Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Reviews: 'Beautiful' Display and Solid Dual Rear Cameras at Premium Price

[offdutyrockstar]

Facial and iris recognition are ***** apparently.

https://www.cnet.com/news/samsung-note-8-fooled-face-unlock-not-secure/

Cue Apple to come show how it'd done.
[doublepost=1504705679][/doublepost]lmao

https://twitter.com/MelTajon/status/904058526061830144

Garbage.

 

[DynaFXD]

I'm a photographer. How good a camera is on a smartphone or how close it can approximate the images that I can capture on my DSLRs is not a selling point for me, Android or iOS. Having said that, I do appreciate the fact that they're trying to make the smartphone camera's better with each generation.

Oddly, I am not a photographer and one of the biggest things I consider when deciding to upgrade is the improving quality of the camera. Go figure. Then again, I'm not trying to reach the performance of a DSLR, just trying to get the best daily life photos. As they say, the best camera is the one that you have with you ....

 

[Mascots]

Hmm another one of those stories. I call it bs. The reason why i got the s8 was because the long term reviews showed no slow down whatsoever. My brother S7 is also as fast as my Pixel (running beta 8.0 back then).

Also early reports are saying the Note 8 is faster and smoother again. I think it time to stop this hogwash about Samsung phones being laggy, it simply is not the case anymore.

This isn't 2011 anymore

Literally last year: https://www.xda-developers.com/with...delivers-embarrassing-real-world-performance/
Two months ago: https://www.sammobile.com/2017/06/27/samsung-ui-fluidity-problem-needs-fixing

Samsung has tainted their own reputation. it's not my fault. The fact that people like you can't even recognize the significance or recency in their mistakes probably means your opinion of the matter is about as good as any other Samsung fannie with their head in the dirt.

Year and year again they release phones that are not worth the money they are asking, and every year mainstream reviewers gloss over the significant issues that lead to crap performance and an unenjoyable experience. Then there's updates: "Oh it feels better" the fannie coo. And then another update addressing the same thing: But I thought it was fixed? The following year the issue is "fixed" by releasing a new phone that's just not-as-bad, when in comparison, other manufacturers do wonders with less. And that's just performance: don't get me started on the features they offer that more often than not turn into entertaining gimmicks.

Absolutely no way I'm playing that game. Not for a device I plan to use everyday, maybe even collective hours, and spend close to a grand on. They've burned that bridge for me, I didn't have to do anything.

 

[symphara]

Wrong again, skippy! I never said I wanted to make a comment about the note 7, just pointed out how those comments were getting deleted. But I do find amusement in how sensitive you are regarding the subject of that hazardous predecessor of the phone being discussed. Your whining is rather hilarious.

Oh boy, you're incredibly touchy on the subject. I must have hit a nerve, otherwise you wouldn't keep bringing it up. Yes we all know the Note 7 was rushed to market and some had battery issues. Samsung published a well-researched report (I read it) and did the obligatory mea culpa. Nothing to be sensitive about here, it's done and dusted.

There's just nothing interesting about these comments being deleted - they were unnecessary to begin with. Yet you keep whining about these comments being deleted. The Note 7 doesn't even exist as a product anymore, they killed it. Should the Note 8 exhibit issues, that will be interesting and topical.

Capiche, "skippy", or is that too complex for you? This thread is about the Note 8, not about a former faulty product that was wholly recalled.

 

[Abazigal]

What the heck kind of decision-making process leads to these broken face and iris scanning features actually getting shipped? Effective biometric authentication is so key to the experience of using a modern phone that it's hard for me to look past this, especially when combined with the fingerprint sensor moving to a difficult to use location.

There's no shame in failing to effectively implement a face recognition system. It's a difficult problem. But for heaven's sake, don't ship your failed effort. If Apple's rumored face recognition system fails this badly then I will lose almost all faith in the company.

Daringfireball sums it up best.

 

[rGiskard]

No disgusting protruding lens either.

Most people would use a case on a $1400 pocket computer.

 

[Splatt123]

You must be kidding, If you have used IOS you will definitely hate android whatever is on the outside

I used iOS from the 1st iPhone to an iPhone 5S, switched to Android and prefer it. Just the way you can customise it and use the file system to name a couple of things.

