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The Samsung Experience (Galaxy S8 UI) in a nutshell

by Milen Yanachkov / Apr 27, 2017, 9:42 AM

With the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung has once again reworked its take on Android. This time around we're not dealing with any major functional shake-ups, but rather with something of a visual rethinking of TouchWiz. Now dubbed the Samsung Experience, the refreshed OS comes with an added layer of polish that ensures an overall better user experience. It's not without its flaws, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

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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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67 Comments

1. darkkjedii

Posts: 30830; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Much more refined, and buttery smooth UI. Samsungs optimization is very noticeable. Kudos.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 9:45 AM 15

4. GreenMan

Posts: 2694; Member since: Nov 09, 2015

Samsung smartphones usually possess impressive optimization. Even a budget basic Galaxy like The Galaxy J5, for example, possess remarkable fluidness and smoothness... But (Comma) there're definitely some lagging issues with The S8...!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eejNi-2DFA But I hear that Samsung will soon fix it with an update... Oh well, G'Day!

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 9:56 AM 2

9. Bankz

Posts: 2491; Member since: Apr 08, 2016

If u want smoothness go buy a pixel.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:37 AM 0

16. cmdacos

Posts: 3871; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

I didn't see lag there. Just a super slow Mo video

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:58 AM 3

6. Nopers unregistered

It's not buttery smooth. There's still lag between the home screen and app drawer and bixby feed.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:07 AM 5

7. Plasticsh1t

Posts: 3091; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

If you want buttery smooth you either get the Pixel or the iPhone 7. Or if you fell adventurous go to XDA, root it, and install a custom rom, debloat it, and tweak the kernel when they will get their sources out and pray that it works.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:29 AM 3

12. iushnt

Posts: 3060; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

what about just chilling and using the default setup? If sing hurt I I guess

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:49 AM 0

24. darkkjedii

Posts: 30830; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

@nopers. Mine is buttery smooth. That's all I'm concerned with.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 11:35 AM 5

33. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

What about exiting out of samsungs browser? Thats the only app that lags when hitting the home button. It's weird because I installed Nova to test it out and there was no lag when exiting out of that app.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 12:37 PM 0

34. drazwy

Posts: 347; Member since: Jan 15, 2014

I dunno. I'm just not seeing it.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 12:50 PM 1

37. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

Its like the frame rate drops a little. Every app closes instantaneously but that one just stutters just slightly when exiting. It's just annoying because I use that app so much.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 12:57 PM 0

41. Tyrion_Lannister unregistered

@darkkjedii A simple way to check. Go to settings, developer options and enable profile rendering as on screen with bars. A bar that crosses the green line represents a dropped frame. Try scrolling in the UI. You'll know that the UI drops many frames while doing basic tasks like scrolling in settings or play store. You might not notice it and it's good for you. But that doesn't make the phone buttery smooth. Someone else may notice it. If I'm wrong, send me the screenshot of you scrolling through play store or settings with profile rendering on. I'll say sorry to you and admit I'm wrong.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 2:05 PM 1

45. darkkjedii

Posts: 30830; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

All I notice, is damn good working, beautiful phone, with great battery life, and a s**t ton of new features. I don't care about a dropped frame, that I'm not looking for, nor am I concerned with. The S8 Plus is bank.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 4:33 PM 3

46. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1793; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

Like I've said before... If you go looking for issues you'll find them... But if you just enjoy it for what it is then everything will be fine... And it's a fine damn smartphone!

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 5:02 PM 4

52. darkkjedii

Posts: 30830; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Well said

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 6:10 PM 1

31. Supraman21

Posts: 467; Member since: Jun 09, 2010

And when exiting out of the browser app.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 12:25 PM 0

40. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1793; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

My S8+ runs crazy smooth and I haven't noticed any frame-rate drops when exiting the browser or any other app. I downloaded asphalt extreme and it runs like a champ! You can really tell that the SD 835 is handling business I did a comparison with my S7 Edge and I can definitely tell the difference in speed and smoothness. The 820 and 835 are definitely night and day to me...

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 1:47 PM 2

51. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Hey...i have one of my DreamPack orders.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 6:04 PM 0

60. Mreveryphone

Posts: 1793; Member since: Apr 22, 2014

Let's make a deal... I've responded in the other threads regarding your dreampacks..

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 9:45 PM 0

48. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Bixby is a server side app. All server side app have delays. That isn't lag. Learn the differs t. When I open the Apple store on a y device ad an exams, everything does not instantly fill in. It fill as the data is received ad it is suppose too. Question do you all nitpick the devices you use like you do Samsung's? Answer? No! You don't even have the device do you? You have No idea. Even if you do have it, remember others do to. If your device is lagging, that means you did something to it. Based on my usage, the keyboard still stutters, but o my on PA website. It doesn't on any other site where I post. So its not a phone issue, because my iPhone does it too no matter which browser I use and I mostly use Chrome on both.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 5:54 PM 0

8. Zack_2014

Posts: 677; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

There are numerous reviewers who say the S8's UI actually runs less smooth compared to even it's predecessor, Galaxy S7. Way too many frame drops in basic UI operations like scrolling through Playstore or even it's home screen. Pretty pathetic job done by Samsung after so many years of knowing that their software optimisation sucks bad.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:37 AM 3

11. John-Knotts

Posts: 380; Member since: Feb 28, 2015

Really? Can you post a couple? Because everything i've seen/read states the opposite.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 10:49 AM 4

26. darkkjedii

Posts: 30830; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

@zack. I own one, so I'm not concerned with their Reviews. I'm perfectly capable of doing my own.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 11:36 AM 7

49. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Playstore is a server side app, it does not lag. It loads as data arrives to your device. All server side apps are delayed based on your inter st connection and how fast or slow the server can serve you data. App stores on all devices have delays. It's not lag. The fact you brought that up shows you have no idea what lag is.

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 5:57 PM 1

64. Khyron

Posts: 397; Member since: Sep 28, 2015

Still drops frameshttps://youtu.be/ukzLa5xQaeo

posted on Apr 27, 2017, 11:26 PM 0

2. JMartin22

Posts: 2327; Member since: Apr 30, 2013

Uhh well no Android UI, or iOS or any GUI is without any flaws lol. I never understood why Samsung got special scrutiny historically in the past for this such critique. But with all that being said, the improvements are generally positive in comparison to previous revisions.