Update: The Galaxy Note 8 release date will be announced on Wednesday at the Samsung Unpacked launch event, and we fully expect the phone to include all of the rumors and leaks we've outlined below. Samsung is even teasing some of them in two official videos we've just added.
Get ready for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launch and the biggest comeback in phone history following last year's disastrous Galaxy Note 7 battery failures.
It's fascinating: The Note 7 will go down in smartphone history for all the wrong reasons, yet when it wasn't causing property damage or injuries, it was among the best phones you could buy. That honor was short-lived.
Where does Samsung go from here? We've already gotten a taste of many Note 8 features thanks to the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus. They look and feel like Note phones (read: really big) without that all-important S Pen.
Samsung will surely build on top of its new all-screen technology – what it calls an 'Infinity Display' – and leaks point to a dual-lens camera capable of telescopic and portrait photography, a first for a Samsung flagship.
Note 8 will continue Samsung's experimental smartphone trend for the series, but likely carry an exorbitant price. Will it be worth it? Let's explain the features.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? Samsung's next flagship phablet
- When is it out? August 23 announcement, possibly a September 15 release
- What will it cost? A lot, the Note 7 cost $850/£749/AU$1,349
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 release date
The official Samsung Galaxy Note 8 release date will be announced Wednesday, August 23 at its Unpacked 2017 event, according to the press invite.
When will it actually be in your hands? Samsung hinted at an early September in-store date in key countries, while others may get it in October. We believe it.
The August launch and September release date theories are backed up by both analysts and phone carriers, with September 15 being the likely date.
It makes sense, as we've become accustomed to seeing new S Pen-compatible Android phones every autumn. Samsung always wants to beat the iPhone 8 release date every September.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 UK release
- Pre-register for Samsung Galaxy Note 8
- UK: Carphone Warehouse
In the UK, network carrier EE has already confirmed it will the selling the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 when it goes on sale and you can register your interest on its website.
We're expecting one or two other carriers at least to pick up this hugely popular phone - admittedly, the Note range has never been as popular in the UK (and will command a high price on contract - expect £45 or more for the most basic of contracts initially, but that will come down fairly rapidly in price in the coming months.
TechRadar’s take: The Note 8 will officially be announced on Wednesday, August 23, and it could hit stores starting on September 15. The good news is that the US, UK and Australia are very likely to be in the first wave instead of having to wait until October.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 screen
Hottest leaks:
- A QHD+ screen
- 6.3-inch screen size likely
- Another 'Infinity Display'
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 may once again make the Note series known for its groundbreaking screen, but not just because of its size this time around.
It'll gives us our first a 6.3-inch smartphone display with the stunning bezel-less 'Infinity Display' we loved on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, according to these leaks.
Sounds massive, but remember, the lack of bezel and a real home button will surely make the screen dimensions seem bigger. Longtime, hand-stretched Note fans should have no problems carrying this one everyday. After all, this is just a tenth of an inch larger than the S8 Plus.
A 6.3-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is more likely, because the Galaxy S8 Plus has reached 6.2 inches. It's really hard to see it being any smaller than that, and the latest leaks also point to a 6.3-inch 1440 x 2960 Super AMOLED display, with a super-widescreen 18.5:9 aspect ratio.
Just don't expect a 4K screen until the Galaxy S9 launch. Why do you need a 4K resolution on a phone? You don't when it's in your hand; the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus look good enough paired down to Full HD 1080p in its battery saving mode.
But a 4K screen is important when your phone doubles as a Samsung Gear VR headset screen. Otherwise, you'll see individual pixels (that's what we call the screen door effect) when it's just two inches from your face. Next time.
Note 8 is poised to break the 5.7-inch screen tradition established by the Note 3. It's also likely to carry the 1440 x 2960 Super AMOLED display with a super-widescreen 18.5:9 aspect ratio.
A bigger screen size and larger screen-to-body ratio is more noticeable than a 4K resolution to most people.
Here's what not to believe: Note 8 rumors that suggested it'll be Samsung's first smartphone with a foldable screen. It's not happening, even if it's a fun thought.
Samsung is rumored to be readying two foldable phones with one likely to come to the form of the Samsung Galaxy X prototype.
But we don't feel like it's due for a flagship phone just yet – not this year at least. At best, next year's Samsung Galaxy Note 9 could test the waters with a foldable variant, much like it tested curved screens with the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.
TechRadar’s take: The Note 8 will almost certainly continue Samsung's streak of debuting new technology in its second half of the year phone. At first it was bigger screens and S Pens, then the curved Galaxy Note Edge variant, and most recently the debut of Mobile HDR. What's next? A 6.3-inch screen with expanded S Pen capabilities is what we foresee based on the leaks so far.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 design
Hottest leaks:
- Curved glass front and back
- A camera bump
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 design appears to take cues from the glass-and-metal sandwich that is the Galaxy S8 Plus. It's almost a Note phone – minus the stylus.
