A lot of people have been telling me that the Samsung Galaxy A8 is an overpriced device that isn’t going to sell. And I can’t really deny that possibility. Even so, on using the device for the few minutes I did, I actually liked it. The metal build on this 5.7 inch FHD monster (size-wise) is quite nice and feels really premium, even more so than the Galaxy S6. I never really cared for the glass back on that device to be honest. My real problem with Samsung has always been the rounded design it uses, but somehow, it seems to work on the Galaxy A8.
With its 5.7 inch FHD display, the Galaxy A8 is a monster sized device.
The phone is huge and quite heavy and unwieldy, but I’m fast coming to the realization that OEMs are going to force these huge devices in our hands eventually, and majority of the users won’t really mind it. Seriously, in a recent visit to Shanghai, all the Android devices I saw people using were phablets, the type that little old me really doesn’t like. But I digress.
Coming back to the Galaxy A8, while it is ergonomically challenged, the phone’s chamfered edges make a difference that I quite like. The chamfering is on the lower part of the edges rather than towards the screen as is usual in most smartphones. It makes a very small difference in terms of the comfort of using this device, but it ensures that you feel all the metal Samsung has put on it. It’s almost like the company is making a statement after the criticism it has taken for its non-metal devices earlier. All this also complements the fact that the phone is only 5.9 mm thick very well.
The Galaxy A8 has a full metal build, following Samsung's newfound love for metal phones.
I personally won’t buy the phone, simply because of how big it is, but I can see phablet buyers loving this device. Sadly though, I can’t be sure of the phone’s performance yet. When Samsung said it has put in an Exynos processor onto this, for a second, I hoped, rather half-heartedly, that it would be a downclocked version of the Exynos 7 Octa, or some other new Exynos Samsung has cooked up using its 14nm process for its lower end smartphones. Unfortunately though, it’s the Exynos 5 Octa, the same processor that powered the Samsung Galaxy S5. Interestingly, that phone, being outdated and criticized, is currently selling for a mere Rs. 22,999 online.
The edges, chamfered towards the lower side of the phone.
My problem with the Exynos 5 is different though. I can see this processor holding its own against competitors for the time being, but just for a while. The new generation is coming in, in a specs war, the Exynos 5 is sure to be outclassed very soon. In fact, it already is, by the OnePlus 2, which starts selling in a matter of days now.
Samsung Galaxy A8 Full Specs
Display: 5.7 inch 1080p Super AMOLED
Processor: Exynos 5 Octa
Battery: 3,050 mAh
RAM: 2GB
Storage: 32GB, expandable to 128GB
Operating System: Android 5.1.1 with Touchwiz UI
That’s just where the pricing concerns come in. At Rs. 32,500, it’s just a matter of time before the competitors outclass this device. In fact, if Motorola happens to bring the Moto X Style and Play to India anytime soon, the Galaxy A8 is done for already. Nevertheless, for the time being, the Galaxy A8 can actually make some claims on the market, especially considering that you’ll see it in both retail and online outlets. It’s just a far wider reach than competitors have right now.
If the processor was a problem though, I have a much bigger qualm with the Galaxy A8, and that is its camera. On paper, it’s a 16MP shooter on the back, but come on Samsung, you’ve been known to do so much better. While I of course haven’t tested the camera enough, on first impressions, it seems rather mediocre, especially considering the high standards that Samsung has set for itself over the years.
The 16MP camera on the back is a disappointment by Samsung standards.
So, to sum up, while I do like the Samsung Galaxy A8 on first impressions, I also think it’ll be a phone with a very short life cycle. It’s a matter of time before competitors offer something much more, that’ll be enough to overlook the premium build of this smartphone. What I would say though is that with Samsung’s recent history, it could have a whole different plan in place here.
Black, Gold and White, the three colours Samsung is offering on the phone.
The company cut the prices of the Galaxy S6 almost within a month of launching it, and recent reports suggest it might be planning another price cut. With the Galaxy S6 currently available at around 38k online, it anyway cannibalizes the sales of the Galaxy A8. Together, these two things lead me to believe that the Galaxy A8 is poised for a price cut soon. If so, it doesn’t matter whether you love Samsung or hate it, the Galaxy A8 will make a much better argument in a sub-30k price bracket.