Samsung's new phablet was officially unveiled at today's Samsung Unpacked 2017 presentation. And finally, we no longer have to guess what the Galaxy Note 8 will be like.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy Note 8:
- Screen: 6.3-inch, 2960x1440 pixels (Quad HD+) Infinity Display, Super AMOLED, Gorilla Glass 5, 521 dpi pixel density.
- Processor: Exynos 8895, 2.3GHz, 10nm, 8 cores, 4 cores 2.3GHz + 4 cores 1.7GHz.
- Memory: 6 GB of RAM (LPDDR4), 64 GB of permanent memory, microSD slot up to 256 GB.
- Cameras: 12 MP dual main, f/1.7 + f/2.4 aperture, optical stabilization, 2x optical zoom, 10x digital and 8-megapixel front f/1.7 aperture, autofocus and QHD video recording.
- Battery: 3300 mAh, fast wired and fast wireless charging (no wireless charger included).
- Software: Android 7.1.1 Nougat, update to Android 8.0 Oreo coming soon.
- Features: S Pen, IP68 waterproof housing, fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, USB Type-C, heart rate monitor, AKG headphones, Samsung Pay, Bixby voice assistant.
Dimensions and weight: 162.5x74.8x8.6 mm and 195 grams.
Screen
The highlight of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is its impressively large Infinity Display. With a diagonal of 6.3 inches and a resolution of 2960x1440 pixels (QHD+), it offers an incredible pixel density of 521 dpi. The display panel is capable of displaying HDR content, just like other company flagships released this year. On the front, on a thin frame on top of the screen, there is a speaker, a front camera, an iris scanner lens, several necessary sensors and that's it. There is no home button, and the fingerprint sensor has moved to the back.
cameras
At the back is a dual main camera with a pair of 12-megapixel modules. To their right are the flash, heart rate monitor, and finally the fingerprint scanner. The engineers did the right thing by increasing the gap between the camera and this biometric scanner. Now the lenses will be less dirty.
It is worth noting that the main lens of the main camera received wide-angle lenses and an aperture of f / 1.7, while the additional telephoto lens boasts a 2x optical zoom and 10x digital. Optical image stabilization is present on both modules. The front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor with f/1.7 aperture and precise autofocus.
Design
On the top edge was a combo slot for either two SIM cards, or one microSD or one SIM. On the opposite side, we see a USB Type-C port, a 3.5mm audio jack, an S Pen slot, and a speakerphone. On the left is the volume rocker and Bixby activation button, and on the right is the power button. By the way, the new stylus is capable of distinguishing 4096 degrees of pressure, supports the function of live messages, real-time translation, and so on. Its length is 108.3 mm, and its width is 5.8 mm.
Filling
Inside is an 8-core Exynos 8895 processor (4 productive 2.3 GHz + 4 low-performance 1.7 GHz cores), working in conjunction with a Mali-G71 graphics accelerator. Samsung uses a 6 GB LPDDR4 RAM chip. The choice of the user is offered three options for internal memory: 64, 128 and 256 GB.
The 3300 mAh battery supports 2 wireless charging standards at once - these are WPC and PMA (Qi). It's naturally non-removable, but it can also charge very quickly, like on the Galaxy S8/S8 Plus.
Note 8 dimensions and weight:
- Height: 162.5 mm
- Width: 74.8mm
- Thickness: 8.6mm
- Weight: 195 grams
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 received support for NFC and MST, that is, it is compatible with Samsung Pay contactless payment service. The chipset also integrates a Cat.16 LTE module that can provide a smartphone user with wireless Internet at a transfer rate of up to 10 Gbps.
The device runs on the operating system Android 7.1.1 Nougat, but soon Seoul promises to update it to Android 8.0. It is also equipped with a whole range of sensors from an accelerometer to a gyroscope and a pressure sensor. Moisture and dust will not get inside due to IP68 certification.
How do you like the new Samsung Galaxy Note 8? What did you like the most?
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of a particular device, if any.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Used materials, suggested colors, certificates.
| Width Width information refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 74.8 mm (millimeters) 7.48 cm (centimeters) 0.25ft 2.94in |
| Height Height information refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 162.5 mm (millimeters) 16.25 cm (centimeters) 0.53 ft 6.4in |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 8.6 mm (millimeters) 0.86 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft 0.34in |
| The weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 195 g (grams) 0.43 lbs 6.88oz |
| Volume Approximate volume of the device, calculated from dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 104.53 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6.35 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black Golden Blue Grey |
| Housing materials The materials used to make the body of the device. | Glass Aluminium alloy |
| Certification Information about the standards to which this device is certified. | IP68 |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is short for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more speed and spectral efficiency with W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1700/2100 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 700 MHz Class 13 LTE 700 MHz Class 17 LTE 800 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1700/2100 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 1900 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39) LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40) LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41) LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38) LTE 1700/2100 MHz (B66) LTE 700 MHz (B28) |
Mobile technologies and data rates
Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out through technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
The operating system is the system software that manages and coordinates the operation of the hardware components in the device.
SoC (System on a Chip)
System on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device in one chip.
| SoC (System on a Chip) System on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 |
| Technological process Information about the technological process by which the chip is made. The value in nanometers measures half the distance between the elements in the processor. | 10 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is the interpretation and execution of instructions contained in software applications. | 4x 2.35 GHz Kryo 280, 4x 1.9 GHz Kryo 280 |
| Processor bit depth The bit depth (bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more productive than 16-bit processors. | 64 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands by which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv8-A |
| First level cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently accessed data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. With some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes) |
| Second level cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but in return it has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or RAM. | 3072 KB (kilobytes) 3 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing many instructions to be executed in parallel. | 8 |
| Processor clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 2350 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The graphics processing unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is used most often by games, consumer interface, video applications, etc. | Qualcomm Adreno 540 |
| GPU clock speed Speed is the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 710 MHz (megahertz) |
| The amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost when the device is turned off or restarted. | 6 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR4X |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates. | dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its speed, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data. | 1866 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has a built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed amount.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends. | Super AMOLED |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, the screen size is expressed in terms of its diagonal length, measured in inches. | 6.3in 160.02 mm (millimeters) 16 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate Screen Width | 2.76in 70 mm (millimeters) 7 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate Screen Height | 5.67in 143.9 mm (millimeters) 14.39 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 2.056:1 |
| Permission Screen resolution indicates the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail. | 1440 x 2960 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail. | 522 ppi (pixels per inch) 205 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for the color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen space on the front of the device. | 83.14% (percentage) |
| Other characteristics Information about other functions and features of the screen. | capacitive Multitouch Scratch resistance |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 5 dual edge display Always On Display |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that are recognized by the mobile device.
