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Is the Galaxy S8 a better buy than the iPhone X? Here are some reasons it might be...

by Preslav Kateliev / Oct 23, 2017, 9:16 AM

Is the Galaxy S8 a better buy than the iPhone X? Here are some reasons it might be...

So, November is nearly here, and with it comes the great holiday shopping. A good time of the year to get yourself a nice, shiny new smartphone, or get nagged into buying one for somebody else. We kid, we kid.

The iPhone X is about to hit the store shelves in just a couple of weeks, and there's also this other bezel-less kid on the block — you might have heard of it — the Samsung Galaxy S8. Which one should you buy? Do you splurge the $999 required to get the latest and greatest from Apple, or is the Galaxy S8, which can be found for about $625 on Amazon right now, good enough?

Well, we believe the S8 has quite a few things going for itself. It excels in some areas and, in others, has the right features to mirror the iOS experience, if you happen to be a convert. Shall we check them out?

Is the Galaxy S8 better?

4 things the Galaxy S8 excels in over the iPhone X

Things you will still have

Galaxy S8 features that mirror iPhone X features

Related phones

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PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

Read Full Review

User Rating:

8.8

Based on 12 Reviews

Display 5.8" 1125 x 2436 pixels

Camera 12 MP / 7 MP front

Processor Apple A11 Bionic, Hexa-core, 2390 MHz

Storage 256 GB

Battery 2716 mAh(21h 3G talk time)

View Full specs

PhoneArena Rating:

9.0

Read Full Review

User Rating:

9.1

Based on 23 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)

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59 Comments

1. sgodsell

Posts: 7605; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Finger print scanner is still on the S8. You might have the placement, but at least it has it. Audio jack, USB-C, faster wireless charging, Gear VR and other 360 support for VR/AR cameras, Android has more tools and utilities than iOS. Split screen multitasking just to name a few.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:19 AM 26

3. sgodsell

Posts: 7605; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

The S8 has a quick charger in the box. iPhone X does not. That should be added to your list.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:26 AM 21

34. Medoogalaxy

Posts: 232; Member since: May 25, 2017

Added: AKG headphone.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:29 AM 9

51. HansP

Posts: 542; Member since: Oct 16, 2011

Add Wireless Quick Charge.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 7:01 PM 1

25. submar

Posts: 713; Member since: Sep 19, 2014

Audio jack?? You must be selfish and backwards. -Ray

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:05 AM 7

49. aegislash

Posts: 1536; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

I still can't believe he actually wrote that abomination of an article....

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 5:20 PM 1

2. twens

Posts: 1186; Member since: Feb 25, 2012

Apples and oranges. Features and price sure s8 takes the cake. Pride and fitting in goes to apple.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:22 AM 0

4. sgodsell

Posts: 7605; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

Pride of not being a Sheeple goes to any Android device in general.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:29 AM 24

5. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1855; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

Samsung just offers more in the complete package...

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:29 AM 8

6. PhoneCritic

Posts: 1382; Member since: Oct 05, 2011

Don't forget head phone Jack. if your one who likes using good analog headphones. Though the X will have stereo speakers I don't think they can be compared to the quality you get from great headphones connected to the audio jack.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 9:47 AM 6

7. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

So your claim in one of the slides is, the Iris Scanner isn't as in depth as the camera array? How is it not? Apple is using a 3D camera that scans part of your face. The Iris Scanner scans your Iris. Now consider the size of your face vs the size of your eye. Face is bigger and easier to scan vs your eye being smaller and harder to see by a camera. You can tell this because in most typical camera shots, many cameras use to produce red-eye effects, do to the eye simply not being handled properly by photo-processing. The eye being a smaller focal point, means the camera, the infrared has to read details that are very small. That is far and away more depth vs a face. A face is easy to get a scan. Takes you face and lay it on a color copier machine with your eyes open and see which part of your face comes out better. The Iris scanner has to make a map of your eye, and see things in your eye that makes your eye more unique even over your fingerprint. That slide alone just shows you how tech-ignorant the writers is. They both are very in-depth, but the Iris Scanner specifically is far more in-depth.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:06 AM 6

9. kiko007

Posts: 7521; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

You realize that there's more to Face ID than JUST scanning your face, right? Each individual has a unique bone structure and complexion compilation that makes Facial Recognition a reasonably safe alternative to a fingerprint sensor. Not to mention you have no idea which is easier to scan, because you haven't seen the damn thing in action yet.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:16 AM 1

13. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

I know exactly what Face ID does. Again you are missing the point. Size is the difference here. A camera of ANY KIND, can easily see details of the face due to the size. Have you ever look at your Iris up close? -https://68.media.tumblr.com/868359d0a4b46372a4e0f51c5362fac0/tumblr_nny2ypRA601uugrslo1_500.jpg There is a photo for you. Now you see all those unique features of your Iris? Here is the difference dude. Your face can easily be duplicated, but a very good mask or a twin. It has already been proven that twins who have the exact same facial features, can get past facial recognition. However, identical twins won't have the same eye map, just as they won't have the same prints. Your iris is far more unique than your whole face. Under a microscope, your iris looks a lot like a Galaxy from a telescope. Iris scanning vs Facial scanning. Yes your face has features that the scanner must map. Yes complexion, face structure and more are considered. Here is what you don't get. Even though your face features identify you, other people can have similar facial features. The only thing your iris and someone else iris can have in common is color. Also facial features are easy to fake with masks and makeup. You can't fake an iris period. I can take a person who is black and has similar facial structure and make him look exactly like another person by using makeup and facial masks and those with time can dupe facial recognition. Such things can't be done to dupe your iris or prints. Your claim - "Not to mention you have no idea which is easier to scan, because you haven't seen the dman thing in action" Oh I have seen it in action and it didn't work. But here is a fact for you. The facial recoginition uses a camara. When you take photos of an object, which objects are easier to get a better picture of, big things? Or little things? Oh and here is another example. In the iPhone vs Galaxy photos, from a distance many photos look very similar, but when you crop in cliser, most times the Galaxy camera retails very sharp details while the iPhone camera loses them. Do you agree with that fact? https://i.ytimg.com/vi/w7VX6YELmGU/maxresdefault.jpg Look at this sample. Look how when you crop in close, the Galaxy retains detail vs the iPhone. You Iris has far and away more detail than your face. I guess you didn't have a science class in school. I love science and I know exactly why Iris scanning is more in-depth vs facial scanning.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:32 AM 3

10. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

S8 vs iPhone? Really doesn't matter. The S8's are better than nay phone in its class. The iPhone is simply not in the same class as the Galaxy S anymore. The iPhone X I think certainly makes for a good contender. But for a company that has been making a phone for 10 years, they made some serious mistakes that Samsung made years ago, that is no longer present in their phone. Many would say the curved display is a bad design decision and I am one of them, as the deisgn to me is not practical for a device we will use 100's of times per day, where the unprotected sides make the phone more fragile. But its nothing a simple cheap case can fix. The iPhone X design is totally broken, and the design is going to run the UX and UI far more than curved displays will. That and missing features like headphone jacks, and the only backup for the missing FPS is you have to use your passcode. Thinks about the 100's of times you are gonna lift the phone and have the Face ID fail. Its gonna be the same or worse than how present Face Recognition and Iris Scanning fails. Do they work? Yes. But those options have to many points of failure vs the FPS. And people are basically gonna turn off Face ID, as I did with Face/Iris options on the Galaxy S8/Note. When you need to quickly unlock the device, nothing is faster than the FPS, except one thing; not locking it at all. At least with the Galaxy, if you own other Galaxy products, or you have it Bluetooth to a device, you can use Smart Unlock, which will allow you to unlock the device as long as those devices are in range. You can also add an address, so when you are at work or home as an example, your device will also be unlocked. The Galaxy S is a better device in the box. Fast charging with supporting charger, faster connector, headphone jack, better displays, higher resolutions, better cameras, better design, better UI/UX and so much more and all at a lower price point for a device 95% of the parts inside are 1st party - better tested, better implemented and leads to a better product experience.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:16 AM 3

12. kiko007

Posts: 7521; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

Your Samsung is slow as hell and I like updates and getting all the best apps first so the iPhone is better in my opinion. ^See that? Short and to the point... try it.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:19 AM 2

14. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

Its easy to be short, when you aren't saying anything with substance. My Samsung is way faster and even with 20 updates by Apple, your iPhone does less than any Galaxy even one from 5 years ago.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:35 AM 8

15. kiko007

Posts: 7521; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

LMAO, dude get real. No way in hell your Samsung is faster than an iPhone, are you on drugs? And I don't buy phones for the purpose of hipsterifying them, I buy them because I want a better experience. s**t software support and things like Bixby are why I think Samsung's are trash, so blame their software engineering team.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:40 AM 2

17. YeahYeah

Posts: 251; Member since: Mar 16, 2016

Well there is proof that Samsung's are faster than iPhone. Not all off then.. so he ain't wrong.. There is nothing wrong with Samsung software as I find it to be the best in the market right now. You only fix something when/if it's broken. If it is not you, the why fix it. I guess IOS is broken or full of bugs that's why it gets a many updates..