Although it is very annoying waiting for some s/w upgrades that carriers withhold unless you bought the phone from them - iPhones don't have that problem.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

You must be kidding, If you have used IOS you will definitely hate android whatever is on the outside

I use both....i really enjoy both.

Didn't yoda say dealing in absolutes are bad? Either way, its your opinion, and a subjective opinion is not absolute.

 

[symphara]

Literally last year: https://www.xda-developers.com/with...delivers-embarrassing-real-world-performance/
Two months ago: https://www.sammobile.com/2017/06/27/samsung-ui-fluidity-problem-needs-fixing

Samsung has tainted their own reputation. it's not my fault. The fact that people like you can't even recognize the significance or recency in their mistakes probably means your opinion of the matter is about as good as any other Samsung fannie with their head in the dirt.

Year and year again they release phones that are not worth the money they are asking, and every year mainstream reviewers gloss over the significant issues that lead to crap performance and an unenjoyable experience. Then there's updates: "Oh it feels better" the fannie coo. And then another update addressing the same thing: But I thought it was fixed? The following year the issue is "fixed" by releasing a new phone that's just not-as-bad, when in comparison, other manufacturers do wonders with less. And that's just performance: don't get me started on the features they offer that more often than not turn into entertaining gimmicks.

Absolutely no way I'm playing that game. Not for a device I plan to use everyday, maybe even collective hours, and spend close to a grand on. They've burned that bridge for me, I didn't have to do anything.

I wouldn't buy the Note 8 (or the S8) because of Bixby (it would drive me crazy), really unnecessary app duplication (Google just makes better ones), the bad fingerprint sensor position and the non-removable crap such as Facebook.

But reading your post, I'd say you might be wrong. My father got a work S8 - his first real smartphone ever (coming from a Nokia) - and I spent quite some time with it setting it up and teaching him how to use it.

Aside from the reasons I enumerated up front, I thought it was a lovely device, and I'm sure the S8+ and the Note 8 are too.

First, performance. No issues whatsoever. They completely re-did their UI, it's very clean, and I didn't see the lag or stutters that were Samsung's hallmarks. Now in fairness I don't think this is that important to begin with - and even my new iPad Pro 10.5 stutters and lags from time to time, but if this is important, I think Samsung has definitely moved in the right direction.

As a side-note, whoever says that iOS devices are butter-smooth is just selling manure and advertising it as chocolate. They aren't to begin with, and give Apple time to update the OS and they get full of lag and stutters. If in doubt I can just show you my old iPad Mini (retina version), which is anything but smooth.

Second, design. It's really beautiful. Particularly the S8 (the others are just the same thing but slightly bigger), I think it's just the prettiest phone you can buy. It's very slim, they got the screen curvature just right in my opinion, the materials and build quality seem top-notch.

Third, the screen. It's just awesome. From what I read, the Note 8 has the brightest OLED panel of all, so that's nailed.

Fourth, the camera. On the S8 it's very good. On the Note 8, based on everything I read, it's better.

So overall it's down to priorities. I can well understand not getting this phone based on a variety of factors, but performance I think is fine. It just remains to be seen if it will stay so.

 

[Mascots]

I wouldn't buy the Note 8 (or the S8) because of Bixby (it would drive me crazy), really unnecessary app duplication (Google just makes better ones), the bad fingerprint sensor position and the non-removable crap such as Facebook.

But reading your post, I'd say you might be wrong. My father got a work S8 - his first real smartphone ever (coming from a Nokia) - and I spent quite some time with it setting it up and teaching him how to use it.

Aside from the reasons I enumerated up front, I thought it was a lovely device, and I'm sure the S8+ and the Note 8 are too.

First, performance. No issues whatsoever. They completely re-did their UI, it's very clean, and I didn't see the lag or stutters that were Samsung's hallmarks. Now in fairness I don't think this is that important to begin with - and even my new iPad Pro 10.5 stutters and lags from time to time, but if this is important, I think Samsung has definitely moved in the right direction.

