SAMSUNG'S GOT A HEAD START

The Samsung Galaxy S8 is without a doubt the most beautiful, polished phone I've ever held. These words were true when I first reviewed it in April, and are still true a month on. I do have some additional insights since then -- scroll down a bit for those.

OK, so the S8 is pretty. But it's also the most important Samsung phone right now, at least until the Galaxy Note 8 comes along. It's been helping restore buyers' confidence after the double Note 7 battery disaster(the S8's apparently selling like hotcak), and it's a chance to cement the Samsung name as the top Android brand against upcoming rivals: the pure Android Google "Pixel 2" squeezable HTC U11 and cut-price OnePlus 5 . It helps that soon, you'll be able to use the Galaxy S8 in Google's Daydream heads

What makes the Galaxy S8 so special is this: A tall, narrow shape that fits snugly in my palm and curved sides that scream "classy." And the screen? 5.8 inches of colorful gorgeousness with a display that stretches from edge to edge with just a whisper of a bezel. For its looks alone, Samsung's flashiest phone lands at the top of the class. Trust me, when you see the S8 and larger, pricier S8 Plus, you're gonna want to put your hands all over them.

I did everything with these two phones at home, in the office, around town and at the beach. I took scores of photos and videos, watched tons of YouTube and Netflix movies, chatted my fingers off. I sat on them in my back pocket (no Bendgate yet). I've unlocked these things 100 times in four different ways (fingerprint, eyes, face, PIN). So I'm confident pointing out the S8's problems -- because, let's be real, there's always somethin

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which you can call up from any screen (and tweak the tab location so it's easy for you to grab). You can add a lot of panes in the settings, but I like it best when kept to two -- otherwise you waste time trying to find what you're looking for.

So far, the battery has made the S8 warm, like most phones get, but not dangerously hot. Hopefully Samsung's new eight-point battery test has done its job keeping all future handsets combustion-free, unlike the poor Note 7. The battery reserves have lasted a good, long time (but I'm keeping an eye on idle drain as the months march on). Overalit's zippier than the Galaxy S7, but not so much better at its core that S7 owners should dash to upgrade.

What you really need to know is that the S8 is an extremely fast, highly competent, visually stunning device that you'll probably want to use with a case. Yes, this will hide most of its beautiful lines. Tough luck: It's just too costly and pretty to risk dropping.

And the Galaxy S8 is expensive. At $750, £689 or AU$1,199, you want to know that your phone is going to go the distance, and that you won't regret getting something 
cheaper -- like the midrange but awesome-for-what-it-is OnePlus 3T (which is being phased out in preparation of the OnePlus 5, so hurry if you want one) -- or holding out for the next iPhone, Google Pixel or Note 8, each of which should debut in the next four to six months.

So long as you aren't hanging all your hopes on work-in-progress Bixby (Google 
Assistant is an easy alternative to invoke) and have the patience of a saint when unlocking the phone, the Galaxy S8 is a sound buy that will make your friends jealous of its tall, curved, crazy-elegant screen. If you're serious about buying, I'd 
make a special trip to test out the fingerprint reader before taking the plunge. And if your current phone isn't yet on its last legs, it doesn't hurt to wait and see how the S8's battery continues to fare in the wild. So far, though, it appears to be incident-free.

What I've noticed since my initial review

• A case helps make the fingerprint reader easier to hit, but there are a lot of false scans compared to the Google Pixel and Huawei phones like the P10, Honor 8, etc.
• Top-level controls in the native camera app's manual mode are easy to access, so that's good 
• The sides of some games and apps cut off when you go full-screen (Clash of Clans is one example)
• I'm not loving the jerky scrolling on the Recents tab 
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• If you use a third-party app to remap the Bixby button (like Bixby Remapper), you might notice lag using it
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All-new design is thumbs-up

Not to be dramatic, but the Galaxy S8 really is a feast for the eyes. It adopts a new dimension -- 18.5:9 (that's almost 2:1 like the LG G6($451.99 at Amazon.com)) -- which means that it's tall and narrow. That makes it easier to use one-handed. Extremely slim bezels mean there's much more screen stuffed into the shape: 83 percent of the phone's face is all yours for tapping and viewing. The S8 is almost the exact same height as the G6, but those curved sides make the S8 feel narrower, slimmer and, in truth, much more vulnerable.

was extremely nervous I'd drop it. It almost seems more like a museum piece than a tool I'm going to use every day. I've had a couple close calls so far, but it hasn't 

smashed to the ground yet. When it inevitably does, because butterfingers, I have a feeling those rounded edges will be easier to crack than a device with straight sides. I can't say for sure, but the bigger problem may be the glass back.