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:54 AM 4

19. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

Not here to debate your fanboy facts vs real facts. I also don't give a crap about benchmarks and how fast an app opens. What I do care about is tech that does what I want. I love features whether they are seen to be gimmicky or not. While you are worry about how fast the iPhone is, I will enjoy having the latest and greatest in advanced tech at a lower price point, than your overpriced feature-phone. I don't comparte speed, because speedtests can be rigged and falsified easiy. What does matter is this: Gaalxy offers more storage capacity, more options for security,

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:54 AM 2

29. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

Galaxy offers more security options, more storage, faster data connector as USB TYPE C is just a modified USB 3.1 connector which offers faster data speeds vs Apple overpriced Lightning connector. Access to extra storage without paying for cloud options is a huge plus. The Galaxy has been taking better photos and recording better video than the iPhone since the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy has better design language. Even though the edge design is a bad design for durability, it is no more or less fragile than any other phone based on drop tests. Speed tests are all easy to fake and benchmarks just don't matter in real life usage. There is more to benchmarks than having the higher score, as you tried to claim with facial scanning vs Iris Scanning. And you were wrong there as well. The Note 8 with more RAM can now hold as many as 25 apps in ram before app 26 needs to reload, while the iPhone with its petty 2/3GB restarts apps after half as many as seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjfVv2RPaGE&t=152s So if you wanna debate speed,I'm not the one because there is no substance to your debate. I do see hwoever, you like to hang on to the few things you think Apple is better at, yet in recent years this is not the case. Enjoy the following fact: iOS has far and away more UI/UX issues vs any Android even Samsung TouchWiz Galaxy laden devices. iOS crashes far and away more apps. While you're screaming about updates, most of Apple updates are due to things they break. You wouldn't need as many if they didn't break things. Why do they break more things, when they have limited hardware configurations? iOS animations drop frames, and is jacked up big time now. Even the new iPad Pro with pro-Motion just shows those dropped frames, at a faster motion, but still very visible. Then you have the bad design choice of the iPhone X which is an entire article on its own. lt is obvious you prefer the iPhone. So enjoy. But stop comparing the 2 platforms is A: everything bad about what you say of another is also true of your own B: you gonna waste time exaggerating facts that don't even matter -e.g, iPhone benchmarks faster, but in day to day tasks and abilities not only is it slower, its not even capable of doing at all.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:14 AM 2

27. AxelFoley unregistered

The greatest example of "hipsterfying" a phone is dedication of time at a key note address to Apple's inven.....adoption of Animojis. This very article has specific examples of software engineering. Apple has to resort to copying Animojis and spending time to brag about all the great work they did on a hipster teenager app. The ability to put calendars/schedules/weather/news on a homescreen isn't the evil act you desperately want it to be. However, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments on being concise.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:13 AM 2

50. RoryBreaker

Posts: 287; Member since: Oct 11, 2015

The S8 is lightning fast & Bixby isn't a problem. Those that don't like it don't have to use it.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 5:27 PM 0

16. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

Gonna show how I'm smarter than you and show you why the facts are what they are: https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/authentication/biometrics-in-depth-examination-1329 This white paper may be too in-depth for you to handle, but at least read some. Here is what makes Iris scanning more in-depth vs facial scanning. The Iris scanner has to focus first on your Iris which is smaller, but bigger than a retina scan. Next, according to the paper, both of your eyes, don't have the same iris footprint either. Which means the Iris Scanner has to make a map of not one facial pattern, but two unique patterns inside the same face. It is a part of your face that can't be duplicated with a mask. The only way to duplicate an Iris, you would need a microscope and a tool that could print the exact same eye map onto glass or contacts. Even the best laser printer in the world, even if you had a perfect picture of the Iris, would not be able to print the sophisticated shadows and depth and blood vessels in your eye. Whether you are Caucasian, Negro, Hispanic, or Asian, there are facial features of each group that are the same, thus making for duplication easier. Face Recognition can be duped with a very good photo or something as simple as having an identical twin which has been proven beyond reasonable doubt. No one in the world can duplicate your Iris on any level, beyond having very sophisticated machinery. The best laser printers, can't even duplicate money too 100% accuracy. Counterfeit money can be detected, with a simply swipe of a special marker. Come on dude, get educated and stop being a fan and just read tech facts. I presented you with facts. You can choose to accept or ignore, but nothing you do will change them.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:49 AM 2