This proves that Samsung's 'Infinity Display' isn't a one-off marketing term. It's here to stay, and you can see how the screen and phone might look in the renders below.
These are apparently based on a factory CAD and indeed they show a Galaxy S8-like design, with a cruved glass front and back and almost no bezels. But they also include an ugly camera bump and the dimensions point to a chunky phone that comes in at 162.4 x 74.5 x 8.4mm, going up to 9.5mm on the camera bump.
One of those leaks comes directly from Samsung. The company published a tweet promoting the new Exynos 8895 processor, which is expected to be inside the Note 8, and it's placed on a phone that may be the Galaxy Note 8.
There's a smaller bezel than the Galaxy S8 or S8 Plus while there are no buttons on the side, which may suggest this is just a dummy unit. You can see the image of the phone in the tweet below:
Most recently though, case maker Ghostek has revealed full renders of what it expects the Galaxy Note 8 to look like.
If accurate, we're looking at a larger, and likely heavier, Galaxy S8 Plus, with the addition of a second camera on the rear and a slot for the S-Pen on the base.
That design is looking ever more likely, as we've now also seen photos of a dummy unit with an identical look, which you can see below.
There's a big screen, a dedicated Bixby button and a dual-lens camera, all of which we're expecting, along with a seemingly longer, narrower and generally more rectangular shape than the Samsung Galaxy S8.
What's missing? That oval-shaped physical home button for starters The Note 8 is rumored to have a pressure-sensitive screen that brings up different menus and options depending on how hard you press the display. The S8 and S8 Plus have this, but it's limited to the home button.
More than cloning Apple's 3D Touch screen technique, however, we're hoping that Samsung figures out a way to embed a fingerprint sensor in the screen. One of the latest leaks of a prototype device suggests the company may have found a way to do it as there's no sign of a physical fingerprint scanner.
The S8 and S8 Plus shifted the fingerprint scanner to the back, awkwardly next to the camera lens. Cue the smudges.
But returning it to the front, under the display, would be ideal placement when such technology is ready - though rumors suggest it may not be ready in time, and leaked images such as the renders above show it on the back.
TechRadar’s take: The Note 8 design may not look too different from glass-and-metal Galaxy S8 Plus at 6.2 inches. We're bullish on that. We're hoping to see more rumors about a fingerprint sensor embedded in the front glass. It's an idea that'll be in Samsung's near future, if not the Note 8.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 colors
So you want to buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 already, right? Chances are 'Yes,' if you're this far down the page. Next question: Which color will you get?
We're keeping tabs on the list of Samsung Galaxy Note 8 colors, and expect to see a Midnight Black, Maple Gold, Deep Sea Blue and Orchid Grey.
You should remember that not all colors launch worldwide. The US got some muted tones for the S8, and Samsung recently launched Coral Blue months after the phone came out. It's a plot to spur new sales by doesn't help early adopters at all.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 camera
Hottest leaks:
- A dual-lens camera
- 2x optical zoom
- Telephoto and wide-angle lenses
Samsung's camera is due for an upgrade, and the Galaxy Note 8 is Samsung's playground to try new things. Get ready for a dual-lens Samsung phone – finally.
The 12MP sensor stayed the same from the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge and Note 7 to the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. Samsung promised it tweaked the software. Okay.
But we still anticipate seeing radically different from the Note 8, and that could come in the form of a dual-lens camera, especially as exactly that has now been rumored by respected analyst Ming Chi Kuo.
It's said to have a pair of 12MP lens, and you'll be able to combine them for a 2x optical zoom, according to trusted leaker Evan Blass. The secondary lens is said to be a f/2.4 aperture telephoto lens capable of 2x optical zoom.
And it all sounds a lot like the setup on the iPhone 7 Plus, which allows for a 2x optical zoom, though hopefully you'll also be able to use the sensors independently like on the LG G6.
We've even seen the camera in action in an official teaser video, showing off its bokeh skills, allowing it to blur the background of a shot, and its ability to zoom.
Kuo adds that both cameras will also have optical image stabilization, and we also fully expect a 5MP to 8MP front-facing upgrade given that the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus got that spec boost along with selfie auto-focus.
We've also now seen a render showing dual lenses on the back of the Note 8, so this camera feature is looking likely.
TechRadar’s take: We're fully expecting Samsung to jump on the dual-lens camera bandwagon sooner or later, and as a flagship phone the Note 8 seems an ideal candidate. It could be the defining feature that makes you get the Note 8 over the Galaxy S8 Plus.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 battery
Hottest leaks:
- A 3,300mAh battery
Wow. Here's a touchy subject for you. The Note 8 battery has to be big, in the ballpark of 3,500mAh, like Samsung's current crop of phones.
