Samsung’s A-series telephones are for individuals who can’t, or don’t wish to, pay the excessive value of a top-end S-series mannequin just like the Samsung Galaxy S9.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 is likely one of the higher-end A telephones, although. It prices $479 (£449, $AU609). It’s not low-cost however continues to be much more reasonably priced than the S9: mission success.
It is a strong telephone all-round. Nonetheless, for those who’re not set on proudly owning a Samsung, you’ll discover extra aggressive mobiles from firms like OnePlus, Honor and Huawei.
It’s additionally price contemplating an older Samsung. As progress in telephones has slowed down in some key areas, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is considerably higher in nearly each manner. And so is the Samsung Galaxy S7, for those who don’t thoughts its quickly getting old 16:9 show form. Nonetheless, there’s loads to love right here.
Key options
- Twin-lens front-facing digicam
- Brilliant, colourful show
You may find yourself with a Galaxy A8 for those who resolve you desire a Samsung, one launched within the final 12 months, however don’t wish to spend Galaxy S9 cash.
Every a part of the telephone is a little bit worse, or a little bit extra primary, than the Galaxy S9. Its chipset is much less highly effective, the body much less curvy, the digicam much less versatile and the display screen is much less sharp.
An important query is whether or not you’ll discover that a lot. The Galaxy A8 could not match as much as the S9 on paper, however for a lot of the perceptible distinction gained’t stack as much as the distinction in value. That is nonetheless a terrific telephone.
What will we discover probably the most? The speaker is far much less highly effective, and fewer bassy, the digicam is far worse at night time and the design doesn’t have something just like the affect of Samsung’s greatest. Its entry-level spec additionally solely has 32GB of storage, which is pretty poor contemplating the value.
Parts you’re much less prone to discover so clearly are the much less punchy Exynos 7885 octa-core chipset and decrease display screen decision. The Galaxy A8’s show is ‘solely’ 1080p, however nonetheless seems sharp, vibrant and colourful.
Does it have something the Galaxy S9 lacks? Sure, truly. It has twin entrance cameras, which allow you to create pictures with background blur for a extra dramatic selfie look.
Design
- A glass again and steel body
- Water resistant
- A plain look
The Samsung Galaxy A8 is a mid-range telephone, the type that would simply have been a top-end mannequin have been it launched a 12 months or so earlier. Nonetheless, as standard Samsung has made its A-series telephones barely extra ordinary-looking to keep away from stepping on the S-series’ toes an excessive amount of.
Its fundamentals are the identical, although. The Samsung Galaxy A8 has a glass again, a glass entrance, and a band of steel across the sides.
So how is it completely different to a Galaxy S9? That telephone’s glass is curved on the back and front. The Galaxy A8’s again is curved, if barely much less so than the Galaxy S9’s, and the entrance is simply ‘2.5D’ glass. Some folks describe this as curved, however it’s actually simply rounded-off on the edge.
There’s additionally a little bit bit extra clean area above and under the show, and the end is apparent. It is available in black, gray, blue and gold, and these colours are flat, with out the light-reactive layer utilized by another telephones. Even the Moto G6, at half the value, reacts a little bit to mild. It is a actual no-nonsense design.
Nonetheless, the Samsung Galaxy A8 is water resistant to IP68, a function not seen in cheaper mid-range telephones and even some across the similar value. This spec means it might face up to being submerged at a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes. However you continue to can’t take it swimming.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 has a fingerprint scanner on its again. Whereas we’re very proud of its reliability, it isn’t the quickest round. Taking slightly below a second to get you to your property display screen, its pace is definitely nearer to the Moto G6’s than the Huawei P20 Pro’s. However, sure, we’re quibbling a few fraction of a second’s distinction right here.
Storage is one other just-okay half. The entry-level Samsung Galaxy A8 has 32GB of storage, and for $479 or £449 that doesn’t appear terribly beneficiant. There’s, nonetheless, a microSD slot in one of many SIM trays.
In an uncommon design transfer you get two separate trays right here. One on the aspect holds your primary SIM, the opposite up prime a second 2G/3G SIM and a reminiscence card slot.
Why break up them up? It appears odd to us too, however is probably going the place Samsung’s engineers discovered sufficient area. It additionally means you’ll be able to swap reminiscence playing cards with out dropping telephone sign, which may very well be helpful to these pathologically afraid of lacking telephone calls.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 shouldn’t be a telephone that screams pleasure, missing the design fringe of the Galaxy S9. Nonetheless, if you break down its elements its construct high quality is definitely comparable.
It’s additionally a pleasant measurement. The Samsung Galaxy A8 has a 5.6-inch display screen however because it has an extra-tall 18.5:9 form, the telephone doesn’t find yourself too huge.
There’s a headphones jack on the underside too, a function lacking from numerous high-end telephones at this level.
Display
- A vivid Tremendous AMOLED show
- 5.6-inch 1080 x 2220 display screen
The Samsung Galaxy A8 is a reminder of the facility of OLED shows. Utilizing its default setting the 5.6-inch display screen is extremely color-saturated. It’s the form of vividness most LCD screens simply can’t recreate.
After all, not everybody likes this fashion. It’s the equal of a sugary, syrupy drink. You’ll be able to alter it, although.
Different colour modes within the Samsung Galaxy A8’s settings menu make the display screen look far more restrained, or well-saturated however to not the cartoonish stage of the usual ‘Adaptive show’. The opposite modes are referred to as AMOLED photograph, AMOLED cinema and Fundamental, the identical seen in different high-end Samsung telephones.
Nearly each different aspect of the display screen is nice. It’s vibrant sufficient to make watching YouTube movies in vibrant daylight pleasing, distinction is great and sharpness is excellent.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 is far much less pixel-dense than the Galaxy S9, with a 1080 x 2220 decision. However you must look very shut to note the slight pixel fizz seen on Samsung OLED shows that aren’t ridiculously high-res.
It’s a terrific display screen. And if you watch 16:9 format movies you’ll be able to select whether or not to depart little black bars to the left and proper of the picture or zoom in barely to fill the entire display screen space.
- Because of Vodafone for offering us with a Samsung Galaxy A8 for evaluate