absolute requirement.

 

[DoctorDoctor]

At launch, Bixby doesn't speak, but the button and the service does actually function (well, except for Verizon who turned off the shopping-via-camera feature).

I was getting thoroughly bored with my iPhone 7 Plus that felt even less incremental of an upgrade from my iPhone 6s Plus, and even more miffed about iOS' restrictions and lack of robustness in many of its features, so thanks to T-Mobile's JUMP! on Demand program, I turned it in and got an S8 Plus in its place.

It really does have that wow factor and many of the things I wished iOS could do has been here even before Android OS 7.0 Nougat.

And you will eventually get bored of Android, but I get what you are saying. Hope you enjoy not getting updates, malware and the eventual slowdown of Android to the point you will want to throw it out the window.

 

[JackieTreehorn]

This is great news. Competition is good.

Specs marketing and cheating benchmark test is NOT competition.

 

[ackmondual]

And you will eventually get bored of Android, but I get what you are saying. Hope you enjoy not getting updates, malware and the eventual slowdown of Android to the point you will want to throw it out the window.

To play devil's advocate, get enough updates on the iPhone, and that'll slow down. This is coming from people I've talked with in person, as I couldn't say as I use Android and not iPHone.

 

[trifid]

While I can see the intended appeal... wouldn't these productivity-focused people already have some sort of laptop or desktop computer?

The answer is an absolute YES.

The laptop is the ultimate portable computer. It works anywhere. It's a complete standalone solution. Whether you're in your office plugged into a big monitor... or in a hotel room... or conference room... the laptop works.

This is a solved problem.

Can you imagine the pushback if your IT department swaps out your current phone and laptop with a Galaxy S8 and a DeX dock?

Yeah... you can get a "computer-like" experience at your desk... but lord help you if you want to work literally anywhere else.

Again... I understand the idea... your phone is the "brain" and you can plug into a screen and keyboard at your desk for big-screen work.

However... the laptop already does this... and it goes with you. It's a complete package... screen and keyboard and all.

Yes, but only because there hasn't been a good solution until now. Samsung's proposition has the potential to replace the laptop, that's my point. Why would the casual user get a $1000-2000 laptop if you use your phone all day and only need a screen for secondary use cases which may be perfectly well handled by your phone+dock?

I'm referring to the casual mainstream home user, not for a business model, though that might work too. The casual user just needs iWork/Office, photo/video editing, email/social apps, browser.

 

[DNichter]

Yep, software is a dumpster fire.

I was kind of surprised by it to be honest. I was expecting improvement from the last time I tried an Android device, but it was just more of the same. And the placement of the fingerprint scanner is beyond stupid. I don't see how anyone could get used to it. I tried to use the demo of the iris scanner and face recognition, but both kept failing. I don't see how someone could use this as their daily phone.

 

[The Game 161]

This photo was taken in Canada, the S8 launch day… doesn't seem like that…



Also, there was a lot of pent-up demand from the previous owners of the famous Note 7.

Hardly means much..only Apple fans are sad enough to line up for launches.

 

[Eggtastic]

At launch, Bixby doesn't speak, but the button and the service does actually function (well, except for Verizon who turned off the shopping-via-camera feature).

I was getting thoroughly bored with my iPhone 7 Plus that felt even less incremental of an upgrade from my iPhone 6s Plus, and even more miffed about iOS' restrictions and lack of robustness in many of its features, so thanks to T-Mobile's JUMP! on Demand program, I turned it in and got an S8 Plus in its place.

It really does have that wow factor and many of the things I wished iOS could do has been here even before Android OS 7.0 Nougat.

Do you miss the apple interface? I mean I feel android is more rough around the edges when it comes to the look and feel of the interface while iOS is just simple and clean. I may be jumping ship as I have an old 6+ and am getting bored of apple. I use google services anyway so the ecosystem won't matter. The lack of iMessage may bother me though.

However I am sure the customization is awesome. I had an s3 and loved it until it gave me problems down the road.

 

[chukronos]

Good looking phone. Having a lot of sales makes sense.

 

[BvizioN]

What are some options you would prefer on iOS? Customization stuff? Colors?

Don't care about colours, you get these plenty with iOS anyway Customisation yes, but in general you get more options on how you use your device.

 

[DNichter]

Don't care about colours, you get these plenty with iOS anyway Customisation yes, but in general you get more options on how you use your device.

That's what I am asking though, like what? What options do you get?

 

[bigjnyc]

Also helps out that people have been getting them with Gear VR headsets and Daydream-like controllers, and a select 50K preorders got a 256GB U3 microSD card and AKG Bluetooth headphones (AKG wired headphones are in the retail box).

not to mention the buy one get one free deals that are already floating around.

 

[v0lume4]

You held it in the store and were able to tell it's one heck of a phone? How's the software and battery life? What about the red screen tint some are complaining about?

