Samsung Galaxy Note8 long-term review

22 February 2018
While some phones are inspired by the ‘less is more’ mantra, Samsung’s Galaxy Note family has always proudly claimed that ‘more is more’. More features, more options, more settings, more ways to interact with your handset, more choice made possible by the use of the best components adding up to the biggest and baddest spec list. To paraphrase a well known...

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  • Yet another username
  • sX2
  • 23 Feb 2018

I stuck with note 4. Reasons : that tall thin unbalanced screen, with obvious reflections along both curved sides. That small battery - which gives a day WHEN NEW!
Then the note 4 died ; I got a Huawei Mate 9 which is better in every way bar one. No stylus.
Note series starts as being better more power user focused version of the latest S but with pen as major feature.
Note is now only an S with a pen, and a hobbled S at that.

    Saurabh198, 23 Feb 2018Me too, I'm still holding onto my Note 4. The AC works, the... moreI've used the ir blaster as i had a note 4 for 3 years. Not a feature i miss in the slightest. It can be convenient yes, but it isn't something nothing else can do.

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      • AnonD-145316
      • CDK
      • 23 Feb 2018

      Anonymous, 23 Feb 2018All use 12MP because Apple does. If a new iphone brings 1... moreDo you have any idea that it's Apple that jumped from 8MP to 12MP while other OEMS were already using 12MP??!!!

        Hotkolbas, 23 Feb 2018When looking at camera specs MP is good but you dont stop t... morePixel size does not play main role in smartphones, even if its one of most important things. As in the name - being smart and therefore bringing better output even on limited size. It can be done with plenty kinds of processing, stacking from one or multiple sensors included, using separate image processor or using better technology on sensor than that which you find on most of compact cameras, using the same will bring just worse results. As phones are used by more people than compact cameras, its easier to bring new tech and update it every time. For example stacked sony sensor(was the first Z5?) is available on full sized cameras with price from 999, and Z5 price is way lower at 250 now. Shame for its aperture and lack of full manual control. We can just dream of xperia with f1.5 and pixel like processing on top of that sensor. High res sensors in phones are actually better in most situations(daylight) and could be even better if they used right processing and stacking, you just got enough light through day to bring such results. I would welcome 2 sensor approach for daylight and lowlight, using multiple cameras is just must for getting great output quality in multiple situations. Its just not logical to take same road as full sized cameras in those super thin smartphones.

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          • AnonD-736969
          • fC%
          • 23 Feb 2018

          Please add a long term view of lg v30+ also.

            • j
            • jtrogr
            • dPU
            • 23 Feb 2018

            Anonymous, 23 Feb 2018All use 12MP because Apple does. If a new iphone brings 1... moreExactly. Its called trendsetting.

              vrvly, 22 Feb 2018Thats true, but you can find sharper shooters(stills/video)... moreWhen looking at camera specs MP is good but you dont stop there.
              You need to look at micron pixel size so the bigger the number the better.
              Apeture you want this number to be lower.

              Then ontop of this is the firmware driving the show, you can get a great speced camera but if the software cant process the images well then your end results will be poor as well.


                • ?
                • Anonymous
                • Js{
                • 23 Feb 2018

                Anonymous, 23 Feb 2018False. Even if you zoomed max, it is still the sharpest the... moreAll use 12MP because Apple does.
                If a new iphone brings 16, they all move to 16

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • Js{
                  • 23 Feb 2018

                  Should use the 12MP on front too.
                  Too bad no space enough for that.
                  Front cam is awful.

                    Anil, 23 Feb 2018This is not a godsend phone with all power options. I serio... moreMe too, I'm still holding onto my Note 4. The AC works, the TV, music system. Almost any household appliance that is remote controlled gets along with the IR blaster.

                      Anonymous, 23 Feb 2018False. Even if you zoomed max, it is still the sharpest the... moreThough comparing to sony is not the best way(worst processing), even such bad output lacking in details gives better feeling with its sharp edges of content. Its not that 12 is the best overall, its the best to compete with apple that use such resolution. 12mp res is long gone in camera industry, they use either ~20, 25 or 40 and its got reason. Smartphone cameras got small sensor, bringiong down resolution a bit wont help much in long run.