Samsung could technically go bigger – Asus Zenfone Max has a 5,000mAh battery. But we don't expect a such fightingly bigger number.
The Note 8 battery not only has to be safe, it has to look safe. 5,000mAh doesn't look safe. Plus, Samsung packs in a lot more internal technology.
The Note 7 findings confirmed that the explosions were the result of two different battery failures. So we expect Samsung to play it cool with a smaller battery capacity than it could technically go with.
In fact, it might be very conservative with the size, as one rumor points to just a 3,300mAh juice pack, and that's since been backed up by another source.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 OS and power
Hottest leaks:
- A Snapdragon 835 or Exynos 8895 chipset
- 6GB of RAM
- 64GB/128GB standard sizes, maybe 256GB too
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 specs are likely to reflect those of the S8 and S8 Plus, but may finally include a boost in RAM.
Samsung's newest flagship phones premiered in two chipset flavors: The Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 in the US and its own Exynos 8895 in the UK and other regions. The fact that Samsung is manufacturing both doesn't hurt the chances that they'll continue on to the Note 8, and indeed an Exynos 8895 has been rumored for the phone.
Here's the difference: It may jump from 4GB of RAM to 6GB of RAM. We were surprised to see Samsung didn't make a 6GB Galaxy S8 for the West, although it is launching that exact model in China.
A Note 8 with 6GB of RAM isn't out of the question then, and has even been rumored. More memory means more apps can be open at once, and Samsung is boasting that the large screen is great for multitasking.
And there could be plenty of space for apps too, with an unnamed Samsung official reportedly saying that the Note 8 will come in both 64GB and 128GB storage sizes - the latter being double the capacity of most Samsung flagships.
Another rumor suggests there will be a 256GB version, but it'll only come to certain markets. It may be a Korea exclusive and a limited edition of the Note 8.
The phone was even briefly listed on one of Samsung's own websites with 64GB of storage mentioned, while some marketing material obtained by Techtastic mentions 256GB - though this could be referring to the microSD capacity.
Most recently we've heard that the reportedly 'final' specs of the phone include a Snapdragon 835 (in the US), an Exynos 8895 (everywhere else), 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, along with a microSD card slot.
As for software, Samsung renamed TouchWiz to 'Samsung Experience,' and it's actually likable. We expect a further refined operating system overlay based on Android Nougat, more specifically Android 7.1.1 if rumors are to be believed.
Wanting Android Oreo on the Note 8 is wishful thinking. It just launched on the Google Pixel and it's next incremental update may be bound the Google Pixel 2.
Indeed, a new benchmark again points to Android 7.1.1 for the Galaxy Note 8 - though it's sure to get updated to Android Oreo once that's available.
TechRadar’s take: The Note 8 chipset may not change from what we saw in the S8 and S8 Plus, but it can differentiate itself with the long-awaited 6GB of RAM upgrade. This will further Samsung's drive toward multitasking on the phone and DeX desktop accessory.
What note to expect from the Note 8
Dubious leaks:
- A stylus with a speaker
- A fingerprint scanner built into the screen
- An iris scanner
- Bixby AI 2.0
Like the Galaxy S8 before it we're hearing rumors that the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 could have a fingerprint scanner built into the screen.
But will it happen this time? Unlikely. Apple has reportedly had a hard time cracking this one, too, and Samsung is launching its phone even sooner.
Sure enough, a Samsung official has reportedly said that the Note 8 won't have an in-screen fingerprint scanner as the company couldn't perfect the technology in time, so that's looking like an unlikely feature, even if you bought into the image above.
Instead, renders of the phone suggests the scanner will sit in a similar position to where it did on the Galaxy S8, but slightly away from the camera to make sure you don't smudge it when you miss the sensor.
The S Pen meanwhile is a Galaxy Note 8 essential, but don't expect anything very different, including the bogus sounding rumors that it may come with a built-in speaker. Yes, it could very well read notes back to you and vibrate if you buy into new patents, but this isn't happening just yet, we suspect.
Samsung has changed up its S Pen on the Galaxy Tab S3, so it has not been afraid to make it different (in the case of the Tab S3's it's much bigger). Just don't get your hopes up on the phone-based S Pen revolution this year.
Everything else about the Note 8
You can bet we'll see an iris scanner in the Note 8. This unique phone unlocking method debuted in the Note 7 and made its way to the S8 and S8 Plus.
However, we may see a more secure Galaxy Note 8 given recent reports that a group of hackers were able to bypass the iris scanner. Time to improve the tech.
It'll also inherit dust and water resistance with a rating of IP68, have a microSD card slot for expandable storage and Fast Charge via USB-C and wireless charge, too.