rear camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on its rear panel and can be combined with one or more additional cameras.
| Sensor type | |
| Sensor format | 1/3.6" |
| Pixel size | 1 µm (micrometers) 0.001000 mm (millimeters) |
| Svetlosila | f/1.7 |
| Focal length | 26 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| line of sight | 77° (degrees) |
| Flash type The rear (rear) cameras of mobile devices mainly use LED flashes. They can be configured with one, two or more light sources and vary in shape. | Double LED |
| Image Resolution | 4032 x 3024 pixels 12.19 MP (megapixels) |
| Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels 8.29 MP (megapixels) |
| 30 fps (frames per second) | |
| Characteristics Information about additional software and hardware features of the rear (rear) camera. | autofocus Burst shooting digital zoom Digital Image Stabilization Optical Image Stabilization geo tags panoramic shooting HDR shooting Touch focus Face recognition Adjusting the white balance ISO setting Exposure compensation Self-timer Scene Selection Mode RAW Phase detection autofocus (PDAF) |
| Phase detection with Dual Pixel Object tracking AF Smart OIS High CRI LED flash 720p@240fps Secondary rear camera - 12 MP (telephoto) Optical Image Stabilization (#2) Aperture size - f/2.4 (#2) Angle of view - 45° (#2) |
Front-camera
Smartphones have one or more front cameras of various designs - a pop-up camera, a PTZ camera, a cutout or hole in the display, a camera under the display.
| Sensor type Information about the type of camera sensor. Some of the most widely used types of sensors in mobile device cameras are CMOS, BSI, ISOCELL, etc. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Sensor format The optical format of a sensor is an indication of its shape and size. Usually expressed in inches. | 1/3.6" |
| Pixel size Pixels are usually measured in microns. Larger pixels are able to capture more light and therefore provide better low-light performance and a wider dynamic range than smaller pixels. On the other hand, smaller pixels allow higher resolution while maintaining the same sensor size. | 1.22 µm (micrometers) 0.001220 mm (millimeters) |
| Svetlosila Luminosity (also known as f-stop, aperture, or f-number) is a measure of the aperture size of a lens that determines the amount of light that enters the sensor. The lower the f-number, the larger the aperture and the more light reaches the sensor. Usually, the number f is indicated, which corresponds to the maximum possible aperture of the aperture. | f/1.7 |
| Focal length Focal length indicates the distance in millimeters from the sensor to the optical center of the lens. The equivalent focal length (35mm) is the focal length of a mobile device camera that is equal to the focal length of a 35mm full frame sensor that would achieve the same angle of view. It is calculated by multiplying the actual focal length of the mobile device's camera by the crop factor of its sensor. The crop factor can be defined as the ratio between the 35mm diagonals of a full-frame sensor and a mobile device sensor. | 25 mm (millimeters) *(35 mm / full frame) |
| line of sight The field of view indicates how much of the scene in front of the camera will be filmed. It depends not only on the focal length, but also on the size of the sensor. It can be calculated through the angle of view of the optics and the crop factor of the sensor. The viewing angle is the angle between the two farthest diagonal points in the frame. | 80° (degrees) |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of cameras is resolution. It represents the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in an image. For convenience, smartphone manufacturers often list resolution in megapixels, giving an approximate number of pixels in millions. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video Resolution Information about the maximum video resolution that the camera can record. | 2560 x 1440 pixels 3.69 MP (megapixels) |
| Video recording speed (frame rate) Information about the maximum recording rate (frames per second, fps) supported by the camera at maximum resolution. Some of the most basic video recording speeds are 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps, 60 fps. | 30 fps (frames per second) |
| Auto HDR |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about navigation and location technologies supported by the device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for short distance data transmission between different devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between different types of devices over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, making it easier to discover and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 5.0 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols for faster data exchange, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of the profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) DIP (Device ID Profile) HFP (Hands Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) LE (Low Energy) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to communicate.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the key features and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support various audio file formats and codecs that store and encode/decode digital audio data, respectively.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support various video file formats and codecs, which store and encode/decode digital video data, respectively.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge they need to function.
| Capacity The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliamp-hours. | 3300 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more specifically, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used in mobile devices. | Li-polymer (Li-polymer) |
| Talk time 2G Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 2G network. | 22 h (hours) 1320 min (minutes) 0.9 days |
| 3G talk time Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged during a continuous conversation in a 3G network. | 22 h (hours) 1320 min (minutes) 0.9 days |
| Adapter output power Information about the electrical current (measured in amps) and electrical voltage (measured in volts) supplied by the charger (power output). Higher power output ensures faster battery charging. | 5 V (volts) / 2 A (amps) 9 V (volts) / 1.67 A (amps) |
| Fast charging technology Fast charging technologies differ from each other in terms of energy efficiency, maintained output power, control over the charging process, temperature, etc. The device, battery and charger must be compatible with fast charging technology. | Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 |
| Characteristics Information about some additional features of the device's battery. | Wireless charger fast charging Fixed |
| Qi/PMA wireless charging |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
SAR levels refer to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| Head SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are controlled by the CTIA and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 0.7 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest acceptable SAR value in the US is 1.6 W/kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA controls whether mobile devices comply with this standard. | 0.93 W/kg (watt per kilogram) |
At the disposal of our Internet project was a new premium smartphone from Samsung - Galaxy Note 8. In technical terms, the novelty is an organic continuation of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S8. Among the differences are a screen diagonal that has grown to 6.3 inches, a drawing function using the S Pen stylus supplied in the kit, a dual camera, 6 GB of RAM, and a more strict appearance. At the start of sales, the price of the device is like that of a powerful laptop - from 69,990 rubles. Is Note 8 capable of becoming a full-fledged replacement for a computer, and is it that good?
The story of the spontaneously combustible batteries in the Note 7 last year did not stop the Korean company's plans to develop a line of extra-large smartphones. Painstaking work has been carried out and now Samsung has assured that there will be no problems with the new Note 8 model. 146% guarantee!
