Samsung Galaxy Note8 hands-on review: First impressions

23 August 2017
The successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4/5 is finally here - meet the Galaxy Note8. Wait, what? Okay, Europeans didn’t get the Note5 because Samsung, and we all know how the Note7 lived a shorter product life than it deserved. So in a way, a few of us Note lovers have been stuck with three-year-old Notes, looking at some poor S-Pen-less S7 edges and S8s to fill the void.

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  • B
  • Bally
  • x}6
  • 24 Aug 2017

hats off for the way review content is presented ... when I will get my hands on Note 8 for the first time I will probably feel I have had this phone in my hands before...

    • s
    • savage
    • KZK
    • 24 Aug 2017

    Among the reason why samsung fanboy bashing sony because the rectangular shape,and now this note 8 is look rectangular like sony plus it has ugly camera setup and bump,just wait what lame excuse they will come up this time

      • J
      • Josh
      • ucq
      • 24 Aug 2017

      AnonD-669148, 24 Aug 201718.5:9 still looks ugly...!You are so right about it. I find this ratio ugly and wonder if what we can benefit from a tall screen phone. I would prefer a little bit wider.

        • J
        • Josh
        • ucq
        • 24 Aug 2017

        I like big screen phones with proper ratio. The screen is way too tall for my preference.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • pQr
          • 24 Aug 2017

          Capturing only images with a 2:1 ratio is not a good idea. Moreover it's just an 8mp crop, so you loose quality.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 7k6
            • 24 Aug 2017

            Rafe Firmani, 24 Aug 2017Only HTC U11 has 3D audio recording that you can zoom in an... moreYou can listen to that 3D recording through a 3.5 mm jack. Oh wait.....

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 04H
              • 24 Aug 2017

              AnonD-209065, 24 Aug 2017Wait...I thought this phone was going to have a 4K display?... moreYeah, my thoughts too. Then we got S8++

                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • ELT
                • 24 Aug 2017

                Looks like Nokia 8...lol

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 04H
                  • 24 Aug 2017

                  A size of a phone this big is just not practical guys, get real. I have S7 and that one really is the limit of a phone in my eyes. Come on. Really? This big? Its a tablet boys and girls.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-209065
                    • Ikd
                    • 24 Aug 2017

                    Wait...I thought this phone was going to have a 4K display? When was that plan cancelled?

                      • D
                      • AnonD-669148
                      • J5M
                      • 24 Aug 2017

                      AnonD-669148, 24 Aug 2017I am not impressed at all! 18,5:0 still looks horrible, and... more18.5:9 still looks ugly...!

                        vrvly, 23 Aug 2017No 3D audio recording, but at least nothing blows up. But I... moreOnly HTC U11 has 3D audio recording that you can zoom in and that is great. That's innovation!
                        Don't see that in Note 8...

                        Samsung is too big now to change or listen

                          • D
                          • AnonD-669148
                          • J5M
                          • 24 Aug 2017

                          I am not impressed at all! 18,5:0 still looks horrible, and the fingerprint scanner is still the worst placed ever and the curved screen edges with glares/reflections are still ugly, and everything else have been done on other phones! Note 8 is just boring!

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • pQr
                            • 24 Aug 2017

                            3300 mah are maybe not as explosive as 4000 mah, but it does not seem to be enough. A 6.3" 18.5/9 display has the same area as a 6.05" 16/9 display.

                              ResolvePi, 24 Aug 2017I have a Note5, (AT&T branded one in the UK, works fine... moreI'm not a big fan of iphones but they are amazing with proper cpu scheduling and memory management of apps. Videos even show it destroying the S8 in terms of speed. Especially when ressurecting apps you have put into the background. Everything is just buttery smooth. It's expected though as Apple makes some of the best chips on the market and they optimize their software for them.

                                lol... 3300mAh on a "professional" device for power users. Cool

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • KhD
                                  • 24 Aug 2017

                                  V30, Mate10

                                    AnonD-694409, 24 Aug 2017I have experienced all the excitement of new notes 2,3 and ... moreI have a Note5, (AT&T branded one in the UK, works fine on all UK networks). Yes, after using things like Google maps whilst running many other apps, it does slow down, but I close all apps and then it's fine again. But that's simply because I'm pushing it. I don't know what an iPhone would do in identical circumstances.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-694409
                                      • 3JH
                                      • 24 Aug 2017

                                      I have experienced all the excitement of new notes 2,3 and 4. over time each one slows down and developes faults due to software updates. Will the 8 be better? I do wonder if there is some strange thing going on to reduce performance over time that encourages consumption of the all new faster model.
                                      why has IR BEEN REMOVED?
                                      At 195g it's getting way too heavy...and that is without a case..perhaps Samsung will offer a wheelie case for it..
                                      also is it now too large to be covered by some mobile device insurance policies?

                                        • H
                                        • Hmmm
                                        • gQM
                                        • 23 Aug 2017

                                        Well, I'm more than disappointed.
                                        200g weight is just too heavy... I'm still not happy with my note 4 in terms of weight, and still wish it were lighter, like galaxy s3. That, combined with fragile glass back and insane 1000€ price, lets me finally forget about this model Nd keep looking around for a replacement.

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