Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) review: the world's first with four cameras. Samsung Galaxy S8 beats all smartphones in AnTuTu test Why so many cameras and how do they work
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge scored 134,599 points in AnTuTu
SM-G950 is presumably the model number of the Samsung Galaxy S8. A video that appeared on the Internet shows how the upcoming Samsung flagship scored a record 205,284 points in testing on the AnTuTu benchmark website. If this is indeed the case, then the Galaxy S8 is the smartphone that scored the most points in testing AnTuTu. He surpasses even Apple iPhone 7 with a score of 181,807 points. To the delight of many users of the most popular mobile OS, the most anticipated Android smartphone has set a performance record.
Among the Android smartphones existing today, the leader in AnTuTu testing results is considered to be the OnePlus 3T based on the Snapdragon 821 chipset, which scored 162,423 points. However, it is not surprising that more modern technologies ahead of those technical solutions that were used in the past.
Such a significant advantage over the OnePlus 3T in terms of AnTuTu scores is probably provided by the Galaxy S8's new generation chipsets. After all, this smartphone is based on Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895, depending on the version. Additionally, it is also noted that in other benchmarks the Galaxy S8 and S8+ also managed to prove themselves better than smartphones currently on the market.
Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 is a 2017 chipset with an eight-core CPU equipped with four 2.45 GHz cores and four more 1.9 GHz cores. In addition, this chipset also contains GPU Adreno 540.
It was reported back in December last year that the Apple A10 is slightly inferior to the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset, designed for flagship Android devices of the new technological season, in AnTuTu testing.
It is interesting to note how much the leaders' performance according to AnTuTu tests has increased over the year. Last spring, the top smartphones that scored the most points in this test as of the first quarter of 2016 were presented. The highest score was for Xiaomi Mi 5. It was 136,875 points. Second place then went to Samsung Galaxy 7 edge with a score of 134,599 points. Thus, the first two places in the ranking were taken by Android smartphones, leaving the iPhone 6s based on the Apple A9 (133,781 points) only in third place.
Even more noticeable progress is observed in comparison with the results of testing devices of the generation before last year. Samsung Galaxy S6 scored only 76,912 points in AnTuTu. iPhone 6 showed a remarkable result for its time - 83,364 points. The dynamics of growth in the productivity of smart phones over three years seems very obvious.
Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in New York on March 29, 2017. But this does not mean that the devices will immediately appear on sale. They can enter the market only on April 28 of this year. There are two possible reasons for delays in the announcement and market entry of new smartphones.
The first is that Samsung is double and triple checking everything in its new products to avoid a repeat of the Galaxy Note 7 situation. The second reason may be that both Samsung and Qualcomm are having difficulty producing their new chipsets manufactured in accordance with 10nm process technology. We are talking about the Exynos 8895 and Snapdragon 835, which will find use in Samsung’s 2017 flagship smartphones.
Do you consider the result of testing a smartphone in AnTuTu important for assessing its consumer qualities?
Based on materials from phonearena.com and theandroidsoul.com
There are only a few days left before the official presentation of the new generation of legendary flagship Samsung smartphones, so it is not surprising to see more and more new facts and leaks. Of course, there is still a debate between fans of Apple products and fans of Samsung gadgets: which is better? But one thing is worth recognizing: whether the flagship series from Samsung is the leader in this race or not, Galaxies have always remained leaders in the Android field. Indeed, despite the high cost, the same Samsung Galaxy S7 smartphone was considered the most powerful smartphone at the time of its announcement. As for photographic capabilities, it is still among the top leaders, despite the fact that the smartphone does not use a two-module camera, but one single module, albeit with high-quality high-aperture optics. But let’s return to the new product, which is about to become the most talked about on the market.
Performance
So, the key point of a flagship among a number of other competitors is performance. Of course, even geeks no longer look at Antutu scores, but the parameter exists and the next flagship galaxy simply cannot lose face. And so it happened! Record: Samsung Galaxy S8 beat all smartphones in the AnTuTu test and scored an impressive number of points, namely 205,284! To date, this is a record number among everything that is already available on the market.
