Galaxy S7 or Galaxy S8? Tough decision...

[brutal]

I've never been so twisted up trying to decide on a new phone.

My S5 is getting long in the tooth and the new company is probably going to find/bust me for having a rooted phone, so it's time for an upgrade. I can keep the S5 around on WiFi only for the few things I really need on there that require root.

Need to upgrade through the corporate plan.

I can get an S7 for $99

I can get an S8 for $249

No real rub there, although it does factor in a little.


S7 Pro's:

• Slightly shorter than the S8. Nearly identical in size to my S5.
• 32GB on board (my S5 has only 16GB and it's a constant battle even rooted and with 128GB sd storage)
• Flatter (not completely as the edges are slightly rounded off) so screen is easier to protect and put glass on
• Lower Cost

S7 cons:

• Micro USB - although I've never borked a connector.
• USB 2.0 (my S5 has 3.0 but that special cable is needed. I usually just pull the SD card and stick it in the computer but adopted storage is going to kill that option. I never really plug it in to sync anything, just that first time 32GB of music download, then that syncs over WiFi.
• No removable battery

S8 Pro's:

• Slightly narrower (and will fit better in the wrong size car holders I previously bought)
• USB-C (Wife just got an S8 FREE upgrade on her Sprint account)
• 64GB onboard (also has sd support)

S8 cons:

• The S8 curved screen kinda bugs me and everyone is saying how prone to breakage they are. This is probably the primary feature that's making it tough to decide. As soon as you case it, that curved screen design becomes moot.
• Screen protection options for both cases and protectors are limited (or very pricey) due to the phone's curved screen zero bezel design.
• Higher Cost
• No removable battery

Performance wise, they're close enough. I don't do gaming or watch video on my phone. Basic phone stuff, e-mail, limited texts, music, my Home automation apps, etc.


I do occasionally drop my phone, but I'm not a complete klutz and the Otterbox Commuter and a glass screen protector have always saved me. The only time I've ever cracked a screen was when I rolled over my S4 with a creeper.


I've been looking at screen and case options for two days and am not any closer to a pick than when I started.

Penny for your thoughts...

[waffles]

$249 for the S8 is the way I'd go. Shit, get two and I'll make sure you earn a few bucks on the second one!

[Gman]

The S8 wil have more legs for OS support. The S8 is capable of much faster LTE speeds, has Bluetooth 5.0, and the Snapdragon 835 CPU. They both have the same size battery, but the S8 will be more power efficient. S8 is 83.6% screen-to-body ratio vs. 72.1% for the S7. You also get Gorilla Glass 5 on the S8.

Comparison link - https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php...&idPhone2=7821

It's obvious that I'd lean toward the S8. My phone is pretty important to me in IT. I went for the Note 8.

[Scanker19]

I’m an iPhone guy and was thinking of switching. I was looking at the s7 and s8 as well IF I decide to switch I’d pick an s7, here why.

Charger. The s7 uses the micro usb which I have hundreds of. The s8 uses the usbC which I have none of.
I don’t like home buttonless phones, the s7 has one.
Always buy a generation behind, let someone else work out the bugs.

[USMC88-93]

I went from an S5 to an S8+ I liked the S5 better. I suspect that my preference has to do more with the size rather than the bells and whistles. I probably would have liked the smaller S8 more than the S8+. That and familiarity with the software and how I had the old phone set up. Like you I had years of use out of my S5

[Gman]

S8 has a virtual home button that is pressure sensitive. Going from the S7 Edge (mechanical home button) to the Note 8 (virtual home button), I haven't missed the mechanical button.

[68Charger]

I said tacos, cuz I'm a note guy...
I got a note 5 after having an S7, and never looked back.

[meatman]

I have an S8 and the only thing I don't like about it is that the ballistic glass screen protectors that I've had only have adhesive around the edges because of the curved screen. I went back to a regular screen protector and I got the Magpul S8 case as soon as it came out. The USB-C is pretty being non-directional.

I upgraded from the S5 as well. I don't miss it at all.

[theGinsue]

I say the S8. Biggest reason is how you mentioned your S5 is "long in the tooth". If you go with the S7 you're already into a phone model that's a year and a half old - the S8 buys you more time.

I got my FIRST smart phone in late May, 2016; a Galaxy S7 and it does everything I want/need and more. It was the just released when I bought it. I'll be holding onto this until it either breaks unrepairably or is no longer supportable as I only replace tech when I absolutely must. I have it in an Otterbox case with the tempered glass screen protector and highly recommend both. The only time the phone comes out of the case is when I put it in my VR headset. The Otterbox case is holding up excellently and goes on/comes off easily.

[Aloha_Shooter]

I went from the S5 Active to the S8+. A good case will take care of any drop concerns and I like the screen. The case I'm using is a Spigen Ultra Hybrid -- it looks good really protects the phone. If you get the clear one, you can get a skin from DecalGirl to personalize your phone so no one can "mistakenly" grab it. Most importantly, you really want the 64GB memory or you're going to find yourself in the same situation next year with the S7 that you're in with the S5 now.