The novelty itself turned out to be extremely interesting and rich in terms of functionality. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has a strict appearance, and the glass and metal body received IP68 dust and water resistance. The most interesting visible part of the device was a 6.3-inch screen with curved edges on the sides. In terms of hardware, the novelty boasts the most productive hardware: an eight-core Exynos 8895 processor, Mali-G71 graphics, 6 GB of RAM. Built-in memory 64 GB, it can be supplemented with microSD memory cards (cards up to 250 GB are supported).
The smartphone supports all wireless communications - LTE Cat.16, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, Samsung Pay. The main camera received a dual module - 12 megapixels each, with the ability to record in 4K, optical stabilization and a dozen special modes. Front camera 8 megapixels. To unlock the smartphone, you can use the built-in fingerprint scanner, as well as the iris and face recognition sensor. The device comes preloaded with Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system with Clean UI shell. According to Samsung, the device can be updated to the latest versions of Android, including Android 8 Oreo.
Thanks to the DeX docking station, the phone can be turned into a full-fledged computer or something like it. This is especially true, given the price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 at 70 thousand rubles.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy Note 8 SM-N950F
id="sub0">| Characteristic | Description |
| Body materials: | Aluminum (7000 series), Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Hull protection: |
according to IP68 class from water up to 30 minutes at a depth of up to 1.5 meters |
| Screen: | curved on both sides SuperAMOLED, diagonal 6.3 inches, resolution 1440x2960 pixels (521 ppi), adaptive color and brightness adjustment, color correction, AlwaysOn Display function |
| CPU: | 64-bit Exynos 8895 (4 cores up to 2.35 GHz, 4 cores up to 1.9 GHz) 10 nm |
| GPU: | Mali-G71 |
| RAM: | 6 GB (LPDDR4) |
| Flash memory: | 64 GB (user available 52.3 GB) + microSD card slot (up to 256 GB) |
| Mobile connection: | 2G (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), 3G (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), 4G (including LTE 800, 1800, 2600) |
| SIM card type: | Two nanoSIM cards, one of which is combined with a memory card slot |
| Communications and ports: | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 and 5 GHz), NFC, USB Type C, Bluetooth 5.0, 3.5mm headset, ANT+, Samsung Pay, S Pen, handwriting recognition, 2048 pressure levels, drawing and note-taking application |
| Navigation: | GPS, AGPS, GLONASS |
| Sensors: | light sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer/gyroscope, barometer, digital compass, fingerprint scanner, iris scanner, face scanner, vibration sensor, heart rate sensor |
| Main camera: | Dual, both modules 12 megapixels, f/1.7, autofocus, LED flash, 4K video recording, optical stabilizer |
| Front-camera: | 8 MP, autofocus, f/1.7, 1/3.6” |
| Battery: | non-removable, 3300 mAh, built-in WPC/PMA wireless charging, fast charging in 65 minutes |
| Dimensions, weight: | 162.5x74.8x8.6 mm, 195 grams |
| Operating system: | Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Clean UI skin |
| Body colors: | black (Midnight Black), gold (Maple Gold), blue (Blue Saphire) |
Package contents and first impressions
id="sub1">The premium quality of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950) is evident in everything, including the packaging. So, the device comes in a box made of thick black cardboard on magnets with a dust jacket. The reverse side contains brief information about the technical characteristics. The name of the model is printed on the front. The image of the gadget is missing.
In the box you can see the device itself, as well as:
USB Charger Adapter Plug
Computer synchronization cable USB - USB Type C
MicroUSB to USB Type-C adapter (OTG adapter for connecting external devices)
AKG stereo headset with 3.5mm miniJack connector
Clip for SIM card tray
Instructions, warranty card
If we take the average data with a mixed mode of use, we get two days of battery life. Those who use only calls can easily count on 4 days of work. In terms of autonomy, the device differs for the better from the vast majority of Android smartphones.
The device has several power saving modes. Some of them limit the brightness of the backlight of the screen, the frequency of the processor. In this scenario, the operating time will increase by at least 20%. There is an extreme (maximum) power saving mode. In this case, the screen displays only white and gray, all applications except for telephone, SMS, calendar and alarms are disabled.
The phone received a fast charging function. The battery is fully charged in 1 hour 5 minutes. There is also built-in wireless charging.
User interface and operating system
id="sub7">The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes preloaded with Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system and Clean UI user interface.
Smartphone owners have access to all Samsung branded programs, including S Health for monitoring physical activity and health, Bixby voice assistant, gesture support, KNOX - for separating data into personal and work, etc. Missing apps can be downloaded from the Samsung App Store and Google Play. The model supports Samsung Pay service.
The smartphone has gesture control functions, S Pen drawing capabilities, which can make everyday use easier and more convenient. So, there is support for one-handed control and gestures.
The Smart Capture feature allows you to take a screenshot of even hidden areas of the screen, which is useful when you need to capture an entire page on the Internet or if the text does not fit on one screen.
With the Game Launcher and Game Tools, you can turn off touch controls during gameplay to prevent accidental taps, quickly reply to a message without minimizing the game, or block any notifications altogether.
S Pen stylus
id="sub8">As I noted just above, on the bottom end of the Galaxy Note 8 is the S Pen. It has a thinner tip, improved pressure sensitivity, and new features and functions. Here are some of them.
The Animated Messages feature allows you to share animated texts or pictures with friends using different platforms that support animated GIFs.
Screen Notebook allows you to store up to 100 pages of notes on your phone, which you can take immediately after removing the S Pen, "pin" notes on the screen off and then easily edit them.
There is also an improved translation function using the S Pen. It allows you to quickly translate not only individual words, but also entire sentences in 71 languages, as well as convert foreign currencies and units of measurement. To do this, just point the electronic pen at the desired word on the smartphone screen.
Bixby voice assistant
id="sub9">The voice assistant S Voice has become Bixby. Samsung strongly believes that its development will become something like Siri, Cortana or Google Assistant. In addition to the standard recognition of voice commands, Bixby looks at the context in which the request is pronounced, that is, the user's behavior; the application that is open at the moment; location etc. . In fact, Bixby works with Big Data that your smartphone accumulates.
So far, Bixby's current features can't be called intelligent. The prediction system works correctly only in every second case. To train it, you need millions of people to start using Bixby, in such systems it doesn’t happen otherwise - the more they use it, the better they become.
According to analysts, a full-fledged version of Bixby with voice commands, prompts and other things will be released only in December 2017, along with an update to the device on Android 8. So we are waiting.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id="sub10">Samsung Galaxy Note 8 received a dual main camera. These are two sensors of 12 megapixels each. One is a 1/2.55” sensor with a wide-angle lens (f/1.7), the other is a 1/3.6” telephoto (f/2.4), and it is this sensor that provides double optical zoom. There is phase detection autofocus, there is optical image stabilization. Thanks to the increased system performance and the fact that the camera module received its own memory, a comfortable Burst Mode appeared. This mode allows you to take several dozen shots in a row. In addition, the camera focuses on objects faster.
