After their massive recall on the Note 7, Samsung has a lot to do in order to gain back the loyalty of its customers. Their last big release resulted in a lot of complaints, as it unintentionally functioned as a mini ticking time bomb. Regardless of how Samsung users felt about this issue, the Samsung Galaxy S8 launch was highly anticipated. So far, there hasn’t been any reports of the S8 blowing up (thankfully). However there are other problems that come with the costly, yet beautiful device. Hopefully, this guide can help you solve or troubleshoot any problems you have with your Samsung Galaxy S8.
Samsung Galaxy S8 screen protectors
If you’re like me, you might be a little paranoid when it comes to the well-being of brand new toys, especially if they’re expensive like the Samsung Galaxy S8. Since my first smartphone, I’ve always kept my phones out of use unless it was equipped with a screen protector and a case. A screen protector keeps other substances (such as oil, water, spilled beverages, etc.) from getting into direct contact with the phone’s screen. If money isn’t too much of an issue, a pricier protector will also minimize more serious damages such as cracks and shatters. If you think a screen protector isn’t worth it, think about how much it costs to replace the actual screen versus the price of an external shield.
Unfortunately for us careful owners, the Galaxy S8 has no reliable screen protector on the market. The curved edges are a great move for the phone and they add to the beautiful display, but they have given phone owners difficulty since the S6 Edge. While there are a handful of screen protectors for sale, they’ve received negative reviews and multiple complaints from users. The issue is that screen protectors won’t stick due to the screens bending edges. It looks great, but you win some, you lose some.
Samsung Galaxy S8 fingerprint sensor interferes with camera lens
The home button is absent on the S8, and it is replaced by a digital button built into the screen. The haptic feedback is nice, and the new arrangement is definitely nothing to complain about. For many, it’s a step up. But the sacrifice made proves to be an inconvenience to some users. Without the presence of the home button, the fingerprint scanner was moved to the back of the phone directly next to the camera lens. While the feel of the scanner isn’t necessarily awkward, the use of it often interferes with the clarity of the lens. Frequently using the scanner puts the finger in contact with the camera lens and smudges affect the camera’s quality.
Samsung Galaxy S8’s all-glass body issues
The S8 fashions a beautiful full glass case front to back, and it’s absolutely gorgeous. But this beauty comes with a harsh price. While Samsung boasts the Gorilla glass quality, it’s still glass, and glass makes phone users fearful. We don’t necessarily throw our phones around regularly, but smartphones are used heavily on a daily basis and are therefore prone to many accidents. A simple bump might cause you to fidget and lose grip, causing the phone to slip and fall to the floor.
The most obvious solution to this issue is to get a case. There are a lot of options that excel in aesthetics, protection, and everything in between. Just note that a good case might cost you another pretty penny.
Samsung Galaxy Reddish Tint
Fresh out of the box, early users have reported a reddish tint on the phone’s display, regardless of applications. When compared with an S8 that was not affected, the difference is clear. Samsung has since released a software update that extinguished this issue, but in case you are still encountering problems, you could try modifying settings before taking it up with Samsung.
Go to Settings>Display, and make sure Blue light filter is off.
If the problem persists, continue to >Screen Mode. Then scroll down to find color balance, and make sure it’s set to the center of the bar.
Samsung Galaxy Enable WQHD+
One aspect of the S8 which Samsung is particularly proud of is the quality of its infinity display. Interestingly, the phone is not set to its fullest potential on default. In order to conserve battery, the phone is set to FHD+ rather than its best WQHD+.
In order to set the screen display to the highest quality, go into Settings>Display>Screen resolution, then drag the ball all the way to the right of the bar.
Samsung Bixby unfinished
As you may have seen or read about by now, Bixby was not released in full with the Samsung. It does not support voice commands, and currently the Google Assistant bests Bixby. This has left a lot of anxious consumers with a lot of grief and even anger, but Samsung ensures us that Bixby will make his full appearance soon. We certainly hope so, as they hyped the brand new AI quite a lot in pre-release demos.
The trade-off
Despite all of the issues mentioned above, the Galaxy S8 is still easily one of the best smartphones on the market. They have introduced a new innovative design and took risks while doing so. Reported problems are also hastily acknowledged and repaired by Samsung. The fear of another recall has put the company on their toes, and they’re sharper than ever. Frankly speaking, the complications addressed above aren’t deal-breakers. The phone is still equipped with a lot of advantageous and aesthetic features that puts it above most, if not all, other phones.