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(Pocket lint) - Announced back in 2015, Samsung's Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge take things to a whole new level for Samsung in terms of design, particularly in the case of the Edge model. They were the first to come out with their glass metal sandwich offered a more premium design and made a huge leap from the plastic-like devices before them.
Two years later, Samsung has done it again. While the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge offered only minor changes from the S6 models, the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus put Samsung back in the spotlight for all the right reasons.
Here's what changed between 2015 and 2017 and how
Galaxy S8
and
S8Plus
compare with that
Galaxy S6
and
S6 edge
, for those of you considering an upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S8 Preview
Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus preview
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8+ vs S6 vs S6 Edge: Design
The S8 and S8+ have slimmer bezels, no home button, and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor
S8 and S8+ have IP68 waterproof rating
S6 and S6 edge are slimmer and smaller overall, but only just
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus offer identical designs apart from the physical size. Both feature a metal and glass body that redefines what we've come to expect from a smartphone with an almost all-screen front and super-narrow bezels. The Galaxy S8 measures 148 .9 x 68.1 x 8mm and weighs 155g, while the S8 Plus is slightly larger at 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1mm and weighs 173g.
There is no physical home button on the new devices, instead integrated pressure-sensitive controls are placed at the bottom of the curved displays, while the fingerprint sensor has moved to the back of the devices to the right of the camera lens. Both devices are waterproof to IP68 and both have Iris Scan Functions.
The Galaxy S6 and S6 edge also feature an aluminum frame with glass on the front and back. They share a similar design, but the Galaxy S6 Edge has a dual-edge display that sets it apart from the standard flat model. Both have on a physical home button with a built-in fingerprint sensor on the front.
The Galaxy S6 measures 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm while the Galaxy S6 Edge's dimensions are 142.1 x 70.1 x 7mm, meaning they are both slimmer than the S8 and S8 Plus, although the S6 is wider and taller than the S8. In terms of weight, the Galaxy S6 weighs in at 138g, while the Galaxy S6 edge tips the scales at 6g, meaning they're both lighter than the new ones models.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge review
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus vs S6 vs S6 Edge: Display
The S8 and S8+ have much larger displays despite a similar footprint to S6 devices
18.5:9 aspect ratio on S8 and S8+ and Mobile HDR Premium
S8 and S8+ have Quad HD+ displays, but S6 devices have higher pixel densities
The Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch display, while the Galaxy S8 Plus has a 6.2-inch display. They have an 18.5:9 aspect ratio instead of the standard 16:9, which makes them clear despite larger screens fit into a similar footprint as the S6 and S6 Edge. The displays are taller but not wider, so you can still use both devices with one hand.
Both the S8 and S8 Plus have a Quad HD+ resolution of 2960 x 1440, resulting in pixel densities of 570ppi and 529ppi, respectively. Both also offer AMOLED Infinity displays, resulting in bright and punchy curved screens leads, and both have
Mobile HDR Premium
, certified by the Ultra HD Alliance. This means that the two new devices are compatible for watching HDR content from Netflix and Amazon Video.
The Galaxy S6 features a 5.1-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 pixels and a pixel density of 577 ppi, which is the same as the Galaxy S6 edge. The Galaxy S6 has a standard display, while the Galaxy S6 Edge features a dual-edge design as mentioned.
Both 2015 models have wider bezels than the new models and while their displays were excellent at launch, they're not quite as specialized as the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. While they offer sharper screens on paper, they miss Mobile HDR as well wider aspect ratio and the nice slim edges.
Mobile HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10 and everything you need to know about future mobile entertainment
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8+ vs S6 vs S6 Edge: Camera
S8 and S8+ 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera with auto focus
S8 and S8+ have Bixby Vision
Multi-frame processing on S8 and S8+ plus larger aperture
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus have the same rear camera as the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge, a 12-megapixel Duo Pixel Snapper, sporty optical image stabilization, phase-detection autofocus, and an aperture of f/1.7. However, Samsung has at introduced multi-frame image processing to the new models, meaning the camera takes three photos and combines the information to create a final, more detailed image.
