The Galaxy S8's screen is different than most smartphones.
Most smartphones have a 16:9 aspect ratio, but the Galaxy S8 has an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. That means its screen is taller than most smartphone screens, including the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, but not wider.
By having a taller screen and keeping a narrow width, the Galaxy S8's body remains manageable and comfortable to use.
Apart from keeping comfort while sporting a huge screen, the Galaxy S8's tall screen is also better for using apps than conventional screens.
If you think about it, most apps are designed to be used vertically with swipes up and down to see the content rather than horizontally with left and right swipes.
That means you can see more of an app's content on the screen at one time, which also makes it easier to multitask, like watching a video while typing a message.
Having a tall screen might not make pictures or text look bigger in portrait mode, but it does let you see more of what's on the website or app you're using.
It's the same reason why coders like to flip their monitors around vertically to portrait mode.
It allows coders to see more of their workflow without having to scroll up and down as often.
The Galaxy S8's screen is also wider when you hold it in landscape mode for watching videos, but not all videos are filmed in the 18.5:9 aspect ratio.
Some content from streaming apps like Netflix can be played in the 18.5:9 aspect ratio, but much of the content on YouTube isn't. That means some videos won't fill the Galaxy S8's entire screen.
