Samsung Galaxy A8 (2018)
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until January 2021 · Buy-by January 2019
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~3-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy A8 (2018) should be supported until around January 2021. Buying it today still gets you about -5.4 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
A compact, water-resistant 2018 phone with dual selfie cameras, long since off the update list.
Pros
- IP68 water resistance, rare for a mid-range phone of its time
- Compact 5.6-inch body with a glass-and-metal build
- Got two OS upgrades up to Android 9
Cons
- Security support ended around 2021
- Small 3000mAh battery and modest single rear camera
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.6-inch Super AMOLED, 1080x2220 (FHD+), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Samsung Exynos 7885 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB / 64GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 16MP |
| front | 16MP |
| front (depth) | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,000 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 149.2 × 70.6 × 8.4 mm |
| Weight | 172 g |
| Materials | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), glass back, metal frame |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Samsung Experience 8.5 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C, microSD |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy A8 (2018) get updates?
Support is long over. It received two OS upgrades (Android 7.1 to Android 9) and around three years of security patches, ending near 2021.
Is the Galaxy A8 (2018) waterproof?
It carries an IP68 rating, meaning it can withstand dust and brief submersion, which was unusual for a mid-range phone in 2018.
Should I still use a Galaxy A8 (2018)?
Only for basic offline tasks. Without security updates it is not safe as a primary phone for sensitive accounts.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.