This blog post is sponsored by . All opinions are my own.
Every now and then I get a bit of an itch to roam outside my marriage and experiment a little.
Before you go warning my husband: I’m talking about the marriage between me and my “Digital Significant Other,” AKA my current phone. Let’s just say that my current phone is not an Android, and it’s not a Samsung, and that straying from that union feels a bit foreign. But also kind of titillating, since Samsung has been absolutely killing it with their product features and design lately, and the Android OS has also become cleaner, chicer and more intuitive to interact with.
So when I got the chance to flirt with a new it felt a bit naughty, but I jumped at the chance. When I test a phone like this I usually stop using my current phone for a while, so I can really feel what it’s like to be in the relationship full-time.
I run most of my life in Google’s cloud apps (Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, etc.), so it really doesn’t take me too long to start dabbling with a new phone. . was easy to get set-up; I left my old phone on my desk and my new love interest and I hopped into the car.
Our first stop? Meet the family at the in Los Angeles, where all of Samsung’s latest and greatest products were on display. Earbuds, a 360º camera, computing docks, portable batteries and more were all full of fantastic features (and what Samsung’s voice assistant, Bixby, is doing is really exciting), but the beautiful designs took me by surprise.
The Samsung Studio was so interactive, and had such fun experiences, like a virtual reality romp, as well as a stationary bike ride to show off the Samsung fitness app and watch. My favorite was the 360º camera demo, in which I had to enter a chamber surrounded by floating confetti, dance like an idiot with a camera in my hand and then marvel at the virtual reality movie I made.
As I toured the Pop-Up Studio, in hand, I learned more about its features; as the week went on, I came to appreciate them. Below are a few of the stand outs.
Nice Body
The first thing that struck me about the phone is its crisp Infinity Display— it spills over the edge to give you a really immersive image, which is especially dramatic when you’re streaming content or watching movies.
Movies, photos, or anything else you’re viewing, look fantastic thanks to the 6.2” display. It’s a bit (ahem) larger than my phone, but still feels great to hold in hand thanks to its slimmer body. I guess size does matter (yes, we’re still talking about a phone).
It doesn’t keep me waiting
The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ comes with a traditional cable and brick charger, but the fast-charge wireless dock is a worthy upgrade. Not only was it easy to drop on for a fast charge (no connections necessary), but the upright design kept the phone at a nice angle on my desk so I could see it without hunching over.
Rugged Physique
If you can survive a week in my purse, jostling around with headphones, keys, water bottles, lip balm and various other gadgets, you’re man enough to be my smartphone. If the Galaxy S8+ was suffering in the depths of my tote, it didn’t show it in the form of any scratches or scuffs, and it was comforting to know that it’s dust and water resistant when I took it to the beach this weekend, or was scrolling Pinterest poolside in my backyard.
Makes Me Look Good
One of the things I loved most about the was the camera. It made me look way better than I should with its 8mp front-facing selfie camera. The 12mp rear-facing camera performed especially well in low light, yielding a warm, DSLR-like result (the picture below was taken with the Galaxy S8+, though it looks more like a fancy camera snap).
Only has eyes for me
The Galaxy S8+ can be set to unlock for my eyes only (literally). The iris scan feels very Minority Report, but also a little flirty; gazing into this device several times a day made me feel like my data was being safely guarded by a trusted partner who wasn’t embarrassed when I gave him a long stare. You can set it up to unlock with your fingerprint as well, or a more traditional password.
My week with the was easy and fun and satisfied my itch to try hanging out with a different phone for a while. I love the design and appreciated its features, making me a little less sure that there’s only one device out there for me. Who knows what the future might bring for me and my current “Digital Significant Other”?
What do you think of the Galaxy S8 and S8+? If you don’t already have one, does it seem like the kind of smartphone you’d leave your main squeeze for?
Be sure to check out the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ and all the other new tech goodies at the Samsung Studio Pop-Up in your city – to see all the locations!
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Photographs by Bree McCcool