As a side-note, whoever says that iOS devices are butter-smooth is just selling manure and advertising it as chocolate. They aren't to begin with, and give Apple time to update the OS and they get full of lag and stutters. If in doubt I can just show you my old iPad Mini (retina version), which is anything but smooth.

Second, design. It's really beautiful. Particularly the S8 (the others are just the same thing but slightly bigger), I think it's just the prettiest phone you can buy. It's very slim, they got the screen curvature just right in my opinion, the materials and build quality seem top-notch.

Third, the screen. It's just awesome. From what I read, the Note 8 has the brightest OLED panel of all, so that's nailed.

Fourth, the camera. On the S8 it's very good. On the Note 8, based on everything I read, it's better.

So overall it's down to priorities. I can well understand not getting this phone based on a variety of factors, but performance I think is fine. It just remains to be seen if it will stay so.

There are plenty of other devices out there that are far superior in quality and performance than what Samsung can dream to produce. The phones work, but are hardly worth the money.
Every year: It's a new clean UI! Speed isn't that important because their so fast already! These other gimmicks or feature add the value that's lost from basic expectation and experience!

It's a $850 device and these things are the bare requirement.
Show me a $300 phone with the given performance and I'll allow it; not Sammies flagship. Acting like these problems don't exist - lol - Then having the audacity to compare Samsung's flagship 2017 device to an iPad Mini to justify those problems? The iPad Mini is a device that was never flagship and uses a previous generations chipset? Please, enough of that.
It's just excuse after excuse from them and their fanbase which is why I don't trust their current or previous products and never could. I'm not going to get burned purchasing their product just so they can finally produce one that works as I would have expected the next year that probably doesn't. Stupid cycle.

 

[lowendlinux]

Literally last year: https://www.xda-developers.com/with...delivers-embarrassing-real-world-performance/
Two months ago: https://www.sammobile.com/2017/06/27/samsung-ui-fluidity-problem-needs-fixing

Samsung has tainted their own reputation. it's not my fault. The fact that people like you can't even recognize the significance or recency in their mistakes probably means your opinion of the matter is about as good as any other Samsung fannie with their head in the dirt.

Year and year again they release phones that are not worth the money they are asking, and every year mainstream reviewers gloss over the significant issues that lead to crap performance and an unenjoyable experience. Then there's updates: "Oh it feels better" the fannie coo. And then another update addressing the same thing: But I thought it was fixed? The following year the issue is "fixed" by releasing a new phone that's just not-as-bad, when in comparison, other manufacturers do wonders with less. And that's just performance: don't get me started on the features they offer that more often than not turn into entertaining gimmicks.

Absolutely no way I'm playing that game. Not for a device I plan to use everyday, maybe even collective hours, and spend close to a grand on. They've burned that bridge for me, I didn't have to do anything.

As a loyal Android guy I wouldn't buy a Samsung phone for anything but having said that problems that xda bring up are rarely problems that normal people would even notice. The xda user base myself included aren't representative of anything even moreso than the MR user base.

 

[neoME]

Maybe, but then so has the quality of their products. Apple hasn't been shy with their increases in price either. Let's face it, Apple is overpriced for what are effectively midrange phones. For all the idea the iPhone is a flagship device, spec wise, it has a midrange screen, less than most ram and lacks numerous features of a flagship, e.g. Fast charging, expandable memory etc

Apple has always the fastest processors in the market when they present them. The iPhone 7 Processor was way faster then anything in the market at that time. The Home Button / 3D Touch / Overall Material is way ahead of the competition. ... But hey... mid range phone.... Troll somewhere else

 

[Wilford]

This is MacRumors not Samsung Reviews. Or is it?

 

[falainber]

Daringfireball sums it up best.

That's understandable coming from the Apple apologist/fan. But the point is not as valid as it seems. People use different levels of security when it comes to phones. Some need strict security others are fine without any. Let's remember that Note 8 (and S8) still provides finger print scanner (i.e. same security level as iPhone). The facial recognition is an additional option which some might find useful. I have not seen people reporting any issues (security wise) with iris scanners on S8. Now, iPhone might offer more secure facial recognition features. But... reportedly, it does not have finger print scanner so it better do the facial recognition right.

 

[BvizioN]

What about all those people who for religious grounds choose to wear apparel that covers the majority of their face?