Oh, one more thing about the screen. It's a very high-resolution, 2,960x1,440-pixel display, and that makes text, images and video absolutely pop, even in direct sunlight. You should know, though, that the off-standard dimension means you'll have to either be cool with black bars on the sides of videos you play (called pillarboxing), or you'll need to tap a screen control to crop-to-fit. In some videos, doing so reduced image quality. At other times, it looked just as good.

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In addition, there's a pro mode and a heap of editing tools that really let you fine-tune colors, brightness and tone. If the camera recognizes a face, it'll offer up a Portrait editing option, which lets you blur the background to approximate the same kind of bokeh effect you can get from the iPhone 7 Plus($869.00 at Apple ' second camera lens. Result: enthusiastic overblurring that might cut off an arm or wipe out the background if you overdo it.

A word on the single-versus-double camera lens. Apple, LG and Huawei have phones with two lenses on the back. These, respectively, help achieve portraits with that cool, blurred effect I just mentioned, get wide-angle shots or take crisp black-and-white images. By sticking with a camera that's similar to last year's model, the Galaxy S8 can't do any of that as well as competitors. (I have high hopes for the Note 8 doubling down on cameras.)

Videos shoot by default in 1080p HD, but you can uplevel to quad HD (1440p). If you do, you'll lose a few features and effects, including video stabilization. You'll have hyperlapse and slow-mo modes for extra video fun.Battery life is very good, and still no overheating problems so farThe million-dollar question: Is the Galaxy S8 battery safe? We haven't heard reports of overheating so far. I sure hopeSamsung's eight-point safety check will keep the S8 and other future phones from the Note 7's fiery fate.

Everything else you need to know about the Galaxy S8

• The glass body is super reflective and smudgy as hell (tradition!)
• It runs Android 7.0 Nougat under custom Samsung software
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• Don't expect an Android O update right away when the new OS is ready to go (based on past experience, it could take six months)
• A cleaner Samsung interface comes with nice changes: swipe up on the home screen to see apps, touch and hold an app icon for more options
• Audio sounded tinny pumped through the main speakers
• Songs and video sounded rich through the included earbuds -- great for in-box headphones
• Very fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor (tested)
• Some regions come with Samsung Exynos processor instead
• Support for Gigabit-class LTE, when available with carriers (aka Category 16 LTE)
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• Water-resistant IP68 body up to 3 feet of water and up to 30 minutes (it survived a dunk in a bucket -- a foot of water -- for 28 minutes)
• More convenient one-handed operation than S7
• Bluetooth Dual Audio lets you connect to two Bluetooth devices, like wireless headsets
• Colors: midnight black, orchid gray, arctic silver, maple gold, coral blue (varies by region)
• Will work with Samsung DeX accessory, )cameras, Samsung 
• Gear VR

Wirelessly charging won't be as speedy as wired, but it sure is convenient for top-ups.

Samsung recalls Galaxy Note 7 worldwide due to exploding battery fears

Samsung has announced an unprecedented recall of the Galaxy Note 7 just weeks after launching the well-received smartphone. Sales have been halted globally, and over the coming weeks Samsung will issue replacements to anyone affected. The issue is related to the phone's battery, with some scattered reports that the cell can explode while charging; Samsung says 35 Note 7 handsets have been found with the issue, or 24 per million sold.

Korean news agency Yonhap first reported that Samsung was preparing the recall yesterday, and a spokesperson later confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that sales had been halted in the company's native country of South Korea. Yonhap said that Samsung was in discussions with carriers including Verizon Wireless regarding how to handle the recall process.

INCIDENT COMES AS SAMSUNG MOBILE WAS BUILDING MOMENTUM

According to an unnamed Samsung official that spoke earlier to Yonhap, the vast majority of Note 7 phones should be unaffected, despite the sweeping recall. "Products installed with the problematic battery account for less than 0.1 percent of the entire volume sold," said the official. "The problem can be simply resolved by changing the battery, but we'll come up with convincing measures for our consumers."

The incident comes at a time when Samsung was just starting to build up momentum after years of slipping profits. The critically acclaimed Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge helped turn around the mobile division's earnings in the first half of this year, and the Galaxy Note 7 was no less well received upon its launch last month.