20. Sammy_DEVIL737

Posts: 1529; Member since: Nov 28, 2016

Ohh pls for the god sake, try to justify your thoughts in simple and short sentences.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:56 AM 1

37. jeroome86

Posts: 2314; Member since: Apr 12, 2012

Short sentences is impossible for uncle gadget formally known as Techie xp. Would you consider trading names with him? Yours is more fitting for him. He only follows Samsung and Apple. One to praise and one to bash.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 12:11 PM 1

43. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

I praise and bash both companies. I follow Apple and Samsung because those are the devices I buy and only buy. However, facts prove Apple has more to be bashed about vs Samsung overall. Examples? Poor design of iPhone 4, poor design of iPhone 6, poor design of iPhone X, software updates that breaks things that were working, apps that crash all the time, UI/US nightmares where simple things require to many steps to accomplish due to bad UI design, removal of useful features like headphones jacks and home buttons, for useless things like motor for heptic feedback and a busted camera array. Samsung biggest mistakes? Putting way to many features on the S4, when its CPU and RAM amounts were too low. S5 having poor design. Note 7 battery issue. Greatest things about Samsung devices in general, more useful features for the price, less flaws in the UI/UX, apps rarely crash if ever, designs are harder to destroy by accident, easy to accomplish UI steps that make logical sense, everything is user customizable in one way or another. The best thing about Samsung devices, if you don't like it, you can remove, hid, turn-off or replace. With Apple, you are stuck with it and have to justify their poor excuse for bad decisions. Older Android devices are not crippled by updates that would otherwise make the hardware unusable. Apple updates everything, but then devices work even worse and when you upgrade your only option is another iPhone. At least if an update cripples an Android, you can simply choose a phone from any brand you want. Apple intentionally cripples devices to make you spend money. Example, deploys fast charging on the iPhone 8, doesn't put fast charger in the box. Removes headphone jack, to get you to buy overprice wireless headphones that sound exactly like the corded ones. Purprosely limits storage capacity on the base model, to force you to pay a lot more for more storage. To be fair, all OEM's do this, but Apple stuck with 16GB of storage on the base model for SEVERAL years. And since the iPhone has all but killed the iPod, storage should have been increased year ago. Low RAM means less versatility. Its planned adolescence to keep you buying over and over. I've owned 3 iPhone models. Will I ever buy another? Sure I will. Ass soon as the one I have is so outdated I have no choice as I've always done. Galaxy devices have gotten better since the S5. iPhone devices have gotten worse sense after the 5S and iOS7. That is fact and isn't hate and isn't bashing. A fact is a fact whether you like it or not! Oh and I guess because I have long posts I have to be someone else. So that means CNOUR, KIKO,PIYATH and others I see here must all be the exact same person because they all sound like an Apple commercial and are all coined as "kikosheep".

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 1:51 PM 2

47. Xilam unregistered

Oh my G, can someone please put a cork in techie again. His leaking becoming a flood again!!! You wanna write articles - make your own damn website and feed your herd this crap you call “facts”.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 3:19 PM 1

21. YeahYeah

Posts: 251; Member since: Mar 16, 2016

Fanboyism aside.. S8 is a better phone overall.. Better design Better features Better screen Better security features Better price

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 10:58 AM 3

23. skyline88

Posts: 701; Member since: Jul 15, 2013

S8? seriously? any flagship is a better buy than the hopeless junk-X, not only S8.

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:00 AM 1

31. uncle_gadget

Posts: 1050; Member since: Sep 20, 2017

Apple and Samsung get the most attention due to being at the top of the smartphone market as far as share and customer base. Even though a Chinese OEM has pushed Apple to 3rd place as far as sales, Apple in certain countries like the USA is a status symbol and has the marketing prowess to dupe customers into buying tech that was readily available on other phones year prior and pay a ransom note to have it now, with no batter capabilities than 3 years ago. The wireless charging in the iPhone 8 is a perfect example of waiting 4 years for Apple to support it, and they implemented in a way that offers zero benefit vs what we had 4 years ago. I think the mistakes Apple made with the iPhone 5C, 6, 6S, 7, 8 and 10; really shows how much Steve Jobs played a key roll in decisions that mattered. Tim Cook is focused on what he can sell, and not making the best product that will still sell. They went from making a hamburger with substance (Wendy's) to making numbers (McDonald's) and the suffering of quality has been showing since iOS7 and iPhone 6. But the fans will point at flaws of other platforms, while turning a blind eye to similar or worse issues. Quote - "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"

posted on Oct 23, 2017, 11:25 AM 2

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