Galaxy Note 8 vs Competitors: Specs & Performance

Galaxy Note 8

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is a premium phablet smartphone released by Samsung Electronics on September 15, 2017, as the successor to the discontinued Galaxy Note 7. Positioned as a flagship device for power users, creative professionals, and productivity enthusiasts, it was designed to rebuild Samsung’s reputation after the Note 7’s catastrophic battery failure crisis. The Note 8 introduced a larger Infinity Display, a dual-camera system with optical zoom, enhanced S Pen functionality, and a rigorous battery safety testing framework. It ran on Android 7.1.1 Nougat at launch and received multiple major software updates, including Android 9 Pie and Android 10, cementing its status as a pivotal device in Samsung’s post-crisis recovery.

Key Technical Specifications

Category	Details
Display	6.3-inch Quad HD+ (2960 × 1440) Super AMOLED Infinity Display; 521 ppi; 18.5:9 aspect ratio; Curved edges; Gorilla Glass 5 (front/back); HDR10 support
Processor	Dual-region variants:- Global/US: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (octa-core, 10nm)- Korea/China: Samsung Exynos 8895 (octa-core, 10nm)
Memory & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X RAM; 64GB/128GB/256GB UFS 2.1 storage; expandable via microSD card (up to 256GB, hybrid SIM slot)
Camera System	Rear Dual Camera:- 12MP wide camera (f/1.7 aperture, Dual Pixel autofocus, OIS, 1.4μm pixels)- 12MP telephoto camera (f/2.4 aperture, OIS, 2x optical zoom, 1.0μm pixels)Front Camera: 8MP (f/1.7 aperture, autofocus, 1/3.6-inch sensor)
S Pen Stylus	0.7mm tip; 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity; IP68 water-resistant; Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connectivity; Supports Air Command, Screen-off Memo, Live Message, and Screen Write 2.0
Battery & Charging	3300 mAh lithium-ion battery (sealed, safety-tested); 15W Adaptive Fast Charging; Qi-certified wireless charging (7.5W); Wireless PowerShare (reverse charging for accessories)
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat.16; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band, MIMO); Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; USB-C 2.0; GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo
Durability & Design	IP68 water/dust resistance; Aluminum frame with Gorilla Glass 5 front/back; Dimensions: 162.5 × 74.8 × 8.6 mm; Weight: 195 grams
Operating System	Android 7.1.1 Nougat (launch); Upgradable to Android 10
Biometrics	Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor; Iris scanner; Face recognition (basic, non-secure for payments)
Safety Features	8-point battery safety check (thermal, voltage, and durability testing); Separate battery compartment design to prevent short-circuiting

Core Features & Innovations

1. Infinity Display & Premium Design

The Galaxy Note 8 debuted Samsung’s Infinity Display—a 6.3-inch curved Super AMOLED panel with minimal bezels and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The display delivered vibrant colors, deep blacks, and HDR10 support for immersive video streaming, while the curved edges improved ergonomics and visual appeal. Unlike the Note 7, the Note 8 used a more robust aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch and drop resistance, with a symmetrical design that balanced screen size and one-handed usability.

2. Dual-Camera System with Optical Zoom

A standout feature of the Note 8 was its rear dual-camera setup—the first in the Galaxy Note series—designed to compete with Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus. The combination of a wide and telephoto sensor enabled:

2x optical zoom (up to 10x digital zoom) for detailed shots of distant subjects without quality loss.
Portrait Mode (Live Focus) to adjust background blur (bokeh) in real time, with the option to fine-tune blur intensity after capturing the photo.
Dual OIS on both sensors, ensuring sharp images and stable 4K video recording (30fps) even in low light or while moving.

3. Enhanced S Pen with BLE Connectivity

The S Pen received a critical upgrade with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) integration, transforming it from a stylus into a remote control for the phone. Key BLE-powered features included:

Remote Shutter: Taking photos/videos by pressing the S Pen button (ideal for group shots or selfies).
Media Control: Pausing/playing music or skipping videos without touching the phone screen.
Presentation Mode: Advancing slides during meetings or presentations.The stylus retained 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, IP68 water resistance, and core features like Screen-off Memo and Live Message, making it a versatile tool for note-taking and creativity.

4. Rigorous Battery Safety & Reliability

To restore consumer trust after the Note 7 crisis, Samsung implemented a 8-point battery safety check for the Note 8, covering:

Durability testing (drop, vibration, temperature cycling)
Charging/discharging cycle testing
Thermal stress testing
Voltage and current stability checksThe 3300 mAh battery was also housed in a separate compartment with reinforced insulation to prevent short-circuiting. While smaller than the Note 7’s 3500 mAh battery, the Note 8’s 10nm processor and optimized software ensured all-day battery life.

5. Productivity & Multitasking

Building on the Note series’ productivity legacy, the Note 8 introduced App Pair and Multi-Active Window 2.0, enabling users to:

Launch two apps simultaneously with a single tap (e.g., Chrome + WhatsApp, YouTube + Notes).
Resize split-screen windows and run three apps at once (via pop-up view).
Drag and drop text, images, or files between split-screen apps—a feature unique to Samsung’s One UI (later Android versions adopted similar functionality).

Market Reception & Legacy

The Galaxy Note 8 was a commercial and critical success, selling over 10 million units within its first two months of release. Tech critics praised its display quality, camera performance, S Pen functionality, and improved battery safety, with many calling it the “best phablet of 2017”.

Its legacy is defined by two key achievements:

Restoring Samsung’s Reputation: The Note 8’s flawless battery performance and rigorous safety testing helped Samsung recover from the Note 7 disaster, reaffirming its position as a leader in the premium smartphone market.
Setting Flagship Standards: The Infinity Display, dual-camera system, and S Pen remote control became hallmarks of subsequent Galaxy Note and S series devices, influencing the design of Android flagships for years to come.

The Note 8 remains a popular choice for retro tech enthusiasts and users who prioritize a large screen, stylus functionality, and expandable storage—even years after its discontinuation.