Samsung Unveils Galaxy S8 and S8+ With Iris and Facial Recognition, No Home Button

[Wanted797]

Dedicated assistant button on the side, WTF? Home button plus fingerprint scanner on the back? Ick. What's with the rounded corners of the screen too?

I don't get why this is so awesome to some people.

Design isn't just how it looks but how it works e.g. how you use it, and this looks clunky as all get out to actually use. And I love my iPhone 7 plus (just upgraded from iPhone 6s Plus, because the lightning port was all loosey-goosey and would barely charge anymore).

I need my phone to just work and not have to fumble around to find the home button/finger scanner on the back and smudge up the camera cover or have two email clients and calendars and web browsers and stuff wasting time and fighting for control. I already have my personal mail in Mail and Calendar for uh, calendar stuff, and Outlook for work email/calendar on my MacBook pro. Four email accounts and three calendars, I don't want or need MORE juggling on my phone.

I have Skull Candy Hesh2 wireless headphones, I don't need a headphone port anymore, so who cares if it has one (as far as my needs are concerned). Ima toss the lightning to headphone jack adapter in a drawer and forget about it. Its 2017, lets move on to better solutions already.

Ick.

Well said. When I saw they added a damn button for Bixby, I scoffed. Dumbest idea ever. In all honest it isn't a massive upgrade, it's funny watching macrumors readers praise Samsung for it, yet scorn Apple for a the iPad. *confused*

 

[shanos]

Barking eh, a little snowflake, aren't we?

Finger print sensor on the back, how is it ergonomic to pick up the phone from a desk every time it needs to be unlocked? Not a fan of the decision.

How many times do you unlock the phone on your desk and not pick it up to see whats on the screen? unless you have compulsive needs to check your facebook and see if you have any friends lol

I don't see a single example on a phone where iris scanner is secure enough to be used for accessing bank accounts, with banks getting onboard to support it. It will turn out to be another gimmick.

Retinal scanning is a modern/future tech that apple will most likely follow, just hope your not back proclaiming it as the best thing when they do.

Exynos - another excuse of a processor that is not efficient, not optimized for the hardware and software. It's like x86 on a phone. When is Samsung going to design a processor optimized for a particular architecture of the phone. Has not happened yet.

Whats wrong with the Exynos? always performs very well, it would be more mainspread as well if it were not for qualcomm blocking them from supplying others by holding modem patents over samsungs head for 25 years.

Why are we comparing camera to iPhone 7, why bias the camera comparison to an older phone, why not compare it to camera that will be on 2018 iPhone. I can play the same game, is the camera 2 years ahead of the market, probably not. Just being ahead of last years technology is no advancement. How about a bigger sensor or pixel size?

The reason for comparing the cameras is that is what we have available to compare, in the same way iphone users compared the iphone 7 camera to the older galaxy s7

RAM, it's a standard strawman argument. And because can't enough RAM. The standard should be the RAM for Android phones doubles every year, Android needs it.

Whilst it may not be a strawman argument as you say, more ram if the company want to give it to their users is not a bad thing, Apple give users less memory and you lap up their efficiency claims.

The software implementation for Edge display was poor, the apps on the edge are probably gone for good.

software Implementation for the touchbar on my £3200 macbook pro is poor, but it takes time to get things where companies want them to be.
Should Apple drop the touchbar as it has poor support?

The aspect ratio is not 16:9, how is a developer supposed to have consistent UI across Android platform with a wild aspect ratio?

Unlike IOS the Android OS has been designed from the ground up to work with different ratios, the 18.5:9 ratio will work great for consuming media.

One feature that I have great hopes for is Bixby, hoping that Samsung didn't squander it. But Google and Samsung assistant on the same device calls for poor implementation. I hope that I am wrong. If done right, Bixby has the potential to upend the competition.

Hopefully as you say bixby will give Apple and others cause to work harder on their assistants
Your turn, let the whining begin. Better make it loud.

Hope the whining was loud enough lol

 

[Kabeyun]

I always find it funny; according to the folks on this site, when Samsung launch something after Apple, they copied, when they launch something before Apple they guessed what to copy!

To quote myself earlier (and sorry for the tone, that was in response to someone else):

So you've never heard of corporate espionage, I guess. You probably don't think that Samsung employees even read tech rumor sites. You probably also don't think that Samsung is aware of Apple's product timeline or anticipated dates of product announcements. It aaaallllllll happens in a vacuum, right?

Apple's design direction and corporate acquisitions are an open secret. You and everyone else who reads sites like this know what the next iPhone will probably do and look like, but somehow Samsung, with their rich history of corporate spying and copy-and-smother tactics isn't paying attention? They also have the ability & willingness to rush a product to market (*cough* Galaxy Note 7 *cough*).

