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jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
Note 8 and the 8 plus?
Which one do you prefer?
I really enjoy them both to be honest. I switch between them and use them both about the same amount. I really can't choose between them. If I could just pick one....it would be a lot cheaper for me for sure o_O
 
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mazdamiata210

macrumors 6502a
Sep 28, 2014
933
556
I have a iPhone 8 plus and a Note 8 and battery life is the same or a little better on the Note 8 for me.

Awesome I am seriously considering checking out the Note. I had a Note 2 way back and I loved it.

Note 8 and the 8 plus?
Which one do you prefer?

Having a Note 2 back in the day I will say the Note was far more capable in comparison to my iPhone 5/5S at the time. But it comes down to what you do and what you expect from a phone. I expect the Note 8 to blow away the iPhone even more these days when it comes to what it can do.
[doublepost=1510229212][/doublepost]
I really enjoy them both to be honest. I switch between them and use them both about the same amount. I really can't choose between them. If I could just pick one....it would be a lot cheaper for me for sure o_O

How about some pros and cons of both then?
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
How about some pros and cons of both then?
Some of this is purely user preference on my part
Note 8 Pros
Best display on a smartphone imho
Battery life is phenomenal
S-Pen add functionality
Customization and home screen widgets
Performance...this thing is a beast!
SD card for additional storage
wireless charging
great camera!

Note 8 cons
It is a big phone!
Wish it were a little wider tbh
FPS location

8 Plus pros
Great display
bezels provide a place to hold the phone
ease of use.....it has a great user experience
TouchID is fast
Best keyboard on a smartphone
Great camera
Great battery life
wireless charging


8 Plus cons
Big heavy phone
lack of customization
IOS needs to be more user friendly
 
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convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
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Awesome unbiased first time iPhone user comparison.


Pretty good first look that does seem to be fairly unbiased. It is funny that he spent the first 10% of the video raving about animojis and how he'd use them a lot. I would be surprised if he used them a lot, and if I was his friend and he kept sending them to me all the time we'd need to have a talk.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
Pretty good first look that does seem to be fairly unbiased. It is funny that he spent the first 10% of the video raving about animojis and how he'd use them a lot. I would be surprised if he used them a lot, and if I was his friend and he kept sending them to me all the time we'd need to have a talk.
yeah its like Snapchat....the first couple funny filters or faces you get are funny....then they get tiresome really fast.
But the Snapchat filters entertain my 9 year old to no end....
 
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mazdamiata210

macrumors 6502a
Sep 28, 2014
933
556
Pretty good first look that does seem to be fairly unbiased. It is funny that he spent the first 10% of the video raving about animojis and how he'd use them a lot. I would be surprised if he used them a lot, and if I was his friend and he kept sending them to me all the time we'd need to have a talk.

Then his battery would really be dead. Those AR apps and face tracking apps absolutely destroyed my battery. 1-2% every minute of use for animoji.
 

convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
I'm looking to switch from my 6S+ on 10.3.3 to the Note 8. My biggest concerns are battery since the iPhone can last me all day and then some... How do you find battery life to be in comparison to the old iPhone 6s+?

I don't notice a big difference. The Note 8 does have a battery optimize tool that is pretty nice... it gives you different options to extend your battery and estimate how long. It also lets you stop specific apps if you want and shows how much each is using. I've not really needed to use it, but good to know its there.

Once during the month or so I've had it the Note 8 actually alerted me to an app that was using an unusual amount of battery. It was Podcast Addict. I noticed the battery was a little lower than I expected... but was surprised when shortly thereafter alerted me about the app. I just uninstalled it and loaded a different Podcast app and not had an issues since. I was pretty impressed with that.

I posted a comparison in this thread I believe already. The title of the thread actually captures my feelings. I've had more fun with the Note 8 than I've had in a long time with a tech device. Its very refined and quick to use. Don't listen to the nonsense people spout about Samsung. They have done a great job with the Note 8, both with hardware and software. I would spend several hours on YouTube getting how to and tips for the transition.

