The Samsung Galaxy S8 is officially out of the bag, and it's one of the most powerful smartphones of 2017, rocking top-notch specs and features all around.
The latest Samsung flagship is bound to go head-to-head with other high-end smartphones racing for the top spot, so let's see how it stacks up against Apple's iPhone 7 from last year and the recently released LG G6.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Display
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is the largest of the three, boasting a sleek 5.8-inch curved display with a high resolution of 2,960 x 1,440 pixels at a pixel density of 570 pixels per inch.
The LG G6 comes in second, sporting a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels at a pixel density of 565 ppi.
The iPhone 7, meanwhile, has a 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels at 326 ppi, albeit it does have a wide color gamut working in its favor.
In this round, the Galaxy S8 takes the cake not only because it boasts the highest resolution and pixel density, which should translate to exquisite visuals, but also because it's gorgeous curved screen also has incredibly thin bezels and extra edge functionality.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Processor And RAM
Under the hood, the Galaxy S8 comes gunning with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor in the United States or the Exynos 8895 in other markets. Benchmarks have shown fierce performance from both processors, and the Galaxy S8 definitely packs plenty of oomph.
The LG G6 packs the older Snapdragon 821, which still packs a punch, but it's undoubtedly not as strong as the Snapdragon 835. Nevertheless, the LG G6 still delivers a great performance and can quickly handle virtually any task. Both the Galaxy S8 and the LG G6 come with 4 GB of RAM, ensuring a fast and smooth performance.
The iPhone 7 comes with an Apple A10 Fusion processor capable of great performance, and it works really great with iOS 10 to ensure a speedy experience with no hiccups. On the downside, the iPhone 7 has half the RAM of the Galaxy S8 and the LG G6, as it only comes with 2 GB of RAM. To be fair, however, iOS doesn't seem to suck up as much RAM as Android does, so the iPhone 7 can still move fast even with 2 GB of RAM.
Nevertheless, the Galaxy S8 still emerges as the winner in this category, as it packs the best combo of processor and RAM.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Storage Options
The Samsung Galaxy S8 comes in a single configuration with 64 GB of native storage space, expandable via microSD.
The LG G6 comes with 32 GB of native storage expandable via microSD, while the iPhone 7 comes in 32 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB storage configurations, non-expandable.
In this category, the iPhone 7 rules the game since it has multiple storage options to accommodate different needs. It's a small win, however, since the Galaxy S8 and LG G6 can make up for their lack of diversity in native storage through their microSD card slots for additional memory.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Battery
Battery life and performance can make or break a device, and both Samsung and Apple had some issues in this department. Samsung notoriously struggled with exploding batteries on its Galaxy Note 7, but it learned from its mistakes, and the Galaxy S8 should be safe to use without fire hazards. Apple had its own share of battery issues late last year, with iPhone users complaining about unexpected shutdowns and a 30 percent battery bug, but the iPhone 7 is not among the ones affected.
That said, looking at the capacity of the battery, the Galaxy S8 has a 3,000 mAh unit, the LG G6 sports a large 3,300 mAh battery, while the iPhone 7 has a 1,960 mAh battery.
The LG G6 should deliver the best battery performance of the bunch, but the Galaxy S8 should not be far behind. Both the LG G6 and the Galaxy S8 support fast charging and wireless charging, whereas the iPhone 7 does not.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S8 features a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front shooter, but no dual-camera layout as some older rumors had suggested.
The LG G6 boasts a dual rear camera layout comprised of two 13-megapixel cameras — one normal and one ultrawide — and sports a 5-megapixel selfie cam on the front.
The iPhone 7 has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7-megapixel front shooter for FaceTime and selfies.
On paper, the LG G6 seems like the most-equipped to take high-quality photos with its two rear cameras, but it's tough to determine for sure without some extensive camera tests comparing the results. On that note, the LG G6 might be the winner of this category, but it's too early to tell.
Samsung Galaxy S8 vs iPhone 7 vs LG G6: Miscellaneous
When it comes to other aspects, the Galaxy S8 has a number of tricks up its sleeve to trump its competition. The latest Samsung flagship has a new virtual assistant called Bixby, which might give Apple's Siri a run for its money. The Galaxy S8 also rocks an iris scanner, a large curved display, a dedicated Bixby key, a slew of sensors, and a pair of premium AKG headphones to boot.
On the other hand, pricing is also an essential aspect contributing to one's decision to buy one smartphone over another, and the Galaxy S8 is not the cheapest of the bunch. The Samsung Galaxy S8 starts at $720 on Verizon and roughly $750 on other carriers, while the iPhone 7 and LG G6 start at $649. However, it's worth pointing out that the starting price of the iPhone 7 and the LG G6 is for 32 GB of native storage, while the more expensive Galaxy S8 has 64 GB of storage.
We haven't included operating systems in this comparison because this area is more of a personal preference in the Android vs. iOS battle. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and the LG G6 run Android 7.0 Nougat, while the iPhone 7 runs iOS 10.
Bottom line, while all three smartphones are true powerhouses able to deliver great performance, the Samsung Galaxy S8 boasts the most advanced specs and features that might just be the winning recipe.
