Remember the last couple of years – all analysts from all directions shouted that the world of smartphones stagnated. Nothing much happens. All that could be thought of had already been invented, and now companies are only engaged in improvements. But in March of this year, Samsung literally forced the market to move, introducing the Galaxy S8. After another half a year the company shows its most expensive and advanced smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note 8. Everyone says that this is a copy of the Galaxy S8, but it’s not. This is a completely different smartphone both on the sensations and on the positioning and on the tasks that it solves.
Design
Design in the opinion of many in Note 8 is the same as in the Galaxy S8. But this is not true. Note 8 rather a male smartphone. It is big, angular, looks very serious and solid. Yes, a screen with a 2: 1 aspect ratio has two similarities. But in Note 8, the display is less rounded, and the screen size itself is larger and is 6.3 inches. If you look at smartphones from the rear, then you will understand how different they are. As for the similarity of displays, it’s time to get used to the idea that such elongated screens will become ubiquitous.
Note 8 is made of glass and metal. The glass here of course more. There is a pretty good oleophobic coverage, but the smartphone is dirty anyway. If you are upset by the divorces on the case, then do not take the black version. Note 8 is available in three different colors, three of which are available for pre-order in the CIS: black diamond, yellow topaz, and blue sapphire. And it’s blue, well, very good. Color unusual and rich. Glass on the screen and on the back is Gorilla Glass 5, strong and not afraid of scratches. But it’s better not to drop such a smartphone. But swim – please. There is protection against water and dust according to the IP68 standard. All controls in Note 8 are familiar, except for the Bixby smart assistant on the left side. Discouraging is the fact that there is a button for an intelligent assistant, but the helper still does not exist. The voice assistant in Russian will not appear soon and you can not reassign the application or action to this button in a regular way. It’s time for Samsung to think about it. For the design of this smartphone, you can put 10 out of 10. At the moment, he simply has no analogs.
Display
Let’s move on to one of the most important components: the display. This is a 6.3-inch screen with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 pixels and a 2: 1 aspect ratio. The screen is elongated and from this, the smartphone looks more compact and lies better in the hand. By the way, specialists from DisplayMate called the Display 8 the best in history and for the first time for the mobile segment they gave him an A + rating. Do not be an expert to understand, the screen is really good. Very bright, juicy, the picture on it as if alive. In the settings, you can change the color profile and get more relaxed shades. In Note 8, there is the Always On feature, when a minimum set of information is displayed on the locked screen – time, notifications, calendar and so on. The function is very useful, and the level of the picture is brought to the ideal. In the display settings, you can customize almost every parameter, right up to permission. The display of Note 8 is really good, there’s just nothing to complain about.
S Pen
The edges of the screen In Note 8 are less rounded than the Galaxy S8, so that the work with the Stylus Pen is more comfortable. The presence of S Pen – a unique feature that gives a lot of space for creativity and work. Firstly, the stylus supports 4096 degrees of depression and the thickness of the tip is 0.7 mm. They can be fully drawn, but not all applications support these degrees of depression. There are several built-in applications that allow satisfying creative impulses. For example, a coloring, in which there are many ready-made pictures. In skillful hands, you can turn a banal drawing into a small masterpiece. Secondly, S Pen has a huge number of built-in opportunities for interaction with the system. For example, you can quickly make a long screenshot or a screenshot of a certain place and immediately draw an arrow or write comments. You can select an area with text on the screen and convert it to editable text. Third, the ability to make quick notes even on a locked screen. What else? With S Pen you can make a small animated gifs and send it to any messenger. You can make a translation of the text or a single word, and you can relax your nerves by clicking the stylus as a pen. In general, very convenient, but all these functions require a certain habit. Because most of us are accustomed to interact with a smartphone with the help of hands. as a fountain pen. In general, very convenient, but all these functions require a certain habit. Because most of us are accustomed to interact with a smartphone with the help of hands. as a fountain pen. In general, very convenient, but all these functions require a certain habit. Because most of us are accustomed to interact with a smartphone with the help of hands.
