Samsung Galaxy Note 8
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, tablets, consumer electronics |
| Owner | Samsung Group |
| Website | www |
Overview
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an Android-based phablet smartphone designed, manufactured, and distributed by Samsung Electronics. It serves as the successor to the discontinued Galaxy Note 7, as well as the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy Note 4 models. The device was officially introduced on 23 August 2017 and released to the market on 15 September 2017.
Building upon the foundation of its predecessors, the Note 8 enhances key hardware specifications and the signature S Pen functionalities. Although it closely resembles the overall design and size of the Galaxy S8+, this model incorporates a more powerful processor and introduces Samsung’s first dual rear camera setup. This dual-camera system includes a wide-angle lens paired with a telephoto lens, both equipped with 12-megapixel sensors and optical image stabilization. The S Pen stylus now supports higher pressure sensitivity and benefits from upgraded software that expands note-taking features on the always-on display, alongside new capabilities such as animated GIF creation and enhanced translation tools.
History
On 20 July 2017, Samsung posted a teaser video on Twitter featuring a dimly lit device accompanied by a stylus, announcing the date for its forthcoming "Unpacked" event as 23 August 2017. The Galaxy Note 8 was officially introduced during this event and subsequently became available on 15 September 2017. Owners of the Galaxy Note 7 were offered a special discounted price of $524 for this new phablet, following the recall of the previous model.
Chipsets
Depending on the market, the Note 8 is equipped with either an Exynos 8895 or a Snapdragon 835 processor, paired with 6 GB of RAM.
Battery
This model features a non-removable 3300 mAh battery that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0, delivering charging power up to 15 W.
Display
The Note 8 features a 6.3-inch 1440p Super AMOLED screen with curved edges, resembling the Galaxy S8, though its display is somewhat flatter and more rectangular in shape. Samsung branded this design as an "Infinity Display".
Camera
This model marks Samsung's introduction of a dual-camera setup, consisting of a 12 MP wide-angle lens with an f/1.7 aperture and a 12 MP telephoto lens featuring an f/2.4 aperture and double the focal length. Both lenses are equipped with optical image stabilization.
Similar to its predecessor, the device supports video capture at 2160p (4K) resolution at 30 frames per second, limited to 10 minutes per clip, as well as 1080p (Full HD) video recording up to 60 frames per second and 720p (HD) slow-motion video at a maximum of 240 frames per second.
Storage
In the United States, the Note 8 is available with 64 GB of built-in storage and includes support for expandable storage via microSD cards. Internationally, it offers larger internal capacities of 128 GB and 256 GB.
Biometrics
The device incorporates a fingerprint sensor positioned adjacent to the rear camera and maintains facial recognition and iris scanning capabilities similar to those found on the Galaxy S8.
Audio
Included in the box are premium earbuds tuned by AKG, alongside the Note series' signature S Pen. Compared to the Note 5, the Note 8's S Pen provides improved pressure sensitivity with 4,096 distinct levels, although The Verge noted these advancements were first introduced with the discontinued Note 7. Connectivity options comprise a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. Additionally, the device supports Samsung DeX, enabling users to connect their phone to a dock and monitor for a desktop-like experience with mouse and keyboard input.
Exterior
The Galaxy Note 8 and its S Pen both hold an IP68 certification, ensuring resistance against water and dust. This model is offered in five distinct colors: Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Maple Gold, Deepsea Blue, and Blossom Pink—the latter frequently referred to as Star Pink. However, the availability of the Maple Gold, Deepsea Blue, and Blossom Pink options is restricted to select markets and regions rather than being globally distributed. Like the Galaxy S8, the Note 8 features a dedicated hardware button specifically for activating the Bixby virtual assistant.
A special edition tailored for the 2018 Winter Olympics was released, showcasing a white rear panel accented with gold details and accompanied by themed wallpapers.
Software
Upon release, the Note 8 operated on Android version 7.1.1 "Nougat", layered with Samsung's proprietary custom user interface. The S Pen enhances functionality through additional software capabilities such as "Live Message," which enables users to craft handwritten notes combined with emojis that transform into brief animated GIFs. Removing the S Pen triggers the "Screen Off Memo" feature, allowing immediate note-taking on the display even when the screen is off, thanks to its always-on functionality. Up to 100 notes can be stored in this manner, with easy access to pinned notes visible on the always-on screen. The "Translate" tool has been upgraded to recognize punctuation, permitting translation of entire sentences instead of single words, supporting 71 languages.
The Note 8’s curved screen edges facilitate multitasking by enabling users to open two applications simultaneously via a feature called "App Pair." Within the Camera app, the "Live Focus" effect allows adjustment of background blur intensity both pre- and post-capture, while "Dual Capture" utilizes both rear cameras to take separate photos of the same subject—one close-up and one wide-angle.
On March 30, 2018, Samsung rolled out an update to Android 8.0 "Oreo" for the Galaxy Note 8, incorporating Samsung’s customized interface enhancements. This update refined the user interface by streamlining home screen and settings menus, introduced new Edge lighting effects, and improved overall system stability. Additionally, enhancements were made to Samsung DeX’s docking experience, including a redesigned full-screen Apps screen replacing the previous pop-up window format.
The device later received an update to Android 9 Pie on February 26, 2019. Despite official support ending there, community-developed custom ROMs have enabled unofficial upgrades to One UI version 3.1 based on Android 11, extending software capabilities beyond Samsung’s provided updates.
Reception
The camera evaluation firm DxOMark awarded the Note 8 a score of 94, tying it for the highest rating achieved by any smartphone at the time alongside the iPhone 8 Plus. Shortly after this assessment was released, the Pixel 2 underwent testing and surpassed both devices with an impressive score of 98. Additionally, the Note 8 was recognized for having superior optical image stabilization compared to the IPhone X.
Similar to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, the Note 8 faced significant criticism regarding the positioning of its fingerprint sensor. Unlike most Android devices that place the fingerprint scanner below the rear camera, Samsung positioned it adjacent to the camera on these models, resulting in awkward handling and requiring users to adjust their grip upward to access it comfortably.
In light of the battery issues experienced with the Note 7, Samsung adopted a more cautious approach by equipping the Note 8 with a slightly smaller power source. While the Note 7 featured a 3500 mAh battery, the Note 8 utilized a non-removable 3300 mAh lithium-ion battery. Consequently, its battery endurance was not among the best in its class, prompting numerous users to express dissatisfaction.
Both consumers and critics lauded the Note 8's "Infinity Display," characterized by significantly reduced bezels compared to conventional smartphones. The screen was also commended for its vivid color reproduction and high brightness levels, reaching around 1200 nits.
Several technology reviewers highlighted that the Note 8's mono speaker was relatively weak. Nevertheless, it received positive remarks for retaining a headphone jack—a feature that many flagship phones of 2017 had abandoned following Apple's controversial removal of this port from the IPhone 7 and 7 Plus in 2016. This omission forced users to rely on a supplied 3.5 mm headphone adapter or switch to wireless audio solutions.
See also
References
Further reading
- Review by Android Authority
- BGR — Durability tests reveal the Note 8 withstands nearly everything, including fire
External links
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- Mobile phones launched in 2017
- Samsung Galaxy Note series
- Android OS devices
- Phones with multiple rear cameras
- Phones with stylus input
- Devices capable of 4K video recording
- Discontinued flagship smartphones
- Phones featuring pressure-sensitive touchscreens
- Samsung Galaxy Note mobile phones