Galaxy S8 & S8 Plus Thread

[Yakk]

I like it, but is it compatible with the Gear VR? Hard to tell if it would fit, that would be a deal breaker for me if it isn't.

 

[tsupersonic]

But it's supposed to be ATT exclusive...so maybe fewer incentives? One of my relatives for sure needs this version. We'll see how long the regular one survives.

True, the S* Active has been an AT&T exclusive. I wish there weren't carrier exclusives...

 

[lupi]

1. Coral Blue version (Unlocked!) now available @Samsung.com (Edit; It seems like this color option is only available for the unlocked version)

2. They now extended the trade-in offer to S5, iPhone 5/5S/6/6+/SE, G4/G5/G6, and Pixel/XL. $150 is kind of stingy for many of the qualifying phones, but for the older ones I think it's worthwhile to trade them in for $150 credit.

http://www.samsung.com/us/trade-in/

$150 off + $150 credit given for the older phones -> $425 for the S8. It's just about the same deal I've got for my S8. Only difference is that I did not have an option to choose Coral Blue color, and that I sent in my Nexus 4 for trade-in (which appears to be not accepted any longer)

They really want to push the unlocked version, it seems.

Judging from email I just got, looks like the coral color is retail locked to best buy.

 

[jtvang125]

Welp I cracked my screen yesterday. Still kicking myself for it. Was working on my car with it in my pocket and didn't even feel it slip out. I don't know if it got smashed while it was in my pocket or it felt out and I ran it over with the creeper. I just noticed it on the garage floor. The thing was, it slipped out earlier and the case got all scratched up as well as the edge of the screen protector. I had to run to the store and reminded myself to take it out of my pocket when I get back and resume working on my car. Nope, got back and went straight to working on the car.

It looks like it's just the glass that got crushed in the corner and a few cracks down the screen. The lcd still turns on and touch still works so I'm hoping the repair will just be for a new glass screen and won't be so much.

 

[lupi]

have a 7 with similar damage, let me know how painful it is.

 

[jtvang125]

have a 7 with similar damage, let me know how painful it is.

I called one place and they wanted $380 and that's not even using genuine Samsung parts, just oem-like.. They said the glass and lcd needs to be replaced as one. With the proper tools I can probably repair it myself. The hardest part is being patient with getting the glass covers off.

 

[gorcorps]

I called one place and they wanted $380 and that's not even using genuine Samsung parts, just oem-like.. They said the glass and lcd needs to be replaced as one. With the proper tools I can probably repair it myself. The hardest part is being patient with getting the glass covers off.

These days with how they fuse the screen, digitizer and glass together I wouldn't even try to separate them. Unless the glass is incredibly cheap, and you're going to have to replace it if you damage anything anyway, then I guess you won't be out much if you try and it doesn't work.

 

[NutBucket]

Might want to exercise caution with that replacement screen....

https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/20/study-smartphone-parts-attack/

 

[Zaap]

^ Not saying it's not possible of course, but the wording of that article is a bit misleading.

A new study has shown that one of the most common fixes to a stock smartphone ailment can be used to steal your data, and compromise your device.

So in other words, according to researchers- it's possible- but they don't really say how LIKELY it actually is right here, right now in the real world.

To carry out their malicious tasks, the researchers used an Arduino platform running on an ATmega328 micro-controller module. They also used an STM32L432 micro-controller, adding that most other micro-controllers could also do the job. They then used a hot air blower to separate the touchscreen controller from the main assembly boards, in order to access its copper pads. Next, they soldered a copper wire to attach their chips to the device.

REALLY?
There's THAT MUCH room for more micro-controllers and wiring between the touchscreen and main board?

Who knew it was so roomy inside these things! I thought we had to remove key features like those HAAAAAAY-HUUUUUGE microSD controllers and headphone jacks to eek out a tiny bit of room in these phones! (Someone's marketing dept. said so!)

 

[NutBucket]

You can *easily* put a chip-on-flex in there. I really wouldn't put anything past a technologically advanced adversary.

 

[manly]

Finally received an email confirming my S8 trade-in was completed. I used a one-time CC so I wasn't really worried. My first "flagship" phone since the iPhone 3G.

Not without some issues. Samsung Smart Switch was a real pain to deal with, barely working with either USB or WiFi. Ultimately it did transfer some of my data over from Android 6.0, but I probably could've done this other ways with much less time wasted.

For a while, the phone would not go to sleep if Chrome was open, no matter which site was the active tab. Had nothing to do with settings, and a simple reboot did not solve it. The problem went away some days later.

I'm not a fan of the latest update that added the hiding navigation bar but I'm already used to it.

have a 7 with similar damage, let me know how painful it is.

