Samsung introduced the Galaxy S8 on March 29, 2017. The Galaxy S8 was announced alongside the Galaxy S8+, and the Galaxy S8 Active arrived a few months later, in August 2017. Together, these three models make up the 8th generation of the Samsung Galaxy S lineup.
The Galaxy S8 was a big step up from the Galaxy S7, and today we’ll be looking at the Galaxy S8. We’ll also be looking to see how the Galaxy S8 stands up against three newer models — the Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S10, and Galaxy S20. Keep reading to learn more about whether you should purchase a Galaxy S8 in 2021, or if you should consider a Galaxy S9, Galaxy S10, or a Galaxy S20 with 5G.
Table of contents:
- Samsung Galaxy S8 spec overview
- Display, Design & Colors
- Front & Rear Facing Camera
- Carrier Compatibility
- How much does the Galaxy S8 cost in 2021?
- Should you buy the Galaxy S8 in 2021?
Samsung Galaxy S8 specs
The Samsung Galaxy S8 launched with Android 7.0 Nougat, which was paired with Samsung Experience v8.1 and was later upgraded to Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung’s One UI. Of greater note, the Galaxy S8 marked a noticeable change in the Galaxy S design. The Galaxy S8 was the first Galaxy S smartphone to ship without a physical home button. This change also meant Samsung was able to pack a larger 5.8-inch Super AMOLED Infinity display into a phone that was close to the same size as the Galaxy S7.
| Samsung Galaxy S8 (2017) | Samsung Galaxy S9 (2018) | Samsung Galaxy S10 (2019) | Samsung Galaxy S20 5G (2020) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity (2960 x 1440) | 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity (2960 x 1440) | 6.1-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED Infinity-O (3040 x 1440) | 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x Infinity-O (3200 x 1440) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 64GB or 128GB internal with microSD card support up to 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB internal with microSD card support up to 400GB | 128GB or 512GB internal with microSD card support up to 512GB | 128GB or 256GB with microSD card support up to 1TB |
| Rear camera | Dual Pixel 12MP | Dual Pixel 12MP | Triple camera with Dual OIS (12MP telephoto, 12MP wide, 16MP ultra-wide) | Triple camera with Dual OIS (64MP telephoto, 12MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide) |
| Front camera | 8MP | 8MP | Dual Pixel 10MP | Dual Pixel 10MP |
| Water resistance rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,000 mAh | 3,400 mAh | 4,000 mAh |
| Charging | Standard | Standard | Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | Super Fast Charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
| 3.5mm headphone jack | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Network connectivity | 4G LTE / WiFi 5 | 4G LTE / WiFi 5 | 4G LTE / WiFi 6 | 5G / 4G LTE / WiFi 6 |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor on back, Iris sensor | Fingerprint sensor on back, Iris sensor | On-screen fingerprint sensor | On-screen fingerprint sensor |
| Size / Weight | 148.9 x 68.1 8.0 mm / 155 grams | 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm / 163 grams | 149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8 mm / 157 grams | 151.7 x 69.1 x 7.9 mm / 163 grams |
As you can see from the specs outlined above, the Galaxy S8 (released in 2017), is very similar to the Galaxy S9 (released in 2018). The processor changed from a Snapdragon 835 to a Snapdragon 845, which means performance improvements. Otherwise, the key changes from the Galaxy S8 to the Galaxy S9 include camera improvements and a repositioned fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S8 had the sensor next to the camera lens, whereas the Galaxy S9 moved it below the camera, making it easier to reach without smudging your camera lens.
Moving up to the Galaxy S10 or the Galaxy S20 5G means bigger, more noticeable differences between the models. For example, the S10 and S20 5G each have 8GB of RAM, which is double the 4GB found in the Galaxy S8. Other notable improvements dealt with the front-facing camera, the rear-facing camera, the battery capacity, and the charging speed.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S8 Comparisons
Shifting away from the comparisons, and looking deeper into the features of the Galaxy S8.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Display, Design & Colors
The Galaxy S8 did not feature a physical home button. This was the first Galaxy S smartphone to ship without the physical home button, and the Galaxy S8 features a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone. Removing the home button allowed Samsung to include a larger display without dramatically changing the overall size of the phone. The Galaxy S8 features a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display with a resolution of 2960 x 1440, a 570 PPI, and HDR10. The “Infinity” part of the display simply means the display has rounded edges, and the phone is protected on the front and back with drop-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
Otherwise, Samsung released the Galaxy S8 in a total of six colors. The United States release included Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue, and Arctic Silver. Colors for the international models included Maple Gold and Rose Pink.
Samsung Galaxy S8: Front and Rear-Facing Camera
The Samsung Galaxy S8 features an 8MP front-facing selfie camera and a Dual Pixel 12MP camera on the back. Highlights of the front-facing camera include auto-focus and an aperture of f/1.7. The rear camera also has auto-focus and an aperture of f/1.7. The rear-facing camera also has (up to) an 8x digital zoom.
Recording video with the rear camera includes 4K UHD at 30 frames per second. The rear-facing camera can also capture 1080p FHD at 30 or 60 frames per second, 720p HD at 30 frames per second, slow motion, and H.265 HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding).
Samsung Galaxy S8 Carrier Compatibility
In total, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is available in nine models, with the most common being the SM-G950U and SM-G950U1. The key differences between the G950U and the G950U1 include support for LTE bands 17, 29, and 30. These three bands are supported by the G950U1, but not by the G950U.
These are the models you’ll want to consider if you are buying in the United States:
The remaining models for the Galaxy S8 include SM-G950F, SM-G950N, SM-G950W, SM-G950, SM-G892A, SM-G892U, and SM-G950FD.
Read more: Samsung Galaxy S8 Network Compatibility
How much does the Samsung Galaxy S8 cost in 2021?
You can buy a gently used Samsung Galaxy S8 for around $120. The price may be a little higher or lower depending on several factors such as the condition, the amount of internal storage, and whether you choose a carrier-specific model or an unlocked model. For comparison, the original MSRP for the Samsung Galaxy S8 was $749. You can check current Galaxy S8 prices by tapping the widget below.
Should you buy the Galaxy S8 in 2021?
The Samsung Galaxy S8 would be a great purchase in 2021 due to the low price point. Overall, the features of the Galaxy S8 would be good for day-to-day usage in 2021. A gently used Galaxy S8 would also make a great phone for someone who only wants (needs) the basics, or as a kid’s first smartphone.
The Galaxy S9 has a similar feature set, and should also be considered in 2021 due to a similarly low price. You can pick up a gently used Samsung Galaxy S9 for around $140.
Looking towards the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S20 5G is where prices start to increase. The current starting price of the Galaxy S10 is around $200, and around $330 for the Galaxy S20 5G.
If you’re unsure which model best fits your needs, or want to dive a bit deeper into the differences between the models covered in this post, or any of the other Galaxy S smartphones — you should tap the green button below.