As of now I can say that the battery life seems great:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/galaxy-s8-s8-battery-life.2042921/

Can't comment on the red tint as I don't know enough about the matter, though the phones in the store didn't seem to have the issue.

Besides, using the phone (the S8) in the store is better than blindly preordering the phone with no prior use, is it not? Because I can tell you that I've never used an iPhone before release.

 

[JamesDo]

Switched from iPhone 7 to Galaxy S8 and what a difference it is. The iPhone 7 looks dated, pixelated and boring compared to the beautiful S8.
[doublepost=1493063832][/doublepost]

If the new iPhone looks anything like this render, Apple's order numbers will leave Samsung soaking with envy.

It looks exactly like the S8.

 

[DNichter]

Switched from iPhone 7 to Galaxy S8 and what a difference it is. The iPhone 7 looks dated, pixelated and boring compared to the beautiful S8.
[doublepost=1493063832][/doublepost]

It looks exactly like the S8.

Similar, yes. But more like the existing iPhone in Jet Black with less bezel. Eventually all phones will look the same and it will all come down to software, core technologies, ecosystem, and support.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Yes, but only because there hasn't been a good solution until now. Samsung's proposition has the potential to replace the laptop, that's my point. Why would the casual user get a $1000-2000 laptop if you use your phone all day and only need a screen for secondary use cases which may be perfectly well handled by your phone+dock?

I'm referring to the casual mainstream home user, not for a business model, though that might work too. The casual user just needs iWork/Office, photo/video editing, email/social apps, browser.

Let's not forget that laptops VASTLY outsell desktops. Why?

Laptops are great. Everyone loves NOT being chained to one location... whether you're an office worker or a casual home user.

So the fact that the Samsung DeX replicates a desktop computer... is kinda funny to me today.

And who says you need to spend $1000-2000 on a laptop?

I'd rather have a $500 laptop and use it anywhere... than put my smartphone in a dock and be stuck at a desk.

 

[Azygos85]

Galaxy S8 Preorders Were Samsung's 'Best Ever'

As they should be. Samsung put together a heck of a phone. I used one in-store and it's a beauty to hold. Kudos to them.

I played with my friend's S8+ yesterday and it was really nice. Made me miss Android and the Samsung skin for a while, but then I went back to my 7 Plus and realized how well it's integrated with my Mac. My 7 Plus doesn't have stupid bugs that crop up, apps running haywire, battery life issues, etc. It just works and it works very well. I actually use Apple Pay a lot more than I was using Samsung Pay on my old Note 5. Apple Pay works every time, unlike with Samsung Pay where I had to try a couple of times to get it to complete the transaction. Yes the 7 Plus does look dated next to the S8 and S8+, but until i switched over to an iPhone, I didn't realize how well these phones work.

 

[AJ5790]

I tried going to SamsungRumors.com to find my Mac news, but no luck.

Huh? You mean they actually focus on the company implied by their name? Weird.

 

[ani4ani]

I saw a dozen retaiers in Europe offering 5 phones "free" with service.

I am pretty sure that boosts sales.

Of course you did...share a link for one or two of them with us

 

[samcraig]

It's a gorgeous phone and I can't imagine someone really arguing otherwise.

 

[satchmo]

Can we believe anything we read today?
Fake news, marketing spin, fudged numbers, shipped vs pre-orders...it's just another expensive smartphone.

Smartphones are a commodity. Many mid-tier phones can achieve 80% of the features.
I don't understand why people continue to shell out upwards of $1K for one.
Frankly, I wish less people would support the high-end market and bring prices back down.

 

[dave2010]

In Australia, you could get the S8 on a 4GB a month plan, unlimited calls for $66 (inc tax) a month and there were other deals compared to iPhones that still start at $85 or more. It looks like Samsung did some telco deals.

It's an amazing screen. If the damned fingerprint sensor was easier to use; I could be tempted to switch (assuming I could make it look like standard Android on there).

 

[tooltalk]

Why is this "unfortunate"? How does this affect you, what other people consider "good enough"?

See it in positive way! If more people buy Samsung mobiles, iPhone users will be more special, more elite!

Not if they continue to stagnate.. Nokia users are endangered species these days, but really nobody cares about them, much less being special.

 

[Jack Burton]

I'm done with expandable memory cards - my Galaxy S7 keeps creating more and more folders named the same for some stupid reason (oh boy, another "camera" gallery! Why? Who ***ing knows!). I think I'm done with Samsung phones.

The screens are amazing. The software is annoying.

It's Google Pixel or iPhone only for me going forward. Samsung again made incredible screens married to decent android hardware - but my god... that software. A dedicated voice assistant button for clicking when you can't see your phone? Great!

But a dedicated button that triggers software bloat - Samsung's own not-yet-functional voice assistant on a mobile OS that already has the best one out there? Count me out.

But wait, it's android. Someone will release an app to fix that right? Yes... but then Samsung will block it with a patch! Ugh. one step forward, two steps back.