The predecessor could boast 134,828 points, which is also quite a lot. And frankly speaking, this will be enough for another couple of years. It is unlikely that the gaming industry will advance that far in the near future; here, as always, we are talking about hardware outpacing software capabilities. But the fact remains: flagships are evolving, and it is impossible to stay at the very top of the world top without a performance race.
Of course, this could not have happened without the influence of Apple's competitor. So, until today the leader remained the iPhone 7 Plus, which scored 184,981 points in Antutu. And here the Galaxy S8 just can’t give in. After all, it is announced in the spring, which means it was simply impossible to give in to a competitor, especially one in the fall. Now let's get back to other "leaks".
What else has become known regarding iron?
Of course, leaks are leaks, and after release the characteristics may differ from information from dubious sources. Be that as it may, the essence is already clear - we should have a worthy continuation with a powerful filling. And here a powerful chip like Snapdragon 835 should probably be used. Or the branded Exinos 8895, which should work with 4 or 6 GB of RAM. In any case, it is obvious that the chip has not previously appeared on the market: such power would definitely attract attention.
Design and dimensions
According to the data received new Galaxy The S8 will be available in two versions. The first will receive 5.8, the second – 6.2 inches. It may well be, given that the basic version of many manufacturers usually has a smaller and larger diagonal counterpart. The same iPhone received an enlarged plus version in addition to the basic one. In any case, the displays will be curved. This was to be expected, given that the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge aroused considerable interest among users. Another thing is interesting: will there be non-curved versions? After all, the solution also has opponents: in particular, some users complain that in reality using a curved display is inconvenient in some cases, and it’s doubtful to watch movies. But let's return to the curved displays of the Galaxy S8: it is assumed that they will receive resolutions of 2560x1440 pixels and 2960x2400 pixels. These are incredible numbers for smartphones, yet the resolution race will not end soon, although in practice such a high pixel density is impossible to see with the naked eye.
Be that as it may, one thing is certain: both solutions will be made using AMOLED technology. It is also expected that they will receive technology that allows them to recognize the force of pressing, like the one already used by Apple users. And lastly, regarding the design: it is assumed that the display will receive curves similar to what we see in the LG G6. And for general ergonomics, the “home” button, which has already become iconic for the series, will disappear. The fingerprint scanner will move to the back.
They waited: manufacturers began to measure themselves not only by screen sizes, but also by the number of cameras. We had barely begun to get used to smartphones with three modules when Samsung released a gadget with four at once! What is this - marketing or a revolution in mobile photography? Let's examine the Korean novelty under a microscope.
Why are there so many cameras and how do they work?
When you pick up the A9 (2018), the first thing you want to do, of course, is try out the photo capabilities. Why are there four cameras and what is each responsible for?
- The first module is the main one. It received a resolution of 24 megapixels and high-aperture f/1.7 optics. Most often, the owner will take photos with this camera.
- The second is wide-angle. With a viewing angle of 120 degrees, 8 megapixel resolution and f/2.4 optics. It helps fit more objects into the frame.
- The third camera implements 2x optical zoom. It has a 10-megapixel sensor, and the telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture.
- The last 5 MP module is necessary for the “Live Focus” function - beautiful blurring of the background in portrait mode.
The idea is great. Theoretically, using specialized cameras, you can shoot from angles that were previously unattainable for many smartphones. It turns out such a universal combination of different focal lengths - like on lenses in SLR cameras.
The quality of shooting with the main module immediately shows that the smartphone belongs to the A-series - a mid-budget line. The A9 (2018) takes decent photos in good lighting. In cloudy weather and in the dark, it is clearly visible that digital noise appears and detail is lost, which would not hurt to increase the brightness.
A wide-angle camera often comes to the rescue and allows you to take amazing shots. The new product from Samsung included a simple module without autofocus. At poor lighting it is practically useless, but during the day it provides a beautiful 120-degree panorama.
The main question to Galaxy cameras A9 (2018): why was it necessary to install a fourth module to blur the background? Other devices, including the S9+ and Note9, use a telephoto lens for bokeh, which does an excellent job of measuring depth of field.
When shooting video, digital stabilization effectively eliminates the inevitable hand shake. The microphones record sound well. You can shoot beautiful videos up to Ultra HD (4K) resolution.