Things that I think the iPhone has the edge:
- Dealing with other iPhone users and Apple ecosystem. I've pretty much dropped the Apple ecosystem so that isn't an issue but my whole family has iPhones. That means there is less friction messaging them and such from another iPhone. If you use the messaging App, and anyone sends a video for example, in a group message, having one non-iPhone means Apple will make the video compressed and nearly unusable. We just use GroupMe instead. But its friction.
- Updates and support are always going to be better on Apple. I haven't experienced either yet on the Note 8 so can't say Samsung is worse, I'm just expecting it.

Things I like better on the Note 8:
- The ability to customize the experience to my liking.
- Samsung Pay is better, especially in the US where it works nearly everywhere
- S-Pen - I use this quite a bit, because I take pen based notes on my Surface Pro in OneNote, and I can go back and forth and edit. Also, for taking quick notes while its turned off... has eliminated the scrap paper stuff I tended to do sometime.
- Form factor - Its roughly the same size as 6s+ but a little narrower and taller. That makes it easier to handle securely one handed. I do use a case on both.
- Split screen - in portrait mode, watch a video or Netflix or something while you are using another app on the bottom 2/3 of the screen.
- Bigger screen... and gorgeous.
- Headphone jack... I have some expensive headphones that want to keep using without a dongle
- Waterproof
- Fast wireless charging
- Like the ability to hit a button to get to the camera immediately, and the camera app I like better than Apples. For example, you can move the button around on the screen making it easier to take group selfies without nearly dropping the phone.
- I like having Iris and FPS... and I don't find the FPS to be all that bad on the back, particularly for one handed operation its great.
- Always on Display is pretty cool.
- Lastly, I love the Gear S3 ... usability is a lot better for me than Apple Watch was. Especially in the gym.
 

mazdamiata210

macrumors 6502a
Sep 28, 2014
933
556
I don't notice a big difference. The Note 8 does have a battery optimize tool that is pretty nice... it gives you different options to extend your battery and estimate how long. It also lets you stop specific apps if you want and shows how much each is using. I've not really needed to use it, but good to know its there.

Once during the month or so I've had it the Note 8 actually alerted me to an app that was using an unusual amount of battery. It was Podcast Addict. I noticed the battery was a little lower than I expected... but was surprised when shortly thereafter alerted me about the app. I just uninstalled it and loaded a different Podcast app and not had an issues since. I was pretty impressed with that.

I posted a comparison in this thread I believe already. The title of the thread actually captures my feelings. I've had more fun with the Note 8 than I've had in a long time with a tech device. Its very refined and quick to use. Don't listen to the nonsense people spout about Samsung. They have done a great job with the Note 8, both with hardware and software. I would spend several hours on YouTube getting how to and tips for the transition.

Things that I think the iPhone has the edge:
- Dealing with other iPhone users and Apple ecosystem. I've pretty much dropped the Apple ecosystem so that isn't an issue but my whole family has iPhones. That means there is less friction messaging them and such from another iPhone. If you use the messaging App, and anyone sends a video for example, in a group message, having one non-iPhone means Apple will make the video compressed and nearly unusable. We just use GroupMe instead. But its friction.
- Updates and support are always going to be better on Apple. I haven't experienced either yet on the Note 8 so can't say Samsung is worse, I'm just expecting it.

Things I like better on the Note 8:
- The ability to customize the experience to my liking.
- Samsung Pay is better, especially in the US where it works nearly everywhere
- S-Pen - I use this quite a bit, because I take pen based notes on my Surface Pro in OneNote, and I can go back and forth and edit. Also, for taking quick notes while its turned off... has eliminated the scrap paper stuff I tended to do sometime.
- Form factor - Its roughly the same size as 6s+ but a little narrower and taller. That makes it easier to handle securely one handed. I do use a case on both.
- Split screen - in portrait mode, watch a video or Netflix or something while you are using another app on the bottom 2/3 of the screen.
- Bigger screen... and gorgeous.
- Headphone jack... I have some expensive headphones that want to keep using without a dongle
- Waterproof
- Fast wireless charging
- Like the ability to hit a button to get to the camera immediately, and the camera app I like better than Apples. For example, you can move the button around on the screen making it easier to take group selfies without nearly dropping the phone.
- I like having Iris and FPS... and I don't find the FPS to be all that bad on the back, particularly for one handed operation its great.
- Always on Display is pretty cool.
- Lastly, I love the Gear S3 ... usability is a lot better for me than Apple Watch was. Especially in the gym.


