Samsung Note 8

[co.ag.2005]

For me, the dual camera is only useful for portrait mode (live photos). Sammy's implementation is better than Apple's here. Otherwise, the second zooming lens doesn't suck so much as it's just not as good as the main shooter. But it does kinda suck (same is true on Apple's 7 Plus). I've said this before: LG's implementation of the dual lens is the best on the market. Other than that instance, I think the dual lens craze is stupid and hasn't really added much to the photo taking experience on these devices. Especially when you consider the Pixel is probably still the heavyweight champion smartphone camera as of late 2017.

I agree, when I had my G6 I got some amazing shots with that wide angle lens. I wish all OEMs would adapt that strategy than the zoom/portrait mode lens. While I'm intrigued by the V30, I'm really loving my Note 8 and don't see me switching unless LG offers something truly amazing with the V30 (hardware wise or price wise).

 

[michael9891]

Been using the Note 8 for a week now, after solely being an iPhone user (bar a few days with Samsungs) for 7 years. I only got it for a quick play as I can return it within 14 days and wanted the iPhone X.

I'm loving it though and have decided to keep it. It's been quite fun getting used to the differences of Android, compared to iOS. There's obvously things I prefer on iOS but it's mainly just getting used to how Android works. I'm sure some people simply hate one OS or the other, but to simply dismiss one as being crap or whatever and throwing around specs in petty arguments is a bit unfair. There's no doubt about It, this is a great phone.

My main gripe is unlocking the phone. Face unlock works great during the day but not at all in the dark, whilst in bed. And not keen on the location of the fingerprint sensor.

I'm also not convinced about the battery. At least since the iPhone 6+, I've always got a solid 8 hours' use (up to 10) out of them when new. Today for example, I've had 1 hour hour 42 mins on screen time and I'm already down to 61%. I have screen brightness set to just under halfway, adaptive screen is off and set to basic, screen is FHD and I don't have push on for emails. I've only been browsing the internet, emails, notes and just a few mins of Instagram. Surely this isn't very good? Can anyone make some suggestions as to what else could be draining it quicker than normal?

Anyway, great phone, not laggy like some might suggest and overall quite impressed. I'll still try and get an iPhone X because I'm interested to see how good Face ID, gestures and the camera perform.

 

[QueenTyrone]

Been using the Note 8 for a week now, after solely being an iPhone user (bar a few days with Samsungs) for 7 years. I only got it for a quick play as I can return it within 14 days and wanted the iPhone X.

I'm loving it though and have decided to keep it. It's been quite fun getting used to the differences of Android, compared to iOS. There's obvously things I prefer on iOS but it's mainly just getting used to how Android works. I'm sure some people simply hate one OS or the other, but to simply dismiss one as being crap or whatever and throwing around specs in petty arguments is a bit unfair. There's no doubt about It, this is a great phone.

My main gripe is unlocking the phone. Face unlock works great during the day but not at all in the dark, whilst in bed. And not keen on the location of the fingerprint sensor.

I'm also not convinced about the battery. At least since the iPhone 6+, I've always got a solid 8 hours' use (up to 10) out of them when new. Today for example, I've had 1 hour hour 42 mins on screen time and I'm already down to 61%. I have screen brightness set to just under halfway, adaptive screen is off and set to basic, screen is FHD and I don't have push on for emails. I've only been browsing the internet, emails, notes and just a few mins of Instagram. Surely this isn't very good? Can anyone make some suggestions as to what else could be draining it quicker than normal?

Anyway, great phone, not laggy like some might suggest and overall quite impressed. I'll still try and get an iPhone X because I'm interested to see how good Face ID, gestures and the camera perform.

Our iPhones only show device on time and standby. We don't get to see screen on time. But my note battery has been more kind to me than my 7+

 

[michael9891]

Our iPhones only show device on time and standby. We don't get to see screen on time. But my note battery has been more kind to me than my 7+

I thought screen on time was the usage? Because if the screen is on, you're using the phone?

 

[QueenTyrone]

I thought screen on time was the usage? Because if the screen is on, you're using the phone?