The most secure way of protecting a device is to store a number/password that only resides in the grey matter inside your skull.

Not the most convenient, but the most secure.

That's is such a non sense.
What about these people who have fingers cut, disabled etc? What about these who for health reasons or other reasons choose to wear gloves?? Or these are not important because they don't do it for religious reasons, right?
Passwords/pins most secure? You mean these that easily get hacked even by kids? I get you.

 

[ani4ani]

Apple has always the fastest processors in the market when they present them. The iPhone 7 Processor was way faster then anything in the market at that time. The Home Button / 3D Touch / Overall Material is way ahead of the competition. ... But hey... mid range phone.... Troll somewhere else

Did you just register for my sake...thanks

I am not trolling...I am responding to the assertation that Samsung's phones are becoming more and more expensive with each incarnation, which is the case, but so is their specification which on the whole has to include compenents that are way more expensive than the corresponding iPhone, e.g. always more RAM, always bigger, higher specification / resolution screens, dual SIM slots, expandable memory slots, water-proofing, bigger batteries, wireless charging etc. I don't think any manufacturer can justify $1000 for a phone, but of all of them, Apple should have the hardest job doing so.

 

[ke-iron]

I have the s8+ and also two iPhones.

If you buy the right case, the back fingerprint sensor works BETTER than the iPhone. Several cases have a sloping depression in the back so your finger slides right into place. Works FAR better than the iPhones.

I own a LOT of Apple stuff, but the phones have been chasing the market for years now. The s8 has user expandable memory and is just about perfect. Likely the Note will be even better, but it's even bigger.

You really can't go wrong with ANY smartphone these days. They all do the same stuff. But the Samsung gear is juts a bit slicker and feature packed for my money.


R.

Let’s be realistic. The Samsung finger print sensor is not better than the iPhone Touch ID. Period.

 

[Mockenrue]

$930 Samsung? Nobody bats an eye. $999 iPhone? EVERYBODY PANIC

The panic is because latest-and-greatest will no longer be available at the baseline cost, and you have to go further up the price sheet to be part of the club. The need for "visual proof that I own the latest model" is more important to iPhone owners, which is why new colors sell so well when the form factor doesn't change.

Android is different because there are so many manufacturers and release cycles that buyers jump in at whatever model and price point suits their needs. No individual flagship has a must-own level of prestige.

 

[ke-iron]

Did you just register for my sake...thanks

I am not trolling...I am responding to the assertation that Samsung's phones are becoming more and more expensive with each incarnation, which is the case, but so is their specification which on the whole has to include compenents that are way more expensive than the corresponding iPhone, e.g. always more RAM, always bigger, higher specification / resolution screens, dual SIM slots, expandable memory slots, water-proofing, bigger batteries, wireless charging etc. I don't think any manufacturer can justify $1000 for a phone, but of all of them, Apple should have the hardest job doing so.

The same argument could be made to justify Apple pricing. Custom made processors, Touch ID, custom vibration motors, aluminum body, water resistance that is better than Samsung’s own even though it has a lower rating. Smaller batteries with excellent battery life. iOS! Yes iOS! It works so buttery smooth and with continuity and iCloud it works seamlessly with your other Apple devices. Have you seen how AirPods pair with an iPhone? Have you seen how your iPhone will show up in your Mac wireless connection giving you the option to connect? Seemless, it’s pure bliss.

Apple devices is more custom, well built and thought out than any other phone manufacturer.

 

[farewelwilliams]

i disagree. it needs getting used to, but other than that its ok.

how do you unlock when the phone is on the table? very annoying to constantly pick up the phone just to unlock.

i actually prefer it over touchID because it unlocks with a scan, not a "press and scan" like in an iPhone.

you know you can change that in iphone settings right? it's in accessbility settings.

 

[lowendlinux]

how do you unlock when the phone is on the table? very annoying to constantly pick up the phone just to unlock.


you know you can change that in iphone settings right? it's in accessbility settings.

You do realize that not all of us put our phones out face up on tables right?

If you do that a lot and have a smart watch you just set up smart lock with your watch.

