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Samsung Galaxy Note 8 versus the competition

How does the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8 compare to the best super-sized smartphones on the market? Let's find out.
By
August 23, 2017
Samsung Galaxy Note 8

After being missing in action for a year, the Galaxy Note series is back with Samsung’s latest announcement of the Galaxy Note 8. From our initial time with the phone, it looks like the series has made the type of return that many had hoped for and expected: a truly high-end affair with all of Samsung’s latest bells and whistles.

Fans of the phablet will likely be especially pleased, as large flagship releases have been few and far between in the time since the Note 7. Xiaomi’s Mi Max 2 targeted the mid range rather than the top tier, and the LG V30 and HUAWEI Mate 10 are still hidden behind (largely) closed doors. Even so, let’s stack up the Galaxy Note 8 against its biggest and baddest competitors.

At a glance, the QHD+ HDR AMOLED display, Snapdragon 835, and dual camera configuration is a typical flagship package that places the Note 8 right at the top of the market.

Beginning with the display, the Galaxy Note 8 is one of the biggest and best out there. Its 6.3-inch AMOLED panel is only a smidge larger than the 6.2-inch Galaxy S8 Plus, but is notably larger than the 5.5-inch panels that make up most of the alternatives (different aspect ratio notwithstanding).

The HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro and LG V30 are the closest other Android phones from different brands in terms of sheer size and display resolution. QHD and Samsung’s slightly wider QHD+ variant remain the go-to resolutions in this form factor, where the larger panels can make the most use of the extra pixels, so there’s not a lot to separate the pack here other than size. Although if you’re looking at the cheaper HUAWEI Mate 9 model you’ll have to settle for a 1080p resolution.

Samsung is also boasting that its latest AMOLED displays meet the Mobile HDR Premium certification from the UHD Alliance, just like the S8 series does. Your only other alternative for an HDR smartphone right now is the LG G6 (and the Xperia XZ Premium’s 4K display). However, this is only really worth considering if you’re actually going to view HDR movies and the like while on the go. A niche market right now for sure but one that will grow over the lifespan of this device.

Galaxy Note 8Galaxy S8 PlusGoogle Pixel XLHUAWEI Mate 9 ProLG V20iPhone 7 Plus
Display
Galaxy Note 8
6.3-inch QHD+ AMOLED
(2960x1440)
18.5:9 aspect ratio
Galaxy S8 Plus
6.2-inch
QHD+ AMOLED
(2960x1440)
18.5:9 aspect ratio
Google Pixel XL
5.5-inch QHD AMOLED
(2560x1440)
16:9 aspect ratio
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
5.9-inch FullHD
(2560x1440)
16:9 aspect ratio
LG V20
5.7-inch QHD LCD
(2560x1440)
16:9 aspect ratio
iPhone 7 Plus
5.5-inch LCD
(1920x1080)
16:9 aspect ratio
SoC
Galaxy Note 8
Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895
Galaxy S8 Plus
Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895
Google Pixel XL
Snapdragon 821
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Kirin 960
LG V20
Snapdragon 820
iPhone 7 Plus
Apple A10 Fusion
CPU
Galaxy Note 8
4x 2.35 GHz Kryo 280 +
4x 1.9 GHz Kryo 280 or
4x 2.3 GHz Samsung M2 +
4x 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53
Galaxy S8 Plus
4x 2.4 GHz Kryo 280 +
4x 1.7 GHz Kryo 280 or
4x 2.4 GHz Samsung M2 +
4x 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53
Google Pixel XL
4x 2.15GHz Kryo
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
4x 2.4GHz Cortex-A73 +
4x 1.8GHz Cortex-A53
LG V20
4x 2.15GHz Kryo
iPhone 7 Plus
4x 2.34 GHz
GPU
Galaxy Note 8
Adreno 540 or Mali-G71 MP20
Galaxy S8 Plus
Adreno 540 or Mali-G71 MP20
Google Pixel XL
Adreno 530
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Mali-G71 MP8
LG V20
Adreno 530
iPhone 7 Plus
PowerVR Series7XT Plus
RAM
Galaxy Note 8
6 GB
Galaxy S8 Plus
4 GB
Google Pixel XL
4 GB
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
4GB / 6GB
LG V20
4GB
iPhone 7 Plus
3 GB
Storage
Galaxy Note 8
64 / 128 / 256 GB
Galaxy S8 Plus
64 GB
Google Pixel XL
32 / 128 GB
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
64 / 128 GB
LG V20
32 / 64GB
iPhone 7 Plus
32 / 128 / 256 GB
MicroSD
Galaxy Note 8
Yes
Galaxy S8 Plus
Yes
Google Pixel XL
Yes
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
No
LG V20
Yes
iPhone 7 Plus
No

