The Samsung Experience UX is a experience within itself giving you more software features (split screen etc.) than any iPhone. Maybe that's what the OP met. Samsung also has a 3D-touch like home button under the display and the entire screen has haptic feedback including the keyboard. Let's not even get to the S8 having a faster point and shoot camera than any new iPhone and iP68 waterproof instead of iP67 and stereo audio recording unlike the iPhone as well. Of course, the Samsung display on their own flagship devices are always better and the display is the primary hardware feature you interact with.
What do you mean 3D Touch like home button? 3D Touch is a pressure sensitive screen that gives you contextual menus, and other functions based upon how it was implemented by the developers. I think you are confusing it with TouchID.
I agree, screens are the true killer feature of Samsung phones, but of those high points you list are software related to Android more than Samsung specifically.
The s8 doesn’t have stereo mics, it has an interview mode that uses both mics to produce better audio during an interview. Neat feature, but I have a feeling the iphone does this too, as I have never had an issue hearing myself during audio interviews. There are 3rd party stereo mic hardware solutions for both phones though. If the S8 has Stereo mic capability, it isn’t listed on their site, nor is it in any review I have read.
On the subject of sound, The iPhone has stereo speakers from the factory, while the S8 doesn’t. Granted you can modify the S8 to use the earpiece speaker as a louder 2nd channel, it isn’t enabled or active by factory.
Haptic Feedback is screen wide on the iPhone 6S, 7, and 8, including the keyboard in some instances. Sadly the keyboard haptic feedback isn’t used everywhere or toggable within settings. It just seems to be enabled for certain apps or situation. Would love to have it device wide, like on Android. But again, it’s not uniquely a Samsung feature, it’s built into Android.
Camera? Curious about that as the reviews I have seen showing them launching nearly equally, though IIRC DXO and other reviewers said the iPhone has a superior camera in image quality. At the end of the day, I say they are (near as makes no difference) equal here.
Waterproofing differences are real, but in most cases I don’t think people deeply test that functionality, similar to how few people will notice the iPhone’s superior processor speed over the Galaxy 8.
Maybe it’s just me, but I am convinced phones are a mature market now, with little worthy differences between them. Outside of the screen, I don’t see any massive reason to buy the Galaxy S8, in the same way I don’t see any massive reason to buy the iPhone, even with it’s superior processor. If you like Android, stick with a device you like, while the iPhone 8 is a worthy device for the iOS market.
The difference between the X's notched display and the vehicle gauges is that the gauges aren't intended to be be used regularly to watch rectangular video content. The gauges are designed for a specific purpose that isn't affected by having dead space, while one of the most obvious purposes of the phone is legitimately affected by the existence of the notch.
It is quite obvious in full screen maps, when viewing the rear camera, blind spot camera, or front corner cameras.
But, it also doesn’t bother me, just like the “notch” on the phone, it is a non issue for some of us.