 

[Dirtfarmer]

Having bought my first PC in a decade (for gaming) last week I can confidently say from recent experience that Windows is indeed still a cluster**** of piss-poor UI and janky design.

I feel the same way about iOS.

The difference is that I am aware of my own confirmation bias.

I know that it's perfectly fine, just not what I'm used to.

Every time I touch my wife's iPhone I want to throw it out the window, but only because the concepts and metaphors and actions that I'm used to on Android (and before that Blackberry) are absent.

I mean who builds a phone with no back button. I've literally been using the concept of "back" on my mobile devices since 2001.

The truth is that having no back button is perfectly fine. As is iOS. As is MacOS. As are Android and Windows.

Apple no longer has the advantage of a competitor that doesn't have it's ducks in a row.

 

[symphara]

Then having the audacity to compare Samsung's flagship 2017 device to an iPad Mini to justify those problems? The iPad Mini is a device that was never flagship and uses a previous generations chipset?

I'm sorry that's what you got from my post. I was doing no such thing - I was merely pointing out that Apple's track record at OS updates is very poor in terms of keeping the performance up. In fact, they accomplish the very opposite, one wonders if by design. I have three iPads and two Macbooks, and this is an extremely consistent pattern. If on Android I welcome an OS update (there's been no new version slower than the old one for me, ever), on an Apple device I dread it. Every new version makes the devices worse until they're borderline unusable. And this is done by pure OS updates, not new software or anything like that. My Macbook Air has the same stuff on it as from the very beginning. With Maverick it ran beautifully. Now it crawls worse than my worst experience with Windows Vista.

Then what you're writing simply doesn't apply to the current Samsung flagship range. The S7 isn't the current flagship. The opinion written on xda about the S7 isn't generally shared either - I've seen reviewers I respect who are both happy with the initial performance and long-term performance. Not that I personally like the S7 - I do not.

You're also wrong about the software. They had pretty much the same thing (TouchWiz) for a long time, tweaked here and there. The new launcher has a completely different UI.

I'm not trying to make you buy anything, in fact, I couldn't care less what you're buying. I'm just trying to bring some perspective to your post.
[doublepost=1504718902][/doublepost]

Let’s be realistic. The Samsung finger print sensor is not better than the iPhone Touch ID. Period.

But the Huawei ones are. Much, much better.

In fact, I think the sensors used by Apple are pretty bad. I have one on my Macbook Pro and one on my iPad Pro. Neither work when my finger is wet, unlike Huawei's.

This year I renovated my holiday home and there was a lot of dust while they were working there, the kind of very fine dust that really gets into the skin and makes it very dry. After staying there for a few hours both Apple sensors had 100% failure rates, while the Huawei had about a 10% failure rate.

So while I don't know about Samsung's, I doubt it's worse than Apple's.

 

[CaptRB]

The rear fingerprint sensor is easier to use than the Apple version.

I don't think I've EVER used a phone without picking it up. I don't think I've ever SEEN anyone else do that, except maybe at a meeting using the speakerphone. I usually pick up my phones and the Samsung sensor works great with the case because it's in a natural spot for one-hated usage in a single motion.

I own both phones and the Samsung is a better product (for me).

I own two 5K iMac's, two Mac Airs, two iPhones, four Apple TVs etc. I'm a fan of Apple stuff. But they no longer lead the market in phones. They CHASE that market. That began when they resisted the bigger screens and allowed Samsung to leap forward. The Galaxy Note ended my love if iPhones and now I find Android better than IOS just like I prefer Mac OS to Windows.

But BASICALLY...these phones are VERY close and arguing over which is better is pretty silly. Buy and enjoy what you like!


R.

 

[symphara]

how do you unlock when the phone is on the table? very annoying to constantly pick up the phone just to unlock.

I personally use geofencing (available on Android). It keeps the phone unlocked when at a particular address (like home or work). You can also use Bluetooth devices (such as the car infotainment system, smartwatch or headphones) to keep it unlocked.

Not that I have your particular problem anyway. I never turn on the phone just to look at notifications since I have an Android Wear smartwatch, so when I turn on the phone I always do so to use it, and I never use it while it lays flat on the table. And for that, unlocking using the rear fingerprint sensor feels much more natural.