The Samsung Galaxy A8+ has made waves in the mid-range smartphone market, offering a tantalizing blend of flagship features at a more accessible price point. As a tech enthusiast, I've had the opportunity to thoroughly test this device, and I'm excited to share my in-depth review of what makes the A8+ stand out in a crowded field.
Design and Build Quality: A Touch of Luxury
From the moment you hold the Galaxy A8+, it's clear that Samsung has spared no expense in crafting a device that exudes premium quality. The all-glass body, reminiscent of the higher-end Galaxy Note 8, is sandwiched between a robust aluminum frame. This construction not only looks stunning but also provides a reassuring heft at 191 grams, striking a balance between substantial feel and manageable weight.
One of the standout features is the IP68 water and dust resistance rating, a rarity in this price range. This means the A8+ can withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for 30 minutes, offering peace of mind for users prone to accidental spills or caught in unexpected rain showers.
However, the glass design isn't without its drawbacks. Like many glossy devices, the A8+ is a magnet for fingerprints and can be quite slippery without a case. These are minor quibbles in the grand scheme of things, but worth considering for those who prefer a more grippy texture or a smudge-free appearance.
Display: A Visual Feast
Samsung's expertise in display technology shines through in the A8+. The 6-inch Super AMOLED screen boasts a Full HD+ resolution of 2220 x 1080 pixels, resulting in a crisp pixel density of about 411 PPI. The 18.5:9 aspect ratio not only provides an immersive viewing experience but also helps keep the phone manageable in hand despite its large screen size.
The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, though Samsung hasn't specified which generation. In my testing, I found the screen to be quite resistant to minor scratches from keys and coins, suggesting it's likely a recent iteration of the technology.
Color reproduction is, as expected from Samsung, nothing short of spectacular. The AMOLED panel delivers deep blacks and vibrant hues that make everything from photos to videos pop. For those who prefer a more natural look, the display settings offer various color modes to tune the output to your liking.
One of my favorite features is the Always-On Display, which shows time, date, and notifications at a glance without waking the entire screen. This OLED-specific feature is not only convenient but also helps conserve battery life.
Performance: Smooth Sailing with a Few Ripples
Under the hood, the Galaxy A8+ is powered by Samsung's own Exynos 7885 octa-core processor. This chip features two high-performance Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six efficient Cortex-A53 cores at 1.6 GHz. Coupled with 6GB of RAM and the Mali-G71 GPU, this configuration provides ample horsepower for most tasks.
In my day-to-day usage, the A8+ handled everything from social media browsing to resource-intensive gaming with aplomb. Games like Asphalt 9 and PUBG Mobile ran smoothly on medium to high settings, though I did notice occasional frame drops in particularly intense scenes.
The generous 6GB of RAM is a boon for multitasking, allowing me to keep numerous apps open in the background without noticeable slowdowns. However, I did encounter sporadic stutters when rapidly switching between heavy apps or when the device had been running for extended periods without a restart.
Benchmark results paint a picture of solid mid-range performance. In Geekbench 5, the A8+ scored around 1,500 in single-core and 4,300 in multi-core tests. While not chart-topping, these scores indicate performance that's more than adequate for the vast majority of users.
Software: Familiar Territory with Room for Improvement
The Galaxy A8+ ships with Samsung's custom UI (now known as One UI) built on top of Android Nougat. While not the latest version of Android at launch, Samsung's skin offers a clean and intuitive experience that has come a long way from the cluttered TouchWiz days of old.
One UI brings several useful features to the table. Samsung Pay, for instance, is a standout, offering both NFC and MST technology for wide compatibility with payment terminals. The Dual Messenger feature, which allows you to run two instances of apps like WhatsApp or Facebook, is a godsend for those juggling personal and work accounts.
The Secure Folder is another noteworthy addition, providing a Knox-protected space for sensitive apps and data. This feature uses hardware-level encryption, making it a robust solution for privacy-conscious users.
However, the software experience isn't without its drawbacks. The presence of pre-installed bloatware, while reduced compared to earlier Samsung devices, is still noticeable. Additionally, the lack of Android Oreo at launch was disappointing, especially considering the device's premium positioning in the mid-range market.
Battery Life: A Marathon Runner
One area where the Galaxy A8+ truly shines is battery life. The 3500mAh cell may not sound massive on paper, but coupled with the efficient Exynos processor and optimized software, it delivers impressive endurance.
In my testing, I consistently achieved over 5 hours of screen-on time, with the phone easily lasting more than a full day of heavy use. This included a mix of social media, video streaming, gaming, and photography. Light users could potentially stretch this to two days between charges.
When it does come time to recharge, the included fast charger brings the A8+ from 0 to 100% in about 90 minutes. While not the fastest charging solution on the market, it's more than adequate for most users' needs.
Camera Performance: Selfie Specialist with Room for Improvement
The camera setup on the A8+ is intriguing, with a clear focus on selfie performance. The rear features a single 16MP sensor with a wide f/1.7 aperture, while the front boasts a dual-camera system with 16MP and 8MP sensors.
In good lighting conditions, the rear camera produces images with plenty of detail and accurate colors. The wide aperture allows for some natural background blur, though it's not as pronounced as you'd get with a dedicated portrait mode. Low-light performance, however, is where the limitations of the single-lens setup become apparent. While not terrible, images in dimly lit environments tend to suffer from noise and loss of detail.
The front-facing dual-camera system is the star of the show here. The secondary 8MP sensor allows for live bokeh effects, creating pleasing portrait selfies with adjustable background blur. In good light, selfies are sharp and vibrant, though the beauty mode can sometimes be overzealous in smoothing skin textures.
Video capabilities are somewhat limited, with the A8+ maxing out at 1080p 30fps for both front and rear cameras. The lack of 4K recording and optical image stabilization (OIS) is noticeable, especially when compared to some competitors in this price range.
Additional Features: The Cherry on Top
The Galaxy A8+ comes with a host of additional features that enhance the overall user experience. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, while the face unlock feature, though not as secure, offers a convenient alternative for quick access.
Samsung has thoughtfully included a dedicated microSD card slot alongside dual SIM support, allowing users to expand storage without sacrificing the second SIM slot. The inclusion of a USB-C port and a 3.5mm headphone jack caters to both forward-looking tech enthusiasts and those who still prefer wired audio.
Conclusion: A Compelling Mid-Range Option
The Samsung Galaxy A8+ is a testament to the narrowing gap between mid-range and flagship smartphones. It offers a premium design, excellent display, solid performance, and impressive battery life, all at a price point that's significantly lower than top-tier flagships.
While it's not without its flaws – occasional performance hiccups, dated software at launch, and some camera limitations – the A8+ represents excellent value for users who want a taste of Samsung's flagship experience without breaking the bank.
For those who prioritize cutting-edge software and raw performance, alternatives like the OnePlus 5T might be worth considering. However, if you're looking for a well-rounded device with Samsung's polish and feature set, the Galaxy A8+ is a compelling choice that punches above its weight in the mid-range smartphone arena.
