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Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
Samsung Galaxy Note8
...


9/10
Informr score
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 currently has an Informr score of 9 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 88 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Bright, vivid screen
  • Blazing performance
  • Plenty of storage
  • S-Pen support
  • IP68 water and dustproofing
  • Great camera

What's bad

  • So-so battery life
  • Price
  • Too big for one-handed use
  • Awkward fingerprint scanner placement
  • Bixby still inaccurate

Samsung is back with the latest version of the Note series—the Galaxy Note8. While it still offers the innovative S-Pen stylus that no one else can touch, phones are getting bigger and more powerful.

It’s no longer unique to be a big phone, and the S8 offers power in spades. Does the Note8 still offer a unique value? More so, do reviewers find that the big features match the big price tag?

Reviewers are chiming in on their thoughts. Let’s see what they think!

The Note8 follows in the footsteps of the rest of the S8 series. The aluminum and glass chassis features a slimmer profile than competing phones and a seamless design with rounded screen edges and phone corners.

It’s IP68 water and dustproof. So don’t worry about using your new phone (or the S-Pen) in the rain or near the pool.

Reviewers loved the design, but found the corners uncomfortable in the pocket. Phone Scoop summed up opinions well, saying, “The uniformity of the shape, the thin profile, the luscious materials all make the Note8 something to lust after, just like they (still) do with the S8 and S8+.”

The front of the phone is reserved for Samsung’s 6.3-inch QHD AMOLED Infinity display. You’ll find no bezels on the size and minimal top and bottom space. This, combined with the 1440-by-2960 resolution means the phone is shaped more like a checkbook than the massive slab of phone the screen size might suggest.

The Guardian notes, “… that 6.3in screen is squeezed into a body that’s pretty much the same size as an iPhone 7 Plus.” Despite this, most reviewers found one-handed use next to impossible. Especially when paired with the odd placement of the fingerprint scanner on the rear of the phone.

Reviewers praised the screen for it’s inky blacks, 600 nits of brightness and sharp details. It also supports HDR video if you can find a good source.

Powering the phone is a 2.35Ghz octa-core Snapdragon processor and 6GB of RAM. As you’d expect from the top-tier components, there’s zero complaints here. Android Community noted, “You won’t be left wanting with the Galaxy Note8 in terms of performance.”

The phone ships with Android 7.1.1 Nougat and will see an update to 8.0 Oreo. While reviewers were once critical of Samsung’s TouchWiz UI, they loved the latest version. In particular, most found the S-Pen integrations and split-screen modes handy and intuitive.

One area of software that didn’t impress reviewers was Bixby—Samsung’s new virtual assistant. From inaccurate voice recognition to triggering Bixby randomly through regular conversation, most found they went back to Google Assistant fast.

If you’re looking for a powerful camera, reviews indicate you’re in luck. The phone features a dual rear camera setup that allows for up to 2x optical zoom, optical image stabilization and the ability to capture RAW images. Reviewers raved about the camera.

Canadian Reviewer summed up opinions well, saying, “Samsung's pedigree as a camera manufacturer is evident. The Note8 is a very good camera and managed to take some striking landscape, portrait, macro and panoramic shots even on the automatic setting.”

Gizmodo agreed, declaring, “The Note8's Live Focus photos are just about the best that I've taken with a smartphone.”

You’ll find 64 to 256GB of internal storage and support for microSD cards up to 256GB. That leaves plenty of room to store your favorite shots or record 4K video.

Samsung crammed a 3300mAh battery into the sleek Note8. Reviews show it’s good for a full day of moderate use. However, heavy users might need to find a charger after the sun sets. Gizmodo noted, “I doubt you'd get more than a full day's enjoyment out of the Note8 unless you switched on Samsung's power saving mode early on in the day.”

Fortunately, the phone supports fast charging through both USB-C and wireless chargers. So keeping the phone juiced up is easy.

Overall, reviews indicate the phone is a solid comeback from the fiasco that was the Note 7. The only thing reviewers questioned was price. If you’re not looking for the S-Pen functionality, many reviews recommended saving money and sticking with the S8 or S8 Plus.

V3 summed up recommendations well, saying, “Yes, it's a large smartphone - probably too large for most people's uses, and that criticism extends to the price. However, if you are after a 'phablet' sized smartphone this is probably the very best that your money can buy.”