Nope it's not. They have apps that can track SOT. But usage can never be SOT because It can be increased with charging. When you hit 100% it resets but if you charge it 30-40% it won't reset. While on Android you can see when you charged and stuff. Hard to explain

 

[michael9891]

Nope it's not. They have apps that can track SOT. But usage can never be SOT because It can be increased with charging. When you hit 100% it resets but if you charge it 30-40% it won't reset. While on Android you can see when you charged and stuff. Hard to explain

Slightly confused. lol I only ever noted the usage times from a 100% charge with iPhones. I do know that taking the Note off charge at 100% and browsing the internet for about 10 mins will see it drop about 3/4%. Where my 7+ would drop 10% after around 60 mins of browsing. There must be something causing the battery to drain.

 

[clangers23]

Had my Note 8 a couple of days, it's a lovely device, battery life isn't as bad as I was expecting. I haven't had an android device for a couple of generations and it's noticeably slicker than i recall, no lagging or crashes, very iOS like. Still got my iPhone 7 on separate contract which is due for an upgrade in 12 months (to an iPhone Xs or 11 or whatever it's called).

 

[Shanghaichica]

Slightly confused. lol I only ever noted the usage times from a 100% charge with iPhones. I do know that taking the Note off charge at 100% and browsing the internet for about 10 mins will see it drop about 3/4%. Where my 7+ would drop 10% after around 60 mins of browsing. There must be something causing the battery to drain.

Usage on the iPhone would include activities such as listening to music where the screen would be off and back ground tasks like pushing content in apps.

 

[icemanbrfc]

Is this the case today, with full discharge cycles? Laptops batteries (the same tech) recommend that you don't discharge fully. It is harder on the battery. Memory isn't supposed to be a problem with today's battery tech, either.

Samsung leads the industry, since the note 7 disaster, in battery tech. They state they test every battery, so your battery should be good to go. They also state that the battery should only degrade 5% of it's original full capacity, over two years. If that holds true, that will be impressive.

You should try and not let your battery run to empty, rather to around 15 to 20%, before plugging in the charger.

The battery takes much more strain from 0%, than say 15% onwards, so it's always advisable to not let it run down completely.

You can run it down at least once every few months, but stick to the 15 to 20% option on a day to day basis.

 

[widgeteer]

I agree, when I had my G6 I got some amazing shots with that wide angle lens. I wish all OEMs would adapt that strategy than the zoom/portrait mode lens. While I'm intrigued by the V30, I'm really loving my Note 8 and don't see me switching unless LG offers something truly amazing with the V30 (hardware wise or price wise).

Note has cured me of any interest in Android for the rest of this year. The HTC U11 Plus is intriguing but not enough to sell the Note and swap. I got one more phone on the horizon this year, iPhone X. I'm all good till spring and the next round of Android phones arrive.

 

[co.ag.2005]

Note has cured me of any interest in Android for the rest of this year. The HTC U11 Plus is intriguing but not enough to sell the Note and swap. I got one more phone on the horizon this year, iPhone X. I'm all good till spring and the next round of Android phones arrive.

I'm definitely feeling the same way barring any surprise release / info on upcoming releases.

 

[AppleRobert]

Note has cured me of any interest in Android for the rest of this year. The HTC U11 Plus is intriguing but not enough to sell the Note and swap. I got one more phone on the horizon this year, iPhone X. I'm all good till spring and the next round of Android phones arrive.

The Essential is about two thirds the cost of the Note or thereabouts, I know it has more storage but I am quite happy I steered clear of it to be honest. The Note is that much better of a smartphone for the additional cost imho.

 

[vine-boating]

Do people on here use a screen protector?
[doublepost=1506126651][/doublepost]

Been using the Note 8 for a week now, after solely being an iPhone user (bar a few days with Samsungs) for 7 years. I only got it for a quick play as I can return it within 14 days and wanted the iPhone X.

I'm loving it though and have decided to keep it. It's been quite fun getting used to the differences of Android, compared to iOS. There's obvously things I prefer on iOS but it's mainly just getting used to how Android works. I'm sure some people simply hate one OS or the other, but to simply dismiss one as being crap or whatever and throwing around specs in petty arguments is a bit unfair. There's no doubt about It, this is a great phone.

My main gripe is unlocking the phone. Face unlock works great during the day but not at all in the dark, whilst in bed. And not keen on the location of the fingerprint sensor.

