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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  • Anonymous
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  • 22 Feb 2018

Anonymous, 22 Feb 2018Excellent review. I've owned no Note8 since October and I a... more*my Note8

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • Tab
    • 22 Feb 2018

    Excellent review. I've owned no Note8 since October and I am loving it. The review itself is also spot on, the phone isn't perfect and has some things that could be improved but they're not major issues by any means.

    Also, am I the only one that likes the fingerprint scanner? Granted it would be better in the middle below the camera but I find myself having no issues reaching the scanner.

    If anyone does have these issues, try putting a case on it, the cut-out will make reaching the scanner easier.

      vrvly, 22 Feb 2018Not sure how you came to thinking that 12mp in note8 is one... moreNo. MP isn't the only thing that make a good picture and sharper isn't always the best.
      If you have issues with your n8 then I dare say there is something wrong with it or it's a fake.

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        • AnonD-731363
        • SH3
        • 22 Feb 2018

        All you need to know raw manufacturers price is less than 200 selling price 1000.
        How i know?
        My cousin works for Samsung.
        And what that means for you?
        Samsung greed is endless.
        Samsung does rob you.
        All you pay is samsung sticker on it and Samsung superexpensive advertising in every corner of this god damn forgotten world.
        And even if you dont care i had to tell you.
        Dont forget to expect Note 9 cost around 1500 with a raw manufacturers price bellow 300.

          Note 8 is a prime example of a top shelf device.

          I really can't see anything better at all.

            Not sure how you came to thinking that 12mp in note8 is one of the sharpest, for me it feels cheap/blurred/... If I would say that about any 12mp phone, it would be U11+. Obviously one with more mp is sharper if processing done right.

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              • PiCosm
              • mpR
              • 22 Feb 2018

              Agreed. Love my 8 but it retains a serious issue that the previous Notes suffered from too that few people mention except on forums. Namely that the S-Pen is unusable in Google Docs. Try positioning that cursor or selecting some text using the S-Pen.
              Annoying isn't it? Amazed Google and Samsung have not rectified this after so long considering productivity is the Note's core function.

                Note 8 was a natural upgrade after i totalled my s7 edge.. The spen is advertised for arts making ppts etc.. But it helps me a lot in my ward rounds, jotting down quick notes.. I always tend to lose my notepads... And the cam.. I removed the regular cam shortcut and replaced it with pro mode... Super fast focus even to take wierd pics like ct scan films... May not be the smoothest.. But after using an ipad that freezes again and again(the 9.7 inch pro) I'd rather hav samsung's lag.. Its definitely a niche device and with all those iphones and mi phonesout there, taking out the spen does turn a few heads, even though the feature is years old

                  • w
                  • wasox
                  • 8V}
                  • 22 Feb 2018

                  This device is an absolutely all around beast! It is like in decathlon, in that competition wins the one who achives good or best results in many disciplines, not just one or two

                    Anonymous, 22 Feb 2018Samsung Internet > Chrome Samsung Music > Google Pla... moreTotally agreed. The first things I did when I got my Note 8 were disable Google Play Music and set Samsung Music as default. I also set Samsung Internet as default (I love the ad blocker).
                    I use both Samsung's email and Gmail apps. The former was just easier to set up for my work's email account and have more options (like setting automatic replies when out of office) while Gmail is used for my personal account.

                    So far it's been a great experience.

                      I have to admit. this is a very true and convenient review style. (XD my mistake for the milisecond beforehand. ignore if you saw)
                      As a note 8 user. I have completely agreed with everything it's mentioned it. I got quite long fingers. but due to the horrid fingerprint placement. I've given up on setting a fingerprint and I am just using the iris scanner on my device. and I quite got accostumed to the weight and size... However I am still toward a smaller device.

                        The battle is real... Google vs Samsung, they are best friends but hate each other lolz

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • vjw
                          • 22 Feb 2018

                          Samsung Internet > Chrome
                          Samsung Music > Google Play Music
                          It's good to have the choice sometimes. Some of the Samsung apps just work simply without all the bells and whistles. The Internet app lets you access the internet, the music app lets you play music. Google Play Music is extremely bloated and not very user-friendly.