The camera takes slightly better pictures in difficult lighting conditions. In the settings you can find additional shooting modes, including PRO. The rest of the camera improvements are not as significant compared to its predecessors.
The camera interface is made in the traditional Samsung style. There are many settings and preset modes, including self-portrait, panorama, night, continuous shooting, HDR and GIF animation. Video capabilities allow you to shoot in 4K. In FullHD, you can choose between 60 or 30 frames per second. There is optical stabilization.
In manual ISO settings, the available ISO settings are 50, 100, 200, 400, 800. The following shooting modes are available: Single Shot, Smile Detection, Continuous, Panorama, Vintage, Portrait, Landscape, Night Mode, Sports, Indoor, Beach/Snow, sunset, dawn, autumn colors, fireworks, text, dusk, against the light.
The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels. It is quite photosensitive (f / 1.7), a 1 / 3.6 ”matrix has autofocus. When shooting a selfie, it is possible to correct skin tone, face oval and eye size. There is also a panoramic selfie function, although the optics are already wide-angle – it will be possible to capture a small company without special modes.
Results
id="sub11">The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a prime example of a very interesting premium device. It is clear that very wealthy people can afford it. The device is addressed primarily to creative and business audiences. For the first, the opportunity to draw on the screen of the device, as well as take pictures and shoot videos of the highest quality, will come in handy. The dual main camera is very good here. For the latter, the smartphone is suitable for working outside a stationary workplace. Here, the function of several windows in different applications is conveniently implemented, the ability to take some notes using the S Pen stylus, as well as a very solid battery life even under extreme load.
The advantages of the device, I can include a chic 6.3-inch screen, which occupies almost the entire front part. In addition, the device has a high-performance hardware stuffing with a large amount of RAM and built-in memory. The user interface flies, heavy games and videos work without slowdowns. There is a mode of operation with VR helmets and augmented reality programs.
I also note protection against dust and water according to the IP68 class. This allows the smartphone to be at a depth of up to 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. This, of course, does not mean that the phone can be washed under water and, moreover, tested for water resistance in a washing machine. But if you drop it into water, nothing will happen to it. Convenient features include face recognition, iris scanner, gesture control, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, Samsung Pay.
By default, users have access to the S Health app to monitor their physical activity, KNOXX to create a secure data area. The main camera also turned out to be at a high level.
Among the minuses, one can note the risk of breaking the smartphone from the first fall on asphalt or stones. But in most cases, the screen suffers falls without consequences. Much more critical was the transfer of the fingerprint scanner to the back of the smartphone. Because of this, using Samsung Pay has become unusual. Also, the minuses include a slot for memory cards combined with one of the SIM cards.
As for the potential competitors of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, only the iPhone 8 Plus comes to mind. Both devices have cameras of comparable quality and performance. However, Note 8 looks more interesting in terms of appearance and various technical features. The device from Samsung is more versatile. It does not need to buy accessories worth 7-9 thousand rubles for wireless charging or listening to music at home.
Advantages
Quality build and stylish look
Great big screen
High performance
Support for LTE cat. sixteen
Water and dust protection
Dual SIM support
AKG headphones included
Face scanner and iris scanner
high quality camera
disadvantages
Inconvenient location of the fingerprint scanner
High price
Combined slot for SIM cards and memory cards
On the day of publication of this test review, it was possible to buy Samsung Galaxy Note8 (SM-N950) at a price of 69,990 rubles.
Widget from SocialMartThe Internet project site expresses its gratitude to the MegaFon retail network for organizing the testing of the device.
Live photos
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Specifications
- Android 7.1.1
- Display 6.3 inches, 1440x2960 pixels, SuperAMOLED, 521 ppi, Always On Display, HDR10, adaptive color and brightness adjustment, color correction, auto brightness up to 1200 nits
- Chipset Exynos 8895, 8 cores (4 cores up to 2.35 GHz, 4 cores up to 1.9 GHz), 64 bit, 10 nm, models available on Snapdragon 835 in some markets
- 6 GB of RAM (LPDDR4), 64 GB of internal memory (UFS 2.1, 51.2 GB available to the user), memory cards up to 256 GB, combo slot
- nanoSIM, up to two cards, one radio module
- 3300 mAh Li-Ion battery, built-in WPC/PMA wireless charging, fast charging in 65 minutes up to 100 percent
- Front camera, 8 megapixels, autofocus, f/1.7, 1/3.6”
- The main camera is dual, 12 megapixels each module. Main module f/1.7, OIS, LED flash, 4K video recording, multiframe, PDAF, 1/2.55", second telephoto module f/2.4, optical stabilization, optical zoom x2, 1/3.6"
- Samsung Pay (NFC, MST)
- Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80 MU-MIMO, 1024QAM , Bluetooth® v 5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), ANT+, USB Type-C, NFC
- GPS, GLONASS, Galileo
- Fingerprint sensor (on the back)
- Iris scanner, face scanner
- Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyroscope, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Heart Rate Sensor, Proximity Sensor, RGB Light Sensor, Pressure Sensor
- Two simultaneous connections of Bluetooth devices, the ability to listen to sound from different programs on different accessories at the same time
- LTE cat.16 (depends on carrier support)
- LTE FDD band B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B13(700), B17( 700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B25(1900), B26(850), B28(700), B32(1500), B66(AWS-3); TDD LTE band B38(2600), B39(1900), B40(2300), B41(2500); TD-SCDMA band B34(2010), B39(1880)
- Water proof IP68
- S Pen, handwriting recognition, 2048 pressure levels, drawing and note-taking app
- The colors available in Russia are “black diamond”, “blue sapphire”, “yellow topaz”, in the world there are colors Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Orchid Grey, Deep Sea Blue, Star Pink
- Dimensions - 162.5x74.8x8.6 mm, weight - 195 grams
Contents of delivery
- Smartphone
- Charger (quick charge)
- USB Type C cable
- USB Type C to USB adapter (USB OTG)
- AKG wired stereo headset
- "Clip" to remove the SIM card
- Instruction
Positioning
The Note line from Samsung has never been mass, it has always been tens of percent of sales from the level of the current flagship with a larger diagonal. The reason is not only the price, but also the positioning of the device, which focused on three small groups - flagship and geek lovers, as well as a business audience for which additional functions are important, plus a small layer of those who love and know how to draw. For the last two groups, even the name itself reflected the meaning of the device, it is a notepad, but the notepad is modern, electronic. But you can write in it with a pen, which here is called the S Pen, it is initially present in a special compartment in the case and is quite convenient in everyday life.