I'm also not convinced about the battery. At least since the iPhone 6+, I've always got a solid 8 hours' use (up to 10) out of them when new. Today for example, I've had 1 hour hour 42 mins on screen time and I'm already down to 61%. I have screen brightness set to just under halfway, adaptive screen is off and set to basic, screen is FHD and I don't have push on for emails. I've only been browsing the internet, emails, notes and just a few mins of Instagram. Surely this isn't very good? Can anyone make some suggestions as to what else could be draining it quicker than normal?

Anyway, great phone, not laggy like some might suggest and overall quite impressed. I'll still try and get an iPhone X because I'm interested to see how good Face ID, gestures and the camera perform.

Maybe you have a faulty device?
[doublepost=1506126791][/doublepost]

You should try and not let your battery run to empty, rather to around 15 to 20%, before plugging in the charger.

The battery takes much more strain from 0%, than say 15% onwards, so it's always advisable to not let it run down completely.

You can run it down at least once every few months, but stick to the 15 to 20% option on a day to day basis.

Oh wow didn't even no that
Thought it was best to let it run down to 0%!!!

 

[widgeteer]

The Essential is about two thirds the cost of the Note or thereabouts, I know it has more storage but I am quite happy I steered clear of it to be honest. The Note is that much better of a smartphone for the additional cost imho.

Funny, sad, and true: Essential unlocked is available at Best Buy today. For the hell of it, I checked if it was in stock at the BB near me. The status read as: "Available for pick up; ready in one hour upon checkout."

I twitched. It passed.

But I twitched.

 

[Septembersrain]

The Essential is about two thirds the cost of the Note or thereabouts, I know it has more storage but I am quite happy I steered clear of it to be honest. The Note is that much better of a smartphone for the additional cost imho.

It's still $699.99. For people who can't cough that up, you can only buy it outright or with a credit card/credit line. That gives Samsung the advantage as you can make payments and trade it in next year if you want to (With carrier).

 

[widgeteer]

Fellow Note-ians:

If you're not using Samsung Internet instead of Chrome, you are missing out. Faster, and biometric sign in to websites is f*cking baller as hell.

 

[vine-boating]

Fellow Note-ians:

If you're not using Samsung Internet instead of Chrome, you are missing out. Faster, and biometric sign in to websites is f*cking baller as hell.

What's Samsung internet?

 

[widgeteer]

What's Samsung internet?

Their browser. It allows ad blocking on top of the other stuff I've mentioned. More I use it, the more I'm sold.

 

[co.ag.2005]

What's Samsung internet?

It's the "internet" app on the Note 8. Definitely much better than chrome in performance

 

[Klyster]

I use it, chrome is good on a desktop but not that great on a phone, imo.

Loving my note 8 so far, I can't believe how easy the fingerprint scanner is, I find it easy to use. I was thinking it would be rubbish after all the comments but it's easy.

 

[mjschabow]

Welp. I took the plunge and I’m picking it up tomorrow. Funny thing is that I left the S8+ to go back to iOS 2 months ago. But my itch to go back to Samsung consumed me! Shows how much they’ve upped their game. I can live without FaceTime since my fiancé has it. And iMessage will be a bit tough to live without because Android messaging doesn’t hold up to what iOS can do. But everything else just seems to blow the iPhone out of the water now. And I’m very underwhelmed by the iPhone X.

 

[Michael Goff]

Fellow Note-ians:

If you're not using Samsung Internet instead of Chrome, you are missing out. Faster, and biometric sign in to websites is f*cking baller as hell.

I wouldn’t say Samsung Internet, or beta, is faster than Chrome Canary these days.

 

[widgeteer]

I wouldn’t say Samsung Internet, or beta, is faster than Chrome Canary these days.

Ad blocking and biometric sign in still give it an edge for me. The latter of the two works really seamlessly.

 

[michael9891]

]Maybe you have a faulty device?

I've used two Note 8's this week with the same results. I'm not saying it's terrible battery life, I'm just not finding it as good as some are saying. There must be some option(s) on the phone that could improve it.

 

[Michael Goff]

Ad blocking and biometric sign in still give it an edge for me. The latter of the two works really seamlessly.

I do like the biometric sign in. Don’t use Adblock, though, so that doesn’t affect me.