Switching and losing iMessage would be my biggest issue assuming battery life is on par with my 10-12 hours of use my 6S+ gets now.
 

koigirl

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2011
846
401
Raleigh, NC
I'm looking to switch from my 6S+ on 10.3.3 to the Note 8. My biggest concerns are battery since the iPhone can last me all day and then some... How do you find battery life to be in comparison to the old iPhone 6s+?
Battery is on par, maybe even a little better for me (I came from 6s Plus) because I use Power Management in settings to optimize, especially if and when my battery seems to be dropping faster than usual(which also happened at times with my 6s Plus). My battery life has actually improved with Note 8. I easily get through the day with at least 30% left, most of the time much more. What I want to avoid is looking down at 6:00 PM and seeing it below 20% and feeling like I need to get to a charger.
 

DiamonDecoden

macrumors 6502
May 26, 2011
454
163
Texas
Switching and losing iMessage would be my biggest issue assuming battery life is on par with my 10-12 hours of use my 6S+ gets now.

I am super tempted by the Note8 (I had a Note 2 back in the days) . I am on a iphone 7s plus now. I agree losing iMessage would be difficult AND losing Facetime, FindMyFriends. Most of my friends and family have iPhones.

So, here is what I regularly use:
  1. iMessage: I do enjoy picking it up on my MacBook. But this can be replace with Facebook Messenger or Groupme which is actually more functional than iMessage.
  2. FaceTime: I like the ability to switch to video calling innately. It's a clean design. I guess it can be replaced with Wechat which all my family have and use.
  3. FindmyFriends: Mainly use with my family. I think Google have a replacement for this one.
  4. Podcast: I like listening to podcast especially the news ones. After the newest update, it keep on stop playing and not continuous playing one after the other like in the past. So, I need find a replacement.
  5. Apple Watch: I use this as a fitness tracker and also as a remote for the Apple TV. If I switch to Note, I will need to replace with the S watch.
Another point is that Apple have a super clean and polished design that makes the app look finished and everything is consistently designed and streamlined but I do very much admire the functionality of the Note 8.
 

Dodgeman

macrumors 65816
Nov 30, 2016
1,355
199
My note 8 showed up but haven’t had much interaction with it.
I am nervous about switching from the 6s.
Probably should’ve stayed with Apple but hopefully the Note is solid. If I find it too big I may go s8+. The Note has a bigger body due to the slightly larger screen and the pen. I’m sure there’s tons of setting to customize as well which can be a gift and hassle.
Hopefully it’s better than when Apple does and update and turns settings on and it’s a treasure hunt to figure out what that setting is and where/how to turn it off.
[doublepost=1510318175][/doublepost]It’s funny too, as soon as the Note arrives it seems all my 6s issues are resolved.
 

convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
My note 8 showed up but haven’t had much interaction with it.
I am nervous about switching from the 6s.
Probably should’ve stayed with Apple but hopefully the Note is solid. If I find it too big I may go s8+. The Note has a bigger body due to the slightly larger screen and the pen. I’m sure there’s tons of setting to customize as well which can be a gift and hassle.
Hopefully it’s better than when Apple does and update and turns settings on and it’s a treasure hunt to figure out what that setting is and where/how to turn it off.
[doublepost=1510318175][/doublepost]It’s funny too, as soon as the Note arrives it seems all my 6s issues are resolved.

