Consumer Reports: First look at new Samsung 8 smartphones

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Samsung is back on the market with the new Galaxy S-8 and S-8 Plus, selling the next version of their phone following the Samsung Note-7 debacles. But how well does it stack up against its previous version?

Consumer Reports has tested eight of Samsung's new Galaxy S-8 and S-8-Plus smartphones. It's the company's first significant phone launch since the massive recall of the Note-7 last summer.

"Samsung's Galaxy line has always done well in our tests, so we're interested to see if the S8 can knock its predecessor, the S7, out of the top spot in our ratings," said Rich Fisco with Consumer Reports.

Consumer Reports checked out complaints about reddish displays on the S-8 and found the issue in four out of the eight phones they purchased and tested.

In a statement to Consumer Reports, Samsung did not directly address the red tint issue, but says it will release an update as early as next week, which will provide users the ability to further adjust the color settings on the S-8.

"In the meantime, if your display looks red and you'd like to adjust it, go to settings, display, screen mode, color balance and change the red level," said Fisco.

Consumer Reports put the smart phone's camera through its rigorous testing and found the S-8 did well.

"The camera is among the best we've ever tested. Samsung toned down the over-sharpening, so pictures now look more realistic and natural," he explained.

The S-8 passed Consumer Reports' dunk test, validating Samsung's claim that the phone could withstand 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

And in Consumer Reports' labs, they found with the damage-resistant Gorilla Glass 5, the S-8s are more scratch-resistant than the S-7s.s.

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(All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2014. Consumers Union of U.S. Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)