Samsung confirmed that it intends to expand its Bixby virtual assistant beyond the S8 and S8 Plus, so the Note 8 is a prime candidate for its Siri rival.
And it looks like the assistant will be improved, as Samsung is planning to roll out Bixby Voice (the component which allows you to talk to it), to the Galaxy S8 range the day before the Note 8's launch.
There's even talk that Samsung plans to have a Bixby-powered pair of AirPod competitors ready for the Note 8 launch - so you might be able to get some high-quality, smart, wireless earbuds with your phablet.
TechRadar’s take: With Samsung Galaxy Note 8, you're going to get 'everything you see here' from the S8 and S8 Plus, and they're throwing in the S Pen. That means an iris scanner, dust and water resistant, fast wireless charging and Bixby AI are also expected in the new phone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 price
Hottest leaks:
- Could cost over $1,000
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is shaping up to sound like the S8 Plus, but better. Of course, that means it'll likely be more pricey.
Noted leaker Evan Blass says the phablet will launch with a sticker price of €999 (roughly $1,120/£875/AU$1,475), so you'd better start saving.
We've heard a similar price of between $1,000 (around £770/AU$1,300) and $1,200 (roughly £920/AU$1,560) from a site supposedly quoting a Samsung official.
Considering the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus price is $824.99 (£779, $1,349), you're almost certainly looking at a slight cost increase for the S Pen and expected 6GB of RAM. The Note 7 launched at $850 (£749, AU$1,349) – more than the S8 Plus in the US, less in the UK and exactly the same in Australia.
It's going to be expensive then, but as well as a top tier phone you might get some extras for your money, as Samsung is rumored to be throwing in a free case in some regions. Sadly, it doesn't look like the UK or US will get one, but there's no word on Australia, and a different freebie is always possible.
TechRadar’s take: The Galaxy Note 8 is sure to be expensive, but probably won’t be much more than the Note 7 or S8 Plus, whichever is higher in your region.
Should you wait for the Note 8?
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is built for S Pen users who refuse to work on their phone without a stylus. For these people, it's worth the wait.
However, you're not going to miss much by checking out the Galaxy S8 Plus. It already has a 6.2-inch screen that tops the size of every Note phone before it.
Other perks we expect in the Note 8 include 6GB of RAM and a dual-lens camera. Don't need a stylus or a minimally better camera? The S8 Plus is plenty of phone for you.
- Pre-register for iPhone 8
- UK: Carphone Warehouse
Aside from distinctly fewer flames and explosions, there are a number of other things we’d like from the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, and the following are our top wants.
1. A lower price
For the brief period that it was on sale, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was colossally expensive, coming in at $850/£749/AU$1,349 if you bought it off contract.
The size and specs of the phone went a long way towards justifying that price, but it still put the phone out of many people’s reach, so we’d like to see a lower price for the Note 8.
It’s unlikely, but you never know, Samsung might drop the price as a goodwill gesture to all its fans that have had to go without an upgrade in 2016.
2. 6GB of RAM
Most current smartphones have 4GB of RAM, but a few, such as the OnePlus 3, have launched with 6GB, and a Chinese variant of the Note 7 was supposed to do the same.
With the Note 8, we’d like to see all versions launch with at least that much. It might sound like overkill, but it would help power VR experiences, and besides, the Note series has always been at the cutting edge.
3. A 4K display
What would help VR even more than extra RAM is a sharper screen, and so we’d like to see a 4K display on the Galaxy Note 8.
Samsung has been peddling QHD screens for a while now, and with the extra size of the Note it’s a prime candidate for a few more pixels.
4. Less sensitive buttons
It’s a minor niggle, but the capacitive buttons on the Note 7, and indeed many Samsung handsets, are overly sensitive, leading to many an accidental press, particularly for those who are new to the handset, so we’d like to see these made slightly less sensitive for the Note 8 – but only slightly!
5. A foldable screen
There’s been talk that Samsung could start launching handsets with foldable screens in 2017. So, could the Note 8 be one of them? It’s unlikely, but it seems like a natural evolution from the curved screens we have now, and would make the phone’s sheer size more manageable.
6. No more bezels
OK, a foldable screen might be asking a bit much, but Samsung could at least ditch the bezels surrounding the display. That could allow the company to either pack a larger screen into the same space, or shrink the handset size down.
Ditching the home button could prove problematic, since it houses the fingerprint scanner, but there have been rumors that Samsung might build the scanner into the screen itself.
7. A new design
Samsung has been iterating on the current design of its phones since the Galaxy S6, so by the time the Note 8 launches it will be about time for a shakeup.
We want the curved screen to stay, unless the alternative is a foldable one, but a change to that metal and glass sandwich would be appreciated, as long as it still looks just as stylish and premium.
- Can't wait for the Note 8? We'll likely get a Samsung Galaxy S8 Edge first
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