Samsung Galaxy Note 8 deals and reviews

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 goes a long way to righting the wrongs of its disastrous exploding predecessor, the Note 7. Its massive edge-to-edge display, superior performance and stunning dual-lens camera make it a truly impressive device.

Reviewers liked

• Big, beautiful ‘infinity’ display
• Two superb cameras
• Improved stylus features
• Fast, efficient performance

Reviewers disliked

• Average battery life
• Enormous price tag

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8: in more detail

Samsung’s reimagining of the recalled Note 7 blends that phone’s best bits with features from the superb Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus to create an exceptional phablet. Its beautiful design, stunning display, excellent stylus and high-end performance make it a frontrunner in the flagship smartphone stakes. Tech Advisor praised its ‘extraordinary feature set and magnificent performance’, while TechRadar called it ‘the most powerful Samsung phone yet’. For those who can afford its extravagant price tag, it’s a brilliant choice.

Interface

The Note 8 makes use of the newly rebranded Samsung Experience software, which has been streamlined from previous devices to create a well-balanced, fluid interface and a great user experience.

It has a host of useful features that you don’t get with standard Android software - for example, the new App Pairing feature, which lets you launch two complementary apps at the same time. The Bixby personal assistant has been improved since its Galaxy S8 debut, but still has some issues.

The S Pen stylus allows you to take advantage of some nifty productivity features, making it easy to take notes, sign documents and write directly onto screenshots. Trusted Reviews found it offered the most natural writing experience of any device they’d tested, calling it a ‘wholehearted extra layer that works really well’.

Performance and battery

The Note 8 is an astonishingly fast performer, thanks to its 6GB of RAM and powerful octa-core Exynos chipset. TechRadar found that they couldn’t slow it down no matter how much they tried to overload it with apps and background processes, saying ‘it’s not lacking in any way productivity-wise’.

Given the Note 7’s battery woes, it’s unsurprising that Samsung has played it safe with a 3,300mAh battery - that’s smaller than the S8’s. There have been no explosions yet, so it’s succeeded in that respect, but the smaller size means the Note 8’s battery life is unremarkable - although it should last you all day.

Design

One of the Note 8’s most striking design features is how large it is. It’s huge - and it has to be, to make room for its beautiful 6.3-inch screen. The screen stretches right from one edge to the other, tapering into elegant curved edges.

Its aluminium frame is wrapped entirely in glass, which makes it sleek to look at but slippery to hold - most reviewers recommend using a case. Like the S8 and S8 Plus, the Note 8’s fingerprint scanner has been moved to an awkward spot on the back of the phone to make way for the screen, making it a little difficult to reach.

Display

The stunning infinity display features Samsung’s usual Super AMOLED technology, providing vivid colours, inky blacks and brilliant sharpness and contrast. Android Authority called the display ‘absolutely gorgeous’, whilst TechAdvisor said it’s ‘impossible to fault’. Overall, it’s difficult to beat, and makes for an exceptional viewing experience.

Camera

One of the Note 8’s landmark features is its new dual camera - a first for a flagship Samsung phone. The rear camera combines a wide-angle lens with a telephoto lens, both 12MP, and is the first dual camera to feature 2x optical image stabilisation on both lenses.

The secondary sensor means the Note 8 can produce a fantastic bokeh effect, which blurs the background of photos to make the subject stand out, and the brilliant photo app allows you to adjust the level of blurring.

