If the first smartphone releases this year would be an indication, things would go pretty well for Samsung in 2018. For its Galaxy A8 and A8+, Samsung seems to be blurring the lines that distinguish its mid-range from its flagship lineups. This is something Samsung fans out there could rave about.
Samsung Electronic Philippines Corp. has recently launched the newest members of its Galaxy A series in the country, which is one of the important markets where the brand has been enjoying a huge following. Here are the main features and specifications that make the two new smartphones worth our attention.
Impressive design
At first glance, both the Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ have striking resemblance with the Galaxy Note8. But once you take a closer look, you could easily notice the distinctions. The A8 is slimmer and has a more comfortable grip and the A8+ is logically taller and wider. Aside from that, both smartphones take similar design traits in terms of design.
Both are equipped with a fingerprint scanner strategically placed below the rear main camera, an improvement from the Note8’s scanner positioning. The USB Type-C port and the headphone jack are located at each device’s bottom part, while the speaker grill is at the same side as the power button. This way, sound quality and distribution gets better especially when the user watches videos horizontally. The glass design is also strategic in that it facilitates good grip even if the user’s hand gets moist.
Specs at quick glance
Both devices are equipped with Exynos 7885 octa-core processor and run in Android 7.1.1. The A8 has a 4GB RAM, 32GB internal storage (expandable via microSD card), 5.6-inch Super AMOLED FHD + display, and 3,000 mAh of battery. In comparison, A8+ has 6GB RAM, 64 GB internal storage (also expandable), 6.0-inch Super AMOLED FHD + display, and 3,500 mAh battery.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ mark the brand’s adoption of the IP68 certification, which translates to water and dust resistance. Thus, the new smartphones can be used even in harsh weather and climate condition, be it in land, amid strong winds, or even underwater.
The smartphones also come with large infinity display with immersive 18:5:9 display ratio that brings about higher quality and more cinematic viewing pleasures. The Face Recognition feature makes it easier to unlock the display from an idle mode, while the Bixby Interface carries out innovative personalized experience.
Photography features
Both Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ are equipped with 16MP and 8MP dual front cameras with an f/1.9 aperture. Thus, a user can easily switch lenses for Live Focus, a feature that reminds us of Galaxy Note8. The Live Focus creates depth of field, providing adjustable background blur when needed, even after taking a selfie.
The 16MP rear or main camera is powerful enough to produce photos with greater detail, more accurate colors, and controlled noise even in outdoor or daytime shoots. Real-time HDR is enabled to ensure dark and light areas are kept against bright sources. When using either the front or rear shooter, you do not have to keep your hand steady when taking photos to prevent camera shake.
The Samsung Galaxy A8 and A8+ are now available in the market in black and gold colors. Tag prices are at P26,990 and P32,990, respectively.