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.35 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.35 GHz
6.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6.3"
12+ MP, f/2.4
Camera
Camera
12+ MP, f/2.4
3300 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Gadgets 360
Gadgets 360

The launch price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is Rs. 67,900, which makes it a no-brainier over the 6GB Galaxy S8+. However, it’s only a matter of time before Samsung permanently slashes the price of the S8 series in order to widen the gap between its two flagships. The Note 8 is yet another winner f...

- Roydon Cerejo, Gadgets 360
Android Guys
Android Guys

Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised with the Galaxy Note 8, even though I am frustrated about the lack of Pie. The camera is still solid, the battery is still going strong, and that display is absolutely gorgeous. Now, when Samsung gets off its rear-end and brings Pie to the Note 8, I have hig...

- Andrew Myrick, Android Guys
Android Central
Android Central

Even as we rapidly approach the Galaxy Note 9's announcement, the Note 8 has really held up well. One of the benefits of Samsung's delicate release cycle over the past couple of generations is that the "old" phones don't really feel all that old even a year into their life. Add on the amazing consis...

- Andrew Martonik, Android Central
Android Central
Android Central

With the new Oreo software on board, it's a really good phone that feels modern and worth the money even in April 2018. The latest software hasn't slowed down like Nougat did for me, the hardware still looks and feels great, the screen is fantastic, and the cameras are very capable.

- Andrew Martonik, Android Central
BGR
BGR

It is still one of the best ones you can pick up today, but in the long term, there are these minor issues that you may come across. I reiterate, these were the rare occasional issues, but yes, they were there.

- Ritesh Bendre, BGR


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


We've got you covered! Download a free PDF copy of the Samsung Galaxy Note8 user manual here.


Samsung backs up the Galaxy Note8 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Galaxy Note8 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Samsung support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Samsung's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
6.3"

The Samsung Galaxy Note8's screen size is 6.3 inches with 1440 x 2960 pixels resolution.

Processor
2.35 GHz

There is a Qualcomm MSM8998 napdragon 835 Octa core 2.35 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 7.1.1 Nougat (Update Available: 9.0 Pie) operating system (OS).

Camera
12+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 12+ MP, f/2.4 camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 8+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
64/128/256 GB

Internal memory is 64/128/ 256 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 256 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
3300mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 3300 mAh battery. Samsung's performance ratings are 1980 minutes, 840 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Galaxy Note8 Specs

Overview
Release Date September 15, 2017
Regions Available USA, Canada, United Kingdom
Operating System Android 7.1.1 Nougat (Update Available: 9.0 Pie)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm MSM8998 napdragon 835 Octa core 2.35 GHz
Internal Storage 64/128/256 GB
RAM 6 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible Yes
TTY/TDD Yes
Noise Cancellation Yes
SAR Head: 0.73 W/kg
Body: 0.93 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Headset, Data Cable, Stylus
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Yes
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Yes
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB USB Type-C
USB OTG Support Yes
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 256 GB)
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
12+ Megapixels, f/2.4
Zoom
2x optical, 10x digital
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Image stabilization, Multi-shot, Panorama, Dual camera feature (12 MP 2nd camera, f/1.7), HDR, Slow motion recording (HD 240fps), Time lapse mode, Voice activation
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, 3G2 / 3GPP2, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV, ASF, FLV, AVI, MKV
Video Recording Parameters
Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), 30 fps
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
Auto focus, f/1.7, Wide Selfie
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology Super AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 1440 x 2960 pixels
Pixel Density 521 pixels
Size 6.3 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Infinity Display
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 3300 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Video Playback Time Up to 960 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 840 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Up to 780 minutes
Talk Time Up to 1980 minutes
Standby Time Up to 3.9 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Midnight Black, Deepsea Blue, Orchid Gray, Maple Gold
Dimensions [H x W x D] 16.2 x 7.5 x 0.9 cm (6.4 x 3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 195 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Water Resistant
Rugged design No
IP Rating IP 68
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

International version has Samsung Exynos 9 Octa 8895 Octa core 2.3 GHz processor
Also available in dual SIM variant

Additional Sensors: Iris sensor, Barometer, HR sensor

Related Links Manual (PDF)
Samsung Galaxy Note8 Reviews
Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Note8
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