According to consumers, the Samsung Galaxy S8 is the king of the market among the current brood. That's not surprising, considering the performance, Infinity Display, and features it brings to the table.
That said, the upcoming Galaxy Note 8 is said to take things to a higher level even further, and based on the South Korean brand's track record, that's pretty much expected.
Now the two smartphones are basically the same across the board. Just like the Galaxy S8, the phablet is allegedly going to house Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 and sport a rear fingerprint scanner and a similar design, including minimal bezels and nearly the same screen size — the 6.3-inch display of the Galaxy Note 8 versus the 6.2 inches of the Galaxy S8 Plus.
Aside from the Note lineup's iconic S Pen stylus, two key differences will make a notable distinction between them, namely dual cameras and more RAM.
The thing is, the Galaxy Note 8 just might be the most expensive phone Samsung will release at about $900 or $1,000, raising the question: Are the two factors that make it special over the Galaxy S8 worth the higher cost?
Galaxy Note 8 To Feature Dual Cameras
Dual cameras are the new trend for smartphones these days, and this is evidenced by the recently launched OnePlus 5 and the iPhone 7 Plus, which garnered a ton of sales because of the extra sensor.
Most rumors surrounding the Galaxy Note 8 point to a dual-camera setup, which means that Samsung is jumping into the bandwagon too — if they turn out to be true, of course.
Assuming it's the real deal, the phablet will be capable of taking shots with outstanding detail, enabling faster focus and improved clarity.
What's more, dual cameras can offer advantages depending on the manufacturer. For instance, the iPhone 7 Plus uses the secondary sensor for enhanced optical zooming, while the LG V20 allows ultra-wide-angle photos.
With a dual-camera setup at hand, the Galaxy Note 8 might even topple the current king of smartphone photography, aka the HTC U11.
Galaxy Note 8 To Boast 6 GB Of RAM
The Galaxy S8 has 4 GB of RAM under the hood, and sure, that's probably enough for most people. However, those who want to take things up a notch can turn to the Galaxy Note 8, which is said to offer 6 GB of RAM.
Put simply, having more RAM can make the user experience snappier and smoother, and it's particularly helpful for those who often multitask and run numerous apps simultaneously.
In other words, this is a big plus for those who either rely on their phones for work purposes or use them for intense mobile gaming.
Galaxy Note 8 Battery Life, S Pen Stylus
While this isn't exactly a key difference or a factor in favor of the phablet, it's worth mentioning that the Galaxy Note 8 will have a smaller 3,300 mAh battery than the 3,500 mAh cell in the Galaxy S8. That's likely because Samsung is playing it safe to avoid another fiasco that the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 started.
Of course, another obvious difference that doesn't even need an explanation is that the Galaxy Note 8 will have an S Pen stylus. It'll only be a surprise if Samsung decides to ditch it.
Take note that these are based on rumors to date, so until Samsung says anything official, we can't be too sure just yet. Still, seeing as the notable leakster Evan Blass is the source of these, this is likely the scenario.
To sum things up, the Galaxy Note 8 is worth the buy despite the higher price if smartphone photography and multitasking are big factors in your book.
However, the Galaxy S8 is by no means bad in those points, so this is sort of like a matter of whether you value keeping up with the latest trends in the industry more than your budget — on the high-end side of things, that is.
