I would only get the Exynos version. The snapdragon root version has 80% battery charging limitations, right? And latest updates block that root, right?
so I've read that root does reduce the battery by 20% on the US variant, but root is still achievable.
I wound up getting the S8 (smaller version) on black friday ($350 off).
so far, very impressed! only thing I miss from the turbo is the wave-to-wake feature and center clock. there are some mods out there that can come pretty close to what I had before. center clock is possible without root, but I would need to get the subtratum app (only $2). this does have "Always-on-display" (AOD), but i disable that except when charging. the device does have LED notifications, which is fine (that, coupled with my watch is all I really need).
my main reason for root was to customize the display (status bar, power menu reboot, notification controls, etc) and to block ads. given that all of this is possible without root on this device, I do not need to root. now, once they stop updating this device, then I may root (but by then, I could just get a new device if needed).
the cool thing about sammy's is that they have numerous themes. but if you don't like to theme (or the touchwiz format), you can easily install the pixel launcher and google dialer (among other google apps) to give you that look/feel of pure android - albeit with some samsung bloatware. however, given that this has 64 GB of memory and is zippier than the turbo, I'm not too worried about.
it does allow you to force hibernate apps (just like greenify), so I can set those apps in that mode (but still cannot disable them).
also, I am getting better battery life than the turbo.
currently on Nougat 7.0, but I'm sure we'll get Oreo soon enough (beta is floating around).
lone drawback is the bloatware and "samsung experience". I do prefer a pure android experience, but if all is working well and not throwing other notifications at me or dragging on performance, then I don't mind (yet). with the touchwiz launcher, you can hide any app, so that is a nice feature.
this does have Samsung's AI - called bixby - with a dedicated button. fortunately, that button can be re-mapped. the phone does wake from a lockscreen when I say, "hi bixby", and it does work quite well. but if i want to use google assistant, all I have to do is say, "hi bixby, open assistant". then google assistant opens and is ready to listen.
bixby does take some getting use to, and is very comparable to siri - it just needs to learn more about you to give you more customized results. bixby does allow you to change the phone settings with your voice (a feature that google assistant cannot do - at least on this device).
all in all, very happy with my purchase.
so, if you want retain wireless charging, have a nice size battery, great battery life, keep your 3.5mm headphone jack, customize your display/notifications & block ads without root, then I would certainly recommend giving it a try if coming from the turbo.
plus, the price point is great entrance at $350 off.
of course, the pixel is $300 off now, and is very tempting - but only because I would be able to sell the sammy for $475 - thus making $120+ on the transactions. but I think I'll like the sammy better.
if/when the pixel 3 gets wireless charging, then I'll consider trading in the sammy.
hope this helps.