There have never been and are no direct competitors to the Note line on the market, since no one has been able to create anything like this at the level of both software and hardware. Attempts to create similar devices were made many times, but they were all unsuccessful. Moreover, often such devices were positioned much cheaper, but people simply ignored them - it turned out that the target audience is important not just to buy something with a certain stylus, it is important for them to get a variety of software, new features, and they are ready to pay for it.
The success of the Note line was unexpected, from a niche device not for everyone, the model instantly became a mass device, the second flagship of the company within a year. Before the Note 5, Samsung tried to give the very best technology in this device, but then there was a reassessment of values. So, Note 5 turned out to be rather unsuccessful in sales, as they refused to support memory cards, as well as in other devices of that generation from Samsung. For consumers of the Note line and owners of Note 4, this was a big blow (and Note 2 at that time too). Index "six" was missed, and with Note 7 there was a fire story that could put an end to the entire product line, but this did not happen. True, the positioning has changed a little again, now Samsung is not trying to please geeks, the production cycle has changed so that Note does not receive the latest developments in the field of chipsets and memory, it becomes an analogue of an existing flagship. The logic of this decision is clear, all the best should go to the S9, which is already in development, while the Note will actively highlight and promote what are its strengths.
The business audience for this device has always been strong, but today the promotion of the Note line is reaching a fundamentally new level, as an accessory such as DeX has appeared, which turns the phone into a full-fledged computer or something like it.
In the B2B segment, the company's plans for Note 8 are very large, this device will be offered to corporations as part of existing and new projects, and there are no analogues to such a solution at the moment, which suggests a fairly successful implementation. I am sure that during the year we will hear that certain companies have purchased Note 8 for their employees. Gradually, DeX will begin to penetrate the corporate market, perhaps this will become a trend, although it is difficult to guess something here.
In terms of the market, the Note 8 has only one or two competitors, the iPhone 7 Plus and its successor. The reason is that many will compare the two most expensive solutions from direct competitors, and ordinary consumers will do just that. At the same time, they also have a seemingly similar solution in cameras (optical zoom), which gives even more similarity in the eyes of buyers. In principle, in this price segment, de facto, there are only two names - Apple and Samsung, sales of all other players are at most 5%, and the number of these players is more than a dozen. But consumers do not choose them, but are guided only by familiar names.
For buyers, Note 8 is an ultimate solution that is purchased for the long term, as it has growth capabilities that are relevant for at least a couple of years, or even more, which proves the life cycle of Note 4. This is a flagship that was created without any compromises.
Design, dimensions, controls
The first thing that comes to mind when looking at the Note 8 is that it's some version of the S8+, the devices are very similar. Put the S8 + side by side, and then you will notice a difference by a number of signs, but you will have to look closely. Designers tried to achieve maximum resemblance to a notepad, hence the slightly chopped edges, which in real life do not add any problems in using the device.
Compared to Galaxy S8+
Yes, and from the previous Note, this model differs in its forms.
The dimensions of the devices are comparable, they do not differ very much, a couple of millimeters does not make it possible to say that the Note 8 is huge - it fits perfectly in the hand, is invisible in the pocket, it is convenient to work with it with one hand. So, the dimensions of Note 8 are 162.5 x 74.6 x 8.5 mm, in S8 + it is 159.5 x 73.4 x 8.1 mm. The exception is the fingerprint sensor, which is still located on the back surface, as in the S8 +, but it was moved so that it was impossible to accidentally smear the camera window. Samsung has not been able to make progress with the sensor under the glass, moreover, it may not be in the S9 either, as there were serious engineering difficulties, the same for Apple. It is curious that both manufacturers are trying to buy out the technology of a third company through its purchase and are struggling with their proposals, hoping that they will be the first to make such a decision.
Compared to Moto Z2 Force
The curve of the body feels exactly the same, using Corning Gorilla Glass 5 (a special version without markings, it was created for this device). IP68 protection has not gone anywhere, the device can easily live under water. The internal layout of the device has been slightly redesigned to increase protection after accidental drops, so that no cracks occur and water cannot damage anything inside.
The layout of buttons and connectors is almost exactly the same as on the "eights", there is a separate Bixby key (can be disabled in the menu), as well as a SIM card slot combined with a memory card. Nowhere in the world will there be a device with a separate slot for two SIM-cards and a memory card, only combined ones.
The device has two microphones, they are located at the ends, the noise reduction system works perfectly, on a noisy street in the rain, the interlocutor heard me well.
On the back surface we see the camera, it protrudes from the body, but now the bezel does not stick out so much, this is a noticeable difference. To the right of the camera is a heart rate sensor, it has not disappeared anywhere.
On the front side, above the screen, you can see an 8-megapixel camera, as well as a 3.7-megapixel IRIS scanner and IR illumination to illuminate the face. The resolution of the IRIS scanner has increased, as well as the accuracy and recognition speed compared to the Note 7. The light sensor (also known as the RGB color sensor) is also located here. On the left, there is an LED indicator for missed events.
From the point of view of materials, there are no discoveries, it is exactly the same 7000 aluminum alloy, the coating is like in S8 / S8 +, the structure of the varnish has changed, it is more resistant to scratches.
Inserting the S-Pen with the wrong end will not work, foolproofing was added by default. As well as all the usual options for the stylus are present, you can write by hand on the locked screen, add reminders (expanded functionality) and mark individual events. The S-Pen itself has not undergone major changes compared to the Note 7, it feels exactly the same pen, comfortable and practical.
The iris scanner has changed, it has now received an updated version of hardware and software, it works a little faster in the dark, in daylight it is about the same. We have added a new learning algorithm, the more often and in different conditions you use the scanner, the better and faster it recognizes your eyes. The face scanner has become a little more complicated, but it is still less secure than the iris scanner. On the other hand, it is practically impossible to unlock the device using a face photo, you can watch our video about it.
Three colors are available in Russia - "black diamond", "blue sapphire", "yellow topaz".
In the world, the number of color variations for this device is greater.
