The new Samsung Galaxy Note8 is here, and we go hands on with Samsung’s best device for productivity and creativity on the move.
With the Galaxy Note8, you get a bigger Infinity Display – similar to that of the Galaxy S8 and S8+ – that fits comfortably in one hand, S Pen to communicate in more personal ways, and Samsung’s best-ever smartphone camera to capture stunning photos.
Samsung first introduced the Note series in 2011. Since then, a community of enthusiasts emerged
through their affinity for the Note’s signature expansive screen and S Pen. According to Samsung
market research, 85 percent of Note users say they’re proud to show off their Note and recommend
it to friends, and 75 percent say it’s the best phone they’ve ever had.
A New Way to Communicate with the S Pen
Since its introduction, the S Pen has been one of the Note’s defining features. With the Galaxy
Note8, the enhanced S Pen unlocks entirely new ways to write, draw, and interact with the phone
and communicate with friends. It has a finer tip, improved pressure sensitivity, and features that
enable users to express themselves in ways that no other stylus or smartphone ever has.
When communicating with text just isn’t enough, Live Message allows you to reveal your unique
personality and tell expressive stories. With the Galaxy Note8, you can now share animated texts or
drawings across platforms that support animated GIFs (AGIF). It’s a whole new way to communicate
with the S Pen—adding lively and emotional connections that bring your messages to life.
The Always On Display allows Galaxy users to stay on top of their notifications without unlocking
their phone. And with the Galaxy Note8, it’s even more powerful. Screen off memo allows you to take up to one-hundred pages of notes as soon as you remove the S Pen, pin notes to the Always On Display and make edits directly from the Always On Display.
For overseas travels or when you come across a website in a foreign language, the improved S Pen
Translate feature lets you hover over text to quickly translate not only individual words but entire
sentences in up to 71 languages, and instantly convert units and foreign currencies.
Better Pictures with Galaxy Note8’s Best-in- Class Camera
For most consumers, one of the things they look for when purchasing a new device is the camera. The Galaxy Note8 is equipped with two 12MP rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) on
both the wide-angle lens and the telephoto lens. Whether you’re exploring a new city or running
around your back garden, OIS lets you capture sharper images.
For more advanced photo-taking, the Galaxy Note8’s Live Focus feature lets you control the depth of
field by allowing you to adjust the bokeh effect in preview mode and after you take the photo.
In Dual Capture mode, both rear cameras take two pictures simultaneously and allow you to save
both images; one close-up shot from the telephoto lens and one wide-angle shot that shows the
entire background.
The wide-angle lens has a Dual Pixel sensor with rapid Auto Focus, so you can capture sharper,
clearer shots even in low-light environments. The Galaxy Note8 is also equipped with an 8MP Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera for sharp selfies and video chats.
Enjoy and Do More on the Infinity Display
The Galaxy Note8 has the biggest screen ever on a Note device, yet its narrow body makes it comfortable to hold in one hand. The 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display lets you see more and scroll less. The Galaxy Note8 gives you more room to watch, read and draw—making it the ultimate multitasking smartphone.
Note users have long been able to do more with Multi Window. With the Galaxy Note8, the new App
Pair feature lets you create a custom pair of apps on the Edge panel and simultaneously launch two
apps with ease. Watch a video while messaging your friends or dial into a conference call with the
number and agenda in front of you.
The Galaxy Note8 is built on the Galaxy legacy—a collection of unique features and capabilities that,
together, have redefined the mobile experience:
- It’s water and dust resistance with IP68 rating on the device and the S Pen.
- The Galaxy Note8 supports wireless charging so you can get a quick, convenient charge without having to mess around with ports or wires.
- The Note8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options—including iris and fingerprint scanning.
- Samsung Knox provides defence-grade security at the hardware and software layers and with Secure Folder, keeps your personal and professional data separate.
- With 6GB RAM, a 10nm processor, and expandable memory (up to 256GB), you have the power you need to browse, stream, play games, and multitask with no hiccups.
- Samsung DeX enables a desktop experience, powered by your phone. You can keep your files on your device, conduct work on the go, and use Samsung DeX when you need an even bigger screen.
- The Galaxy Note8 includes Bixby, a smarter way to use your phone; it learns from you, improves over time, and helps you get more done.
What about the Note 7 issues, should you be concerned?
Samsung continues to uphold its commitment to lead the industry in battery safety. The Galaxy
Note8’s battery has undergone Samsung’s 8-Point Battery Safety Check—the most rigorous in the
industry.
UK pre-order and launch
UK pre-orders start today (23rd Aug) from Samsung.com/uk, select operators, and retailers until the 14th of September. If you pre-order from select retailers, you also receive Samsung DeX station. If you miss out on the pre-order schedule, you can pick up the Galaxy Note8 on the 15th of September in the UK.
The new Note8 will be priced at £869 with two colours variants at launch in the UK; Midnight Black and Maple Gold and potentially, additional two colours, Orchid Grey and Deepsea Blue, will be announced
in due course.