Too familiar design
Looking at the front side of the Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018), it’s easy to confuse it with other flagships of the brand. Most of all, it is similar to Note9, especially in its impressive dimensions. The difference is that the new product has a regular rather than curved screen. On the side there is also a separate Bixby button. After an accidental press in her pocket, she launches a proprietary Korean service, which does not really work in Russia. It helps that the key can be reassigned to another action by downloading a special application.
But from behind, the “nine” cannot be confused with anything - it has twice as many “pupils” as typical smartphones. Not everyone will like this design, but it definitely stands out from other devices. Place the A9 (2018) face down at a work meeting and your colleagues' attention will be guaranteed.
Opponents of the “unibrow” can breathe easy: Samsung is still conservative in this regard - it does not follow fashion, maintaining full-fledged frames at the top and bottom. However, they could be less. The Korean gadget looks truly gigantic when compared with the 6.3-inch displays of Chinese competitors. Time flies quickly, and by the end of 2018, models without bangs look a little old-fashioned. Especially against the backdrop of new products with drop-shaped cutouts for the front camera.
Good old Super AMOLED
The Galaxy A9 (2018) has almost the same matrix as the A8 (2018): with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9 and a resolution of 2220x1080 pixels. In terms of picture quality, this is a typical middling one with Super AMOLED, slightly inferior to the top options. Maximum brightness is not always enough under the sun, and under slight tilts the screen turns slightly green - a common property of AMOLED displays.
There are also advantages. The display conveys well White color. The overall color rendering has acquired more natural shades on standard settings, without the signature acidity that was present in the old ones Samsung models. In the screen parameters, you can experiment and select different display modes. There is a proprietary Always On-Display option, which constantly shows the time and missed notifications.
The processor is not top-end, but it handles games
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) received not the latest, but still powerful processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It definitely benefited the device.
“Nine” is one of the fastest models of the Korean brand: the shell flies, there are no annoying lags when scrolling Play Market, Instagram or Twitter. Even Bixby launches without the usual freezes during random swipes in the wrong direction on the desktop. A9 equipped with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB internal memory- this is more than the basic one Samsung versions Galaxy S9.
World of Tanks Blitz comes with maximum graphics, delivering a stable 60 fps. In PUBG on high settings- average 28 frames per second. In Antutu, the smartphone scores 138 thousand points - an excellent result.
Like most other current devices of 2018, the new Samsung product received face unlock. It's simple, without infrared sensor or iris scanner, works with front camera. It copes with its task tolerably only in good lighting. At dusk you will have to use the fingerprint scanner on the rear panel.
Autonomy
The combination of an economical Super AMOLED with a capacious 3800 mAh battery and an energy-efficient Qualcomm processor gives a full day of operation without recharging (5-6 hours of the screen on). When playing video, the device lasted almost 15 hours. In one hour of shooting in PUBG, the battery drained by 23%.
Specifications
Display 6.3” Super AMOLED, 2220×1080 pixels CPU chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, GPU Adreno 512 RAM and 6 GB storage128 GB + microSD Main camera high-aperture 24 MP + wide-angle 8 MP + telephoto 10 MP + bokeh 5 MP Battery 3800 mAh Bluetooth Features 5.0, NFC
Test results
ANTUTU ≈ 138,000 GEEKBENCH 4 1607 single-core5825 multi-core AUTONOMY over 4 hours of gaming
up to 15 hours of video playback
Results
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is a bold experiment by the Korean brand. The new product does not surprise with the quality of shooting; four cameras did not bring anything new - all the modes available to them are in gadgets with only three modules. It’s disappointing that the A9 (2018) does not have moisture protection, although it was equipped with the A8, which costs half as much. The manufacturer also removed support for MST and did not provide wireless charging.
Despite such disadvantages, A9 (2018) - good smartphone for those who do not plan to overpay for flagship model, but wants to get a decent gadget from a famous brand. The device works really fast thanks to the Qualcomm processor and 6 GB of RAM, holds the battery charge well, and the quality of the pictures will suit most users.
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Photos: Denis Plotnikov
The new Samsung Galaxy S8 was tested in such popular benchmarks as Geekbench and AnTuTu. The process involved a model with the Exynos 8895 chipset, and not the Snapdragon 835. A smartphone with a solution from Qualcomm will appear on the shelves of the American and Chinese markets when both Russian consumers receive a version with an Exynos 9 series processor.