The processing hardware begins to see the Galaxy Note 8 pull away from most of the pack, as we’re still waiting on phablet refreshes from LG, HUAWEI, and Google’s next Pixel. The Note 8 is simply out of the blocks first. To match the graphical grunt and 10nm efficiency of the Note 8 chipset, your option is limited to the S8 Plus, or picking a smaller flagship like the HTCU11 or LG G6. HUAWEI’s Kirin 960 is a good chip, but its GPU capabilities are notably reduced, and all of last year’s other models are sporting Snapdragon 820 chips. The 820 is no slouch, but it isn’t cutting edge any more.

The extra RAM and memory onboard certainly makes the Note 8 appealing to the range's traditional power user base.

Of course, the performance landscape will change over the next month or so as Samsung’s rivals release their own products. However, no upcoming phone is likely going to notably overtake the Note 8 or Galaxy S8 for performance until 2018.

On the memory side, the Note 8 finally sees some meaningful differentiation from the Galaxy S8 Plus. The Note 8 packs in a whopping 6 GB of RAM, more than you’ll need, and a selection of storage options up to 256 GB, plus a microSD card slot. You’ll be hard pressed to find other phones offering that much storage space, with the Mate 9 Pro model and the iPhone 7 Plus being the closest alternatives in a phablet form factor.

Galaxy Note 8Galaxy S8 PlusGoogle Pixel XLHUAWEI Mate 9 ProLG V20iPhone 7 Plus
Cameras
Galaxy Note 8
12MP f/1.7 wide + 12MP f/2.4 tele rear with OIS & 2x zoom
8 MP f/1.7 front
Galaxy S8 Plus
12 MP f/1.7 rear
8 MP f/1.7 front
Google Pixel XL
12.3 MP f/2.0 rear with OIS
8 MP front
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
12 MP RGB + 20 MP monochrome f/2.0 rear with laser AF & 2x zoom
8MP front
LG V20
16MP f/1.8 + 8MP f/2.4 rear with OIS, laser & PDAF
5MP f/1.9 front
iPhone 7 Plus
12 MP + 12 MP f/1.8 rear with OIS & 2x zoom
7MP f/2.2 front
Battery
Galaxy Note 8
3,300 mAh
Galaxy S8 Plus
3,500 mAh
Google Pixel XL
3,450 mAh
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
4,000 mAh
LG V20
3,200 mAh
iPhone 7 Plus
2750 mAh (est)
NFC
Galaxy Note 8
Yes
Galaxy S8 Plus
Yes
Google Pixel XL
Yes
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Yes
LG V20
Yes
iPhone 7 Plus
Yes
Fingerprint
Galaxy Note 8
Yes
Galaxy S8 Plus
Yes
Google Pixel XL
Yes
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Yes
LG V20
Yes
iPhone 7 Plus
Yes
Fast Charge
Galaxy Note 8
Yes
Galaxy S8 Plus
Yes
Google Pixel XL
Yes
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
SuperCharge
LG V20
Quick Charge 3.0
iPhone 7 Plus
No
IP Rating
Galaxy Note 8
IP68
Galaxy S8 Plus
IP68
Google Pixel XL
No
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
No
LG V20
No
iPhone 7 Plus
IP67
3.5mm audio
Galaxy Note 8
Yes
Galaxy S8 Plus
Yes
Google Pixel XL
Yes
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Yes
LG V20
Yes
iPhone 7 Plus
No
Extras
Galaxy Note 8
USB Type-C, Bixby, Facial Recognition Wireless Charging, Samsung Pay, HDR display, Bluetooth 5
Galaxy S8 Plus
USB Type-C, Bixby, Facial Recognition Wireless Charging, Samsung Pay, HDR display, Bluetooth 5
Google Pixel XL
USB Type-C, Daydream
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
USB Type-C, Daydream
LG V20
USB Type-C, MIL-STD-810G certified, 32-bit/192kHz audio, removable battery
iPhone 7 Plus
Lightning Port, 3DTouch
OS
Galaxy Note 8
Android 7.1
Galaxy S8 Plus
Android 7.0
Google Pixel XL
Android 7.1
HUAWEI Mate 9 Pro
Android 7.0
LG V20
Android 7.0
iPhone 7 Plus
iOS 10

Outside of the new look and display, the other most instantly notable change about the Galaxy Note 8 is the move over to a dual camera configuration. A first for Samsung, meaning that the company joins the likes of LG, HUAWEI, and Apple, among others.

