Coque Samsung S8 Led View Cover

Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Samsung Milky way S8 Plus: what's the deviation?

Samsung's ii new flagship phones, the Samsung Milky way S8 joined by the larger Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus – are now out in the wild.

But with the standard S8 as well sporting a curved screen, the differences between the two are less obvious than the differences between, say, the Milky way S7 and Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

So, to give y'all a clearest moving picture possible, we've created a breakup of the ways in which these two phones differ, and the things that are the same.

Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S8 review

Screen

While the Galaxy S7 Edge'south screen is very different to the Samsung Galaxy S7's past virtue of beingness curved, the same deviation isn't nowadays this year, as both the Samsung Milky way S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus accept a curved Infinity display – hence why the Border name has been ditched.

They also both utilize Super AMOLED technology, and they both have a widescreen 18.5:9 aspect ratio with a ane,440 x ii,960 resolution – which is an upgrade on the 1,440 x ii,560 screen on last year's handsets.

So, as you lot've probably guessed, information technology's the size that'due south the real difference, as the Samsung Milky way S8 has a 5.eight-inch display, while the Samsung Milky way S8 Plus has a vi.2-inch i.

It'south worth noting that this ways the screen on the S8 Plus is less abrupt with fewer pixels per inch, just it'south not a difference you lot're likely to discover much at all.

Read our in-depth Samsung Milky way S8 Plus review

Design

The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus have an almost identical design, with a glass back, a metal frame and tiny bezels above and beneath the screen.

There is no physical home button on either phone and the fingerprint scanner has been relocated to the back next to the camera. Both the S8 and S8 Plus are as well water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating.

The differences, once again, are related to their size. The Samsung Galaxy S8 is 148.9 x 68 x 8mm, while the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is 159 x 74 x 8mm, meaning they're the same thickness, but the S8 Plus is significantly longer and a scrap wider.

These dimensions make the S8 Plus a phablet-sized telephone, and even the standard S8 slightly on the large side, only neither is as big as you might expect given their screen sizes.

By almost eliminating the bezel, Samsung has managed to brand the standard Samsung Galaxy S8 smaller than the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, while the Samsung Milky way S8 Plus is a like size overall to the iPhone seven Plus. It's a pretty remarkable accomplishment.

Of course, the S8 Plus is heavier than the S8 as well every bit being larger, but information technology shouldn't weigh you downwardly too much.

Os and ability

There's no departure here between the devices, but there are different versions of the phone set to release in sure regions effectually the world.

Both handsets have 4GB of RAM, simply the chipset may differ depending on where yous are. In the U.s.a., your phone will have the Snapdragon 835, and elsewhere, you'll be running the Samsung-made Exynos 8895.

Exynos chipsets have a reputation for beating Qualcomm's each still, just either way, you're still getting a cutting-edge octa-core chipset that's more than capable at chewing through current and time to come apps and games.

Both the Samsung Milky way S8 Plus and the standard Samsung Milky way S8 also run Android Nougat, overlaid with Samsung's TouchWiz UI.

Camera

This too is the aforementioned for both phones, and also something which isn't much different to final year's, with a 12MP single-lens snapper on both the S8 and S8 Plus – just like the S7 and S7 Edge had.

But the front-facing camera has at least been upgraded, with both handsets getting an 8MP 1, where the S7 range has a 5MP 1. Of class megapixels aren't everything, only we came abroad impressed as expected with the results. Our reviews showcase the results of both cameras in various environments and lighting conditions.

Battery

Other than the screen, the battery is the biggest difference between the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Milky way S8 Plus, equally Samsung is using the extra space inside the S8 Plus to pack in a 3,500mAh juice pack, while the standard Galaxy S8 has just a iii,000mAh one.

Information technology'southward worth noting that neither size is massive, specially given the size of the phones they're powering. The S8'southward is the same size every bit the S7's, and the battery in the S8 Plus is actually marginally smaller than the 3,600mAh ane in the Galaxy S7 Edge.

That may sound like a worry for those who desire multi-twenty-four hours performance, just information technology's a determination that was likely made to avoid risking another Note 7-like catastrophe.

Plus, cheers to the more than ability-efficient chipsets found inside of each phone, we were impressed with their efficiency. Both phones didn't take an outcome reaching the day-and-a-half milestone while utilizing some of the built-in battery saving functions.

Both handsets as well back up fast charging via a USB Type-C port.

Price

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is going to cost $720 (£689, AU$1,349) SIM-free, which makes it one of the almost expensive phones money can purchase.

While the Milky way S8 Plus costs $825 (£779.99, AU$1,349) if you desire to buy it correct now, so you'll exist spending quite a bit of extra money on the larger Samsung.

Takeaway

In that location'due south not a huge amount of difference between the Samsung Milky way S8 and the Samsung Milky way S8 Plus. Where previously Samsung differentiated largely based on the presence or absence of a curved screen, now all models accept curves.

You also can't really call back of ane equally beingness a phablet while the other ane is a 'normal' handset, as with even the standard Milky way S8 coming in at v.eight inches both of them are phablet-sized.

But at 6.2 inches the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is still significantly larger, and the bigger bombardment might give it longer life.

Otherwise, there looks to exist little to cull between them, with the Galaxy S8 having a slightly sharper screen and more manageable dimensions, but the Galaxy S8 Plus being a better bet for real phablet fans. And so, which is your pick?

Check out our newly revamped list of the all-time phones?

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything 'smart', from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera Globe, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on Tv.