After the problem with Note 7, Samsung has been more stringent, set up a series of battery safety tests on the Note 8 as well as the Galaxy S8 launched earlier this year. So far no feedback on the battery on the S8 exploded, it can be seen Samsung succeeded half of the fix.
Note information about the image and technical specifications of Note 8 are accurate. The design is similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, but with a slightly larger screen (6.3 inches instead of 6.2 inches), the corners are squarely made. The device still has curved but less curved screens, making room for the plane to optimize the use of S pen. Note 8 is 195 grams heavier than the S8 Plus 173 grams, and honestly you’ll notice it right away when you hold it. As for color choices it offers black, gray , yellow, blue , but yellow and blue won’t be sold in the US.
Specifications Galaxy Note 8
Display: 6.3-inch Quad HD + (2960 × 1440) Super AMOLED
Processor
US: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 International: Samsung Exynos Octa core
Memory: 4GB (US) / 128GB / 256GB (microSD support)
RAM 6GB
Camera
Following: Dual 12MP cameras with OIS. Wide-angle f / 1.7, telephoto f / 2.4
Previous: 8MP f / 1.7
Pin: 3300 mAh
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Waterproof and dustproof IP68 standard
Wireless charging
NFC, MST (for Samsung Pay)
SB Type-C
Bluetooth 5.0 / LTE Cat. 16 / Wi-Fi: 802.11a / b / g / n / ac
When talking about the hardware of the Note 8, Samsung compared it to the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 – just as Note 7 was completely removed. Samsung says S pen is water resistant and feels a lot of pressure. But this is nothing new since it resembles the pen S on Note 7 last year.
The Galaxy Note 8 uses a Snapdragon 835 processor, 64GB of memory (microSD support) and 6GB of RAM. Samsung has chosen the safe direction for Note 8 when it comes with a slightly smaller battery – 3300mAh. When viewed on the front Note 8 is virtually indistinguishable from the S8 and S8 Plus, the biggest difference being the dorsal aspect: Dual camera.
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Samsung equips Note 8 with two 12 megapixel cameras. A regular lens (wide angle) with a f / 1.7 aperture, and a telephoto lens f / 2.4. Samsung claims this is the first device that both cameras have optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities. Meanwhile, the Apple iPhone 7 Plus only has a main lens with OIS. That will allow the machine to use both lenses more often than the default one with a conventional lens in low light conditions like on the iPhone.
With dual cameras, there are a lot of new software modes to look forward to. Portrait mode, allowing background blur, bokeh effect. The “Double Shot” mode basically mixes what both cameras see and then saves the results by themselves. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 still keeps the same fingerprint sensor as the Galaxy S8, or at least that what many people notice right away. Most users seem to not like this kind of placement much, it feels odd and kinda awkward
Battery Life
Battery Specifications
Battery Performance
In practice the Note 8’s battery life looks pretty decent, you’ll usually make it through a full day even when your usage is moderate, or sometimes when it’s a little heavier. You know, it mostly comes down to what you do all day, like web browsing, social media scrolling, streaming video, plus the occasional gaming session. For most people, the usual outcome lands around 6 to 7 hours of screen-on time, but it really depends on your habits,and how hard you push the phone.
Charging is also a highlight. The Note 8 supports fast charging, both on the cable, and with wireless charging as well. When you plug it in,it can reach roughly 50% in around 30 minutes. Wireless is undeniably easier day to day, though it generally runs slower than wired charging, and yes that part is pretty normal. The good news is that the Note 8 also supports fast wireless charging, so it helps narrow the gap versus standard wireless charging.
Software Experience
User Interface
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes with Android 7.1.1 Nougat right out of the box , and then Samsung’s TouchWiz UI sits on top of it. After some time Samsung actually changed the name from TouchWiz to Samsung Experience ,and later it moved again to One UI. But, if i’m being real, the underlying arrangement and most of the key behavior feel pretty much the same, like nothing very dramatic happens.
With Samsung’s interface you get a bunch of personalization choices, theme support is there, plus you can move widgets around and tweak where icons end up. There are also Samsung-only tools, like the Edge Screen, which gives quick access to apps, people, and other tools by using the curved part of the display. And the Note 8 supports Multi-Window too, so you can run two apps at once, which helps with multitasking, though it depends on what you’re doing.
Connectivity and Extras
Connectivity Options
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes with a pretty complete mix of connectivity choices. You get 4G LTE onboard, which helps keep mobile data running quickly, and it also brings Wi‑Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac so you can stay online over wireless networks without much hassle. Bluetooth 5.0 is there too, for tying in different accessories, while NFC support makes tap to pay and quick pairing feel easy and natural.
Then there’s the physical side of things: the Note 8 includes a USB Type‑C port for charging, plus data transfer when you need it. A 3.5mm headphone jack is also included, which is kind of a nod to people who still like a wired audio setup, since many other top tier phones around that era had started moving away from this.
Extras
On the durability front, the Note 8 is IP68 rated for water and dust resistance, meaning it’s built to handle immersion up to 1.5 meters for around 30 minutes. That kind of certification basically adds sturdiness, and gives users a little more peace of mind if the phone somehow ends up getting exposed to the elements.
