Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 Review
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Starting out from a weird “phablet” device, Samsung's Note series of smart products have grown to become a complete line-up, which today includes a 5.5” phablet, a 10.1” tablet, and now a smaller, 8” tablet. The Galaxy Note 8.0 keeps the characteristic feature of the series, namely the S Pen stylus, which seems to be getting more and more capable with each new iteration.
As with the Note 10.1, the Note 8.0 will probably have some tough time because its direct competitor is the Apple iPad mini. Apple's smaller tablet is already enjoying some notable demand, which comes to show that there's money to be made in this device category. Another popular device, which is also dangerously close to the Note 8.0 is the Nexus 7. Being so aggressively priced, Google's 7” tablet sure is a force to be reckoned with.
With such mighty competitors, it's very interesting to see what the Galaxy Note 8.0 is going to offer. Has Samsung loaded its product with enough features? Will the S Pen play its part and provide the Note 8.0 with some much needed differentiation? Read on to find out!
Design
Surprise is the last thing you can feel upon opening the box of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. The tablet has Samsung's traditional design language, which gives it a kind of a retro look with those rounded corners. This kind of design actually works quite well for the Note 8.0, which doesn't look bad at all.
As always, this Samsung device uses smooth, glossy plastic for its exterior, which we appreciate. It makes the Note 8.0 easy and comfortable to hold.
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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is easy and comfortable to hold | ||
The Home button, as well as the ones around the sides of the Galaxy Note 8.0 function very well. Only the power button could have been a bit better, but it's not too bad the way it is.
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The sides of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 | |||
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Display
The Galaxy Note 8.0 doesn't surprise with some kind of innovative display technology. It simply has a quality LCD TFT screen with a resolution of 800 x 1280 pixels. This makes for a pixel density of 189 ppi, which is certainly not too high, and that's easy to notice when using the tablet. In terms of clarity, the Note 8.0 positions itself below the Nexus 7 but above the iPad mini, which has an even lower pixel density. Anyways, Samsung's newest tablet has just enough resolution to make everything readable without annoying you, but yeah, it won't blow you away with super-sharp visuals.
Viewing angles are pretty decent, and so is outdoor visibility, as the display is able to get quite bright. At the same time, we're glad to report that it can also get very dark, which is very valuable when using the device in the dark.
S Pen
The signature feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is, of course, the S Pen stylus that can be used for stuff like note-taking and drawing. The stylus itself fits into its silo very tightly, so there's absolutely no chance of it falling by accident. The S Pen is big enough to be comfortable to hold, although it probably would have been even better if it was a tad bigger. Still, it's OK the way it is right now.
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The signature feature of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 is, of course, the S Pen stylus | ||
As you probably know, Samsung has worked with Wacom, the company that makes professional grade tablets for designers, in order to integrate some of its technology in the Note 8.0. As a result, the stylus is pressure-sensitive, and we're more than happy to say that writing with it is actually quite convenient. Sure, most people will probably find it harder to write with the S Pen than with a real pen, but the difference seems to be surprisingly small.
You can learn more about the S Pen and the apps that are optimized for it in the following sections of the review!
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Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0
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40 Comments
3. PhenomFaz posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:00 17 6
of couurse since it has the Note features....it easily beats out all tablets period!
2. AamirSIII (banned) posted on 13 Mar 2013, 10:59 6 2
Note series of devices when owned by the right kind of person (artist or someone with good drawing) are unbeatable by any device no matter what!
and for ordinary users like me, and many others, these are the fastest and most reliable devices!
good job sammy! waiting for Good build and unbeatable S4 *fingers crossed*
9. Taters posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:11 4 3
Stock Android 4.2 benches super low. As you can see by the Nexus 4 getting owned in benchmarks by every other S4 pro device.
Plus the 2560 x 1600 is going to affect the readings.
13. _Bone_ posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:19 0 1
Why is this happening in your opinion?
BTW... what about battery life on the Note 8.0?
25. TylerGrunter posted on 13 Mar 2013, 15:26 2 1
It happens a lot with the Nexus devices, mainly because they are the first ones with the latest version of the Android software, and when they are benchmarked it´s the bechmark applications that are not yet ready for that Android version... and after no one bothers test them again when they are.
Happens a lot with Antutu and Quadrant in particular, and happened already when moving from GB to ICS.
Check GLBenchmark for GPU and Geekbench results for CPU and you´ll get a more accurate picture.
Just my two cents.