What's actually funny is the idea that Samsung has integrity, and that people act surprised/amused at the suggestion that it's possible to copy a design and jump in early with a release.

 

[Wanted797]

The biggest problem I see for them is that they will be following Samsungs lead on the curved screens, innovation through imitation will not be enough.
The tables have turned in Samsungs favour, Apple may have invented the original phone with icons and rounded corners, but samsung have kicked and screamed their way to a great position with the S8

I can see the appeal it's more I can also see the tacky Samsung shining through. They just don't have the 'style' or thought process go into and you can almost tell they'll throw anything at the wall until it sticks. Everyone loves to hate Apple though.

 

[shanos]

Well said. When I saw they added a damn button for Bixby, I scoffed. Dumbest idea ever. In all honest it isn't a massive upgrade, it's funny watching macrumors readers praise Samsung for it, yet scorn Apple for a the iPad. *confused*

why not have a button for the assistant? whats so bad about that? I think the reason so many macuser readers are praising it is that they have had enough of Apple taking the piss by putting out the same phones over and over, innovation has gone from them these days.
The ipad is another incremental rehash
[doublepost=1490870374][/doublepost]

I can see the appeal it's more I can also see the tacky Samsung shining through. They just don't have the 'style' or thought process go into and you can almost tell they'll throw anything at the wall until it sticks. Everyone loves to hate Apple though.

Apple cannot really be praised for their innovative new design concepts, they keep on rehashing the same phones for too many generations before finally doing something new.
What was the point of upgrading from the 6/6s to the 7? as apple found out to their detriment people were not impressed enough, even after the note explosions samsung still managed to sell a shed load of s7's
Samsung are now leading the way (if its my throwing stuff at the designs to see what sticks, then its obviously working).

 

[44267547]

To quote myself earlier They also have the ability & willingness to rush a product to market (*cough* Galaxy S7 *cough*).

Two things:

1.) If you're going to make a claim, at least list the model of the phone that you're claiming was "Rushed" to the market. It was NOT the S7, it was the Note 7.

2.) Please explain how The Note 7 was "Rushed" to the market, when they release the Note the same time every year as they have in August, which includes the Note 7. So in theory, your point is moot because they did not release it any earlier as scheduled as they have in the past. More so, the fact that It as actually a design flaw more than it was a rushed product.

It Baffles me when I read knee jerk posts that have complete inaccuracy behind what somebody is posting without evidence. It might be best if you research what you're referring to before you actually make a statement.

 

[Wanted797]

why not have a button for the assistant? whats so bad about that? I think the reason so many macuser readers are praising it is that they have had enough of Apple taking the piss by putting out the same phones over and over, innovation has gone from them these days.
The ipad is another incremental rehash

I can understand criticism, but now I think people just do it for fun (it's cool to hate Apple). No new Mac's is probably the biggest thing I can agree with. The new iPad and a fantastic entry level iPad for under $500! and the name suits, iPad then the two Pro models (argument about actual pro abilities for another day). Sure it's old tech but when you meet 90% of consumers they don't care. Up until it was announced I was selling iPad Air 2s and customers were more than happy, no care that it was old tech (I always told them).

I thought this last year and again this year that, Samsung will often rush to try be the first. They likely knew Apple was going to removed the home button so set to work to get their first, not thought for the best implementation just be the first!
[doublepost=1490870691][/doublepost]

why not have a button for the assistant?

How much do you actually use Siri? I don't much and when I do I say 'Hey Siri'.
[doublepost=1490870897][/doublepost]

Apple cannot really be praised for their innovative new design concepts, they keep on rehashing the same phones for too many generations before finally doing something new.
What was the point of upgrading from the 6/6s to the 7? as apple found out to their detriment people were not impressed enough, even after the note explosions samsung still managed to sell a shed load of s7's
Samsung are now leading the way (if its my throwing stuff at the designs to see what sticks, then its obviously working).

Apple has never been the first to do things. But they make sure that when they do it, they do it right.

 

[H2SO4]

To quote myself earlier (and sorry for the tone, that was in response to someone else):

Apple's design direction and corporate acquisitions are an open secret. You and everyone else who reads sites like this know what the next iPhone will probably do and look like, but somehow Samsung, with their rich history of corporate spying and copy-and-smother tactics isn't paying attention? They also have the ability & willingness to rush a product to market (*cough* Galaxy S7 *cough*).

What's actually funny is the idea that Samsung has integrity, and that people act surprised/amused at the suggestion that it's possible to copy a design and jump in early with a release.