You also get a fingerprint scanner for biometric security, though its rear position near the camera can feel awkward for some people. On top of that, it supports facial recognition and iris scanning as additional security options, so you get multiple unlocking paths, not just one method, depending on what’s most convenient at the moment.
Galaxy Note 8 running Android 7.1.1 software experience is basically identical to the Galaxy S8. Of course, Bixby can not be missing and the dedicated button for this Samsung assistant. Samsung also put Dex on Note 8, if you buy more dock, you can plug it into the screen to experience with the mouse and keyboard like the computer.
There are some tricks with S Pen: You can create 100 pages of notes in Screen Off Memo mode, which is activated when you pull S Pen off when the screen is off. In Live Messenger, you can handwrite a letter or maybe even a picture using the S Pen, send it to someone, and it will play back what you drew as an actual image. The messages are stored as GIFs, so they’re pretty straight forward to share across different programs and social networks, like it stays compatible everywhere. Finally, the translation feature was introduced on Note 7, just highlight the text with S pen immediately it will be translated with 71 different languages.
Samsung believes there are still users who love the Note. Assuming its sales are not that impressive, it still has a successful return from failure.
Comparison with Competitors
To give a good , well rounded view, it’s nice to put the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 side by side with other flagships from about that same time frame. You can look at the Apple iPhone 8 Plus, the Google Pixel 2 XL , and the LG V30, and kinda see where each one goes right or wrong.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Apple iPhone 8 Plus
The iPhone 8 Plus has a screen that feels about the same size at 5.5 inches , but it uses a lower resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. By contrast, the Note 8 comes with a Quad HD+ display, so the sharpness is in a different league. In day to day speed, the iPhone 8 Plus keeps things steady thanks to Apple’s A11 Bionic chip, and it lands in the same general contest as the Note 8’s Exynos 8895/Snapdragon 835 setups.
On the camera side, the iPhone 8 Plus can still hold its own, yet it does not have the Note 8’s dual camera arrangement. That dual setup matters because it brings optical zoom plus better results in darker scenes, which is the kind of thing people notice when lighting gets messy.
A major difference is the software vibe too. The Note 8 runs Android, which is famously flexible and easy to tune, plus it supports a broader variety of app styles compared with iOS. Also, there’s the stylus angle: the iPhone 8 Plus doesn’t include a pen, while the Note 8’s S Pen gives extra tools for work flow and creative habits, not just basic phone stuff.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. Google Pixel 2 XL
The Google Pixel 2 XL goes with a 6.0-inch P-OLED display and a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels. So, the viewing experience stays crisp in a way that’s pretty similar in spirit to the Note 8. For internal power, the Pixel 2 XL uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 along with 4GB of RAM. That combo is capable, but it’s a bit behind the Note 8 when you compare raw memory capacity.
The Pixel 2 XL ’s camera is pretty well known for its computational photography, and it does especially well when the light is low. That said , it doesn’t have the dual-camera setup you get on the Note 8. The Pixel 2 XL comes with a clean Android build, so day to day it feels kind of odd compared with Samsung’s highly customized TouchWiz thing, where everything feels more… placed and arranged.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs. LG V30
On the display side, the LG V30 lands a 6.0-inch P-OLED panel, with a resolution of 2880 x 1440 pixels. It’s kind of in the same ballpark as the Note 8, you know, not wildly different. For performance, the V30 is built around the Snapdragon 835, and it comes with 4GB of RAM too, so it feels a bit shorter on paper compared to the Note 8’s 6GB.
As for the cameras, the V30 goes for a dual setup, a 16MP regular lens plus a 13MP wide-angle lens, which gives you a broader, more expansive view, rather than leaning on the Note 8’s zoom-oriented approach. On top of that, the LG V30 supports Hi-Fi audio, and it really throws its weight behind multimedia features, which could be a big reason to choose it for people who care about sound fidelity, or who just like spending time consuming media, a lot.
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is, in a way, a pretty big step forward for the Note series, because it tries to smooth out some earlier headaches and still lands you with a pretty full-on flagship kind of vibe. With its Infinity Display that looks amazing, plus strong hardware, a versatile S Pen, and camera abilities that don’t just sit there, the Note 8 seems made for people who want top-tier performance and a few fresh, innovative touches in their smartphone.
In day to day use, the Note 8 really shows up across a bunch of areas, especially the display quality , the way the cameras behave, and its multitasking capabilities. And yeah, the S Pen is still one of those “oh, right, this is why I picked the Note” things, giving extra value to users who actually lean on its uncommon little features. It does have tough competition from other flagship phones, of course, but the Note 8’s mix of performance and feature set makes it a convincing option for anyone hunting for a premium mobile experience.
So overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 feels like a proof point for Samsung’s talent at moving forward, and turning out high-quality gear for all kinds of users. Whether you’re the productivity type, the multimedia enthusiast, or you just want a serious phone, the Note 8 lands in that sweet spot as a well balanced, feature rich choice, without making things overly complicated.
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Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.