If you’ve been waiting to talk into a retail store to buy a Samsung G8 or G8+ and walk out with one immediately, your wait is over.
News.com.au provocatively entitled its article commenting on today’s launch as “No one lined up for the new Samsung, but that doesn’t mean the device isn’t a huge hit”, comparing the long queues at Apple Stores for iPhone launches, compared with Samsung’s strategy of heavily pushing pre-orders.
Indeed, those who pre-ordered during the pre-order period, which has now expired, were rewarded with a free Gear VR headset designed for the new S8 and S8+ models, complete with Wii-like motion control wand and physical controller, a strategy that Samsung has employed with some of its previous flagship models.
Still, all good pre-order periods must come to and end, and so now, the retail battle starts, not only at Samsung’s own flagship "Experience" stores and kiosks at various locations around Australia, but also in other telcos and stores.
{loadposition alex08}It will mean the end of hearing Bing Lee commercials spruiking the S8 and S8+, but only being able to say that purchases can happen "soon", for the retail race has begun on a nationwide basis.
Samsung touts its flagship Galaxy S8 and S8+ as delivering "a range of incredible features" for its smartphone category, including:
- Super AMOLED Infinity Display for an incredible and immersive viewing experience
- Beautifully crafted and seamless metal and glass design
- IP68 Water and Dust resistance
- "Fantastic" premium camera for great low-light, zoom and anti-blur photos
- Access to virtual reality through Samsung Gear VR (sold separately)
- Samsung Pay digital wallet (for CitiBank, American Express, and Westpac customers
- Samsung DeX that provides a secure desktop-like experience (sold separately)
- Both devices available in Midnight Black, Orchid Grey and Maple Gold.
The Galaxy S8 has an RRP of $1199, while the Galaxy S8+ has an RRP of $1349.
Several articles published at iTWire on the S8 and S8+ are listed below two Samsung-supplied videos that follow.
The first is B-Roll vision of the S8 and S8+, with an interview by Samsung Australia Mobile vice-president Richard Fink towards the end where audio can be heard:
The second is video from the Samsung Unpacked event in New York, also featuring an interview with Fink:
iTWire's Ray Shaw has published several articles on both Galaxy S8 models.
These are as follows:
- Samsung S8/+ – goes beyond any known Galaxy (review)
- Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ teardown
- tech21 protects Samsung S8/+ (review)
- Samsung’s Galaxy S8+ – tall, slim and talented
- Samsung’s Galaxy S8 leads the Android pack (first look)
- Samsung adds DeX to Bixby in quest for S8 dominance
- Samsung readies Galaxy S8 – launch 29 March New York (leaked images)
Articles I’ve written that include information on the S8 and S8+ are as follows:
- Samsung Bixby: Voice control feature on Galaxy S8 and S8+ not available in US at launch
- Telstra proclaims Galaxy S8/+ first 4G Blue Tick handsets - UPDATE
- iPhone 7 camera: verging on falling behind S8, Pixel and G6?
- Samsung S8 ‘red tint’, Wi-Fi, DQA and S8/+ wireless charging issues
- VIDEO: iPhone 7 blitzes Samsung S8, LG G6, Google Pixel and OnePlus 3T in most tests