Samsung introduced the Note 8 to the world Wednesday, looking to put the recall of the Note 7 behind it once and for all.
I got to spend some time with the new phone. At first glance, the Note 8 seems to put Samsung firmly on the road to redemption. Samsung has not had a new model of its premium phone since 2015 because of the recall. With that said, here are my initial impressions of the phone.
The screen:
When you see the Note 8, the most noticeable thing is definitely its display. It runs edge-to-edge in the same way as on the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.
On a phone as large as this - 6.3-inches - the extra space is even more noticeable. For those upgrading from the last available Note, the added screen real estate is almost eye-popping. I've never found bezels particularly annoying, but there is something deeply impressive about seeing a screen of this size with (almost) no border around it.
That gives you plenty of room to play with the Note's signature stylus, both for handwritten notes and for doodles, such as this one a Samsung representative penned on my portrait.
The screen is set up for multitasking, which is arguably Samsung's biggest power-user advantage over the iPhone.
Users can set "app pair" shortcuts to quickly open two apps at the same time. So, if you want to have your calendar handy along with your email, you can set a shortcut to have both appear on screen.
The camera:
The dual-camera, for me, is the next most notable feature. Samsung's made several software improvements to make the phone even better at shooting in low-light, getting sharp in a close-up, and staying steady even when your hands are not.
In the pre-briefing, Samsung also had a side-by-side comparison with a "competitor," - unnamed, but definitely Apple's iPhone - in a demo designed to make its stabilization software look amazing. With both phones mounted on a vibrating box, the Note 8's view screen showed barely a wobble as compared to a the super-shaky iPhone. I'll have to do a test at a later date to see how it plays out the same way in the real world.
Samsung has also worked some software magic on the way the phone's camera focuses. Thanks to the dual-lens, the Note 8 actually takes a couple of shots with every shutter click. That allows users to edit their photos more comprehensively after the fact - you can change the background blur of a picture, for example, or see the wide-angle view of a close-up shot.
Bixby:
The Note 8 has a dedicated button for Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant. The voice assistant is smart in some ways - it can recognize what's in your photos, for example - but still works with a limited number of apps. Samsung is adding more support, however, including for the music service Spotify.
What I would have liked to see:
There are some gripes, of course. The fingerprint reader, which was clumsily placed next to the camera lens, is in the same awkward spot. And the Note is still large and somewhat unwieldy to hold if your hands aren't that big - though the ability to get more screen real estate out of a device that's physically smaller helps ease that concern.
Of course, evaluations of the more practical considerations - battery life, speed and daily use - will have to come upon further review when I have more time to spend with the phone.
Conclusion: So who should buy it?
Devotees of the Note line should be very pleased, particularly coming from the Note 5 - Samsung skipped the Note 6 for branding reasons. If you must have that huge screen, the stylus and/or the multitasking features, this is the best option on the market. The Note 8 is the Samsung also slightly squared off the edges of the Note 8 as compared to previous models, which makes the phone much easier to hold than their slippery predecessors.
For those wondering whether the Note 8 will have the similar battery issues as the Note 7, Samsung has said that it learned its lesson and as a result applied new safety standards when making the phone.
This is Samsung's premium device, and should be thought of in competition with the iPhone 7 Plus, or whatever upcoming Plus model may appear in the fall.
For most, it will be worth a wait to see what Apple has on offer - which also, conveniently, gives the Note 8 time to work out any potential growing pains.
The Note 8 goes on pre-order on August 25, and hits store shelves on Sept. 15. Prices at carriers will vary, based on the way consumers choose to pay for the phone. But, as a sense of the price, buying the phone through AT&T will cost $949.99.
The Washington Post
Thu Aug 24 2017
A guest shows the new Galaxy Note 8 smartphone during the launch event in New York City, U.S., August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.