Today, Samsung pulled the wraps off what has been frequently described as the “worst kept secret” in mobile, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Clearly taking many design cues from the Galaxy S8 released earlier this year, the Note is back with slim bezels and a a bigger-than-ever 6.3-inch display, as well as the trademark that gives the Note its namesake – the S Pen.
Much of what was announced at Samsung’s Unpacked event today was already expected considering the amount of rumors and leaks in the weeks leading up to the event, but nonetheless it is a breath of fresh air for many to have the Note back on the market again after last year’s Note 7 fiasco. Over the years, the gap between the Note and Galaxy S has progressively gotten smaller, and the same can be said for this year's Samsung flagships as well. Not only are the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S similar in design, but they’re also nearly identical in specs, with a couple of notable exceptions.
Official specifications for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 are as follows:
The notable differences between the Note 8 and the Galaxy S8 are its rear camera and, of course, S Pen support. The rear dual camera set-up is a first for Samsung. This enables the Note 8 to compete directly with manufacturers like Apple, LG, Huawei, and Lenovo/Motorola (among others) who have already implemented a dual camera system. The advantage of a dual camera system, to put it simply, is to give photos greater depth of field to produce more optimal results. Samsung also announced that its dual cameras is also the first smartphone to have dual OIS - optical image stabilization in both lenses.
The S Pen is truly what keeps the Note’s head above water, all things considered. Without it, it’s just another big phone with fancy specs; with it, it’s a multitasking powerhouse. The S Pen is not only a handy digitizer, but the Note also keeps the S Pen tucked away in a dock within the device. Having a dedicated slot for a stylus was once a common feature in mobile devices, but faded once multitouch technology was introduced. Although the idea has faded, Samsung managed to capitalize on the idea by evolving the stylus rather than completely abandoning it. The Note 8’s S Pen has been updated with a finer tip and better pressure sensitivity. You can even use the S Pen to write and edit up to 100 pages of notes while the screen is “off” – convenient for quick note-taking or absent-minded doodling to keep your hands busy.
The Note 8 does differ slightly in design from the Galaxy S8 duo, with more squared edges and more flat surface area despite keeping a curved display. The fingerprint sensor, however, remains in a similar unique location on the back of the device, much like the S8's.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 retails between $930 and $960 full price, depending on the retailer, and will release on September 15th. Pre-orders begin tomorrow at T-Mobile (specifically at 12:01 p.m. ET), Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and AT&T. XFINITY Mobile also announced that they would carry the Note 8, with pre-order information on the way. There are plenty of impressive trade-in and promotional offers going on for the Note 8, many of which can offset the price of the Note 8 considerably.
Today’s reveal of the Note 8 went smoothly, but the ghost of the Note 7 still haunted the event with Samsung acknowledging its unfortunate mistakes once again. Will the Note 7’s dangerous issues end up impacting Note 8 sales, or will Samsung’s dedication and relative transparency on the issue give consumers a foundation of trust to work with? Only time will tell, but at least those yearning for a new Note only have a little longer to wait before getting another chance.
