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1GalaxyNGalaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy S8: Are Stylus, Camera Worth the Extra Price?ote8vsS8_0
Earlier this year, Samsung launched arguably two of the most advanced Android smartphones on the market: the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The company’s flagship smartphones offer outstanding extras, high-end power and a design that puts all of its previous devices to shame. But despite the phones’ popularity, Samsung refused to rest on its laurels—on Aug. 23 it delivered the Galaxy Note 8, which might just be better than the Galaxy S8 line. Although it comes with a Galaxy S8-like design, the Note 8 has some advantages over its predecessors, including a better camera and stylus support to facilitate digital writing. But for all the advantages, Samsung’s Note 8 also comes at a cost—with pricing nearly touching $1,000. There are certain to be some who will balk at that price—especially when the Galaxy S8 line is so good. In this eWEEK slide show, we compare Samsung’s top handsets to help determine which might be best for your needs.
2Note 8 and S8 Have Similar Designs
Samsung didn’t try to reinvent the wheel with the Galaxy Note 8. The design is nearly identical to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, complete with a thin bezel at the top and bottom and curved edges on the left and right. There’s also no room for a physical home button, forcing Samsung to move the fingerprint sensor to an inconvenient spot next to the rear cameras. The Galaxy Note 8 is bigger than the Galaxy S8+, but not dramatically so.
3The Phones Come With the Same Power Inside
4The Operating System’s the Same
5Users Will Find the Same Software
6If You Like Big Screens, Note 8 Has a Slight Edge
7Only the Note 8 Comes With a Stylus
Arguably the biggest difference between the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy S8 line is the inclusion of a stylus. Unlike the Galaxy S8 smartphones, the Galaxy Note 8 supports Samsung’s S Pen stylus, allowing users to digitally write on the screen. Samsung has even updated the S Pen this year, giving it improved precision and faster responsiveness.
8Note 8 Boasts a Dual-Camera First
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is the first smartphone from the Korean giant to offer a dual-lens rear-facing camera. The Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, in contrast, have a single rear-facing camera. With the dual lenses, the Note 8 takes zoom effects to another level. The feature also helps Samsung keep pace with Apple’s iPhone 7 Plus, which similarly has a horizontally aligned dual-lens camera.
9Ample Storage With Each Option
10Phones Are All Carrier-Agnostic
Both the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note 8 are carrier-agnostic. That means the devices can be purchased from any major carrier network and work just fine. Samsung is selling versions that are locked to certain carriers, as well as unlocked options for users to bring to different carriers whenever they choose.
11A Big Price Difference
With its stylus and dual camera, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 looks like a nice upgrade over the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, but remember that all comes at a price. Galaxy Note 8 pricing is over $900 and in some cases can touch $960 or more. The Galaxy S8, on the other hand, comes in at $750, and the Galaxy S8+ tops out at $850. Either way, it’s not cheap to buy a Samsung smartphone.