Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 Plus: you should not really hesitate between the two

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is official, no surprise

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is official, no surprise. Available in pre-order since yesterday, you surely hesitate to see its price. The best alternative seems to be the Galaxy S8 Plus, with its big screen and its much softer price.

Here, suppose you are decided to buy a Samsung product. You are also convinced that a big screen is made for you (and your hands). We will help you choose between the two biggest models of Samsung.

No need to give you details of the features of the devices, the table below will allow you to compare the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Galaxy S8 Plus.

More specifically, there are four main differences between these two smartphones:

The screen size, 0.1 inch difference: we were able to compare the two products in hands, no noticeable change of experience. These two screens are large, with a diagonal of more than 6 inches;
The amount of RAM: 4GB for the Galaxy S8 Plus, compared to 6GB for the Galaxy Note 8;
The S-Pen stylus: the undeniable strength of Note 8, it does not exist on the Galaxy S8 Plus;
The dual camera sensor module photo: Samsung added a second photo sensor to Note 8, the latter of 12 megapixels is accompanied by a telephoto lens open at f / 2.4
Do you see a difference?

Visually, both smartphones seem similar. Screen-to-edge screen, similar screen definition, the diagonal of the Note made 0.1 inch more. On the other hand, the dimensions are different with more rounded corners on the Galaxy S8 Plus. Note 8 is a bit thicker, but the S-Pen is housed directly on the bottom of the smartphone. Even if on the outskirts, it seems to be the same design, some subtle differences exist.

The dual sensor, a real utility?

Samsung has chosen two different focal lengths to simulate a zoom x2 on the Galaxy Note 8. This is not the first module of this type. Apple debuted in 2016 with the iPhone 7 Plus, where there was a focal length of 28mm f / 1.8 and a focal length of 56mm f / 2.8. Asus also with its Zenfone Zoom S with a 25 mm f / 1.7 and a 59 mm f / 2.6. Finally, OnePlus 5 also offers the dual sensor: 24 mm f / 1.7 combined with another 32 mm f / 2.6 lens. Good news, at Samsung, this is (like Apple and Asus) a real x2 zoom equivalent. Note 8 differs from the competition due to the presence of optical stabilization on its two modules.

Bi-focals are far from being one of the most notable revolutions of recent years. Indeed, the results are rather irregular: the portrait mode (which allows to simulate a bokeh in the background) depends very much on the software treatment and the environment (it takes a lot of light and the correct distances with the subject). As for the zoom, it is more practical than a simple digital zoom, but the results are not convincing either: with a larger aperture, this sensor perceives much less light than the first and will quickly rise to ISO to compensate.



The S-Pen, do you really need it?

There is no question of questioning the relevance of a stylus: it is a use reserved for professionals, who have turned to the iPad Pro equipped with a stylus, which benefits mainly from the amount of Applications on the App Store. The Surface range is also an alternative of choice. Finally, designers, architects and other professions that need the ultimate precision in their layout will not trade their Wacom tablet

The S-Pen can nevertheless be practical in mobility, for taking notes or making sketches on the fly. It is a fairly limited use that has its few followers.



The difference in amount of RAM! So what ?!
4 GB of RAM, compared to 6 GB of RAM for the Galaxy Note 8. Honestly, the difference will not be noticeable. We have already experienced this scenario with the OnePlus 5 (6 and 8 GB). Multi-task performance is notable, but not important enough to be an argument that matters.