Display
The screen diagonal is 6.3 inches, but here the difference with the S8 + is practically not felt, the added 0.1 inches had a minimal effect on the height of the device, and not on its width. And if the S8 + was a huge TV, then this effect only intensifies. Shovel or not, this question will definitely be asked all the time, but once you watch a movie on this screen, this question will disappear by itself. Geometry - all the same 2 to 1, resolution - 2K, or, more precisely, QuadHD +. You can also change the screen resolution, the lower the resolution, the longer the device will work.
The screen type is SuperAMOLED, but, as usual, this is the latest generation, in which many characteristics that are invisible at first glance have been improved little by little. Let's take a closer look at DisplayMate to understand exactly what has changed in this device.
A study from DisplayMate can be found here.
In the study, the screen in Note 8 is called the best screen in mobile devices and says that it has no analogues, I will list some of the points that the researchers noted:
- Maximum brightness in auto mode up to 1200 nits!
- Separate chip for managing Always On Display;
- DCI-P3 color profile with 113% coverage, which makes the picture more vivid, support for Mobile HDR Premium;
- sRGB coverage 141%;
- Ambient light sensors both on the front and on the back of the device;
- HDR10.
This is only a small part of the improvements, the full list will take more than a page, and it's not worth spending time on this. In real life, it is almost impossible to see a strong difference between the S8 + and Note 8 screen indoors, the screens just behave differently in different lighting conditions, and you need to use them to appreciate this difference. But on the street, in difficult lighting conditions, you will see this difference. I can say that this screen is the best on the market, and using the Note 8 and iPhone 8 Plus at the same time, I can say that the screen on the second one looks outdated and not as high quality.
In the settings, you can not only adjust the color temperature, but also correct the colors if you think that something is wrong with them.
The Always On Display operating mode allows you to display a picture or screen saver in the standby mode. For two days, the device spends about 400 mAh for this function to work for 20 hours. AOD brightness has improved over the S8+, although as before, there is no way to adjust this setting. In pockets or a bag, the device understands that it is not necessary to show this screen, and turns it off.
The AOD feature is great as it allows you to see notifications and the time without having to pick up your phone from the table, everything is visible at a glance. You can also customize the background, choose different drawings or choose your own photos. From this screen, you can quickly jump to the selected application by clicking on the icon.
For the curved screen, you can customize various panels, this is a quick launch of applications or specific functions. The presence of such panels makes life easier, since on any screen you can call it up with one touch, for example, I use a calculator like this or launch those applications that I use all the time. It is also very convenient that pictures from the clipboard are shown on the side and you can immediately select them and use them in any of the open applications.
Finally, it is important to note that the presence of a large screen allows you to comfortably work in two windows, you can simultaneously run two applications and work in them in parallel or just see what is happening in them. Added dual shortcuts for the sidebar, that is, you can launch two applications at once with one click. This is a great feature as it saves time. Implementation of work in two windows in Samsung is much more convenient than anyone else. You can drag files from one window to another, copy text, and so on.
Memory, RAM, chipset and performance
I don't understand why China always gets device versions with more memory. So, in the US and Europe, the model will appear with 6 GB of RAM, for the Chinese market a device with 8 GB of RAM will be released a little later. Built-in memory 64 GB, plus memory cards up to 2 TB. A version with 128 GB of internal memory will appear later, availability in Russia is unknown.
For the US, a Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) model is coming out, but for the rest of the world, including Russia, it will be Exynos 8895 (also 10 nm), which is well known to us from S8 / S8 +.
The performance of the chipset is typical for the current models from Samsung, it is not the maximum in synthetics. But if you look at the performance in real tasks, you will find that the device is one of the fastest. No slowdowns in the interface, no problems with a set of standard applications and also applications from well-known companies (you can put something on any device that will kill its performance, but why do this? Especially for additional shells).
Battery
Battery Li-Ion 3300 mAh, which is somewhat smaller than the battery that is installed in the S8 + (3500 mAh). However, both handsets provide comparable runtimes under the same scenarios. For those who use the device to its fullest, this is up to one day of work, or with all sorts of settings and a skillful approach, two or three days of work and 7-8 hours of screen work.
The S8+ is currently the longest-lived flagship, especially at this screen size. In Note 8 we are seeing the same thing. As usual, there is wireless charging built into the case, fast charging and extreme power saving mode, everything is unchanged here.
The playback time of unconverted FullHD video at maximum brightness is about 12 hours (in S8 + more, the difference in battery size affects here).
During normal use, my device worked on average for a full day with 5-6 hours of screen operation (an hour of calls, social networks, a browser).
Traditionally, there are several power-saving modes in which the screen resolution is reduced, certain functions are turned off, and in the extreme case, the screen is converted to black and white. This allows you to achieve maximum working time, not to be left without a phone at the most inopportune moment.
Communication options
USB 3.0 (Type C) is supported, Bluetooth 5.0 support appears for the first time in a smartphone, there are aptX and other codecs for sound.
There is LTE cat. 13/16 depending on the chipset vendor, but frequency aggregation will only be supported with software updates for specific countries and operators. In the LTE Advanced network, it shows the maximum theoretically possible speed (2x2 MU-MIMO). On the Moscow network of MegaFon, the real speed that was obtained when downloading files was 430 Mbps (the theoretical limit is 450 Mbps). Common tests are not suitable for demonstrating this speed, they are simply not designed for such networks and fail (even the size of the test file is so small that it cannot be properly loaded in such programs).
From the point of view of wireless interfaces, there are Wi-Fi improvements, new algorithms are used. As usual, Samsung has adapted everything that has appeared during this time. The Wi-Fi repeater function has not disappeared anywhere, it is in this device.
Of the features of the implementation of Bluetooth 5.0, I note the possibility of simultaneously connecting two headsets or other sound devices, that is, you can listen to the same music or watch a movie with another person. This is just a chic feature that was definitely missing, although few will need it.
Another point that I liked was the ability to select applications and which connected Bluetooth devices will play sound. That is, you can choose to have the sound from the video player broadcast to an external speaker, and messages to be read only in the headset. Cool? Definitely yes, but it will take time to set everything up for yourself. Or this scenario: you give a phone to a child so that he watches a movie and the sound comes through a wireless speaker or wireless headphones, while you yourself listen to music or a podcast in other wireless headphones. This function works great, and it is very convenient, I tried it in practice several times, I regret that it did not exist several years ago.
