We got our hands on a pre-sale unit of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. And so, we bring you our first impressions and hands-on photos. Our conclusion: the S8 is a drool-worthy, drop-dead gorgeous smartphone. But we know you want the full gist; don’t you? Enjoy our Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on review and photos.

Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on Review: Curved screen
The display is curved at the edges just like on the LG G6. Aspect ratio of the display makes the S8 very handy. Even though the display is 5.8 inches large, I am able to reach sides of the screen easily. But then, I’ve got big hands. The hardware Home button that Samsung smartphones are known for is finally gone. The front of the S8 is an all-glass affair. Samsung calls this the ‘Infinity Display’.

Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on Review: Software and User Interface
The OS and user interface look refined. Maybe it’s an illusion of the screen and aspect ratio. Maybe not. But there are no major leaps here. There is no app button on the S8: no on-screen button for opening the app drawer. You swipe up like on Pixel devices – or swipe down to access the app drawer.

There are also no signs (like the small arrow beyond the dock app on the Pixel) on the home screen to indicate what screen you are on. That is a cosmetic gripe for me. Samsung’s virtual assistant, Bixby has a dedicated hardware button on the left side of the phone for easy access. Unfortunately, I can’t say much about it till it is fully operational when the S8 starts shipping. It appears promising, but I question how much traction it will gain against Google Assistant.

Everything appears to be fast and responsive. But how the software holds up after intensive use remains to be seen.

See the rest of our Samsung Galaxy S8 hands-on review and photos on Mobility Arena.