The Note 8 is physically similar in size to the S8+ and iPhone 6/6s/7/8+. I think you'd be hard pressed to see much different between them in daily use. They are all a lot bigger than your current phone, so size is just one factor in this. The other is getting used to the Note 8's operation and features. I have really enjoyed that experience. I'd recommend spending several hours with YouTube videos learning about it. It actually works very well out of the box without much setting fiddling. If you can't find a setting, you can use Bixby to help you find it. That's what I usually do if I can't remember. There is also a search function in settings that works very well.
 

woozor1

macrumors 6502
Jul 15, 2015
272
149
Uk
As I and others said day's ago It will take you atleast a week to get to grips with it and set it up. Note 8 feels way better in the hand than a plus due to the width. There is no difference in the height like 1mm or so lol

The first 2 days off owning the note i didnt like it really as when your used to apples way its so different. Once I gave it a few more days and figured **** out then ive been happy. I will say i am on a annual upgrade plan so for me I was willing to take that change for a year.
 

spriter

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2004
1,460
586
Why would you want to hold a $1000 shatter prone phone with one hand?
Nothing to do with price. Some people just like devices which are easier to use in one hand. See the continued production of the Pixel and S8 as other examples.

Multitasking with the other hand?
Yep. Sometimes with an S-Pen ;)

Physical mute button? That's outdated. Funny Apple did away with a physical home button but retained a physical mute button.
Outdated in your opinion. I use it multiple times a day so it's not outdated. Who's right and who's wrong?

Your third point is debatable. I don't use the phone for gaming.
Many people do. See App Store and Play Store charts. Power matters. And for more than just gaming.


Don't forget who supplies OLED screens to Apple. I am sure Samsung could have used the same screen on their phones. But they didn't. There are many reports of screen Burn-ins on iPhones.
You think Apple didn't ensure their spec wasn't protected under contract before letting Samsung Display have the details? Really?

IOS is bland and not customizable.
Subjective opinion. Some agree, some don't.

Hey I'm happy with mine. :)
So you should be. The Note 8 is a very nice device. As is the X. I've used both and continue to have access to both.
 
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Dodgeman

macrumors 65816
Nov 30, 2016
1,355
199
The Note 8 is physically similar in size to the S8+ and iPhone 6/6s/7/8+. I think you'd be hard pressed to see much different between them in daily use. They are all a lot bigger than your current phone, so size is just one factor in this. The other is getting used to the Note 8's operation and features. I have really enjoyed that experience. I'd recommend spending several hours with YouTube videos learning about it. It actually works very well out of the box without much setting fiddling. If you can't find a setting, you can use Bixby to help you find it. That's what I usually do if I can't remember. There is also a search function in settings that works very well.

You add that otterbox and you add a lot of size.
 

koigirl

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2011
846
401
Raleigh, NC
I got my husband a Speck Presidio Grip case for his Note 8 and it offers good protection/grip without adding bulk when handling the phone.
 

KingslayerG5

Suspended
Oct 16, 2017
1,254
1,292
If Samsung made a phone shorter than the S8 with the specs of the Note8, I would get it in a heartbeat. Samsung kinda did help make one. It's called an iPhone X. ;)

But the Note series has always been known to be like HULK. BIG and BAD***! I do like stuff from Samsung -

Samsung Pay
MicroSD slot
Headphone jack
Slower battery degradation
Split-view apps since 2012
PiP via MoboPlayer since 2012
#2 resell value behind Apple
Design is nicer than Apple since 2015

They also pack in alot of stuff in the box with accessories and all the freebies you can get by pre-ordering. You don't have to pay extra for a fast charger and it still charges faster than the iPhone 8 duo and the X.

Geonbae! Go, South Koreans!
 
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DestinyWonder

Suspended
Nov 12, 2017
35
32
I have a iPhone 8 plus and a Note 8 and battery life is the same or a little better on the Note 8 for me.

I had the Note 8, now the iPhone 8 plus, and the Note 8 isn't close to the iPhone in battery life. The iPhone kills it. I had maybe 40-50% left with the Note 8, same usage the iPhone has 80% left.
 

Sevanw

Suspended
Sep 13, 2014
1,361
2,086
Pretty good first look that does seem to be fairly unbiased. It is funny that he spent the first 10% of the video raving about animojis and how he'd use them a lot. I would be surprised if he used them a lot, and if I was his friend and he kept sending them to me all the time we'd need to have a talk.

I swear, when I started hearing reviewers saying they thought the animojis were cool and something they might use, at the same time saying the SPen was something they may not use. All I could think was, yeah sure. These so called tech reviewers lost all credibility with that type of statement. Glad I don't know a single adult in my social circle that finds animojis "cool" or "neat." smh.
 

