Honestly, it feels like a lifetime ago when the Galaxy S8 plus S8 first hit the scene. Back in 2017, the tech world was basically obsessed with bezels—specifically, how to kill them off. Samsung didn't just join that trend; they defined it. Before these phones, we were all staring at chunky plastic or metal foreheads and chins on our screens. Then, the Infinity Display arrived, and suddenly everything else looked like a relic from the Stone Age.
People still talk about these phones today. Why? Because the Galaxy S8 plus S8 duo represents the last time a smartphone felt like a massive, undeniable leap forward rather than just a 5% incremental "spec bump." But as we sit here in 2026, there is a lot of revisionist history about what these devices actually were and, more importantly, whether they are still "usable" in a world of 5G and AI-heavy operating systems.
The Big Difference: It Wasn't Just the Size
When you compare the Galaxy S8 plus S8, most folks assume the "Plus" just meant a bigger screen. Kinda, but not really. The standard S8 rocked a 5.8-inch panel, while the S8+ pushed it to 6.2 inches. By today's standards, that S8 sounds tiny, but remember, the 18.5:9 aspect ratio made them tall and skinny.
The S8 was the king of one-handed use. You could actually reach the top of the screen without doing that weird "pinky-shuffle" dance. The S8+, on the other hand, was a beast meant for the early "phablet" lovers.
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Beyond the screen, the battery was the real deal-breaker.
- Galaxy S8: 3,000 mAh
- Galaxy S8+: 3,500 mAh
That extra 500 mAh in the Plus model wasn't just for show. Because both phones ran the same internal hardware—the Snapdragon 835 (or the Exynos 8895 depending on where you lived)—the Plus actually tended to last about an hour or two longer in real-world "scrolling through Reddit" time. If you were a power user back then, the S8+ was the only logical choice.
That Fingerprint Sensor (Let’s Be Real)
We have to talk about it. The placement of the fingerprint sensor on the Galaxy S8 plus S8 was, frankly, a disaster. Samsung decided to slap it right next to the camera lens.
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You’d go to unlock your phone and end up smudging the glass of your 12MP camera every single time. It was a classic case of "design over function." They wanted a clean back, but they gave us all blurry photos instead.
Samsung tried to fix this by offering the Iris Scanner. It was cool. It felt like something out of a spy movie. You’d stare at these two red glowing lights, and—click—the phone unlocked. But if you wore glasses or were standing in direct sunlight? Good luck. You were back to smudging that camera lens again.
Why the Design Still Holds Up in 2026
Even now, if you hold a Galaxy S8 plus S8, it feels expensive. The way the glass curves into the metal frame is seamless. Samsung called it "oneness." Marketing fluff aside, they weren't lying. It’s a smooth, pebble-like feeling that many modern, boxy phones have lost.
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The screens were also the first to be certified as Mobile HDR Premium. Basically, it meant you could watch Netflix with colors that actually popped. Even though modern panels are brighter (the S8 topped out around 1,000 nits in high brightness mode), the 2960 x 1440 resolution on these older phones is actually higher than some "flagship" base models released last year.
The Software Ceiling
This is where the "human-quality" reality check comes in. The Galaxy S8 plus S8 officially stopped receiving Android OS updates at Android 9.0 Pie. Security updates dried up around 2021.
In 2026, using these as a primary device is getting risky.
Most major apps still work, but you're missing out on nearly five years of security patches. If you use your phone for banking or sensitive work emails, an unpatched S8 is basically a house with the front door unlocked. It's fine until it isn't.
Common Myths About the S8 Series
One thing people get wrong is the "Red Tint" controversy. When the phones launched, a bunch of units had screens that looked like they were blushing. Everyone panicked. It turned out to be a software calibration issue that Samsung fixed with a quick update. If you buy a used one today and it’s red, it’s probably just broken, not a "launch bug."
Another myth? That Bixby was useless. Okay, maybe it wasn't a myth. The dedicated Bixby button was the most hated feature on the Galaxy S8 plus S8. People spent years trying to figure out how to remap that button to do literally anything else—like turn on the flashlight or open the camera. Eventually, Samsung let us remap it, but the damage was done. Bixby became the "Clippy" of the smartphone world.
Actionable Steps for S8 Owners Today
If you still have a Galaxy S8 plus S8 sitting in a drawer, or you're using one as a backup, here is the expert way to handle it:
- Check the Battery Swell: These phones are nearly a decade old. If the back glass is starting to lift or peel off, that's not "bad glue." It's likely a swelling battery. Stop charging it immediately and get it recycled.
- Custom ROMs are a Savior: If you're tech-savvy, the S8 community is still active on sites like XDA Developers. You can often find "ports" of newer Android versions. It won't make the hardware faster, but it helps with app compatibility.
- The "Dumbphone" Transition: The S8 makes a great "distraction-free" device. Strip it of social media, use it for its excellent headphone jack (remember those?), and use it as a high-end MP3 player or an e-reader.
- Hardware Limitations: Do not expect to play modern AAA mobile games. The 4GB of RAM was plenty in 2017, but today’s apps eat that for breakfast. It will lag. It will get warm. That’s just physics.
The legacy of the Galaxy S8 plus S8 isn't just about specs. It's about the moment smartphones stopped being tools and started being pieces of art. While they aren't the powerhouses they once were, they remain a benchmark for what a "premium" phone should feel like in your hand. If you're looking to buy one for nostalgia, go for the S8+—the extra battery life makes it much more tolerable in 2026.