The Palm Phone PVG100 represents a niche desire for extreme portability, while the Samsung Galaxy S8, though released in 2017, remains a recognizable and capable device. This comparison isn't about raw power; it's about understanding the trade-offs between a truly pocketable experience and the features of a former flagship. We'll examine how the Snapdragon 435-powered Palm stacks up against the Exynos 8895 (or Snapdragon 835) in the S8, and whether the S8's age diminishes its appeal.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing performance and a comprehensive feature set, the Samsung Galaxy S8 remains the superior choice. Its significantly more powerful chipset and established ecosystem outweigh the Palm Phone's extreme portability. However, users seeking a minimalist, secondary device for essential tasks will find the Palm Phone uniquely appealing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 17, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 66, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, October. Released 2018, November | 2017, March 29. Released 2017, April 24 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 96.6 x 50.6 x 7.4 mm (3.80 x 1.99 x 0.29 in) | 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm (5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 62.5 g (2.22 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~445 ppi density) | 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density) |
| Size | 3.3 inches, 30.0 cm2 (~61.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Super AMOLED, HDR10 |
| | - | 3D Touch (home button only)
Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.4 GHz & 4x1.1 GHz) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Mongoose M2 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.35 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) - USA & China |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8940 Snapdragon 435 (28 nm) | Exynos 8895 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) - USA & China |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-G71 MP20 - EMEAAdreno 540 - USA & China |
| OS | Android 8.1 (Oreo) | Android 7.0 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie), One UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.0 or UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, AF | 12 MP, f/1.7, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@240fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF
2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera) |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP | - |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1440p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with dual speakers | Yes |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.2, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Infrared Face ID, accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass | Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| | - | Samsung DeX (desktop experience support)
ANT+
Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wired, 50% in 31 min, 100% in 68 min | 15W wired, QC2
Wireless (Qi) (market dependent) |
| Music play | - | Up to 67 h |
| Talk time | - | Up to 20 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 800 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh) |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gold, Titanium | Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Arctic Silver, Coral Blue, Maple Gold, Rose Pink, Burgundy Red |
| Models | PVG100, PVG100E | SM-G950FD, SM-G950W, SM-G950S, SM-G950K, SM-G950L, SM-G9500, SM-G950A, SM-G950P, SM-G950T, SM-G950U, SM-G950V, SM-G950F, SM-G950U1, SM-G950N, SC-02J, SCV36, SM-G950, G950F |
| Price | About 400 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.44 W/kg (head) 0.75 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | 0.98 W/kg (head) | 0.32 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -92.5dB / Crosstalk -92.8dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 84h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.768 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 72dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 199022 (v7)
GeekBench: 6656 (v4.4)
GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Palm Phone PVG100
- Extremely compact and pocketable design
- Unique secondary device appeal
- Relatively fast charging for its size
- Significantly weaker performance
- Small screen size limits usability
- Camera quality likely inferior to the S8
Samsung Galaxy S8
- Powerful processor for smooth performance
- Large, high-resolution display
- Versatile camera system with OIS
- Larger size less convenient for some
- Battery life may be diminished due to age
- Software updates may be limited
Display Comparison
Both devices boast 'Infinite' contrast ratios, a marketing term indicating excellent black levels, with a nominal 4.768 contrast ratio in sunlight. However, the S8’s larger 5.8-inch display dwarfs the Palm’s 3.3-inch screen. While the Palm’s smaller size is its core appeal, the S8 offers a far more immersive viewing experience. The S8’s higher resolution (2960 x 1440 vs. the Palm’s 1280 x 720) translates to a sharper image, and the S8 likely benefits from more advanced color calibration techniques common in flagship displays of its era.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer photo and video capabilities, the S8’s camera system is expected to be far more refined. Details on the S8’s sensor size and aperture are needed for a precise comparison, but its flagship status suggests a larger sensor and more advanced image processing. The Palm Phone’s camera specifications are not provided, making a detailed assessment impossible, but given its price point, it’s unlikely to compete with the S8’s image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The S8’s inclusion of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) is another advantage.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Samsung Galaxy S8, equipped with either the Exynos 8895 (EMEA) or Snapdragon 835 (USA & China) – both built on a 10nm process – features an octa-core CPU with significantly faster cores (up to 2.35 GHz) than the Palm’s Snapdragon 435 (1.4 GHz & 1.1 GHz). The 10nm fabrication process of the S8’s chipset also contributes to better power efficiency and sustained performance. The Palm’s Snapdragon 435 is adequate for basic tasks, but will struggle with demanding apps or multitasking. The S8’s superior GPU will also deliver a far smoother gaming experience.
Battery Life
The Samsung Galaxy S8 boasts an endurance rating of 84 hours, indicating excellent battery life for its time. While the Palm Phone’s battery capacity is unknown, its smaller size and less powerful chipset suggest a lower overall capacity. However, the Palm’s simpler functionality and lower screen resolution may partially offset this. The S8 supports 15W wired charging with Quick Charge 2.0 and wireless charging (Qi), offering greater convenience. The Palm Phone supports wired charging, reaching 50% in 31 minutes and 100% in 68 minutes, a respectable charging speed for its class.
Buying Guide
Buy the Palm Phone PVG100 if you need an incredibly compact secondary device for calls, texts, and basic notifications – a true 'burner' phone for minimalists. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S8 if you prefer a larger screen, a more versatile camera, significantly faster performance for apps and multitasking, and access to a wider range of features and a more mature software experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 8895 in the Galaxy S8 suffer from thermal throttling under sustained load?
While the Exynos 8895 was a powerful chip, it was known to exhibit some thermal throttling during prolonged intensive tasks like gaming. However, this is less of a concern for typical daily usage and is unlikely to be a major issue given the phone's age and likely reduced user expectations.
❓ Is the Palm Phone's Snapdragon 435 sufficient for running modern social media apps?
The Snapdragon 435 can handle basic social media apps like Facebook and Instagram, but performance may be sluggish with complex features or when multitasking. Expect longer loading times and occasional lag compared to more powerful devices.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S8 still receive security updates in 2024?
Official security updates for the Galaxy S8 have largely ceased. While some custom ROMs may offer continued support, relying on these carries inherent risks. Users should exercise caution and be aware of the security implications.
❓ How does the Palm Phone handle notifications compared to a full-fledged smartphone?
The Palm Phone is designed as a companion device, excelling at delivering essential notifications. It can mirror notifications from your primary phone, allowing you to stay connected without constantly checking your main device. However, it lacks the full functionality of a traditional smartphone for managing notifications.