While LG has opted for a wide angle shooting option, and an increasing number of OEMs are opting for a RGB + monochrome camera setup that HUAWEI has made us all quite familiar with, Samsung has plumped for a telephoto secondary lens, much like Apple and OnePlus. The combination of one wide angle and one telephoto lens allows for a 2x optical zoom, software bokeh, and post shutter adjustments, enabling users to get more creative with macro shots and retaining detail at longer distances.

Samsung has provided excellent cameras lately, but the new 2x zoom dual camera offers photographers more shooting options, allowing it to rival the creativity of the LG G6, OnePlus 5, and iPhone 7 Plus.

The familiar f/1.7 aperture for the wide angle lens suggests that we’re looking at a similar quality camera to the impressive Galaxy S8, if not exactly the same sensor simply with a new lens configuration. Now we’re going to need to spend more time with the camera to see if cramming in two sensors has negatively impacted quality at all. But the introduction of a dual camera now means that Samsung is competing with the very best with a range of shooting options.

The front camera configuration also looks quite familiar for Samsung, and its resolution matches up pretty much with what we’ve come to expect from high-end models. Although you can find more dedicated selfie snappers out there with higher resolution.

Dual camera optical zoom technology explained
Features
Samsung Galaxy Note 8

In terms of extras, there’s no removable battery – the LG V20 is one of the few remaining handsets allowing users to swap out the cell. Interestingly, the Galaxy Note 8 battery is smaller than what you receive in the Galaxy S8 Plus, coming in at 3,300 mAh vs 3,500 mAh. We all know why Samsung is probably playing it a little conservatively here, and 3,300 mAh sits right in the middle of what’s on offer from many other large phones. However, when the Pixel XL has a bigger battery and you’re well behind the Mate 9’s colossal 4,000 mAh capacity (and that paired with a Full HD display), you can’t help but feel a little short-changed in terms of potential screen-on time with the Note 8.

Extra features is where Samsung has typically shone against the competition, and the Galaxy Note 8 is no exception. USB Type-C, NFC and MST for Samsung Pay, wireless charging out of the box, Bluetooth 5, and facial recognition are all there, along with the beloved S-Pen. Although most of these features will feel very familiar to Galaxy S8 owners, and a lot of them are available on other models too. The IP68 rating is something that a few phablets offer now, so it’s no surprise that the Note 8 has water and dust resistance.

Bixby Voice now available in 200 countries (but only in English and Korean)
News

Bixby will arrive out of the box with the Note 8, and Samsung is also now rolling out its voice service worldwide to Galaxy S8 owners too. Although virtual assistants are touted as the next big thing, most of today’s phones already have access to Google Assistant, which many prefer anyway. Support for Samsung Dex also makes a return with the Note 8, and there’s support for a range of Samsung’s smart home products too. If you’re big into Samsung’s ecosystem then this might win you over compared to other handsets, but these probably won’t be a deal maker or breaker to many.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Wrap Up

With the absence of the Galaxy Note 7, a number of flagship phablet models stepped in to attempt to fill the void last year. And although there are some very good alternatives out there, the Galaxy Note 8 has returned as one of the most feature rich super-sized smartphones ever to hit the market.

Samsung’s Note series has always been used to debuting cutting edge technology and this year’s release is no different. The move over to dual cameras is the biggest change here, and the extra RAM and memory on board certainly makes the phone appealing to its traditional power user base. So in that sense this release feels very much like a classic Galaxy Note launch.

However, S-Pen notwithstanding, Samsung already has a very similar device in the Galaxy S8 Plus, in terms of both hardware and software features. Those who quickly picked one up looking for a Note 7 replacement may not feel the need to upgrade quickly to the Note 8, and the inevitable price drop on the S8 Plus will present a great opportunity to pick up a powerful big phone without the Note 8’s big price tag.

All of that being said, the Note 8’s only real competitors right now are notably older. We are awaiting the launch of three of the Note 8’s major competitors before the year is out, and so phablet fans may want to wait and see what the likes of the LG V30, HUAWEI Mate 10, and Pixel XL 2, have to offer before making up their minds.