Meet Samsung Galaxy Note8: A bigger and better Galaxy S8+

And just like that, the Note is back. Instead of scrapping the brand after a global recall harpooned last year’s Note7, Samsung went back to the drawing board to build the Note8, its most powerful phablet yet. The compact 6.3-inch phone officially kicks off the end-of-the-year phone wars with a stunning screen and its first dual-camera system. 

Pre-orders for an unlocked Note8 start at a dizzying $929, and begin August 24. Samsung says the phone will begin shipping on September 15. And if you were a U.S. Note7 owner, visit Samsung.com for a special offer: a trade-in value of up to $425 if you upgrade your current phone to a Note8.

Strangely, the fact that Samsung promises near-foolproof battery safety seems almost secondary to the Note8’s new features and design, which exceed those of the Galaxy S8+ in every way. The RAM is 6GB compared to 4GB on the S8+. The Note8 has a bigger 6.3-inch screen (versus 6.2 inches on the S8+). And there are two rear cameras on the Note8 instead of the lonely one on the S8+.

We’ve already had some hands-on time with the Note8 and found plenty to like. True, the fingerprint scanner is still in a terrible spot, and the 3,300mAh battery is a touch smaller than the Note7’s 3,500mAh battery. Still, the Note8 still looks like a triumphant return for Samsung’s best-selling phablet.

Has S Pen, will travel

The Note8 clearly takes its cues from the Galaxy S8+, but it’s not a carbon copy. While it has the same glass back and button placement, you’ll notice that the shape is slightly more square than the rounded S8, putting more of an emphasis on the 6.3-inch Quad HD+ 1440×2960 Super AMOLED Infinity Display. While the Snapdragon 835 chip is the same as what’s in the S8 (because there isn’t a better processor out there yet), the extra RAM should help everything feel snappier.

Adam Patrick Murray/IDG

The biggest differentiator, as always, is the S Pen. Samsung has added its customary slot along the bottom edge of the device for its stylus, and it brings a few new tricks along for the ride.

The pen itself offers greater pressure sensitivity and a finer tip than last year’s model. Habitual texters get a new way to communicate in Live Message, which creates an animated GIF of what you draw on the screen to send to your friends. Screen-off memo has been enhanced to support up to 100 pages of notes. Translate now gives you the ability to translate full sentences (rather than just words) in more than 30 languages.

There’s also a new feature called App Pair that lets you set two apps to launch together directly into multi-window. And of course, the Note8 includes full support for Bixby, including the recently launched voice control.

All the right notes (except one)

Like its predecessor, the Note8 includes IP68 water and dust resistance and fast wireless charging, as well as obligatory Gear VR support, but unfortunately it also carries over the terrible rear design of the S8. The back of the device has a familiar horizontal layout, with a camera, LED flash, and a fingerprint sensor all positioned in a row near the top of the device, making it just as difficult to unlock your phone with your finger.

Adam Patrick Murray/IDG

However, next to the fingerprint sensor is a seriously upgraded camera. For the first time in a Galaxy phone, the Note8 features a dual-camera setup, with a pair of 12MP cameras, both with optical image stabilization. The main sensor includes 2X optical zoom, dual pixel sensor, and f/1.7 aperture, while the secondary telephoto lens features f/2.4 aperture and 10X digital zoom.

As you might expect, the dual camera brings some changes to photo processing, most notably when it comes to depth perception. With the Note8’s portrait mode, you can simulate a DSLR bokeh effect like on other dual-camera phones, but there’s a twist: Samsung lets you tweak the blur intensity in real time before you snap the photo and adjust it after it’s been snapped.

About that battery

The battery is going to be a major focus of early Note8 sales—as in, will it burst into flames? Samsung has gone to great lengths to ensure that it’s safe to use.

The handset features a 3,300mAh battery, which is smaller than both the S8+’s and the Note7’s 3,500mAh battery. Of course, that alone doesn’t make it safe, so Samsung is also touting the same 8-point battery safety check that it implemented for the S8. Additionally, it has established a partnership with UL to certify the Note8 is up to speed with the firm’s specific standards.

The 64GB Galaxy Note8 will be available in the U.S. in black and gray. Overseas buyers will get to choose from blue and gold varieties as well. Cost will vary based on your carrier, but it will set you back around $950:

T-Mobile is charging $930 for a full-priced Galaxy Note8, or you can put down $210 up front and spread the rest of the cost over 24 $30 monthly payments. Also, Jump On Demand customers will pay $39 a month with no down payment,  for a cost of $936.AT&T customers will pay $950 up front for a Note8, or $31.67 for 30 months on an AT&T Next plan.Verizon will be selling the phablet for $960, or $40 a month for 24 months.Over at Sprint, the Note8 will also cost $960. However, the carrier is offering the the device for zero down and $20 per month for 24 months ($480) with the Sprint Flex leasing plan for new customers.Samsung is selling the Note8 for $930 with a choice of either a 256GB microSD card with a wireless charging pad or a Gear 360 cam.

Preorders for the Note8 will ship on Friday, September 15.