Camera
The third main counter Note 8 – a new camera. Here, too, have their own unique things, for example, optical stabilization and autofocus on both matrices. The first camera is the same as in the Galaxy S8 – 12 Mp – with a f / 1.7 aperture lens and 26 mm optics. The second one is also 12 Mp, but the aperture is already f / 2.4, and the lens is 52 mm. In principle, the application and camera capabilities are exactly the same as in the Galaxy S8, but there are two differences: a two-time zoom and dynamic focus. The second is a portrait mode with a background blur. In Note 8, the degree of blur can be adjusted, both during photography and on the finished image. Blurring itself is far from ideal, but with good light, everything turns out. The telephoto lens, like that of other smartphones with a dual camera, is a bit less sharp here. In poor lighting, the smartphone does not use it at all, and takes pictures on the main camera and scribbles the picture. The quality of photography from this of course suffers, but otherwise, it would not have been possible to take a picture. It should be noted that Samsung is not the only one who sins with such a technique.
At night, the photos are very good. Samsung uses HDR technology, glues together several images and thereby increases detail, sharpness, and most importantly the amount of noise. The main camera here is the same as on the Galaxy S8. On our YouTube channel, there is a comparison of Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel. It is possible in principle, based on the photos of S8, to draw conclusions about the abilities of Note 8. The front camera here is 8 megapixels with autofocus and a high-speed f / 1.7 lens. The quality of the pictures is very good.
Specifications
For Europe and the CIS region uses its own eight-core processor Exynos 8895 and 6 GB of RAM. This is more than the Galaxy S8 +. To say that there is a significant increase in speed cannot be, but the smartphone is a little bit faster. Any heavy games and programs run and go without problems. But if you set the screen resolution to a maximum of 2960 x 1440 pixels, then in some games there will be an FPS landing. Not critical, but a fact on the face. The default is Full HD + and this resolution is enough. Some fantastic difference with QHD is not felt.
A little surprised in Note 8 the amount of battery at 3300 mAh – less than the Galaxy S8 +. But here Samsung can understand because last year’s scandal requires the company maximum security. What is enough for 3300 mAh? On a full-time working day. It’s amazing that with this screen it’s generally possible. Of course, if you raise the resolution of the display, then the operating time will decrease, but in Full HD + from early morning to evening the smartphone copes with all tasks.
Launcher
Samsung can be praised for having seriously simplified and made its Clean UI launcher airier. It looks all modern, there are a lot of settings. It is the same as in the Galaxy S8. But there are a couple of differences. It’s finished with S Pen and its applications, and a sidebar with quick access to contacts and applications. At what it is possible to run two applications simultaneously in the dual screen mode. On this screen, you can use two applications, and in the settings, you can choose how to launch applications together. Swipe to the right on the main screen launches the Bixby page, which resembles something like Google Now. The settings menu was also greatly simplified and included sections. In general, Samsung realized how important it is to have a modern, clean and uncluttered interface.
Minuses
There are no perfect and ideal devices. Note 8 is no exception. Its main disadvantage is the price. The smartphone is very good, but its cost greatly embarrasses. For example, in the US on pre-order, it will cost $ 930 dollars, plus as a gift, you can choose either a Gear 360 camera or a wireless station and a 128 GB flash drive. In Europe, the cost of a smartphone is 1000 euros. which is about 1200 dollars. In Kazakhstan, the price is 400 000 tenge and this is about 1180 dollars. In Ukraine, in the transfer to American currency, the price is $ 1163, and in Belarus $ 1,240. In general, Note 8 smartphone is not exactly for everyone, and in the first place because of the price. No matter how beautiful it may be, not everyone can enjoy this purchase.
Another of the disadvantages can be called a fingerprint scanner on the backside, here it is not possible to use it at all, and Samsung sees it only as an auxiliary sensor. The main thing, after all, is the iris scanner of the eye. It works quickly, hangs happen, but very rarely. The relative disadvantages can be attributed to the volume of the battery in 3300 mAh. I want of course more, but the smartphone is enough for a full and active work day. Samsung wants to scold and for a separate button Bixby. It is clear that in the Android system, where there is own voice assistant Google Assistant, Samsung had to reinvent the wheel to promote its clever assistant. But why the company did not give freedom of choice, use this button at its discretion – is unclear. This would be an added plus.
conclusions
As a result, Galaxy Note 8 is unquestionably good. This smartphone, as the quintessence of all modern trends. And for the first time Samsung is approaching the new season as a leader and already Apple will have to prove what they can do, something is not worse. At the Note 8 there are no direct competitors in the market. And because of positioning and because of its features, and also because of the price.