The camera produces excellent shots effortlessly - they’re sharp, detailed and vibrant - and the camera comes with lots of different modes and settings for top-quality results. TechRadar said the Note 8’s camera was the best on any smartphone they’d tested, and Stuff called it ‘a fine smartphone snapper’ and ‘supremely versatile’.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	The Mirror | Sophie Curtis A phoenix rises from the ashes - and there's not a wisp of smoke in sight. The Note 8's stunning display and dual lens camera take it up a notch from the Galaxy S8 - but it has a price to match. But for those with business accounts, or those who are happy to fork out for absolute top-of-the-range technology, this is likely to be high on the lust list. Read full review
100	PCWorld | Michael Simon Don't call it a comeback, call it the phone of the year. The Galaxy Note 8 is nothing less than a triumphant return for Samsung's flagship phablet and the best phone it has ever made. Come for the incredible 6.3-inch screen, stay for the dual cameras. Read full review
100	What Hi-Fi? After a tricky year and a few lessons learned, the Note 8 is back to winning ways. If you're looking for a big-screen phone, this has to be very high on the shortlist. Read full review
100	S21 The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an enhanced version of the S8+. Even thicker and heavier, it's a massive phone and won't be suitable for everyone. But it offers some same specs, making it the most powerful phone ever. If you're searching for the phone that can beat all others, you've got it with the Note 8. Read full review
100	T3 | Dan Grabham If you're a fan of the Note series, you won't be disappointed by the Note 8 features, S Pen, camera and more. The best just got (a tiny bit) bigger and with worthy S Pen and camera enhancements, it's an insanely good combination that doesn't fail to appeal. Read full review
100	Ubergizmo | Hubert Nguyen Simply the best large-display phone. The Galaxy Note 8 is an excellent handset that dominates today's large screen smartphone landscape. Read full review
100	The Telegraph | James Titcomb It was always going to take a lot for Samsung to extinguish the memory of last year's Note 7 horror, but if anything can, it's the Note 8. If money's no object, you can't do much better. Read full review
100	Stuff | Robert Leedham The original big phone is back. Tweaks and changes are minor this year, but the Note 8 still perfectly fills its niche. Read full review
100	V3 Yes, it's a large smartphone - probably too large for most people's uses, and that criticism extends to the price. However, if you are after a 'phablet' sized smartphone this is probably the very best that your money can buy. You won't be disappointed with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Read full review
100	Mashable | Raymond Wong Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is the company's best smartphone and the best phablet ever made. Read full review
96	TechAeris | Alex Hernandez The Samsung Galaxy Note8 will appeal to those hardcore Samsung fans (especially existing Note owners and the community is very vibrant) who want the best that Sammy has to offer. I think it will also appeal to potential iPhone owners who want to switch to Android. This is a Top Pick phone. Read full review
91	TheEffect.Net | Derek Reilly A great phone, could be a little big for some and a little pricey for others. Read full review
91	Android Authority | Lanh Nguyen The Samsung Galaxy Note8 takes everything that was great about last year's Note7 and simply improves upon it in all the right ways but with a bigger Galaxy Note came a bigger price and consumers may have to contemplate even harder before pulling the trigger this time around. Read full review
90	Pickr | Leigh Stark Samsung's Note 8 is that phone, even if it's a little too big, but still easily recommended, especially if you happen to love the big phone, and love it more with a purpose. Read full review
90	Australian PC World | Fergus Halliday With the arrival of the Note 8, the brand has finally - and maybe inevitably - risen from the ashes to reclaim its past glory. Read full review
90	New York Times | Brian X. Chen ... the Note 8 is part of a new category of high-end phones. You should buy it today if you want the best screen right now. Read full review
90	Pocket-lint | Matthew Dunn Admittedly the Galaxy Note 8 is much closer in price to the cheapest iPhone X model, yet I feel it's far superior in majority of its functions. Read full review
90	The Economic Times | Hitesh Raj Bhagat There's so much that's good about the Note 8. If you can get comfortable with the size, it really is a fantastic phone. Read full review
90	Toronto Sun | Adam Swimmer The Samsung Galaxy Note8 is arguably the best Android device on the market and the only real caveat is the price. Read full review
90	Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden A really excellent phone. The best Galaxy Note yet, with a superb camera, battery, display, and fantastic performance. It is also the best stylus-based phone to date. Read full review
90	The Independent | David Phelan A remarkable, highly desirable handset that matches great looks with standout performance. So close to perfection. Read full review
