16 Best Galaxy S8 Accessories

The Galaxy S8 is a very potent handset on its own, as we discovered after extensive testing with Samsung's new phone. But it gets even better when you look at the ecosystem of compelling accessories available. We’ve already talked about the cases you should consider for Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+, but there are a slew of other add-ons that can dramatically improve the experience of using this handset. And we should start seeing even more accessories emerge now that the Galaxy S8 has been widely available since April.

From wireless charging pads and a dock that turns the S8 into a mini PC,  to the Gear VR headset and a smart-home hub, here are some of the best accessories for the Galaxy S8.

Image Credit: Samsung

Samsung is offering a new camera this year in the redesigned Gear 360. The $229 device now comes with a handle at the bottom, making it easier to hold. It also comes with two cameras that can capture 180 degrees of content, allowing you to stitch together a 360-degree video and photo view. The Gear 360 can last up to 130 minutes on a single charge and can record video in 4K. From the Galaxy S8, you can stream and share content on the fly.

Image Credit: Samsung

The DeX is the most unique S8 accessory. This dock essentially turns your smartphone into a desktop computer. Simply plug the Galaxy S8 into the DeX Station and connect a monitor, keyboard, mouse and other accessories with its attached USB, HDMI and Ethernet ports. From there, you can use your handset like a mini PC, complete with multiwindow support and full-screen apps, though only some are optimized for a larger display. Tom's Guide had a chance to review the DeX and found it simple to set up and use, though it has some limitations.

Image Credit: Samsung

SanDisk offers a slew of microSD cards, but the SanDisk Ultra 128GB card is one of the better options. You can get it at Amazon for a reasonable price and plug it into your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+. Best of all, it’ll triple your storage on the Galaxy S8 that comes with 64GB of onboard space. The 256GB option will set you back $160.

Image Credit: SanDisk

Third-party accessories-maker Zagg is back with a new screen protector it calls the Sapphire Defense Curve. The Curve attaches to your Galaxy S8’s screen and wraps around its curves on the left and right to protect it from a fall. According to Zagg, its solution offers seven times more shatter protection than an unprotected screen. While it’s on your handset, you can continue to interact with the screen with your fingers, though we had some mixed results when testing out screen protectors on the Galaxy S8.

Image Credit: Zagg

Samsung’s Wireless Charging Convertible is a must-have for any Galaxy S8 owner. You can place your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ on the device and it’ll “fast charge” your handset without you ever needing to worry about plugging it in or finding an empty port. Best of all, it can switch between a pad or stand setup, so you can leave it on your desk and keep working with the handset while it’s charging.

Image Credit: Samsung

Want to experience virtual-reality games, 360-degree videos and more? You can plug your Galaxy S8 or Galaxy S8+ into the Gear VR. The Gear VR also comes with a new controller for helping you interact with content while you’re wearing the device. When we reviewed the new Gear VR headset, we found that the controller adds a tactile experience to some games that had been missing from earlier versions of Samsung's headset. And the growing library of Gear VR-capable apps is hard to overlook.

Image Credit: Samsung

The Samsung Connect Home is a combination mesh Wi-Fi router and SmartThings Hub. You can buy more Connect Home boxes, depending on the size of your home, to get better range. But what makes the $169 Connect Home especially useful for the Galaxy S8 is that it pairs up with the Connect app, allowing you to control multiple smart-home gadgets with the push of a button. Samsung says the Connect Home hub will be available exclusively from Best Buy on June 4.

Image Credit: Samsung