Camera
Front camera 8 megapixels, f/1.7, 1/3.6” matrix. The quality of the photos is normal, it is possible to apply face enhancers. As well as for the main camera, there are different effects when inserts from bows, mustaches and the like can be attached to the face. A nice feature that diversifies the use of the camera. But to say something special about this camera is impossible.
The main camera has two sensors, both 12-megapixel, although the sensor size is different. So, on the left is a 1 / 2.55 ”, on the right 1 / 3.6”, as well as the first wide-angle lens (f / 1.7), the second telephoto (f / 2.4), and it is he who provides x2 optical zoom. Phase detection autofocus works well, optical stabilization is available for both matrices.
Traditionally, there are Pro mode settings, where you can select any of the camera settings and change it when shooting.
And this is what the camera interface and settings look like.
Samsung was not the first to enter the market with such a camera solution, it directly coincides with that used in the iPhone 7, ideologically they are the same and differ, for example, from what Huawei does in its devices (the second module is black and white, gives depth).
Let's see what optical zoom looks like on a Samsung camera.
| Normal | Zoom |
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We can say that the camera on the Note 8 is one of the best on the market, it has a very wide range of options that appear both in manual and automatic modes. Directly this camera can and should be compared with the iPhone 8 Plus, and on the side of the iPhone there will be a portrait shooting mode, but landscapes, night shooting, and shooting indoors will still be for Note 8. The question is what exactly do you photograph and how often. But to say that one of these devices looks like a clear winner, I would not. Also on the side of the iPhone there are other color settings, contrast, often the picture looks different, someone may like this option.
| Note 8 | iPhone 8 Plus |
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Just a few shots for comparison with the Galaxy S8 +.
| Galaxy Note 8 | Galaxy S8+ |
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So that you can fully appreciate this device, let's see how it takes photos in comparison with the OnePlus 5, which has similar cameras.
And some more individual photos taken at different times on Note 8.
Dynamic focus (background blur) works from 1.2 meters, and after shooting, you can choose in the editor how much the background will be blurred. Look at sample pictures.
A few words about the video. The maximum resolution is UHD (4K), the frequency is 30 frames per second. The default is FullHD 30 frames per second, but you can set 60 frames per second. Focusing starts to fidget at 60 fps, but in most situations this is not noticeable. In terms of video recording quality, the device is noticeably inferior to the same iPhone 8 Plus, which produces a clearer picture, has UHD mode (4K, 60 frames per second) and wins in this parameter. You can see video examples below.
And for those who better perceive the information on the video, a short description of how the camera works.
How the S Pen works and what you can do
To begin with, most people consider the S Pen an additional and almost unnecessary thing, they use the stylus built into the case very rarely. On the other hand, there is a creative minority that is used to pens, loves to draw, and, on the contrary, does not let go of the S Pen, creates beautiful drawings, sketches, in a word, constantly uses the stylus. These two categories of people will never be able to understand each other, they have too different tasks and needs. Unfortunately, I never learned to draw something other than a stick-stick-circle, and as a result, a little man, so I consider myself to be among the majority without any special artistic talents. For people like me, there are coloring pages, you can paint over templates, it looks very nice.
For me, the S Pen is the ability to leave a quick note, write on the screen without even unlocking the phone. This is very useful in meetings when you need to remember something and do not need to write it down in a notebook. Short notes on the run, which are also synchronized with the cloud. Now you can record not only one screen, it can be endless, you flip it vertically, plus you can leave it on the waiting screen, fix it in one place.
But perhaps the most important thing is the ability to take a screenshot of a page that does not fit on the entire screen. The function appeared back in Note 5, it came in handy more than once to show certain things, instantly send them as a single file, and not torn pages.
Another important point is the ability to take a screenshot anywhere on the screen and immediately draw something on it, cut out a piece. It is also interesting for those who work with graphics and the like.
A new feature is animated messages, you draw them and then send an animated file to the recipient (converting to a format that is readable on other devices).
From useful I will tell you about the ability to recognize text in pictures, that is, you save everything that you photographed or took a screenshot, not only as graphics, you can remove the text from there. It is an indispensable tool in my work.
A new feature is the translation of individual words, in this mode you set the direction of the translation and you can peep any words that will be immediately shown. The engine from Google is used, the function is pleasant for those who study or constantly correspond in different languages, not always having a dictionary at hand.
The fact that the S Pen works underwater is, in my opinion, nonsense. It is unlikely that scuba divers will use the phone when diving, and even at a depth of two meters it will simply leak. But what can be written in the rain is already a real application scenario that is easy to imagine.
The pen, as before, takes into account 2048 degrees of pressure. The S Note app has a drawing mode where you can mix colors, which wasn't there before.
I can’t say that I use the S Pen very actively, sometimes it happens that I don’t take it out for several days, sometimes I draw something on screenshots a couple of times a day, cut out pictures. But I can say for sure that it helps me to quickly complete the routine tasks that I encounter from time to time. There is simply nothing like this in other phones. Handwriting recognition has become noticeably better, but, in my opinion, this is not as convenient as just typing text on the keyboard, although, perhaps, someone thinks the other way around. I am sure that people who write every year is becoming less and less. And therefore, the S Pen is not so much for writing, but for performing tasks in which the stylus is difficult to replace with a finger.
In a detailed video, I talk about how the S Pen works, how text is recognized, and much more.
DeX desktop mode is similar to Microsoft's Continuum
For Note 8, as well as for S8/S8 +, there is such an accessory as the DeX docking station, it has its own cooling, allows you to connect up to two USB devices, such as a keyboard and mouse (USB 2.0). In some countries, this docking station was given as a gift along with pre-orders for Note 8 (in Russia they also did this). Separately, it costs 9,990 rubles (149 euros in Europe).
In addition to the fact that you get the opportunity to connect your phone via HDMI to an external monitor and control it with a mouse and keyboard, DeX mode has appeared. This is not just a translation of the contents of the phone screen to an external monitor, but a redesigned interface, in particular, support for MS Office, Adobe mobile applications, such as Adobe Lightroom Mobile, has been added here. These applications have been completely redesigned for large screens, and so far it is only available for flagships from Samsung, but I am sure that it will appear later on a bunch of other devices from different manufacturers. The most direct analogy is a similar mode from Microsoft, which was on Windows Phone smartphones. But the death of the platform put an end to Continuum, and DeX picked up the fallen banner, Microsoft engineers took part in its development, you can consider it a kind of Continuum on Android.