33. yyuu1000 posted on 14 Mar 2013, 08:11 0 0
benchmarks are not mostly optimized for andriod 4.2
12. voxmarc posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:18 1 1
of course they made the N10 so they know how to beat and exploit.
18. Aeires (unregistered) posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:53 0 1
One was built on a shoestring budget to keep price down, the other was built to price higher.
21. sorcio46 posted on 13 Mar 2013, 12:48 1 1
There is a mistake on the Antutu score for the Nexus 10, it should be around 13k, not 8k.
6. martinlosha (unregistered) posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:07 2 2
What's the price of this device?
Because at this price I can buy a nexus 10 and tell Samsung to put their stylus in their a......s
11. voxmarc posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:15 0 1
and samsung says why dont you shove OUR nexus 10 to your a.s...
14. martinlosha (unregistered) posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:22 0 1
Samsung would rather prefer to shove that nexus 10 in your mothers ass....
By the way why your momma has a picture of my d**k on her nexus 7?
31. imkyle posted on 13 Mar 2013, 23:39 0 0
Samsung also makes the Nexus 10, so they don't care.
10. voxmarc posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:11 4 1
as an Architect i love to sketch,design and doodle with graphical ideas so i bought the note 1 later replaced it with note 2.....now i feel that note 1 and note 2 are small...the 10.1 is big....then i prayed for 7inch or anything lower than 10.1....and..whoa...prayer was granted and i am waiting for the official release...
17. darac posted on 13 Mar 2013, 11:44 1 2
The next generation of this is certain to have a 1080p screen and a quad core A15 soc.
Add android 5 with whatever software enhancements Samsung slaps on top of it, and, well.. it'll be good :p
19. Diego! posted on 13 Mar 2013, 12:24 2 1
Quoting: "As always, this Samsung device uses smooth, glossy plastic for its exterior, which we appreciate. It makes the Note 8.0 easy and comfortable to hold."
HA!
I will read your review of SGS IV and see if you complain about the quality of the plastic used in it (if it's made of plastic, that is) :P
23. maccess posted on 13 Mar 2013, 14:50 0 1
because it deserve to get 9/10.. do you think it doesn't deserve to get 9/10?? why?? because its boring design or its screen "just" WXGA resolution?? or ray s is a samsung bias?? lol..
24. Taters posted on 13 Mar 2013, 15:23 1 2
No use having a conversation with them. They believe that all the accolades, awards, great reviews, personal recommendations, sales etc. All stem from either clueless fans or marketing. Of course they have no hard facts and just speculation to back them up but they will take the Samsung hate to the grave anyways!
26. darac posted on 13 Mar 2013, 16:41 1 1
^ amen
27. Q1Q10 posted on 13 Mar 2013, 17:12 0 0
i would buy this 3x over if it wasnt for the pixel density
28. pkiran1996 posted on 13 Mar 2013, 17:58 1 1
Only thing stopping me from buying this is screen resolution. Surely it's not that hard to implement a 1080p screen in an 8 inch device.
29. Edmund posted on 13 Mar 2013, 18:22 0 0
Remove the google/android blinkers before reviewing a product.
32. Sangeet posted on 14 Mar 2013, 06:08 0 0
Awesome review from Ray S, by reading Ray S i thought this one would be a one directional review comparing samsung with apple but it was not, Good work unlike your previous reviews
34. windboater posted on 14 Mar 2013, 10:48 0 0
How wonderful, a device that finely does it all. Sends and receives regular cellphone calls and has a decent size screen for surfing the web. Where do I send my money for an international version (with phone!).
36. henrickrw posted on 14 Mar 2013, 14:28 0 0
Great Review Ray. As an owner of the original Note, Note2 & Note 10.1 we can see Samsungs efforts in making better products. :)
Very clean and unbiased review. Top notch!
Hope to get the S pen features software on upcoming firmwares for my previous note devices.
37. Phaze0085 posted on 14 Mar 2013, 22:17 0 0
I thought the Note 8.0 didnt have an LED flash on it, but theres no mention of it in the video review or the in-depth review. Does anyone know if this thing has LED flash?
40. Divya_chauhan posted on 20 Mar 2013, 04:29 0 0
Well I am using Nokia x2 mobile but soon I am going to Purchase this beautiful Samsung galaxy Note because of its good camera and long standby battery.
phoolwala.com
41. DaRKMaGiC posted on 23 Apr 2013, 14:58 0 0
What's better Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 or Samsung Galaxy S3 screen,gaming they are the same price in my country please help .
42. k1ng617 posted on 05 May 2013, 05:49 0 0
Any idea if the IR blaster will work with my Comcast DVR?