90	Quartz | Mike Murphy The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is an excellent, giant phone. There's not really any phone that can hold a candle to the Note 8 right now, but within the next month, we're going to see what Apple has in store for the next iPhone. If you're an iPhone user, perhaps wait to see what's announced next week. Read full review
90	Neowin | Rich Woods I think that the Samsung Galaxy Note8 is an excellent choice; with Samsung Pay, the S Pen, DeX, and a fantastic camera, it feels like the ultimate phone. But when you take away the need for the S Pen, it's hard to justify the price. Read full review
90	International Business Times | Alistair Charlton But where such objective comparisons will give a winner and a loser, plucking for the Note and its stylus is an entirely subjective decision. It either fits into your life, or it doesn't. The S8 and S8 Plus offer better value for money and the Note's camera isn't an improvement large enough to justify the price hike. Read full review
90	PC Mag | Sascha Segan Representing the current pinnacle of smartphone technology, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phone has everything that's great about the Galaxy S8, plus dual cameras and an S Pen stylus. Read full review
90	NDTV Gadgets | Roydon Cerejo If you can't wait a few months and have your heart set on an Android flagship, then the Galaxy Note 8 will not disappoint. It's got fantastic build quality, excellent cameras, a gorgeous display, and a useful stylus that only Note devices can boast of. Read full review
90	NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt Samsung has again launched a superb product with the Galaxy Note 8 and there is no real alternative phablet for fans of the S Pen. The handset will very likely receive a very good rating despite the weaker battery life and not ideally configured screen. However, whether it is enough for a step on the podium is still uncertain. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Michael Passingham A worthy comeback for the Galaxy Note brand, but battery problems (not of the incendiary variety this time) may still come back to haunt it. If its extra pen and camera features interest you, the Note 8 is undoubtedly a decent buy if you can stomach learning how to use power-saving modes. Read full review
90	The Inquirer | Carly Page While it's large size means its audience is limited, those after a phablet-sized smartphone won't find a better device than this. The Note 8 is an unrivalled choice for hardcore multitaskers and business folk. Read full review
90	TechRadar | Matt Swider The Note 8 is Samsung's big phone comeback story, making up for the Note 7 recall. It's the best big phone you can buy, if you can handle the enormous size and price. Read full review
90	Recombu | Alex Todd The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is unquestionably one of those devices that is greater than the sum of its parts. But Note 8 is unforgivingly expensive by comparison, so unless the three unique aspects of the phone mentioned earlier are absolutely essential to your needs, do yourself a favour and leave this Note alone. Read full review
90	Gizmodo UK | Sam Rutherford The Note 8 is a great device (especially that screen) and I think Samsung has rightfully regained its spot back on top of the Android dogpile. But for a phone that this expensive, I still want more. Read full review
90	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman Who is the Samsung Galaxy Note8 for? Stylus lovers and shutterbugs. If you demand the added functionality of the S Pen and hanker for one of the best-possible cameras on a mobile device, then the Note8 is the handset for you. But holy cow this phone is expensive. Read full review
90	Android Central | Andrew Martonik The Galaxy Note 8 is fantastic, but it surely isn't special. For as great as the Galaxy Note 8 is overall, it's somewhat a victim of Samsung's success. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are such good phones, and have so much in common with the Note 8, that the biggest and most expensive phone in Samsung's lineup just isn't all that special anymore. Read full review
90	Tom's Guide | Mark Spoonauer The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the best big-screen phone yet, thanks to its versatile dual cameras, S Pen improvements and beautiful 6.3-inch screen. Read full review
90	TechnoBuffalo | Brandon Russell Based on the Note 8's level of polish and features, it very much has a place in Samsung's lineup. With so much to offer, it's just a matter of the Note series appealing to a wider audience outside of the existing Note fanbase. Thanks to its beautiful Infinity Display, dual-camera setup, and fantastic S Pen capabilities, it's certainly poised to be a huge hit. Read full review
89	Engadget | Chris Velazco This is Samsung's best big phone yet, but it's not a huge leap forward. While the Note 8 might be Samsung's best big phone, it's not dramatically better than the S8 Plus and probably won't be worth the extra cash for most people. Read full review
89	CNET UK | Jessica Dolcourt The Galaxy Note 8 retakes the throne as the ultimate Android phone for now, but some intense competition is just over the horizon. Read full review
89	phoneArena | Stephen S. The Galaxy Note 8 is at once a safe, almost obvious phone, and one that still manages to show Samsung reaching out into new, untested waters. If you're a die-hard Note fan, and already like the new look Samsung introduced with the S8 this year, then maybe the Note 8 makes a lot of sense. Read full review