Seems awfully painful in difficulty and cost.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Samsung+Galaxy+S8+Screen+Replacement/92339

 

[Red Storm]

One thing I really like about the S8+ is that I don't remember even one time where the phone felt hot, including charging or gaming (or charging and gaming at the same time). This is the only phone where I can recall this being the case.

 

[NutBucket]

Finally received an email confirming my S8 trade-in was completed.

Just today I got my last two confirmations. Not sure what the heck took so long as the status on the website has said complete or accepted for weeks.

 

[pauldun170]

One thing I really like about the S8+ is that I don't remember even one time where the phone felt hot, including charging or gaming (or charging and gaming at the same time). This is the only phone where I can recall this being the case.

So far the only times I've seen this phone get warm is when its wireless charging.
Sticking to wired

 

[Zaap]

You can *easily* put a chip-on-flex in there. I really wouldn't put anything past a technologically advanced adversary.

I don't doubt that... it says researchers were able to do it.

I was poking fun at some who bought the obvious marketing hype that they have to give up useful features to accomodate the stuff that's already in the phone, let alone adding in even more stuff.

 

[manly]

Just today I got my last two confirmations. Not sure what the heck took so long as the status on the website has said complete or accepted for weeks.

I've been following the Slickdeals thread for a while, some people got burned early by rejected trade-ins. Most likely not a high percentage but well above what a massively profitable mega-corp should be doing. Noticeably strange were an apparently higher number of decent iPhones being rejected (say the 5/5S models). Ironically, most people who sent in a junk pre-paid phone had no issue. So one theory was that the low-paid people who were processing the trade-in phones were rejecting the phones with high resale value so that they could pinch them.

I would go with Hanlon's razor, as Samsung's online operations here feel like a joke. The sales side is handled by Digital River, which is a well known digital software delivery company. I'm not sure that makes them a good choice to run e-commerce fulfillment of physical goods, and there are plenty of complaints in that department.

Ingram Micro handled the trade-ins, and while they are a highly competent distributor, I also don't know if that expertise translates into trade-in/e-waste processing.

What seems to have happened is some of the people with rejected trade-ins found that the only recourse was by emailing one of the VPs in sales. They were able to get refunds of the $175 fee. Others did CC chargebacks. I suspect that the clusterfuck got far enough up the food chain that Samsung finally fixed whatever was going wrong at Ingram Micro. (Most likely they just decided to accept all trade-ins regardless of condition since I figure 95% are e-waste.)

 

[NutBucket]

I sent in 2 perfectly good GS5s, a G3 and one GS3. At least they weren't cosmetically junk LOL.

But you are probably right they had a lot of issues to iron out.

 

[Fire&Blood]

My opo is starting to show it's age, S8 active would have been perfect but I'm on T-MO. LG V30 looks good. Can't believe I'm actually considering the Mi mix 2...

 

[gorcorps]

My opo is starting to show it's age, S8 active would have been perfect but I'm on T-MO. LG V30 looks good. Can't believe I'm actually considering the Mi mix 2...

If you're willing to buy it outright, I think AT&T phones once unlocked will work with T-mobile. You just can't do a monthly payment thing like you could if it was in-network.

 

[Fire&Blood]

I should have confirmation on full compatibility with T-Mobile's bands soon. I' haven't had a subsidized phone since the HD2, I don't mind paying the full price and had decent luck since, my phones lasted at least the length of a contract but the downside is that I'm extremely picky before I commit. Unfortunately, ego is also a purchasing factor, I like having a "rare" phone.

 

[boboiris]

For new S8 owners, if Samsung Smart Switch failed to work, then you can use TunesBro to transfer content from other devices to Samsung Galaxy S8.

 

[lopri]

Has anyone tried to use other 5.0~5.2" phones from yesteryears after using the S8 for a while? Gosh those screens feel a lot smaller (yet the bodies chunkier) now.

 

[pauldun170]

Has anyone tried to use other 5.0~5.2" phones from yesteryears after using the S8 for a while? Gosh those screens feel a lot smaller (yet the bodies chunkier) now.

I bounce back and forth between my S8+ and S4 at home.
Wife has a iPhone 5S so I don't really judge the S4 that much. S4 size is still acceptable for occasional use.
The 5S on the other hand is for ants or people who carry microscopes with them.

 

[lopri]

I picked up my Honor 8 (5.2", 16:9) that had been sitting in a drawer yesterday and for whatever reason the screen felt way smaller even though the phone is wider than the S8. Maybe is it because of the navigation keys? I will try to look at them side by side later.

 

[Oyeve]

Has anyone tried to use other 5.0~5.2" phones from yesteryears after using the S8 for a while? Gosh those screens feel a lot smaller (yet the bodies chunkier) now.

Even using my LGV20, after the S8+ and the note 8, makes the V20 a clunky small screen gadget. It feels so outdated. Plus the lame IPS screen looks archaic.