Tsepz

macrumors 601
Jan 24, 2013
4,888
4,698
Johannesburg, South Africa
If Samsung made a phone shorter than the S8 with the specs of the Note8, I would get it in a heartbeat. Samsung kinda did help make one. It's called an iPhone X. ;)

But the Note series has always been known to be like HULK. BIG and BAD***! I do like stuff from Samsung -

Samsung Pay
MicroSD slot
Headphone jack
Slower battery degradation
Split-view apps since 2012
PiP via MoboPlayer since 2012
#2 resell value behind Apple
Design is nicer than Apple since 2015

They also pack in alot of stuff in the box with accessories and all the freebies you can get by pre-ordering. You don't have to pay extra for a fast charger and it still charges faster than the iPhone 8 duo and the X.

Geonbae! Go, South Koreans!
This is why I never understand why people go and buy a Galaxy Note only to come and b@#$h and moan about its size.

Not once has a Galaxy Note tried to be small and Samsung has never been apologetic about it, they are big devices for power users.

I love the size of my Note8 and even more so in the Incipio case I have it in. I look at all these phones with displays of less than 6inch and think to myself how did I ever use such small displays

In terms of 16:9 5.7-6.1inch was great but with the new 18:9 aspect ratio, nothing smaller than the Note8s display will do it for me, in fact I'd like the Note9 to reduce the Forehead and Chin, so we get a 6.5inch display, in the same body as the Note8 if not a little taller and wider.
 

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,074
19,069
US
I had the Note 8, now the iPhone 8 plus, and the Note 8 isn't close to the iPhone in battery life. The iPhone kills it. I had maybe 40-50% left with the Note 8, same usage the iPhone has 80% left.
Funny how 2 people can such different experiences.......In my uses the Note wins everytime
[doublepost=1510575831][/doublepost]
I swear, when I started hearing reviewers saying they thought the animojis were cool and something they might use, at the same time saying the SPen was something they may not use. All I could think was, yeah sure. These so called tech reviewers lost all credibility with that type of statement. Glad I don't know a single adult in my social circle that finds animojis "cool" or "neat." smh.
to be honest the animojis are cool the first couple you send. Then the novelty wears off......They are entertainment.
 
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convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
I swear, when I started hearing reviewers saying they thought the animojis were cool and something they might use, at the same time saying the SPen was something they may not use. All I could think was, yeah sure. These so called tech reviewers lost all credibility with that type of statement. Glad I don't know a single adult in my social circle that finds animojis "cool" or "neat." smh.

Part of the reason I've started moving away from Apple is that I more and more think that the new Apple's target customer is a 14 year old girl, and I'm not a 14 year old girl. When I see a senior executive of one of the largest companies in the world demonstrating something that was designed for a 14 year old girl, it's not cool. While I do "play" on my phone, I also do real work. I can do more real work with the S-Pen than with animojis.

This is why I never understand why people go and buy a Galaxy Note only to come and b@#$h and moan about its size.

Not once has a Galaxy Note tried to be small and Samsung has never been apologetic about it, they are big devices for power users.

I love the size of my Note8 and even more so in the Incipio case I have it in. I look at all these phones with displays of less than 6inch and think to myself how did I ever use such small displays

In terms of 16:9 5.7-6.1inch was great but with the new 18:9 aspect ratio, nothing smaller than the Note8s display will do it for me, in fact I'd like the Note9 to reduce the Forehead and Chin, so we get a 6.5inch display, in the same body as the Note8 if not a little taller and wider.

Every time I hear people #%$@$ about the Note 8 being too big, I am baffled. I've used a 6S+ for 2 years and now have a Note 8. They are about the same size, the Note 8 being a little narrower and taller. The Note 8 to me feels nimble and light (to me), compared to a plus sized iPhone. And the much larger display is just gorgeous and smooth. So the Note 8 has never felt heavy or big to me. I use it daily with one hand. And dare I say, my old iPhone 6S+ looks blah in comparison.
 
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