Samsung may be busy at the CES with its big announcements at the biggest consumer electronics show in the world, but it hasn’t forgotten about its plan here in India for the year 2018.
To kick things off, the South Korean tech giant has launched its first smartphone of 2018 in India, the Samsung A8+. The phone is an Amazon exclusive and will be available starting 20 January 2018.
I got the device for a few minutes with me and here is my first impression of the Samsung A8+.
Specifications:
- Display: 6-inch FHD AMOLED
- Processor: Exynos 7885 octa-core
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB Internal (expandable)
- Rear Camera: 16-megapixel, (f/1.7)
- Front Camera: Dual 16+8-megapixel. (f/1.9)
- Battery: 3,500mAh non-removable
- Price: 32,990
Design & Display
The Samsung A8+ design is quite ergonomic and is very comfortable to hold. It sports a glass back which attracts a lot of fingerprints. Despite being made of glass it doesn’t slip out of the hands that easily.
The display stands at 6-inch which is a full HD AMOLED screen that comes with a 18:9 ratio. It looks crisp enough though I never got to test it under sunlight.
It’s good that the infinity display has been carried forward in this phone as it accentuates the look of the device.
Processor & Storage
The Samsung A8+ is running on an Exynos 7885 octa-core processor coupled with 6GB of RAM. The device is not running the latest Android. It’s still on Android 7.1.1, which is a disappointment.
The UI looks clutter-free and is easy to navigate.
What I love about the device is that it comes with expandable storage up to 256GB on top of 64GB internal space. You can also use two SIM cards simultaneously.
The Samsung A8+ comes with IP68 water and dust resistance certification which I feel is the USP of this phone. Finding water resistance in this price segment is tough.
Camera & Battery
The phone sports a dual 16+8 megapixel front camera that comes with f/1.9 aperture. It works well in low light and the wide aperture mode also performs well.
The rear camera comprises a 16-megapixel shooter that comes with a f/1.7 aperture and offers good low light pictures.
Under the hood is a 3,500mAh battery that comes bundled with fast charging. We will put out more on the battery and usage when we get the device for review.
Initial Verdict
It was long due that Samsung introduced a phone in the price bracket of under 35k. This automatically means more competition for the OnePlus 5T and the Honor View 10.
The water-resistance and the dual front camera setup on the A8+ make this a very compelling bargain not to mention that it’s a ‘Samsung’ phone.
At Rs 32,990, I feel the phone has a lot in it to win back some of the customers who have migrated to Chinese smartphones.
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