86	Firstpost | Sheldon Pinto The Galaxy Note 8 is probably going to be Samsung's biggest comeback ever. A challenge I once assumed that it would never take up after the Note 7 fiasco. I loved everything about the Note 8. Read full review
85	Mobile Syrup | Patrick O'Rourke Samsung has taken the blueprint it established with the Note 7 and upgraded it in a number of iterative ways. For some, the minor changes Samsung has made to the Note 8 won't be enough, while others will be content with what essentially amounts to a slightly better-looking version of the Note 7. Read full review
80	Gadgets Now | Sulabh Puri ...the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is slightly thicker...because it has to accommodate the S-pen. 3,300 mAh of battery juice provides just 22 hours of work time (nominal use with Wi-Fi on). Which is not so bad for a phone that has a larger-than-life smart screen and extended features. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8...is a worthy player in the premium segment of smartphones. Read full review
80	91mobiles | Nitansh Rastogi All said and done, the Samsung Galaxy Note8 is possibly the best smartphone out there if you are willing to compromise on the battery life, and of course, the only option, if you love the functionality of the S Pen. Read full review
80	ZDNet | Cho Mu-Hyun The Note 8 is, simply put, for professionals and creators Read full review
80	news.com.au | Matthew Dunn I would recommend the Galaxy S8, although if the dual camera and stylus seem like a welcomed addition, the Note 8 is your best choice. Read full review
80	AVForums | David Phelan It's fast, punchy, has a brilliant pair of cameras and it looks terrific. With the next iPhone just around the corner, Samsung has got its reply in first. As replies go, it's a pretty convincing one. Read full review
80	The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs Its fingerprint scanner is awkwardly placed and its very expensive, but the battery, screen, camera and stylus are the best on the market. A greatest hits package from the godfather of phablets Read full review
80	Alphr | Jonathan Bray & Darien Graham-Smith The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a simply excellent smartphone, but then we expected no less. Big, beautiful, bezel-less: The Galaxy Note 8 is here, and it more than compensates for its predecessor's premature demise. But its price is, to my mind, is far too much for a phone, even one as good as this Read full review
80	Expert Reviews | Nathan Spendelow The Galaxy Note 8 is primed to take the smartphone world by storm. It's a stunning handset, both to gawk at and to clutch in your palms. I'd say it has every chance of success. If only it weren't so ludicrously expensive. Read full review
80	The Verge | Dan Seifert But I can't call the Note 8 the best big phone, because the rest of us will likely be just as happy with an S8 Plus, LG V30, iPhone Plus, or any one of the other big-screened phones available this fall. The Note used to be the best and only truly great big phone. Now it has company. Read full review
80	IT PRO | Adam Shepherd The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is a truly excellent phone - but unless you really need a stylus, there's little here to elevate over the similarly-superb Galaxy S8. Read full review
80	Digital Trends | Julian Chokkattu From the dual camera and S Pen, to the gorgeous Infinity Display, the Galaxy Note 8 is an all-around fantastic phone. Read full review
70	AndroidPit | Steffen Herget Galaxy Note 8 remains one of the best large smartphones on the market. Read full review
65	Eurogamer | Damien McFerran ...the Note 8 makes a few too many annoying blunders. The fingerprint scanner is simply in the wrong place and is difficult to reach with normal-sized hands, while the battery life is a long way off being good enough to get power users through an entire day....These are irksome issues but they're by no means deal-breakers, and if you're keen on big-screen experiences in your pocket - and love the additional functionality the S-Pen delivers - there's no real competition for the Note range. If you're not all that fussed about these additional trappings, you might be better off getting the Galaxy S8... Read full review

Compare Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 162.5 x 74.8 x 8.6 mm (6.4 x 2.94 x 0.34 in) Weight: 195 g (6.88 oz)
Screen	Size: 6.3 inches diagonal Resolution: 2960 x 1440 pixels Screen Density: 522 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 82.9 % Display Type: Super AMOLED
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Exynos 8895 Octa - EMEA CPU: Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz & 4x1.7 GHz) - EMEA GPU: Mali-G71 MP20 - EMEA RAM: 6GB
Camera	Main Camera: Dual Camera with Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilization). Wide-angle: 12MP Dual Pixel AF, F1.7, OIS. Telephoto: 12MP AF, F2.4, OIS. 2x optical zoom, up to 10X digital zoom Secondary Camera: 8 megapixels
Storage	Built-in Storage: 64GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 3300 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: Yes Quick Charge: Yes (v2)
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	IP68 Rating: Protection from contact with harmful dust, and protection from immersion in water up to a depth of 30m for up to 30 minutes
Fingerprint Reader	Rear
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.