The Samsung Galaxy S8 is
without a doubt the most beautiful, polished phone I've ever held. These
words were true when I first reviewed it in April, and are still true a
month on. I do have some additional insights since then -- scroll down a
bit for those.
OK, so the S8 is pretty. But it's also the most important Samsung phone right now, at least until the Galaxy Note 8 comes along. It's been helping restore buyers' confidence after the double Note 7 battery disaster (the S8's apparently selling like hotcakes), and it's a chance to cement the Samsung name as the top Android brand against upcoming rivals: the pure Android Google "Pixel 2," squeezable HTC U11 and cut-price OnePlus 5. It helps that soon, you'll be able to use the Galaxy S8 in Google's Daydream headset.
What makes the Galaxy S8 so special is this: A tall, narrow
shape that fits snugly in my palm and curved sides that scream "classy."
And the screen? 5.8 inches of colorful gorgeousness with a display that
stretches from edge to edge with just a whisper of a bezel. For its
looks alone, Samsung's flashiest phone lands at the top of the class.
Trust me, when you see the S8 and larger, pricier S8 Plus, you're gonna want to put your hands all over them.
I did everything with these two phones at home, in the office,
around town and at the beach. I took scores of photos and videos,
watched tons of YouTube and Netflix movies, chatted my fingers off. I
sat on them in my back pocket (no Bendgate
yet). I've unlocked these things 100 times in four different ways
(fingerprint, eyes, face, PIN). So I'm confident pointing out the S8's
problems -- because, let's be real, there's always something.
