Price and specifications of Samsung Galaxy A8s advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy A8s is a prominent mid-range smartphone that Samsung unveiled in December 2018. Known for being the first Samsung device to feature the Infinity-O display, the Galaxy A8s offers a unique combination of performance, camera capability, and design. This article provides an extensive look at the Galaxy A8s, examining its features, specifications, and what makes it a considerable option in the competitive smartphone market.

Design and Build

The Samsung Galaxy A8s exhibits a sleek and modern design, sporting a glass front protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, a glass back with Gorilla Glass 5, and an aluminum frame. Weighing in at just 173 grams and measuring 158.4 x 74.9 x 7.4 mm, it provides a comfortable and lightweight experience for users.

The device supports dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), offering flexibility for users who travel frequently or need to manage work and personal contacts separately. Available in multiple colors including Black, Gradient Black, Blue, Pink-Blue, and Yellow-Pink, the A8s caters to a broad audience with varying style preferences.

Display

One of the standout features of the Galaxy A8s is its 6.4-inch PLS LCD display with a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 84.7%. The resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels provides crisp and vibrant images, suitable for any multimedia consumption. Moreover, the Infinity-O display introduces a punch-hole camera, offering a larger uninterrupted screen experience compared to notched alternatives.

Camera Performance

The Galaxy A8s is equipped with a versatile triple-camera setup. The primary camera is 24 MP with an f/1.7 aperture, designed for wide-angle photography. The second 10 MP lens offers telephoto capabilities with 2x optical zoom, while the third 5 MP sensor serves as a depth camera, enhancing portrait shots.

Features such as LED flash, panorama, and HDR further enrich the camera experience. The device is also capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps and 1080p at various frame rates, ensuring high-quality video capture for both casual and enthusiast users.

On the front, a 24 MP selfie camera with an f/2.0 aperture ensures high-quality self-portraits, supported by HDR for enhanced detail and color balance in different lighting conditions.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Galaxy A8s is powered by the Qualcomm SDM710 Snapdragon 710 chipset, built on a 10 nm process. Its octa-core processor (2x2.2 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) ensures smooth and efficient performance across various tasks, from daily operations to intensive applications.

The inclusion of the Adreno 616 GPU further enhances the device's capabilities, making it well-suited for gaming and rendering graphics-intensive applications. Available with either 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM, alongside 128 GB of internal storage, the Galaxy A8s meets the needs of multitasking users while providing ample space for storing apps and media.

Operating System and User Interface

Out of the box, the Galaxy A8s runs on Android 9.0 Pie with Samsung's One UI. This combination provides a streamlined user interface, with intuitive navigation and thoughtful design touches tailored for one-handed use. Samsung's One UI enhances the user experience with features like night mode, detailed app notifications, and improved gesture controls.

Battery and Charging

The Galaxy A8s is fitted with a non-removable Li-Ion 3400 mAh battery, which supports 18W fast charging through its USB Type-C port. While it might not feature the largest battery in its category, the efficient power management of the Snapdragon 710, combined with One UI's energy-saving features, ensures a full day of typical usage.

Connectivity and Audio

The device offers extensive connectivity options, including dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 5.0 with A2DP, EDR, and LE support. It also includes NFC for contactless payments and secure device pairing. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack is notable, following a trend adopted by many manufacturers, thus requiring users to use wireless audio solutions or adapters.

Security and Additional Features

The Galaxy A8s has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, providing quick and secure device access. It also houses a suite of sensors including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass, enhancing app functionality and user experience.

The phone's positioning system is supported by GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS, ensuring accurate location services worldwide.

Price and Availability

When released, the Samsung Galaxy A8s was priced around 400 EUR, representing a competitive offering in the mid-range market segment. Its innovation in design and solid performance strategy makes it a valued option among Samsung's offerings from its time of release.

Since its announcement and launch in December 2018, the Galaxy A8s has been available in various markets and continues to be a solid choice for consumers seeking well-rounded features at a reasonable price point.