The Galaxy A8 (2018) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) are Samsung's first smartphones with dual front cameras, which, as we noted in our review, impressed us with their performance. On the back, the 16-megapixel sensor has carried over with the same megapixel count from the A5 (2017) and A7 (2017), but now has a larger aperture (F1.7) for enhanced low-light performance. The primary front camera is also a 16MP sensor, while the secondary sensor is an 8MP unit that helps take Live Focus photos like the ones we saw from the rear camera on the Galaxy Note 8.
In short, the camera specs on this year's A series phones have gotten a notable bump in some key areas, but how do these cameras perform compared to those on the 2017 models of the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7? We used the Galaxy A7 (2017) and Galaxy A8+ (2018) to take a couple of pictures to answer that question.
Note: Since the Galaxy A5 (2017) and A8 (2018) have the same camera hardware as their larger siblings, this camera comparison applies to the A5 and A8 as well.
Camera comparison: Galaxy A8+ (2018) vs Galaxy A7 (2017)
First, let's talk about the rear camera. The rear camera benefits from a higher aperture and support for real-time HDR, so performance in poor lighting and against bright subjects is slightly better than the A7. Detail in photos taken in bright natural light is at par with the A7, and so is the detail in low-light shots, which is to say both phones lose out on detail in tough lighting conditions.
But colors are dialed down on the A8+ and are closer to the actual subject, although this can turn out to be a disadvantage at times. That's especially true in low-light pics where, sadly, the A8+ is also prone to blurring things out like the A7 if you're not holding the phone stable enough. The A8+ doesn't suffer from camera shake as much as its predecessor, but it's still a problem that mars the overall experience.
Selfies is where the Galaxy A8+ (and Galaxy A8) truly shines. Camera shake was also an issue with the front camera on last year's A series phones, but it's pretty much non-existent on the 2018 models. In most scenarios, the A8+ was able to recreate skin tones more accurately. The resolved detail, however, isn't anything to write home about. The A7's photos come out quite soft for the high-resolution sensor, and the A8+ isn't much different in that regard.
We also put the Live Focus feature on the A8+ to test against the software-based bokeh mode that was introduced on the 2017 models with an update (check out the second selfie sample). Here, the A8+' dual cameras do a great job. The A7, working without dedicated hardware for bokeh photos, messes up the areas around the subject. Not surprising, and this is why the A8 and A8+ are great options if taking selfies is an essential part of the smartphone experience for you.
In fact, the front cameras are the only reason one should consider upgrading from last year's A series phones, and even the 2016 models, as far as the imaging experience is concerned. The rear camera still doesn't have what it takes to offer pleasing results in any scenario other than daytime conditions. When you move indoors or take pictures in poor lighting, camera shake continues to be an issue and can ruin many photos, forcing you to take the same photo a couple of times to get the right shot. Again, with selfies camera shake isn't an issue, and with the excellent Live Focus mode, the 16MP+8MP front camera combination is what makes the A8+ (and the A8) stand out.
Check out the comparison camera samples below. Slide right to see the Galaxy A8+ photo and left to see the A7 (2017) photo. Since our back-end doesn't currently allow for zooming in on comparison samples, we've also added all the samples to a Google Photos album, which you can check out for a better look.