Details of how the recall program will work in each market are to follow later

Nexus 6P vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 5

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 the features and specs of the Google/Huawei Nexus 6P (left) and Samsung Galaxy Note 5

After Google took screen size to the extreme in last year's Nexus 6, the company pulled things back a bit with the new 5.7-inch Nexus 6P. That happens to be the same size as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5; let's see how the two compare.

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Size

Despite those identical screen sizes, the Nexus 6P is 4 percent taller and 3 percent wider.

Both handsets are pretty thin, but the Nexus 6P comes out 4 percent thinner.

Weight

Neither phone is unusually heavy for its size, but the Galaxy Note 5 is 4 percent lighter.

Build (back)

This is where the Nexus 6P gets its "P" (that stands for "premium), as it has an aluminum unibody design. The only exception is that glass bar sitting up by its rear camera.

The Note 5's back is made of Gorilla Glass 4, which is stronger than you might expect.

Build (frame)

Move around to the sides, and the Galaxy Note 5 joins the Nexus in having an aluminum frame.

Colors

These are the color options you can choose from for each phone.

Display size

As we already mentioned, we're looking at 5.7-inch screens on both devices. For a frame of reference, both are 7 percent bigger than the iPhone 6s Plus' screen.

Display resolution

The Nexus 6P and Note 5 also have the same razor-sharp 1,440p resolution.

Display type

It's three for three on the key display specs, as both use AMOLED panels.

Stylus

Samsung's S Pen has always been a big part of the Galaxy Note experience. In addition to giving you an extra sense of precision when doing regular smartphone stuff, Samsung threw in some note-taking apps that fit nicely with the stylus.

Fingerprint sensor

Both have fingerprint sensors as well, though the Nexus 6P's is on the phone's back. The Note's sensor lives (more traditionally) inside its home button.

Storage

Fortunately neither Google/Huawei nor Samsung started out on a 16 GB tier, which is getting pretty cramped for today's app sizes and camera resolutions. Both of these phones start at 32 GB internal storage.

MicroSD

Neither handset has a microSD card slot.

Processor

Both handsets have 64-bit, octa-core processors. The Note 5 is a screamer; we haven't yet put the Nexus 6P through the paces.

RAM

The Note has an extra GB of RAM over the new Nexus.

Camera megapixels

The Note's rear camera is excellent, but Google is making big promises about the new Nexus phones' image quality. Stay tuned.

Camera aperture (rear)

The Galaxy Note has the slightly wider aperture.

Laser autofocus

Similar to several LG flagships, the Nexus 6P has laser-based autofocus for its rear camera.

OIS

Google and Huawei left Optical Image Stabilization out of this year's Nexus flagship.

Battery

The Nexus has the slightly higher-capacity battery, but we haven't tested its actual battery life yet.

Fast charging

Both handsets have quick-charging tech built-in.

Wireless charging

Though last year's Nexus had Qi wireless charging capabilities, Google left that out of the 6P.

Mobile payments

Android Pay will work on both phones, but the Galaxy Note 5 also works with Samsung Pay, which lets you use your phone to pay at most standard credit card terminals (in addition to the NFC readers used for Android Pay and Apple Pay).

VR compatibility

This may not be on your radar right now, but you're going to be hearing a lot about virtual reality in the next year. Samsung has a huge advantage here, as the Note 5 will work with the upcoming consumer Gear VR.

Just about any phone, including iPhones, will work with Google Cardboard VR headsets, but Google's developer platform isn't yet aimed at consumers.

Software

The Nexus 6P will launch with the "pure" version of the next full update to Android, 6.0 Marshmallow.

The Note 5 still runs Android Lollipop (with Samsung's TouchWiz on top). Samsung has said that the Note will receive the Marshmallow update at some point, but that usually takes a while when manufacturer UIs are involved.

Release

The Nexus 6P has been up for pre-order for a week, and shipments should start arriving later this month.

Starting price (full retail)

The Nexus 6P isn't exactly a budget phone, but when you factor in its impressive specs and high-end build quality, you could argue that it's a budget flagship. At full retail, it comes out to roughly US$200 cheaper than the entry-level Note 5 (which has pricing that varies a bit from carrier to carrier).

Moto Z vs. LG G5

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It's a modular showdown, as we compare the features and specs of the Motorola/Lenovo Moto Z (left) and LG G5. 

Here's a big first for 2016: we have two major smartphone manufacturers launching modular flagships. Not all "modular," though, is created equal. Let's break down the specs, features and different takes on swapping out parts with the Moto Z and LG G5.

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Size

The Moto Z is 3 percent taller and a hair wider than the LG G5. 