The company also added filters, augmented reality (like Snapchat) and stickers to the rear camera of the S8 and S8 Plus, while also offering a feature called Bixby Vision. This last feature allows you to scan various things for information or shopping As for the front camera, the S8 and S8 Plus have an 8-megapixel front snapper with autofocus.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge, on the other hand, have 16-megapixel rear cameras, both with an aperture of f/1.9, as well as Auto HDR and OIS. The two devices also have a 5-megapixel front camera, which also has an aperture of f/1.9 is slightly narrower than the new devices and has a fixed focus instead of autofocus.
Samsung Galaxy S6 in review
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus vs S6 vs S6 Edge: Hardware and Specifications
S8 and S8+ have a faster, more advanced processor and more RAM
S8 and S8+ have 64GB storage and microSD
Larger battery capacities and USB Type-C on S8 and S8+
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are equipped with either the Exynos 8895 chip or the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, depending on the region. It is not yet known exactly which country will get which processor. All models have 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage and microSD support for further storage expansion.
Under the hood of the Galaxy S8 is a 3000mAh battery capacity and the Galaxy S8 Plus has a 3500mAh capacity, both charging via USB Type-C and supporting both fast charging and wireless charging. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also on Board and the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus come with AKG in-ear headphones in the box.
Both the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge feature the Exynos 7420 processor and 3GB of RAM. They were snappy and very fast at launch, offering a great experience, but the S8 and S8 Plus will undoubtedly be a big and noticeable one When it comes to storage, the Galaxy S6 is available in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB on-board storage variants with no microSD card support. The S6 Edge is available in 64GB with 128GB options, again without microSD support.
In terms of battery capacity, the Galaxy S6 offers a 2550mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge has a slightly larger capacity of 2600mAh, although both are smaller than the S8 and S8 Plus. The S6 devices are powered by Micro -USB charged but feature wireless charging. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also on board, although when the S6 models were launched there would have been no question as to whether the headphone jack was present or not.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8+ vs S6 vs S6 Edge: Software
Android Nougat for S8 and S8 Plus with continuous updates
Bixby and Samsung DeX for S8 and S8+
S6 and S6 Edge will miss some features
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus launch on Android Nougat with the TouchWiz interface above, offering a familiar but much more refined experience with several additional tweaks and features.
bixby
is the biggest change in the new devices, a new AI system that is similar to Google Assistant but wants to go one step further. It can be launched from the new dedicated link on the left side of the devices.
The S8 and S8 Plus are also compatible with
Samsung Connect Home
, as well as
Samsung DeX
, the latter allows you to connect your phone to a monitor for a desktop view of Android via a special dock. After docking, you can see notifications, answer calls and view apps on a desktop computer.
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge launched on Android 5.0 Lollipop with a then lighter version of the TouchWiz user interface. They are due for the Nougat update, but it is unknown if they will then receive the next Android update. The software -Experience will be similar across these four devices, but the S6 and S6 Edge will miss out on some of the new features.
What is Bixby? Samsung's intelligent AI explained
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs S8 Plus vs S6 vs S6 Edge: price
The S8 and S8+ cost £689 and £779 respectively
The S6 and S6 edge are now both available for £375. available
The Samsung Galaxy S8 costs 689 euros, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus 779 euros. Both are available for pre-order from March 29 and will go on sale on April 28.
The Galaxy S6 started at £599.99 when it was launched, although it's now available for around £375. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge cost £760 at the time of launch but can also be bought for around £375 now.
diploma
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ offer a big change in design compared to the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge, but don't let that put you off. The two new devices are beautiful, but they also offer improvements across the board.
They feature larger and more advanced displays, camera improvements, software improvements, and faster, more powerful hardware.
The Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were both excellent devices when they launched, but technology is evolving fast and the S8 and S8 Plus are embracing many of the new trends, while the beautiful devices of 2015 are now missing some useful features. The S8 and S8+ are However, it's expensive and if you're unsure about the large display or the lack of a physical home button, you can always consider that
Galaxy S7
or
S7 edge
.
Writing by Britta O'Boyle. Originally published on
March 1, 2015
.