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                        • AnonD-645935
                        • ibm
                        • 23 Feb 2018

                        Zeldir, 23 Feb 2018Hey guys, I am a Galaxy S7 edge user. Just wondering, is it... moreIf you wanna buy phone right now.. Buy note 8..s9 and s9 plus is pricy

                          • Z
                          • Zeldir
                          • TXc
                          • 23 Feb 2018

                          Hey guys, I am a Galaxy S7 edge user. Just wondering, is it worth buying Note 8 right now (it's price is around 600 euro in my country) and the new S9 and Note9 look to be very very expensive. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks :)

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                            • Anil
                            • ypc
                            • 23 Feb 2018

                            This is not a godsend phone with all power options. I seriously miss IR blaster

                              • ?
                              • Anonymous
                              • thw
                              • 23 Feb 2018

                              So, Samsung trying to sell a lot of bloatware to user who don't even know what bloatware is. The company makes more and more bloatware because they think that bloatware is good, whether this is an issue or not you can always find the answer in the philosophy "more is more", which literally means more bloatware is more money or something like that. I personally impressed with the photos delivered by note 8 cameras. Brilliant pictures, no doubt this is one of the best camera phones.

                                • i
                                • imRGZ
                                • upf
                                • 23 Feb 2018

                                AnonD-731363, 22 Feb 2018All you need to know raw manufacturers price is less than 2... moreGo through this year old post and know for yourself.
                                https://www.androidauthority.com/how-can-chinese-companies-offer-great-specs-at-such-low-prices-746967/

                                  imRGZ, 23 Feb 2018S8's manufacturing cost is 307USD per device. Based on this... moreGreat post. Unfortunately, there are so many people who are of lesser intelligence yet are much much more opinionated.

                                    imRGZ, 23 Feb 2018S8's manufacturing cost is 307USD per device. Based on this... moreI couldn't agreed with him more, actually Even S8's base price is $307 without including DRAM (about est $42.50 ) and battery ( est $4.50) , so totaling around $354.00. (Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/costs-make-samsung-galaxy-s8-766126/). Note 8 could cost way more. Trust me, Samsung never cut corners like Apple and they are doing it great so people are buying it! as simple as that bro

                                      • i
                                      • imRGZ
                                      • upf
                                      • 23 Feb 2018

                                      AnonD-731363, 22 Feb 2018All you need to know raw manufacturers price is less than 2... moreS8's manufacturing cost is 307USD per device. Based on this Note8's manufacturing cost would be between 325-350 USD, and not at 200 USD u proclaim. Not every Samsung employee does know everything. Samsung isn't as small a company as your Lenovo, OnePlus, Oppo. Even OnePlus sells their devices for more than the average manufacturing price per device they manufacture, why? To feed their employees and maintenance and R&D. If it costs Samsung 200USD to make a Note8(which has got costliest screen panel to make, one of the best cameras and processor, spen and its wacom digitiser, and that aluminum and glass sandwich body) then how much a OP5T/5/Mi5/6/7(which doesnt have components as costly as Note8's) cost their respective manufacturers, per piece? 50-100USD? If that is the case then why OP5T is selling at near 600USD(If OnePlus selling OP5T at six times its manufacturing costs is okay for you, then it should also be okay for you in Samsung's case also, selling at 5xNote8's production costs)? Are they selling for the same price? It's a challenge for you, find a exact clone of Note8 in your favorite price range 200-300USD, that performs just like a Note8 in every possible manner(including spen, whether u need it or not doesn't matter). Everything you use in your life is priced way more than their production costs, even the Coke you are so fond of. Learn some Economics and about Technology, you will get to know why all flagships are at insane prices. You are so desperate to buy a Note8, but its price tag is scaring you. I think this is the sole reason for all your comments saying all flagships are worthless. Sorry if this offended you.

                                        • i
                                        • imRGZ
                                        • upf
                                        • 23 Feb 2018

                                        Actually Note8 is far more worthy than iPhone X. Fluidity is a minor concern, considering how much more it can do compared to other smartphones in its price range. As the issue with fingerprint sensor location will be dealt in their 2018 flagships, lets hope Samsung does the same with their software niggles.

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