S5 is broken and need a new phone, worried about curved glass on s8

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David321

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#248629 3-Apr-2019 07:33

Hi all,

As the title might suggest I have an S5 which has finally packed up (screen rotation sensor no longer working), this is minor but very annoying sometimes so I have decided its time to replace it.
I have never been keen to spnd to much on a cell phone so am looking at about $700 max and the S8 seems the logical choice but I am not keen on the curved screen at all, I can get an S7 online from stores like "top mobile" and "expert infotech" which I discovered on price spy but I fear the S7 might also be dates now and may soon have performance issues, is that how it works? I have herd that apps are constantly updated to maximise performance relative to the latest power smart phones but I am not sure if that is true.

I am leaning towards the S8 for that reason but as I said I am not keen on a curved screen at all, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if the curved screen is problematic in the following situations, sometimes I hold my phone in landscape to watch full screen videos is it possible to do this without touching the glass on the sides? I think the glass woud be right where people usually hold there phone while in landscape and touching the glass may interfer with the video *like pause it or something).

Secondly, I have a really good clamp style car mount, I think if I put an S8 in it the clamp would be gripping/squeezing the glass, is this going to confusing the phone also by thinking someone is touching the side glass and doing something random?

Thirdly, the curved screen just seems to me to make it so much more suseptible to damage, I would buy and otterbox commuter case as they seem very good but the case does not wrap around the edge of glass obcviously leaving the side glass exposed and prone to damage, is this the situation with S8's or does a good case really protect the new curved screen phones?

Would like to hear peoples thoughts on this.

Thanks

_David_

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#2209928 3-Apr-2019 08:01

Does it have to be a Samsung? Have you considered Nokia / Motorola? They both have good value phones that perform well. My wife's Moto G5 performs ok and cost about $250 from memory. It doesn't have all the sensors and features of the more expensive phones, thicker bezel, but it works well otherwise and gets updates very regularly.

I wouldn't worry about performance on any modern smartphone that's midrange or better.

jonathan18

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#2209958 3-Apr-2019 08:28

Also, buying an S8, which is already two generations prior to the current model, means you're buying a phone that's two years old already, and is therefore also likely to receive updates for a shorter period of time over your period of ownership.

Add on this that Samsung aren't the best at providing updates, and in the past you've been comfortable at holding onto a phone for a good period, I'd agree that looking at other brands is sensible; perhaps check out some of those with a better record of longer-term support and/or running Android One (eg Nokia).

Personally, I'd go with a OnePlus 5T before the S8, and even the OnePlus 6 (a model that's less than 11 months old) isn't that far beyond this price.

tehgerbil

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#2209977 3-Apr-2019 09:00

I have had my S8 for over a year now, no screen protector in that time, and a minimalistic poly-carbonate shell.

The screen is in FANTASTIC nick, no deep gouges or really any noticable scratches whatsoever. My S5 however, even with a screen protector on for most of its life was like the surface of the moon with scratch and pock marks all over it.

Don't just a cellphone by its cover, they're tougher than they look.

Dingbatt

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#2209983 3-Apr-2019 09:22

Unless your car clamp is made of the same stuff as your finger or a stylus, then it touching the curved part of the screen shouldn't activate it.

I'm not a fan of the curved screens particularly either, but I am on my second one (S10 replacing S8) because other features outweigh the drawbacks of the curved edges. If the S10e was just a straight sided S10 rather than having some features removed, I would have gone for that.

While I have used wallet cases for both the 8 and 10 there are some pretty good 'back and sides' protective cases available for the S8. You don't really need to use the very edge of the display anyway and the edge panel activation area can be thickened in the new Samsung One UI that came with the Android 9 update. Just be aware Android 9 is possibly the end of the road for updates of the S8 if history is anything to go by.

If you are determined to stick with Samsung, I'm just trying to remember if the A series has an infinity display or not. But, as others have said, there are plenty of straight screen phones from other manufacturers within your price range.

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gehenna

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#2209985 3-Apr-2019 09:25

S8 is not the logical choice at all. There's so many modern devices in your price range. Broaden your horizons a bit. Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Nokia, the list goes on.

frankv

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#2210036 3-Apr-2019 10:58

I chose not to get a curved screen Samsung because it seemed to me that having the screen go out round the edge of the device means that any fall is likely to impact the edge of the screen and therefore more likely to crack it. And, if you keep it in a case to protect against that, then the edges are protected but no longer visible, so why have them? So the curved screen seems to me to be more of a gimmick than practical.