First of all, this is a solution for corporate users, it is unlikely to be popular from the start, but this is an interesting direction for development. DeX has implemented support for remote access to your desktops, these are Citrix, VMware and Amazon Web Services, that is, nothing original and nothing new. In principle, on Android you can already use these services.
The speed of the commercial version of DeX is excellent, there are no slowdowns, you can play games. In a word, pay attention to this opportunity.
Bixby Assistant - ideology and practical implementation
The idea of Bixby is directly borrowed from Google Now, it is an assistant that combines voice functions, such as voice recognition to execute commands (the legacy of S Voice), but at the same time it analyzes what is displayed on your screen, that is, it conditionally understands the context, in which you speak. With a separate key, you call Bixby cards (again, an analogy with Google Now), you can edit them, add and remove applications and information from them. For example, the assistant knows that you usually call such and such a number at this time, and offers to do this. It is impossible to call the current functions of Bixby intelligent, at the presentation it was cut to the point of impossibility, so there is no voice input, it will appear only at the end of the month. Yes, and the prediction system is clearly stupid, in order to train it, you need millions of people to start using Bixby, it doesn’t happen otherwise in such systems - the more they use, the better they become.
A full version of Bixby with voice commands, prompts and more will be released only in December 2017, along with an update to the device on Android 8. At the moment, instead of Bixby, we have its camera with image recognition, as well as software for planning the day.
Multimedia capabilities, software features
Samsung redesigned Clean UI a little, now it has become even more airy, it is perceived easier, the designations of the three touch keys have changed, the icons have changed, however, look at the picture. Also now in the settings you can see the version of Samsung Experience, in this device it is 8.1.
In general, I like the way Android looks on the Galaxy, here the interface is a little different, but very simple and understandable, and most importantly, convenient. Although there is a whole cohort of people who, by default, do not like any add-ons over pure Android, but this seems like nonsense to me - everything is done smartly and conveniently for everyday life. For example, to scroll through large lists, a button has appeared that allows you to jump to the very beginning of the list.
Another interesting point is that you can take any kind of screenshots, record small GIF files from the screen, cut out not just rectangles, but also ovals, and immediately draw whatever you want with your finger. But what I liked the most is saving the URL of the page when you take a screenshot in Chrome.
The bundle includes AKG headphones, specially tuned for Samsung's flagships, it's pointless to listen to them with other devices, they won't give out good sound. These are some of the best bundled headphones, and given that people often don’t change them, here you get everything in one package at once.
There are a lot of “little things” in the software that greatly diversify your user experience, many functions were also on previous devices, but it would not be out of place to repeat briefly about the most noticeable of them. For example, it can be an emergency message (three presses on the power button), the phone sends an SOS message, it also makes a sound recording for 5 seconds and a photo from the front camera.
The recorder has an interview mode, can recognize voice and translate into text (using the engine from Google, it works with almost any language).
Of course, the device fully supports Samsung Pay, which can be useful for those who are already used to paying from a smartphone.
Impression
There are no complaints about the sound quality and the volume of the call to the device, the volume is above average, the melodies have been reworked, they have become more interesting, and you can recognize them in any situation. The vibrating alert can be customized, which is important. The quality of the device in Russian networks is good, there are minor improvements compared to the "sevens" (supported by Wi-Fi Calling, VoLTE). With the work of Samsung Pay, there are no questions, everything is exactly the same as it was in previous models.
I did not have any high expectations from this device, as I have known it for a long time. The main changes that have appeared compared to the S8 + are the presence of the S Pen, a slightly different body shape, which is not essential, as well as a slightly larger screen. From the principle - a new camera module, which gives much more space for creativity, and I like it. As well as the fact that the technique allows you to pull out pictures that otherwise would not have turned out.
Today, Note 8 is the most expensive flagship from Samsung, its cost is 69,990 rubles (60 thousand rubles on the gray market). The difference in price with the S8 + is about 15,000 rubles, which is significant, not everyone will overpay for a different camera, as well as an S Pen. Here the question is what you need from the device. And not everyone will think that he needs more RAM.
The main competitor for the Note 8 is the iPhone 8 Plus, which has just gone on sale.
In order to show the difference between the devices, we made a video in which we analyze the differences, it is quite detailed, although much was left behind the scenes. In a separate article, we will compare these devices in more detail.
In terms of real-world performance, the Note 8 performs better than the iPhone, as you can see by watching the following video.
In the market, the Note line stands out strongly, as no one is able to create a smartphone with a stylus. Yes, however, if you throw away the stylus and look at the competitors, then they simply do not have similar screens, fillings and capabilities that this smartphone is filled with technologies. The flagship is fully successful, and it has no serious shortcomings, except for the cost.
Note's top-of-the-line products combine cutting-edge smartphone technology with a huge screen and a stylus. At the time of its announcement, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is one of the most technologically advanced smartphones of our time.
Phablet diagonal
The gadget has a typical phablet screen diagonal (6.3"), but it cannot be called too bulky. This is due to the fact that the screen of the device occupies about 83% of the front panel area. As usual, the screen is made using SuperAMOLED technology, has a huge resolution (2960x1440 pixels) and can display on a permanent basis time, date and notification icons... In general, the style of the smartphone largely repeats the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, with the only difference being that the beveled edges of the display do not bend so much to the sides.This is done for ease of handling with the S-Pen stylus , the storage space for which is provided directly in the mobile phone case.
Full "stuffing"
Spectacular appearance is complemented by outstanding technical characteristics of the device. Its rich “decoration” includes advanced user authentication technologies (by scanning the retina of the eye and more traditional by fingerprint recognition), fast and wireless charging technologies, equipment with a full range of wireless modules, etc. The whole thing is powered by Samsung's own developed Exynos 8895 chip (For the US market, a Snapdragon 835 version is provided).
Dual photomodule
For the first time among Samsung products, a smartphone has acquired a dual main camera module (two sensors with a resolution of 12 MP each). Both modules are covered by the optical image stabilization system, which is of particular relevance when shooting in low light conditions in portrait mode. This role is played by a module with a focal length of 56 mm and a maximum aperture of f / 2.4, while a conventional sensor shoots at a distance of 28 mm with f / 1.7 aperture. A cool software "trick" of the camera is the Live Focus function, which allows you to choose the degree of background blur behind the subject in the finished picture.
A treasure trove of technologies
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a storehouse of progressive technologies. Their simultaneous implementation in life had a negative impact on the cost of the model. However, in the absence of a smartphone equal to the price tag on it looks justified, emphasizing the status of the product and its belonging to the premium segment.
