Careful. With the S9 thisclose the OS on the Note might seem "dated" (not really but if you're "going back" to a phone, it means you swap a lot).
I've had the note 8 and XL 2. Different experiences. Unless you use the features, I'd recommend the XL 2. Just fair warning: there will be times you'll want to do something on the XL 2 assuming you can, only to find out NOPE, only the Note "does that" whatever the "that" is. That's the key with the Note, I think. If you use a lot of its "can do THAT" stuff, then Note all the way.