Update: After a couple of months with the device I am more thrilled to have switched than I was before. It's not a perfect device but it definitely deserves 5 stars for the amount of functionality you get. Here are a few things I've learned over my short time with the phone:
-Battery life takes some time to "even out". The OS "learns" how you use the device over time (generally a couple of weeks) and puts installed apps that you don't use to sleep until you actually need them. In the Settings menu there is a battery saver option that you can have set to off, medium, or max. Starting out with the saver set to off it says I would get 24 hours of battery life. Now, it says 34 hours with the saver off, and 122 hours at max settings. I did an extreme test where I turned every radio on the device on turn the display to max resolution and brightness and turned the audio up to about 50%, I turned the Always on Display on. Then I proceeded to play music, and long YouTube videos, do some web surfing, and played some games. The phone lasted for 17H and 25min with 7H and 27m screen on time and it still had 13% battery power left. Enough said.
-The Samsung keyboard sucks,, mainly because of the predictive text and auto correction. Just use Swiftkey, which is awesome.
-The Samsung email app is nice. No real complaints there. I chose it over all other email clients for now.
-The security features on this device are spectacular!. Even after formatting the phone from the bootloader it would not let me set it up as a new device without my old credentials. The Iris scanner, fingerprint ID, and Face Recognition are solid and work wonderfully. Some people want to complain about the location of the fingerprint sensor but I have long fingers and I have zero problems with it. Secure Folders is a welcomed addition to the security lineup and is useful for putting certain apps or folders under lock and key. Samsung Pay is also a great feature because it doesn't rely on NFC and doesn't use your original card numbers. I always have NFC off and I'm using an Otterbox Defender case and Samsung Pay works every time.
-Bluetooth is the main battery killer believe it or not. Both my Samsung Gear S3 Frontier smartwatch and the Galaxy Note 8 suffer from this problem. Having bluetooth on drains the battery quickly compared to all other features and settings minus maybe display brightness. Starting out, this will kill battery life but over a month or so it will level out depending on your usage. Most of the time with the phone connected to my watch I will get home from work with about 78-84% battery life. Starting out it was closer to 65-73%. With it off I can leave with 85-93% easy. I'm hoping they fix some of this when Samsung finally releases Android 8.0 Oreo for the device.
-You get use to the single speaker. The Note 8 only has one speaker from which you can hear music or loud speaker during a phone call. It is easily muffled and admittingly not as loud as the iPhone 8 Plus speakers. I do wish there were two speakers on the Note 8 but it is plenty loud enough with the one.
-Screen protectors are hard to find if you have an Otterbox Defender case. You get lift and a drop in screen sensitivity A LOT. But there are options out there that work just fine. Just be sure to absolutely CENTER the protector on the device. The first one I got left an air pocket right down the middle of the device screen that you could only see under certain lighting conditions. The second one just sucked to be honest. The screen sensitivity just dropped to almost nothing even when there was not an air pocket and the protector had full contact with the screen minus the left and right edge. The third one is a keeper, although I do notice a slight drop in screen sensitivity it works well enough to keep the phone responsive. My point is here, that the curved screen on the Note 8 does pose a problem at least for those who use a thick rugged case, but with a few hours (or days) of mind numbing searching, a little blood, and some sweat, you can find something that works.
