Samsung doesn't advertise FM radio connectivity on its new Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets in the official specification list, but it's there on the Snapdragon version, and the chip is not locked or anything, as it is sometimes the case. Funny enough, people who complain about lack of FM radio on their phones are a very vocal minority, second only to those who say they'll never get a handset without an IR blaster, or with a sealed battery - and these features are getting increasingly harder to come by.
Many users are reporting that they have managed to listen to local radio stations on their Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets by simply downloading an FM app like NextRadio from Google Play, and plugging in the supplied AKG headphones to serve as the antenna. The latest Samsung phones are indeed listed in the app's database as compatible, we checked.
This feat was first reported by a T-Mobile sub, but users on Verizon and AT&T are also confirming that they managed to listen to FM radio on their Snapdragon-equipped handsets with a simple app, the link to which we are providing below. You know, in case of hurricane and no Internet, that is, or "I like to listen to FM radio while I'm churning butter," in the immortal words of one of our comment section contributors.
Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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