Although the S7 might not get any more updates, it will still continue to function. IMHO, phone batteries wear out before the software becomes obsolescent, so updates isn't really a problem.

OTOH, I do have a problem with Samsung's apparent aim to entrap users in an Apple-like ecosystem, with "Samsung Pay" and "Samsung SmartThings" and "Samsung Internet". If the trend continues, I'll be looking at other brands for my next phone.

Just my 2c worth...

Batman

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#2210057 3-Apr-2019 11:32

I'm selling a Huawei mate 20. Amazing phone. It has everything the s10 has. Almost. And in some cases, better than the s10.

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butlerboy

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#2210164 3-Apr-2019 14:42

Does it have to be a Samsung? If not there are so many better options for your money. My wife was a Samsung fan, finally got her to go with an Oppo and she couldn't be happier. So much more bang for your buck if you go with a different brand.

1eStar

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#2210294 3-Apr-2019 18:45

I respect you for sticking to Samsung. They are a good phone. You mention S7, they actually have a slight curve in the screen yes I'm referring to the s7 flat! And to all the samsung update knockers, it's still getting updates, it's now on to the quarterly cycle. See: https://security.samsungmobile.com/workScope.smsb

The s8 is nice, you won't regret buying quality. The cheap phones are good for people who upgrade regularly, a false economy in my estimation.

Therk

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#2210343 3-Apr-2019 20:21

I don't think the S8 is a particularly logical choice if you have $700 to spend, there is much better out there that isn't 2 generations old.

If I was you I'd get the Huawei P30 as right now its an incredible deal, $1100 RRP however 2degrees is offering $400 off if u sign up for one of their open term (i.e. cancel whenever and keep discount) plans. Its a current generation almost-flagship phone. As an added kicker you also get some free headphones and a free Huawei watch if you pre-order through Noel Leeming in the next week or so. Real cost of the phone is more like $300 and it'll kick the daylights out of an S8 in almost every area.

Also, not sure how much you keep up with phones but Huawei now and Huawei when the S5 came out is a world of difference. They've done a hell of a lot of catching up and match Samsung and Apple in many areas, and this year, to be honest, outdoing them on the camera front. Oh and added bonus, no curved screen.

https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=9530&idPhone2=8161&idPhone3=6033

Technofreak

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#2210394 3-Apr-2019 21:37

If you decide on the S8 I don't think you'll have a problem with the curved screen, in fact I think you'll like it. My wife had the S7 and now has the S8 with the curved screens.

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#2210420 3-Apr-2019 22:50

i got the s10, I was very annoyed by the curved screen until I put on a cradle then all my issues disappeared.

but wihthout a cradle or case it is very very annoying, as you keep touching the screen and activating something.

visually you get used to it and forget that it's curved. not sure if the cradle played a part, but i only accepted the visual once i slapped a cradle on - before that it was really annoying too.

IronH

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#2214025 9-Apr-2019 23:27

as with any glass phone it all depends how you look after it. my old s8 still looked like new up until I sold it and I've been using a super slim case and no screen protector. On the other hand, both my work mates who sit either side of me have both dropped their S8's while at work from desk height, both with thick cases and both suffered cracked glass, one on the front, the other on the back.

But to reiterate what others have said, S8 isn't a logical choice, you'd be better served getting a current generation phone than buying a 2yr old flagship, and as therk pointed out the current P30 deal is easily the best deal right now.

David321

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#2214050 10-Apr-2019 06:35

P30 does look like a good phone and Huawei are for sure stepping up their game and providing serious competition for Samsung and others. The only thing is I am not keen on the size of their phones, I like to be able to operate with one hand.

I was trying my luck going around different stores seeing if they would price match the parallel imported S9's that show up as the cheapest on price spy, they all said no except the second Noel Leeming store I tried who said they can, so rather than the S8 for $700 at PB Tech I got the S9 for the paralell import price of $835 from Noel Leeming which I am pretty happy with.

Have also got an Otterbox Defender case for it which provides a lot of protection, the curved screen is not so bad after 5 min test drive of the phone last night and I am sure it will grow on me.

_David_

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#2214051 10-Apr-2019 06:59

When it breaks get the s10e perfect size for you eh

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