Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Makes a Grand Debut
After the deluge of leaks and rumors, Samsung finally pulled off the veil the Galaxy Note 8 phablet.
Design-wise the Galaxy Note8 is a mix between the Galaxy S8 and last year’s Galaxy Note7 – something which nostalgics will surely appreciate. The phablet features an InfinityDisplay akin to Samsung’s previous flagship, but with sharper corners which are characteristic of the Note family so far. As expected, the Galaxy Note 8 does away with the physical fingerprint scanner on the front and the bezels have been shrunken down considerably in the vein of the Galaxy S8.
On the left side of the phone, users will find a volume rocker and just below it the dedicated Bixby button. At the bottom lives the USB-C connector, a loudspeaker, the 3.5mm headphone jack and the S Pen tray.
Here’s the Galaxy Note 8’s full spec list:
- 6.3-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2960 resolution and 18:5:9 aspect ratio
- Snapdragon 835 processor (in the US) or Exynos 8895 (outside US)
- 6GB of RAM
- 64GB/128GB/256GB of internal storage
- Main dual camera setup made of two 12-megapixel sensors, one with regular f/1.7 lens and a second telephoto one with f/2.4 and 2x optical zoom
- Secondary 8-megapixel shooter with autofocus
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Samsung Experience UX on top
- Fingerprint scanner on the back
- S Pen
- IP68 certified
The distinctive feature of the Galaxy Note family is the S Pen, which as expected has been improved by Samsung in various ways.
Physically, the stylus is basically the same as the one found in the Note7 meaning it has a 0.7mm tip size and 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity.
But it’s in the software department where you’ll find the novelties. For example, Note 8 users will be able to take advantage of Live Message, a tool which allows you to take a quick note which is then sent off as an animated GIF showing the designer’s pen strokes.
Furthermore, the Screen-off Memo feature makes a comeback, allowing Note 8 owners to draw on the always-on display even if the device is locked.
When will you be able to buy this beauty? Pre-orders for the unlocked version start August 23, as well as carrier-specific ones. The actual release date is set for September 15.
The Samsung Galaxy Note8 will be available in Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Maple Gold and Deep Sea Blue, but Canadians will only get the Midnight Black and Deep Sea Blue options. Pricing will start at $1,300 CAD and until September 15 those who pre-order a Note 8 will also be awarded a 128GB microSD + fast wireless charger free of charge.
[Samsung]