In the AnTuTu benchmark, the Galaxy S8 scored 174,155 points, which is only 1045 points more than the iPhone 7 Plus, which topped the ranking of the most powerful smartphones since its release. In addition, the Exynos 8895 chipset outperformed the Snapdragon 821 (OnePlus 3T) by 10 thousand points. This chipset is used in many flagship Android devices, including the LG G6.
As for the Geekbench benchmark, the Samsung S8 was the undisputed leader in the multi-core test, scoring 6339 points. It has surpassed the Kirin 960 chipset which is used in Huawei smartphone P10 Plus. Single-core performance has improved, but not enough to leave the iPhone 7 Plus behind.
Yes, the results are strange, because, according to data leaked online, the S8 should have scored more than 200 thousand points. Perhaps the fact is that a bench sample was tested, which did not have the latest pre-installed software. We will definitely repeat the tests of the new flagships of the South Korean brand when they go on sale.
Technical characteristics of Galaxy S8/S8+. results Galaxy tests S8+ in Antutu and other benchmarks. Comparison of Galaxy with competitors in terms of speed.
The technical characteristics of the Galaxy S8 do not even allow us to doubt that the Korean will be very fast. Faster than its predecessor, faster than almost all the flagships of spring 2017 and most of last year’s smartphones. The intrigue is whether the Galactic can become the fastest smartphone on planet Earth in all categories, including graphics speed and processing power central processor?
The intrigue is really present, because in individual components the opponents are damn good and demonstrate outstanding abilities. For example, no one can compete with the A10 Fusion in GeekBench 4 single-core tests. In the same GeekBench, but in multitasking mode, phones from the Middle Kingdom with the Kirin 960 were in the lead, and their leadership until now was undeniable.
In terms of working with video and 3D graphics, the Galaxy S8 on Exynos 8895 will also meet strong competitors in the form of flagships with Snapdragon 820/821. The Adreno 530 graphics accelerator is very good, will it surpass the Mali-G71 found in the Galaxy S8 on Exynos?
In short, the Galaxy S8 test on Exynos 8895 (it was the E8895 version that GSMArena journalists tested) is of great interest in all respects. There are enough questions here that only Antutu, GFX 3.1 and GeekBench 4, supplemented by various variations of the BaseMark benchmark, can answer. Go!
Samsung Galaxy S8: chipset specifications
If technical Samsung specifications You are very familiar with the Galaxy S8, feel free to scroll down the article to the next subsection dedicated to the test results of the S8+ and comparison of the Galaxy S8+ with its competitors and predecessors. If the characteristics of the Galaxy S8/S8+ are interesting to you, look at the table and read the short summary of the Five-Inches editorial team immediately below the table.
In Europe, that is, here, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will be sold on the Exynos 8895 chipset, and in the USA, China and Japan, a version powered by Snapdragon 835 will hit the shelves. Both chipsets are produced using a 10 nm technological process and have 8 CPU cores .
The architecture of the Exynos 8895 and Snapdragon 835 processors is different, but the differences are not as significant as they might seem. Both chips are based on 4 reference Cortex A73 cores and 4 reference Cortex A53 cores.
The difference is that Qualcomm customized (modified) all 8 cores and renamed them Kryo 280 CPU. Samsung engineers changed only 4 cores of the fast cluster (Cortex A73) and renamed them Mongoose V2 (aka Exynos M2), and left the cluster of slow cores unchanged - these are 4 reference Cortex A53.
The result of these dances with tambourines were chips with two clusters operating on comparable clock speeds. In the Samsung Galaxy S8/S8+ on Exynos, the frequency of the fast cluster is limited to 2.3 GHz, and the energy-efficient one is limited to 1.7 GHz. Frequency characteristics of Galaxy S8 on S835: 2.4 GHz + 1.9 GHz. There are details in a special material. We recommend reading it, where we talk about the nuances that were left behind the scenes in this publication.
From technical characteristics Galaxy S8/S8+ remains to be called 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. The graphics accelerator of the Snapdragon 835 version is the promising Adreno 540, while the Galaxy S8 on the E8895 is powered by a 20-core Mali-G71 MP20 monster. And now, after a long, and for some, tedious, conversation about theory, let's move on to practice - the test results of the Galaxy S8+ in key benchmarks.