Please re-read your post and once you realise how ridiculous it is perform an edit.
Do you honestly believe that Samsung, (and every one else), have to wait for Apple before they have an idea?

 

[paulryp]

I love samsung as they are the new Apple But doing away with a physical home button and moving the fingerprint to the back seems counter intuitive too me.

 

[cwwilson]

This is one of the sexiest phones I've ever seen. I really, really hope the iPhone 8 is on par with this thing because if it's not....I'm going to take the plunge and get the S8 Plus.

The S8 by design alone makes my 7+ look incredibly outdated. It looks like a truly modern phone and Apple has played it safe for far too long by sticking with the same basic design principles since the iPhone 6. Samsung has changed the game with this one. It is stunning, mind blowing, simply spectacular.

 

[admob71]

Ok, all you Samsung/Android lovers. You have a reason to live again. Please take your love fest and Apple bashing somewhere else where you can pat each other on the back and rejoice amongst yourselves and leave this Mac centric site to people that have a genuine interest in Apple, Macs, iPhones, etc. But, that's probably asking too much, isn't it?

You might want to address this to the person who started this entire thread...
[doublepost=1490871538][/doublepost]

... Apple may have invented the original phone with icons and rounded corners, ....

Oh dear, really? Best laff I've had all day....
[doublepost=1490871714][/doublepost]

I can understand criticism, but now I think people just do it for fun (it's cool to hate Apple). No new Mac's is probably the biggest thing I can agree with. The new iPad and a fantastic entry level iPad for under $500! and the name suits, iPad then the two Pro models (argument about actual pro abilities for another day). Sure it's old tech but when you meet 90% of consumers they don't care. Up until it was announced I was selling iPad Air 2s and customers were more than happy, no care that it was old tech (I always told them).

I thought this last year and again this year that, Samsung will often rush to try be the first. They likely knew Apple was going to removed the home button so set to work to get their first, not thought for the best implementation just be the first!
[doublepost=1490870691][/doublepost]

How much do you actually use Siri? I don't much and when I do I say 'Hey Siri'.
[doublepost=1490870897][/doublepost]

Apple has never been the first to do things. But they make sure that when they do it, they do it right.

Removing the home button is a years old android staple, Samsung are the last to adopt it. It takes work to actually add it. So don't give us that old they are doing it cos Apple may be doing it rubbish...

 

[Smeaton1724]

The only way Apple can beat this hardware is the new iPhone being 3mm thick and made of a single piece of glass! In all seriousness I'd pay Macbook Pro 13 pricing for this aesthetic design with an Apple designed processor and running iOS.

 

[DNichter]

Good to take a lot of profits if you're a shareholder or a manager who needs his quarterly bonus.

This worked great for RIMM, PALM, Microsoft, and the movie studios...right up until it didn't.

In technology, you stay ahead of the curve or you die a sudden and undignified death.

Apple is still pimping out the ideas that Steve had between the 80's and 2007. They have literally done nothing revolutionary in 10 years.

Their high profit margins speak to this, as reselling old ideas definitely keeps costs and risks down.

Tim should print out a PALM OS logo and tape it to the fridge in the coffee room.

Look at Symbian, RIM, PALM. They kept selling devices for a long time after they stopped having new ideas.

Just going by the facts man. Apple still dominates. A bunch of cheap, crappy, free phones to up your market share doesn't mean a whole lot to me.
[doublepost=1490872219][/doublepost]

If Apple takes 90% of the profits it also means it took 90% out of your pocket, lol. I'm very pleased to see Samsung just launched the gold standard in phones. Meaning Apple has to take less out your pocket to keep you as a customer or giving you more bang for the buck. Something they haven't been doing for the last four years.

You get what you pay for I guess

 

[Abazigal]

Am I even on a Apple website? Samsung post and everyone is happy not one hate comment. Apple release new product you better duck for cover.

Let the haters hate. It makes for great claim chowder further down the road, and will make no difference in the end.

 

[Tycho24]

Don't think the size should be an issue mate, S8 dimensions are 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm vs the iphone 7 which is 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm
making the S8 just 1cm taller but the iphone is 1cm wider, the S8 is under 1mm thicker.

considering that you get a 5.8" screen vs the iphones 4.7" for the exchange of a very slightly longer but also less wide phone.

The extra 1.1" diagonal screen size will make this a great device for consuming media or reading emails etc.

Well, to be fair- video isn't in that elongated format... it's 16:9; the aspect ratio of the iPhone (& most other phones), so video is likely to be letterboxed- it's like when 10.1" tablets came out (16:9) & people slowly realized that they were actually smaller than the 9.7" iPad (4:3), because diagonal measure does NOT accurately compare screen surface area, unless you take into account the aspect ratio.
Kudos to Samsung for their work on reducing bezels, but I hope the rumored 5.8" iPhone screen keeps the aspect ratio 16:9 & thus, is "larger" than Samsung's 5.8" screen.

