Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S8 Plus: our hands-on comparison

William Judd

The new Galaxy S8 is out, but which one should you choose? The standard Galaxy S8, or the larger Galaxy S8+? Here’s our hands-on breakdown on the differences, advantages and disadvantages of the two models.

Design & ergonomics

Above: Galaxy S7 (right) vs Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S8 has a 5.8-inch display, while the Galaxy S8+ has a screen with a 6.2-inch span. That sounds like a lot, compared to the (already large) Galaxy S7 Edge with its 5.5-inch display, but most of the increase in dimensions comes courtesy of the new 18.5:9 aspect ratio — this phone is way taller and skinnier than before. That makes it far easier to use in one hand than you would expect from just looking at the screen diagonal.

Above: Galaxy S7 Edge (right) vs Galaxy S8 Plus

The regular S8 measures 149 x 68 millimetres, while the S8 Plus reaches 160 x 73 millimetres. That means last year’s 151 x 73 millimetre Galaxy S7 Edge comes between the two; it’s a bit taller and thicker than the small S8 and noticeably shorter than the S8+.

If you were happy with the size of the Galaxy S7 Edge, then the S8 Plus isn’t vastly different ergonomically and you should get along with it just fine. However, most people will probably prefer the easier one-handed operation (and lower price) of the vanilla Galaxy S8.

Hardware & cameras

The two phones are nearly identical when it comes to internal hardware, with both models sporting the same octa-core processor (Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895, depending on region). This is backed with 64GB of expandable storage and 4GB of RAM. The cameras, fingerprint reader and iris scanner are also identical on both phones.

The only material difference is the size of the battery, which is 3000mAh for the Galaxy S8, and 3500mAh for the Galaxy S8 Plus. That means the S8 Plus should last for a little longer on standby, but both phones should be similar when it comes to screen-on time.

Price & release date

SIM-free, the Galaxy S8 is £698, while the S8 Plus is £779. Contract prices will vary substantially, but Carphone Warehouse offers the smaller phone for £50 / month, while the larger model costs £66 / month; both require a £10 up-front charge as well.

Both phones are available right now, so if you’re interested then you can get one right away. If you do end up getting the phone, then check out our recommendations for the best cases and accessories for each model!

Thanks for checking out the article and be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below!