Galaxy S8 is awesome, except for one thing (The 3:59, Ep. 212)

What are reviewers saying about Samsung's new flagship phone? Also, we talk about the latest iPhone 8 rumors.

Ben Fox Rubin Former senior reporter

Ben Fox Rubin was a senior reporter for CNET News in Manhattan, reporting on Amazon, e-commerce and mobile payments. He previously worked as a reporter for The Wall Street Journal and got his start at newspapers in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

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Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News

Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.

Expertise Mobile, 5G, Big Tech, Social Media Credentials

SABEW Best in Business 2011 Award for Breaking News Coverage, Eddie Award in 2020 for 5G coverage, runner-up National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award for culture analysis.

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Ben Fox Rubin

Roger Cheng

April 18, 2017 9:32 a.m. PT

Samsung's Galaxy S8 redemption tour keeps moving forward.

Following last year's disastrous launch of Samsung's fire-prone Note 7, the Korean tech heavyweight is getting plenty of positive reviews for its S8 phone, which will launch Friday.

CNET reviewer Jessica Dolcourt sees a lot to love about the new device, including a gorgeous design, great camera, high-resolution screen and solid battery life. But she considers the fingerprint sensor awkwardly placed and basically a pain. Also worth mentioning: the voice assistant Bixby is still half-baked and complaints are percolating up over red-tinted screens on some phones already out in South Korea.

Also, we discuss some of the latest rumors for Apple's next iPhone, including a possible curved-glass design and its own potential fingerprint-sensor woes.

The 3:59 gives you bite-size news and analysis about the top stories of the day, brought to you by the CNET News team in New York and producer Bryan VanGelder.

Check out the extended shows on YouTube.

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