Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its Galaxy Note8
smartphone, positioning the oversized handset as the ideal
choice for those who want to do bigger things. The new
Android-powered device's larger Infinity Display features
nearly bezel-less full-frontal glass and an edge-to-edge
screen.
The Note8 comes with an improved S Pen that will allow
users to communicate in what the company described as
more "personal ways."
The Galaxy Note8 is both water- and dust-resistant, and it
supports fast wireless charging. Under the hood, it features
6 GB of RAM, an Octa Core 2.36-GHz Quad + 1.7-GHz Quad
10nm processor, 65 GB of storage, and expandable
memory.
Although the handset is built around a 6.3-inch Quad HD+
Super OMOLED screen with a truly wide 18.5:9 aspect ratio,
it still can be considered a true "handset," as it can fit in
most users' hands reasonably well.
The S Pen allows users to send handwritten notes and even
create animated GIF files from videos. Samsung has touted
this functionality as a true step up from traditional text
messaging.
The S Pen is more than a stylus, as it features a 0.7mm tip
that is far more precise that the styluses that were used
with Palm and other devices a decade ago. It also is truly
connected to the device. It has 4,096 levels of pressure, and
thus can respond to the touch of the pen tip more
accurately. It has eraser functionality as well.
Another touted improvement in the Galaxy Note8 is its
Always On Display, which allows users to receive and read
notifications without unlocking the device.
Preordering for the Galaxy Note8 began on Thursday. It will
be available from major carriers, or as an unlocked version.
The unlocked handset will retail for US$929.
Dual Cameras
Among its feature highlights are the Galaxy Note8 rear
cameras -- as in plural. It is the first handset to feature two
12-MP rear cameras with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS).
These cameras offer both wide-angle and telephoto lenses,
which give users greater control of the depth of field. Users
can adjust the bokeh effect in preview mode, as well as
after a photo is taken. The wide-angle lens has a Dual Pixel
sensor with rapid autofocus functionality, capturing sharp
images in low-light conditions.
The camera further offers a Dual Capture mode: Both
cameras are utilized to take two photos simultaneously --
one a close-up using the telephoto lens, and the other a
wide-angle shot of the same subject.
In addition to the dual rear cameras, the Galaxy Note8 has
an 8-MP Smart Auto Focus front-facing camera that can be
used for video chats as well as selfies.
Premium Smartphone
With its key features -- including the three cameras and
large display -- the Samsung Galaxy Note8 clearly is meant
to be a premium smartphone. However, it isn't exactly the
company's newest flagship product.
"With Samsung, we look first at the hardware; the display is
gorgeous," said Ramon Llamas, research manager for
wearables and mobile phones at IDC
"It feels good in the hand, and it is a great looking device,
but it is really the software that makes this thing hum --and
there it isn't revolutionary," he told TechNewsWorld.
"The Galaxy Note8 is just moving it further in the same
direction," added Llamas.
Still, "the Note8 appears to be the clear direction of what
Samsung believes the premium smartphone design should
look like," observed Wayne Lam, principal analyst for mobile
electronics at IHS Markit .
"By extending their Infinity Display design language from the
Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung is evolving to maximize the
screen real-estate of the device while keeping the handset
ergonomic enough for everyday use," he told
TechNewsWorld. "The inclusion of the dual OIS cameras are
interesting, and should offer improvements to telephoto
videos and photo stabilization."
Price Point
The issue will be whether even the core Samsung customer
will embrace the handset, given that it is a premium device
without any key revolutionary benefits or improvements.
What it does add may be too little -- even for the core
audience.
"All these innovations come at a price, and the cost of the
Note8 will be the most expensive version of the series --
more so than the ill-fated Note7," added Lam.
Yet, Samsung is appealing to the hard-core Note users, he
suggested.
"This demographic values utility and performance over other
things," Lam noted, "whereas Apple tries to appeal to all
smartphone users with their zen-like simplicity and
designs."
The next iPhone -- the 10th anniversary model -- could give
Samsung's Note8 a run for its money.
This is true even though "it's appealing to a different
demographic really," according to Lam. "However, from a
price point perspective, they are both attracting the same
customers."
Past Debacles Forgotten?
It remains unknown whether Samsung can put the Note7
disaster in the past for good.
"With each device that comes out, that debacle with the
exploding batteries is further in the rearview mirror," said
IDC's Llamas.
"They did everything they could to restore trust, and that
was a key part of the presentation that introduced the
Note8," he added.
"They are reminding everything that they are a key innovator
in this space, so will Samsung sell millions of units? The
answer is yes," added Llamas. "They'll sell millions
worldwide -- but we should remember again that this isn't
their true flagship device, just a shift to a more premium
handset."