The most striking number here is the Moto Z's thickness: at a ridiculous 5.2 mm, it's 32 percent thinner than the G5. That doesn't include any Moto mods attached though (we'll explain that in a second), so you only get that svelte measurement if you use the phone "naked."

Weight

That crazy-thin Moto Z is also crazy-light, coming in at 15 percent lighter than the G5.

The same asterisk applies here, though, as any mods you snap onto the Moto will add to its weight.

Build

Motorola describes the Z as being made of aluminum and stainless steel. The G5, like most of today's flagships, sticks with only the former.

Modular

As you know both phones let you customize (and re-customize) to your taste by adding on or swapping out parts.

The two approaches, however, are radically different. The Moto Z has the simpler and more elegant angle, as you just snap a "Mod" onto its backside (strong magnets snap and hold it in place) to add a new look or function. On the G5, you have to yank off the phone's entire bottom section ("chin"), which pulls the battery out with it.

Modular swap w/o powering down

This is an odd category, but we think it's worth throwing in to illustrate a key byproduct of the two different approaches. On the Moto Z, you can snap on a new mod without skipping a beat. On the G5, though, you have to power down the phone every time to swap out (since the battery comes out with each one).

Advantage, Moto Z.

Colors

There are actually more than these four color options for the Moto Z, since some of its mods ("Style Shells") add a completely different color or material.

Display size

The Moto Z gives you an 8 percent bigger display.

Display resolution

With a slightly smaller screen and the same resolution, the G5's pixel density comes out 4 percent sharper.

Display type

Similar to Samsung vs. iPhone display panels, we have AMOLED vs. IPS here.

Always-on display

Similar to the Galaxy S7, the LG G5 can flash pertinent info like time and date on an otherwise black screen.

Fingerprint sensor

As with just about every flagship today, both of these have fingerprint sensors – though the G5's is on its back, while the Moto Z's is on its front. The Moto's doesn't double as a home button, though, like iPhones and Galaxies; instead it's also a sleep/wake/power button.

HiFi music

LG's optional B&O Play module adds an amplifier and 32-bit DAC to the G5, making it one of the best phones for audiophiles. The only catch is that this module, oddly, isn't yet available in the US – with no confirmation it ever will be.

It's hard to get too excited about LG's modular flagship when there's only one modular accessory (Cam Plus, more on that in a minute) available in the US.

Projector

This is one of the more niche mods for the Moto Z: a thick and beefy add-on will let the phone project its screen as a 70-inch image on a nearby wall.

Boom box

Another Moto Z mod turns the phone into a powerful little boom box, including a kickstand to prop it up.

Storage

In terms of internal storage, LG stuck with just the one 32 GB tier.

MicroSD

Fortunately both phones have expandable microSD slots.

Processor

In both cases, you're looking at a super-fast Snapdragon 820 chip.

RAM

RAM is also even at a nice 4 GB.

Camera megapixels

The G5 has the advantage in camera resolution, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will take better shots.

Camera aperture (rear)

Aperture is also equally wide, suggesting they may have similar low-lit capabilities (though this too is determined by other factors).

Battery

The G5 has an 8 percent bigger battery inside, but both give you options. One of the Moto Z's mods (Incipio OffGrid) is essentially a built-in battery case, which adds an extra 2,220 mAh to its total.

LG's Cam Plus module (which adds a better grip for photography, along with physical camera buttons) gives it an extra 1,200 mAh.

Removable battery

Like Android phones of old, one of the LG G5's tricks is that you can swap out its battery for an identical one. Stagger a few of these together and the phone can keep chugging along for days.

Fast charging

Like all modern Android flagships, both support quick charge tech – so you can juice it up much faster than an iPhone would.

Wireless charging

Neither phone has built-in wireless charging, but one of the two Incipio OffGrid battery mods for the Moto Z adds this funtionality.

Software

Both phones launch with Android Marshmallow, but should be getting Android Nougat at some point after it launches.

The Moto Z's software is very close to stock Android (Motorola's customizations tend to be more about useful new features than changing Google's core look or feel), while the G5 uses a (less pleasing, in our opinion) custom UI.

Release

The G5 has been around for a few months, while the Moto Z will first appear on Verizon sometime within the next couple of months. It sounds like that timed exclusivity ends in September, when the phone ships to other carriers, along with an unlocked global model.

Starting price (full retail)

We still don't know what the Moto Z, or its mods, will cost. Since the prices of add-ons can add up, it would be nice to see Motorola go aggressive here, with something in the US$450-550 range for the base phone. We'll see.