Phone face off: iPhone 8 vs. Galaxy S8

It's that time of year again! The newest iPhones are about to hit stores, but if you're not quite sold on if Apple's 2017 handsets are the devices for you, we're here to help.

We're pitting Apple's iPhone 8 up against its toughest competition: Samsung's flagship Galaxy S8. If you're undecided on iOS vs. Android, read on for a side-by-side comparison of each device.

Side-by-side specs

	iPhone 8	Galaxy S8
Display	4.7-inch, 326 ppi	5.8-inch, 570 ppi
Display tech	Retina HD	Quad HD+ Super AMOLED
Operating system	iOS 11	Android 7.0 Nougat
Camera	12 megapixel rear camera 7 megapixel FaceTime HD front camera	12 megapixel rear 8 megapixel front
CPU/chipset	Hexa-core A11 Bionic Chip	Octa-Core 2.3GHz + 1.7Ghz Exynos 9
RAM	2GB	4GB
Storage	64GB 256GB	64GB
MicroSD card slot?	No	Up to 256GB
USB	2.0	3.1 Type C 1.0
WiFi	802.11 b/g/n/ac	802.11 b/g/n/ac
Battery	Li-Ion battery	Li-Ion 3000mAh battery
4G LTE	4G LTE Advanced	Cat.16
Dimensions	138.4 mm x  67.3 mm x 7.3 mm	148.9mm x 68.1mm x 8mm
Weight	148g	155g
Water/dust resistant?	Yes - IP67 certified	Yes - IP68 certified

Best features

iPhone 8

One of the first things you’ll notice about the 8 (and 8 Plus) is its all-new, durable glass back, which not only looks great, but also enables wireless charging. Like the more expensive X, the iPhone 8 is also water and dust-proof, and features the new True Tone white-balance screen technology for perfect viewing both day and night. 

The display itself is a standard 4.7 inches, but offers a vibrant viewing experience thanks to Apple’s wide colour gamut. In terms of performance, the iPhone 8 is powered by Apple's newest A11 Bionic chip, featuring four efficiency cores that are up to 70% faster than 2016’s A10. The new chip means even faster processing, plus improved support for gaming and new augmented reality apps. 

All of Apple’s new phones will run iOS 11. Apple is touting the updated operating system as the world's most intuitive (and secure), and iOS 11 appears to offer the same ease of use as previous editions. Digital assistant Siri is back with improved voice recognition capabilities and a more expressive voice, and features such as Apple Pay will continue to be supported.

Samsung Galaxy S8

Like the new iPhone, the Galaxy S8 is chock full of features we love. Design-wise, there's the stunning, high-res, edge-to-edge 'Infinity' display, encased in a seamlessly designed glossy body. But the S8 isn't just pretty on the outside - it also packs serious power under the hood, featuring an advanced 10nm processor for faster performance and longer battery life.

The S8 is Samsung's first smartphone capable of downloading at 1Gbps, and offers ultra-fast gaming, easy streaming, and amazing audio, with specifically-designed AKG earbuds included with purchase. The device is also water and dust resistant (up to 1.5 metres, for up to 30 minutes), features wireless fast charging, and includes a microSD card slot for up to 256GB of extra memory. 

We're also loving the S8's biometric security features, especially the 'face to unlock' option. In addition to facial recognition, other security options include iris scanning, fingerprint unlock, plus the standard password, PIN or pattern unlock features  - as well as Samsung's in-built Knox chip-level security. 

Camera comparison

iPhone 8

The iPhone 8 features a 12-megapixel front camera - which Apple claims has a larger, faster sensor - plus deeper pixels, and an improved colour filter. You’ll also get Optical Image Stabilisation for both your still photos and videos, and an aperture of f/1.8 for improved low-light photography. 

In front, you’ll find a 7-megapixel FaceTime HD camera for premium selfies in a variety of conditions. The front camera features Retina Flash, plus a wider colour capture and advanced pixel technology.

Galaxy S8

It's no secret that the S8 features one of the best smartphone cameras on the market. In front, you'll get perfect selfies every time with a 8-megapixel camera, f/1.7 lens and Smart Auto focus, giving you clear and concise shots both day and night.

In the rear, you'll find a 12-megapixel Dual Pixel sensor camera, with a f/1.7 lens for bright snaps in low light. These cameras also feature auto-focus, enhanced image processing, and the options to adjust settings such as shutter speed, exposure, white balance and color tone thanks to Pro Mode.

Tara Donnelly

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