After a spree of rumors and leaks, Samsung has finally played its mid-budget card which will mark the beginning of a new journey for the South Korean smartphone maker. Dubbed as the Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus, this handset will replace the likes of Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 which are two of the best offerings in the segment.
But for the most parts, Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus comes with an all-new approach and a formidable specs-sheet which includes Full HD+Infinity Super AMOLED display, dual front cameras, and great performance package.
Launched in direct competition with the likes of OnePlus 5T, Moto X4, LG v30+ and even the Nokia 8, Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus has a lot of ground to cover, which it is expected to execute rather easily.
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus Specifications
- 6-inch (1080×2220) Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio, ergonomically curved glass, 411.46 PPI and Corning Gorilla Glass Protection.
- 2.2GHz Octa-Core Exynos 7885 14nm chipset coupled with Mali-G71 GPU for graphics.
- 6GB RAM with 64GB of internal storage and 4GB RAM with 32GB of internal storage variants, expandable up to 256GB with micro SD card
- Android 7.1.1 (Nougat) out of the box
- Fingerprint sensor at the rear panel and Hybrid Dual SIM support
- 16MP rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, LED flash, PDAF, Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), wide-angle lens and 1.4μm pixels
- 16MP front camera with autofocus and f/1.9 aperture, a secondary 8MP camera with f/1.9 aperture, Live Focus feature and Video Digital image stabilization (VDis).
- Water and dust resistant rating (IP68)
- 3500mAh non-removable battery with adaptive fast charging
- Dimension: 159.9×75.7x 8.3 mm and Weight: 191g
- 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth v5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz), GPS/ A-GPS, MST and NFC support for Samsung Pay, USB Type-C support and 3.5 mm audio jack.
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus Price And Availability
Priced at 599 Euros (Rs. 45,320 approx) for the 6GB/64GB version, the Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus will be available in Black, Gold, Orchid Grey and Blue color options. While there has been no word of the 4GB/32GB version’s pricing, the smartphone will be up for grabs starting from January 2018.
On the other hand, there is also a non-plus variant which comes with a smaller 5.6-inch display, 3000mAh battery and in just a 4GB RAM version. The Samsung Galaxy A8 is priced at 499 Euros (Rs. 37,755 approx) and will be available in the same color options from January 2018.
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus Review (First Impressions)
- The highlight of this smartphone is the dual-front cameras which come bundled with an all-new video digital image stabilization (VDis) feature for shake-free videos as well as hyperlapse prowess for capturing time-lapse videos. While the Live Focus feature lets users adjust the bokeh effect after or before they take the picture, users can also switch between both the sensors for close-ups with a background for portrait shots.
- Coming to the rear camera, while it is a single-sensor unit, the 16MP camera can easily give its competition a run for their money.
- While we would have loved Android Oreo out of the box, Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus near stock experience for the UI which is based on Android Nougat 7.1.1, without any excessive bloatware.
- Thanks to the 6GB RAM, the overall package of Exynos 7885 processor and Mali-G71 GPU is more than enough for those looking for heavy gaming and multitasking.
- Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus is not a full-screen smartphone but the 6-inch screen is based on the Infinity tech which promises great viewing angles and ample of brightness levels under direct sunlight. Moreover, the color details and image production will be sharp and crisp.
- IP68 adds to its already premium appeal and this is one spec we don’t often see in this segment.
- The 3500mAh battery can offer enough juice for a full day of mixed usage and that too with using the Always On feature.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus is just the stepping stone for the upcoming flagships Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus but the smartphone in itself is a formidable package which can easily help Samsung increase its sales numbers.
However, at 599 Euros (Rs. 45,320 approx), it is on the pricier side and Samsung could have done a better job in this aspect.
Samsung Galaxy A8 Plus is a global product and will definitely join the Indian lineup next year, and once it is launched and we have an official pricing, we’ll be coming back with a detailed review.
Until then, follow this space for more updates.