My original review is below:
I shelved my iPhone 8 Plus for this and don't regret it at all. I've been using the iPhone since the iPhone 3G and have loved the finished polish of ios and Apple devices in general. Why did I get the Galaxy Note 8? Two main reasons:
1) More bang for my buck-I spent less on the Galaxy Note 8 but got so much more in the way of features and specs. Whereas the 8 Plus was lacking so many common features found in many of the top end phones today, I feel the Note 8 has gotten me back up to date with the latest tech available for smart devices. I essentially got everything the iPhone X and 8 Plus offer in one package and for less. The build quality is excellent and I'm not restricted to just Samsung products to get the most out of my device. I have this phone in a Otterbox Defender Series case and wireless charging works fine every time. Face ID, Iris Scanning, Fingerprint ID, and Pin Codes all work without a problem (at least for me). It comes with Android 7.1.1 modified by Samsung. It's fast and fluid and because it's Android, heavily modifiable (unlike Apple anything). Yes, the phone only comes with 64GB, but yes it is possible to put up to 256GB of memory in the device and be golden. If you don't want to put 256, put 128, or 64 or however much your wallet can afford, which leads me to the second point,
2) Options! So many options! I've dealt with android before so I know most of this has to do with the operating system, but there is so much you can do with this device in the way of customizing the performance,, maintaining battery life, personalizing the interface, and increasing productivity to your hearts content. Samsung has several preinstalled apps on the device that are in fact quite useful, but if you don't want them, uninstall them and that's it. No penalty, no harm, no foul. Samsung also has a Themes app that makes it easy to download both free and paid themes for the device. The complexity of the device (and of Android in general) is not for everyone. There is a lot you can tweak and alter to get all that you would want out of the device. Of course there are plenty of presets in various categories to help the casual user streamline the customization process too, so there is no need to be shy.
Overall I really enjoy this smartphone and am happy to use it as my daily driver. Battery life is acceptable ( I work a 10 hour shift in the mornings and when I come home in the evenings I'm normally somewhere between 77-83 percent battery power. This is after spending the day checking emails, maybe making a call or two, and watching Youtube videos during my breaks. Also the phone is paired with a Samsung Gear S3 smart watch (also awesome, but not perfect for my tastes). I'm using this device on Straight Talk's AT&T network and I get 84-87 Mbps download speeds while in a metal hangar at work. Whenever Samsung actually releases the next version in their Galaxy series I will be looking with great intention to upgrade if possible.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G Factory Unlocked Android Cell Phone, US Version, 128GB of Storage, Mobile Gaming Smartphone, Long-Lasting Battery, Mystic Bronze, SM-N981UZNAXAA
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From the manufacturer
At a glance:
- Unlocked by Samsung
- Samsung US Limited Warranty*
- Infinity Display
Samsung Galaxy Note8 Unlocked
See the bigger picture and communicate in a whole new way. With the Galaxy Note8 in your hand, bigger things are just waiting to happen.
Whats in the Box:
- Device with S Pen
- Tweezer and Pen nibs
- USB power adaptor
- Micro USB connector
- USB connector (USB Type-C)
- USB cable
- Ejection pin
- Earphones
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Say it your way.With the powerful built-in S Pen, take notes without unlocking your screen, handwrite messages and make GIFs. Designed to write and feel more like a real pen, it gives you precise control over everything on your phone. |
Shoot like a pro.Whether you’re shooting in the dark or from a distance, photos are clear with less blur on the world’s first Dual Camera with Optical Image Stabilization on both lenses. Want even more control? Switch to Pro Mode for all the options you’d expect from a DSLR. |
See more, scroll less.Get a bigger view in a slimmer phone. With an 83% screen-to-body ratio, the Galaxy Note8 gives you more screen to work with and less phone to hold. |
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Conquer the elementsWith an IP68 rating, Galaxy Note8 is water and dust-resistant so you can use it worry-free, anywhere. |
Go where you wantUnlocked by Samsung smartphones work on multiple U.S. networks, so you have the freedom to pick a carrier and plan that fits your life. From Mexico City to Manila, Unlocked by Samsung makes it easy to travel - just pop in a compatible SIM card and your device is ready to go. *For more information on Samsung standard U.S. limited warranty, go to the official website. |