 

[dorsal]

Really beautiful looking device, hope apple brings something like this September

It's a rounded rectangle.

 

[Jtbond85]

Thinking the same. I want apple to stay apple and not Samsung clone

Ok, call me an Apple fanboy, but here are my thoughts.

First off, I don't like larger screened phones. I've been accustomed to a 4 inch iPod touch (and before that a 3.5" one) and lately I've been using an iPhone 6 as a secondary wifi device. What in the world do these companies think they're doing by releasing a (more than 2x) DPI on a phone that is higher than the eye can easily distinguish? The massive edge to edge screen makes me worried that I'd be accidentally hitting things on the screen all the time, whereas the minimal bezel on the iPhones/iPod touches are plenty good to keep your fingers off the screen while you're holding it (especially one handed). Personally, one handed use is very important to me, and the fact this phone is large, and the finger print scanner is on the back of the phone makes it impossible to use if the phone is set on a table, which is very common to do.

Lastly, why move the finger print scanner to the back, but then make a dedicated button for the voice assistant?

Sorry, I just had to laugh at some of these decisions, and I really hope Apple doesn't do any of these later this year, just because "that's what the people want".

 

[WatchFromAfar]

This phone is great for those looking for status symbol, or those buying a phone based on looks alone.

You have just unwittingly described 90% of iPhone users.

 

[PortableLover]

Apple need to wow us with the new iphone. They also need to speed up ios and make it the best possible os around. Its still better then android but it has gotten bloated and slower over the years. Ios 6 was the fastest even ios 7 was good after that it started going downhill.


Both the software and design need to be top notch again. Apple are leading with their chip design and security why cant they do the same with phone design?

 

[WatchFromAfar]

They also have the ability & willingness to rush a product to market (*cough* Galaxy S7 *cough*).

You mean *cough* Galaxy Note 7 *cough* surely?

 

[Kabeyun]

You mean *cough* Galaxy Note 7 *cough* surely?

Correct. Edited. Thx.

 

[admob71]

Dedicated assistant button on the side, WTF? Home button plus fingerprint scanner on the back? Ick. What's with the rounded corners of the screen too?

I don't get why this is so awesome to some people.

Design isn't just how it looks but how it works e.g. how you use it, and this looks clunky as all get out to actually use. And I love my iPhone 7 plus (just upgraded from iPhone 6s Plus, because the lightning port was all loosey-goosey and would barely charge anymore).

I need my phone to just work and not have to fumble around to find the home button/finger scanner on the back....

Ick.

Home buttons on the front dude, same place it's always been. Nice try tho....

 

[Kabeyun]

Please re-read your post and once you realise how ridiculous it is perform an edit.
Do you honestly believe that Samsung, (and every one else), have to wait for Apple before they have an idea?

"Please realize that I'm right and you're wrong, and then change your opinion accordingly."

Sure. No problem.

Look, I'm just saying that Samsung takes/has taken its design direction from Apple (and, historically, others) and the fact that they jumped in with their full-bezel, buttonless, face-recognizing, candy bar smartphone just before Apple did doesn't mean they didn't copy anything.

 

[shanos]

The only way Apple can beat this hardware is the new iPhone being 3mm thick and made of a single piece of glass! In all seriousness I'd pay Macbook Pro 13 pricing for this aesthetic design with an Apple designed processor and running iOS.

Sounds great until you sit on it and it bends in half lol

 

[TallManNY]

Great looking phone but from what I can see - Meh

Only 4 gigs of ram running Android
Only marginal improvements to the CPU from what i saw. Will it even top the iPhone 7?
More software crap
Same megapixel on camera as previous model though. Which is good. Wonder if they realized to focus on quality not numbers.
Bluetooth 5 is interesting but won't it impact battery life? We'll see
Decent sized batteries but it's running Android...
Pressure sensitive screen as home button is cool for android but it's Force Touch by a different name.

Just an S model to me. And if the CPU/Camera improvements fall flat, a poor S Model upgrade.

How are people eating this up? I mean, unless I missed something huge this not that great.

This is a form factor change, not an internals change. People are eating up the form factor. This is looks, not substance. But it is some great looks and it took a ton of engineering to get rid of the home button on Android. (Though I might point out that BBRY had no home button necessary on BB10 OS due to its swipe based operating system.)

And no, of course the CPU will not top the iPhone 7. But CPU speed is fast enough in all these phones.