Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8 (Plus): Is there much in it?

The long-awaited Galaxy Note 8 will be formally announced on 23 August 2017, much to the delight of Samsung fans everywhere. And while the Note 8 will face tough competition from all angles – from the iPhone 8 to the LG G6 – Samsung diehards will be wondering which high-end smartphone to opt for: the Galaxy Note 8 or the Galaxy S8 (Plus)?

We’ve rounded up everything we know about the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy S8 (Plus), in a bid to uncover what is different about them. We will update this page as and when we find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8: Design

After the debacle with the Galaxy Note 7, the design of the Galaxy Note 8 will be much safer, owing to an eight-point battery-safety check procedure. So no exploding phones there, which is a considerable plus.

The Note 8 will also bear a lot of design similarities to the S8 and the S8 Plus; it’s likely to sport the lusted-after curved Infinity Edge display that distinguishes Samsung from its Apple competitors. In addition to this, it’s rumoured to sport a well-liked pressure-sensitive home button, and a less popular rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

The design of both handsets appears to correspond: streamlined, elegant and pleasingly futuristic. One notable difference that we’re expecting to see in the Note 8 is that it will feature an S Pen, ratifying its phablet status.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8: Specs

Where the three handsets really diverge, however, is on specifications. We should point out, however, that as the Note 8 isn’t released until 23 August 2017, its specs are based on rumours and hearsay.

READ NEXT: Samsung Galaxy S8 full review

Nonetheless, with the Galaxy Note 8 rumoured to size up at 6.3in, it’s markedly bigger than the Galaxy S8, which comes in at 5.8in, and marginally bigger than the Galaxy S8 Plus, which measures 6.2in, hot on the heels of its phablet sibling.

(Source: Android Authority)

Rumours have also been circulating that the Note 8 will feature a Snapdragon 836 chipset, a notable upgrade from the S8 and S8 Plus’s Snapdragon 835 chipsets. The Note 8’s rumoured 6GB of RAM also outsizes the 4GB offered by the S8 and S8 Plus, and the former offers a storage option of a hefty 128GB in addition to the 64GB model (the S8 and S8 Plus are confined to 64GB).

READ NEXT: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus full review

There’s a seeming anomaly when it comes to battery, however. Hitherto, we’ve largely had the S8 and S8 Plus aligning on one side, with the Note 8 – enigmatic entity that it is – coming down on the other side. However, the Note 8’s rumoured battery size is 3,330 mAh, and is sandwiched in between those of its two siblings: the Galaxy S8’s battery size is 3,000 mAh, and the Galaxy S8 Plus sports a gargantuan battery operating at 3,500 mAh.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8: Features

We’ve already given a nod to Note 8’s S Pen, with Samsung dropping heavy hints that it will feature. For more detail, or rather intriguing lack thereof, see the below teaser video, which drops hints about multiple brushstroke capabilities. Of course, we know the S8 nor its S8 Plus counterpart not to feature.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9qwtJ6_aupk

The Samsung handsets converge once again, however, with all three rumoured to feature Samsung’s AI assistant Bixby. We say “rumoured”, because, as you’re well aware by now, the Galaxy Note 8 isn’t officially debuted until 23 August.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy S8: Price

It was always going to be wishful thinking that the Note 8 would come at an affordable price. The Note series typically churns out some of Samsung’s most expensive products, and Samsung haven’t promulgated any hope that the Note 8 could be due a reality check when it comes to the price tag. Indeed, reputable leaker Evan Blass reported in Venture Beat that the Note 8 would retail for a staggering $999 (£780).

That being said, it’s not like the S8 and the S8 Plus are budget options. The S8 markets at £689 in the UK, with the S8 Plus coming in at a whopping £779.

We will update this page as and when we find out more about the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.