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Price | — | — | — | — |
| Water resistance | IP68-Water resistant in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Display type | Infinity Display Quad HD+ Super AMOLED | Infinity Display Quad HD+ Super AMOLED | Infinity Display Quad HD+ Super AMOLED | Quad HD Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2960 x 1440 | 2960 x 1440 | 2960 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 |
| Screen size | 6.3"* | 5.8"** | 6.2"*** | 5.7" |
| Camera - Dual pixel rear facing | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Battery | 3300 mAh | 3000 mAh | 3500 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| Fast wireless charging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Weight | 194g | 152g | 173g | 171g |
| Expandable memory | Up to 256GB MicroSD | Up to 256GB MicroSD | Up to 256GB MicroSD | |
| Disclaimers | *Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.2" in the full rectangle and 6.3" with accounting for the rounded corners. | **Measured diagonally, the screen size is 5.8" in the full rectangle and 5.6" with accounting for the rounded corners. | ***Measured diagonally, the screen size is 6.2" in the full rectangle and 6.1" with accounting for the rounded corners. | 2017 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. Galaxy is a trademark of Samsung Electronics America. 1. Wireless charger sold separately. 2. Fingerprint/Iris unlocking may not be permitted for access to corporate Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync servers. 3. Portion of memory occupied by existing content. 4. MicroSD card sold separately. |
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This Item  Samsung Galaxy Note8 N950U 64GB Unlocked GSM LTE Android Phone w/ Dual 12 Megapixel Camera - Orchid Gray |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $369.98 | -12% $821.15 New Price: $928.98 | -62% $265.00 New Price: $698.98 | -8% $275.00 Typical price: $299.99 | $794.98 | $175.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 11 | — | — | Get it May 15 - 17 | Get it as soon as Tomorrow, May 11 | — |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Fingerprint reader | ||||||
| Battery life | ||||||
| Face recognition | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Sold By | All-Out Mobile | Amazon.com | TOP-NOTCH-TECH | Fushanj | All-Out Mobile | Deal Depot Plus |
| display size | 6.3 inches | 6.9 inches | 6.5 inches | 6.8 inches | 7 inches | 6.8 inches |
| memory capacity | 64 GB | 128 GB | 128 GB | 256 GB | 128 GB | 4 GB |
| model name | Samsung Galaxy Note8 Unlocked (US Version) 64GB (Orchid Gray) | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 5G | Galaxy Note20 5G | Galaxy Note 10 Plus | Galaxy Note 20 Ultra | Moto G Stylus 5G |
| operating system | Android 7.1 | Android | Android 10.0 | Android 9.0 | — | Android 11.0 |
| connectivity tech | USB | Bluetooth, USB, NFC, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Networks + Bands 5G: 2/5/25/26/41/66/71/77/78 4G: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/19/20/25/26/29/30/38/39/40/41/48/66/71 3G: 1/2/4/5/8 Bluetooth Technology Bluetooth 5.0 Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | Wi-Fi hotspot Location Services GPS (L1), A-GPS, LTEEP, SUPL, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou SIM Card Single SIM (1 Nano SIM + 1 microSD) |
| display type | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED | LCD |
| memory slots | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | ✓ |
Reviews with images
Not a smartphone it's intelligentphone!
The reason I bought note 8 was for the pen. I love/do digital art and I have tried A LOT but absolutely NOTHING can beat this phone when it comes to digital art! Because of this phone I now find it hard to draw on paper! Can't live without an undo button anymore! ( I use artflow)As for the system obviously it's the best, easiest, nicest!I can find any app I dream about on Google app and most of them are free!I love playing games, working, calling, texting and sleeping on my note 8!After almost a year of use I cracked the screen, it's just cosmetic I'm still using it. however when I draw and the pen passes over a crack sometimes it thinks that I pulled my hand up and it cuts the line and that's really annoying but it's my fault, I should've used screen protector.I might move to note 9 and pass it over to my husband since he doesn't use the pen at all.
Top reviews from the United States
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Color: MID-NIGHT BLACKStyle: Device OnlyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019
Color: MID-NIGHT BLACKStyle: Device OnlyVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2017
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Top reviews from other countries
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