The Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 7 are often compared as two flagship models for both Samsung and Apple around the same generation. They were released just half a year apart; the Galaxy S8 is the more recent model released in April 2017 compared to the iPhone 7 released in September 2016. How do these two phones compare? Let’s dive in:

Camera

The Galaxy S8 comes out a good bit ahead in camera quality over the iPhone 7 despite both having a 8MP camera.The difference comes through with the resolution where the Galaxy S8 has 1440 x 2960 px compared to 750 x 1334 on the iPhone 7. Definitely a difference worth considering if you’re looking for an older smartphone model with a decent camera.

Battery

The battery life is also better much improved on the S8, which boasts 3000mAh compared to 1960 mAh on the iPhone 7. For an average user, that might add up to about 4 more hours of daily use on a full charge on the Galaxy S8 and 5 generations later, this battery capacity isn’t far off from the 3,700 mAh capacity found on the Galaxy S22.

Display

Once again, the Galaxy S8 comes out ahead in terms of display screen size. The S8 is more than a full inch in diameter bigger than the iPhone 7 at 5.8 inches compared to 4.7 inches. While some people may prefer a smaller screen regardless, it’s also worth noting that the S8 is also lighter despite having a bigger display, at 151g compared to 138g for the iPhone 7. 

Storage Options

Here’s one category that you’ll actually find the iPhone 7 has a leg up over the Galaxy S8. The iPhone 7 has more storage capacity, with an option to upgrade to up to 256 GB. The Galaxy S8 only offers a model up to 128 GB, so if you find yourself needing extra storage for videos, photos and other downloads, then you’ll want to go with the iPhone 7.

Processor

In terms of chipset and processor speed, both phones have 8 cores, but Samsung's Exynos 8895 processor is faster than Apple's A10 Fusion chip. The Galaxy S8 also runs on almost double the RAM as iPhone 7, so you’ll likely have a smoother experience when multitasking and switching between apps.

Overall, you’ll likely have a better experience with the Galaxy S8 as it improves on a lot of what was offered on the iPhone 7. Specs aside, you’ll probably find the Samsung phone to be a little more affordable despite being the better phone. Whichever you decide, since these phones are several generations old, make sure you’re buying one that has been properly refurbished from a certified site like Back Market!