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Galaxy S8 and S8+ come with 1080p resolution as default, screen goes up to WQHD+

by Daniel Petrov / Mar 29, 2017, 12:39 PM

Galaxy S8 and S8+ come with 1080p resolution as default, screen goes up to WQHD+

With the official release of Android 7.0 Nougat for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Samsung fans were treated to a nice dessert in the form of over 20 new features and overhauled visuals. However, some users have also ran into an odd issue – the display resolution of their Galaxy S7 devices dropped after the update. This was not really a bug you should have been worried about, but the option to switch resolutions is a feature that is part of a new power saving scheme for those multiple moments you don't need the graphics subsystem burdened with the full Quad HD resolution.

As you can see in this official image from Samsung, it will be doing the same with the Galaxy S8, but the more interesting thing are the exact pixel counts. The screen's actual resolution is now called WQHD+, or the unorthodox 2960 x 1440 pixels, indicating that the rumors about an 18.5:9 screen aspect ratio held water. This new ratio, called Univisium, is similar to what LG did with the G6, and allows for taller, narrower devices.

The default FHD+ screen setting is actually 2220 x 1080, while the new HD+ is 1480 x 720 pixels. Sign of the times, but it remains to be seen if those official battery life numbers Samsung is listing, have been measured with the default FHD+ resolution, or at the full WQHD+ setting. Needless to say, you can always jack up the resolution in the display settings, or lower it down to HD+, if you wish.

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PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.1

Based on 22 Reviews

Display 5.8" 1440 x 2960 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 8 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 2350 MHz

Storage 64 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3000 mAh(30h talk time)

View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.4

Based on 17 Reviews

Display 6.2" 1440 x 2960 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 8 MP front

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, Octa-core, 2450 MHz

Storage 64 GB + microSDXC

Battery 3500 mAh(24h 3G talk time)

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58 Comments

1. Phonehex

Posts: 754; Member since: Feb 16, 2016

Best Phone EVER !

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:41 PM 9

2. Phonehex

Posts: 754; Member since: Feb 16, 2016

Other than the concern of not having spectacular battery life. Best Phone ever !!!!!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:41 PM 4

4. shaineql

Posts: 522; Member since: Apr 28, 2014

I think battery life will be better than S7 honestly, android 7 with enough time for them to optimize it, more efficient CPU and default of 1080p ...

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:43 PM 0

7. Ordinary

Posts: 2454; Member since: Apr 23, 2015

Default 1080p wont do nothing for battery. Perfomance only.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:45 PM 3

40. nctx77

Posts: 2540; Member since: Sep 03, 2013

Wishful thinking! Turn in the high resolution and this thing will be toast in 3 hours!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:57 PM 0

41. maherk

Posts: 6750; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Changing screen resolution will have little to zero affect on battery life. It might affect the performance while playing extensive games, and that's about it. I would like to see the iPhone 7 with a screen resolution that is higher than that retina thing, it will probably die while booting up ;)

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 2:11 PM 0

43. RoryBreaker

Posts: 201; Member since: Oct 11, 2015

I hope you're right!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 2:58 PM 0

49. sgodsell

Posts: 7032; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Apple iPhone 7 users should feel ripped off with their low resolution display. Apple should be ashamed of placing such a low resolution display on a device they call a flagship device, especially being sold at a flagship price. Shame on Apple.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 8:31 PM 0

55. Leo_MC

Posts: 6935; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

We're not. I bought the phone to do stuff, not stare at a display with a bigger resolution than my eyes can see.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:15 AM 0

57. iambfx

Posts: 3; Member since: Jan 12, 2017

native res is 1440p so there no different in battery life even if you choose 720p

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 1:48 AM 0

6. LebronJamesFanboy

Posts: 671; Member since: Mar 23, 2013

As an unbiased fan, what in the hell makes the S8 the best phone ever? It's a great phone. Best ever? C'mon. You're reaching man.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:44 PM 19

8. remixfa

Posts: 14605; Member since: Dec 19, 2008

well, right now, it probably is. Best tech available for a phone. It may not be perfect, but it is definitely the best you can get right now. Which technically makes it "the best phone ever". :)

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:47 PM 2

13. AlikMalix unregistered

What if the iPhone 7 is faster and manages ram better? Would it still be considered to have best tech available?

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:49 PM 4

18. maherk

Posts: 6750; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Best as an overall. I've said it before and here you're proving my point, the only thing iOS fans can brag about is the chipset, but you'll never see them brag about their screen, camera, or battery, because it has been years since any of Apple products have won the award for the best of any of these departments. You can enjoy opening apps few milliseconds quicker than Android flagships, while we enjoy plenty of other hardware and software exclusives.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:54 PM 6

21. mrochester

Posts: 953; Member since: Aug 17, 2014

The camera, battery and screen on my 7 plus are great, so I'm not sure what your point is!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:59 PM 2

28. maherk

Posts: 6750; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Not saying they're not. My point is that, the only place where you can say that the iPhone is the best is when it comes to the cpu, and thats it.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:12 PM 0

29. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

"You can enjoy opening apps few milliseconds quicker than Android flagships, while we enjoy plenty of other hardware and software exclusives." Hats off, maherk! AlikMalik won't still admit to that, however.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:16 PM 4

26. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Who cares? How many things does a phone do? The Galaxy deos more. Doing more an being a slight millisecond or so slower? SO WHAT!!!! Spped isn't rhe only metric of any phone or any car. No matter how fast your phoen is, an internet connection is still only so fast. An app is stillonly so fast. Those are jusyt lame duck retard aspects. As long as the phone is not "turtle " slow, which NONE are, even $100 ones from Samsung, its find. I dont need speed. iPhone are faster per se, but they al;so crash more. So being in a hurry to crash isnt a benefit. Manages RAM better? No. It manages different. Because the iPhoen has a lower amount of RAM, it has to be more fionicky about RAM usage. Android apps dont have direct RAM access, so ist a moot point. Android is a VM, apps that run in a VM dont have RAM access. So basically since apps are not RAM dependent, on Android, you can use an app that needs MORE RAM and it will work in a VM even if the device has less RAM. Anyone to this day, who continues to compare how IOS handles hardware which has direct access to hardware vs a platform like Android which doesn't, obviously doesn't understand the differences and their point is already moot and bias.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:09 PM 2

53. Leo_MC

Posts: 6935; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

A lot of things you have said explains why iPhone users don't care about specs and why our phones perform better than any Android (so far). Of course you are wrong when you're saying iOS apps crash more. At the end of the day, when I throwa task to my phone, I only care how that task is done, I don't care that it is done through a VM or by accessing the RAM.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:03 AM 0

10. Phonehex

Posts: 754; Member since: Feb 16, 2016

Okay , honestly tell me , at the moment which is a better phone than this?

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:48 PM 2

17. BeersAndTech

Posts: 95; Member since: Sep 28, 2015

I'll comment for lebron... 1. Huawei P10 Plus - 6gb of Ram, Kirin, huge battery, great body-screen ratio, no stupid aspect ratio, fairly priced, ir blaster 2. Pixel XL 3. LG G6 4. Nexus 6P 5. Mi Note 2 6. Mate 9 7. iPhone 7 Plus 8. OnePlus 3T All phones on the same level, if not surpassing, the S8 yet S8 is $750+. S8 greatest phone ever? Yeah right bro. Not to mention, it's the NEWEST phone. It doesn't even surpass a couple 6-month+ phones.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:54 PM 8

32. Phonehex

Posts: 754; Member since: Feb 16, 2016

@beersandtech . No one is here speaking about value for money. No other android manufacturer has an iris scanner , HDR Amoled display , face detection unlock in less than 0.3 sec, fastest autofocus in all smartphones period , outstanding low light pictures, dEX , fast wireless charging, best earphones packaged in a phon , amazing after sales service , probably the best looking smartphone designed so far.. so. It is THE BEST PHONE EVER. Regards to iPhones... less i speak its better as my point is already made.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:22 PM 2

47. ibend

Posts: 6747; Member since: Sep 30, 2014

- none of them have SD835 - none of them have iris scanner - none of them have bluetooth 5 - none of them have this sexy design - none of them have Gigabit LTE - none of them have dock support and the list goes on...

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 8:07 PM 0

54. Leo_MC

Posts: 6935; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

Gigabit means over 1k; S8 only had 900 as far as I could see.

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 12:13 AM 0

58. dazed1

Posts: 789; Member since: Jul 28, 2015

ROFL, pure BS OP3T is far from S7 Edge, let alone S8 2. LG G6? LOL 3. 6P? LMAO 4. Mi Note 2, phone without a video camera, move along 5. Mate 9, now that is a great phone, yet still cant match S8 6. The King of Bezels, lol

posted on Mar 30, 2017, 5:32 AM 0

52. Leo_MC

Posts: 6935; Member since: Dec 02, 2011

For a contribution worker, any CAT phone; for an active traveling businessman, any Vertu with its concierge services; for one that takes pictures, the Pixel.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 11:54 PM 0

22. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

It's the best phone as of TODAY! Haha. EVER? Yeah that';s a reach. The Note 8 is only months away and it will be the best phone when it arrives. Because nothing on the market has ever best the Note, except the next S. But he's excited dude, let him enjoy. I rather see excitement vs the trolls who are trying to post nothing but negative comments about th devices. I don't have any judgment because i haven't seen them in person. But it looks just like the leaks, even the one peopel claim was a Photoshop S7 edge or Note 7, which it wasn't. It looks 100% like the final product. The phones look "amazing", but I may just get that S8+ even though I think from the photo ist pretty big. Because the iPhone 7 Plus is pretty big and they are about the same size. But that screen though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The best and highest screen to body ration ever at almost 85%. That is amazing. Videos are gonna me stellar on it. Especially at any 1440p or 2160p. OMG!

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:00 PM 1

19. Captain_Doug

Posts: 1037; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Only reason why I'm looking at the G6 is battery life. Larger battery, smaller screen, probably a less power hungry CPU. S8 with the Amoled might make up for it though.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 12:59 PM 1

25. joeytaylor

Posts: 957; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

G6 battery life is worse than the S7

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:08 PM 2

27. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

LG doesn't has been dropping the ball in the battery life department since 2014. And at GSMArena, the LG G6 scored a measly 72hrs battery rating... That's average at best, and a far cry from Samsung's outstanding battery life through the Galaxy S and A series.

posted on Mar 29, 2017, 1:10 PM 3

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