Galaxy S8+ tests in AnTuTu and other popular benchmarks
The guys from GSMArena tested the senior representative of the mini-line - Galaxy S8+ on the Exynos 8895 chipset, that is, exactly the version that is presented in our latitudes. Galaxy comparison S8+ with competitors does not always end in victory for the Galaxy, especially in graphics tests at the native display resolution, but in Antutu the Galaxy S8+ is ahead of the rest. But first things first.
Galaxy S8+ comparison in GeekBench 4: the new leader in multitasking
The computing power of the central processing unit (CPU) is assessed in the GeekBench 4 benchmark in two modes. In multitasking mode (multi-core), all processor cores work; in single-core mode, only one core is used. The latest test shows how smooth the operation will be operating system Android.
In GeekBench 4 multi-core, the Galaxy S8+ scored a record 6338 points and was ahead of even the traditional category leaders - smartphones based on the Kirin 960. The iPhone 7 Plus is behind, and the lag is significant. Note. Charts do not display correctly in Samsung Internet Browser, older browsers, and some built-in browsers mobile platforms. We recommend opening the publication in current builds Google Chrome, Opera or Firefox.
Comparison of Samsung Galaxy S8+ in GeekBench 4 (multi-core)
In single-core mode, things didn't go so well for the Eighth Galaxy - the new flagship is on par with the Huawei Mate 9 Pro, but lags behind the iPhone 7 Plus. However, although the CPU of smartphones from Cupertino leads in GeekBench 4 single-core by a wide margin, this does not prevent iPhones from “slowing down slightly.” When comparing the speed of operation, as they say, “by eye,” that is, when running applications at the same time, the seventh iPhone manages to lag behind much cheaper smartphones.
Galaxy S8+ tests in GeekBench 4 (single-core)
Let us add that earlier Samsung company conducted comparative testing of the S8 on Exynos and Snapdragon 835 in the GeekBench benchmark. The results of this comparison can be found in the article.
Galaxy S8+ in GFX 3.1 Manhattan and GFX 3.1 Car Scene: the triumph of Mali-G71
When testing the Galaxy S8+ graphics adapter in different versions The GFX 3.1 benchmark must be taken into account that with the native screen resolution, the video accelerator has to calculate 576,000 additional pixels. This is a lot, and it affects the results in onscreen tests.
Galaxy S8+ tests in GFX 3.1 Car Scene (onscreen)
Comparison of Galaxy S8+ in GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)
But when the standard Full HD resolution is turned on (offscreen mode), the Mali-G71 graphics adapter shows itself in all its glory and confidently outperforms its competitors, including the iPhone 7 Plus. In a sense, it really is a triumph.
Let's pay attention to the huge advantage of the Galaxy S8+ over Huawei flagships, which run on similar graphics. The enormous difference is explained by the configuration of the video card: while the Galaxy S8+ has a 20-core version of the Mali-G71 MP20, the Galaxy S8+ has an 8-core Mali-G71 MP8 adapter.
Galaxy S8+ tests in GFX 3.1 Car Scene (offscreen)
Comparison of Galaxy S8+ in GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)
Another benchmark for testing graphics performance, BaseMark ES 3.1/Metal, confirms the emerging balance of power. Comparing the Galaxy S8+ with its competitors invariably ends in an unconditional victory for the Galaxy. The only exception to this rule is the seventh iPhone Plus.
Galaxy S8+ tests in Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal
Comparison of Galaxy S8+ in AnTuTu and BaseMark OS 2.0: record 174070 points
And now about the results that many are most interested in - how much does the Galaxy S8+ score in AnTuTu? And he scores a record 174,070 points, thanks to which he beats everyone, and here without any exceptions. AND Chinese flagships, and the Cupertino miracle are left behind, although it must be admitted that the advantage over the iPhone 7 Plus is minimal. (Only the iPhone 7, which has an incomparably lower screen resolution, is higher.) Huawei’s flagships are losing heavily, but this is not surprising - in the comprehensive AnTuTu test, smartphones based on the Kirin 960 traditionally do not do well.