Samsung launched its Galaxy Note 8 in New York with a 6.3-inch display, a multitasking feature called App Pair, a dual camera, and various improvements for the S Pen stylus.
The Galaxy Note 8 had a few important items on the to-do list as Samsung launched the device in New York City. Among the items:
- Put the Galaxy Note 7 battery recall behind Samsung.
- Gain some momentum ahead of Apple's 10th anniversary iPhone launch.
- Defend a premium smartphone brand and price as screens go larger across multiple price points of phones.
- Position Samsung as a company that can satisfy consumers and enterprises with tools such as the DeX system that turns the Note 8 into a PC.
It remains to be seen whether the Galaxy Note 8 will check all of those aforementioned boxes, but it'll certainly deliver more than a few. Pre-orders start Aug. 24 with availability Sept. 15. Samsung is offering a chose of a free Samsung Gear 360 camera or Galaxy Foundation kit for people who order a Note 8 between Aug. 24 and Sept. 24.
Read more: Galaxy Note 8 hands-on: The upgrade Note users are clamoring for | Note 8 could get squeezed by other Android rivals | CNET: If you had a Galaxy Note 7, Samsung has a discount for you
Koh added that the Note 8 is aimed at go-getters who are loyal and want a unique device and have created a "tribe" of creatives.
Patrick Moorhead, principal of Moor Insight, said "the Note 8 strikes me as a really good consumer phone, but an even better business "get stuff done" smartphone. The Note8 has some features I believe will make enterprises and business people happy."
The first takes for the Galaxy Note 8 were positive. ZDNet's Matthew Miller said that the Galaxy Note 8 is differentiated enough from the Galaxy S8 Plus to garner a purchase. CNET was upbeat about the possibilities too.
Among the key features rolled out by Samsung:
- A 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display, which will allow users to scroll less.
- S Pen features that include Live Messages in handwriting as well as special effects for sharing on social apps. Koh said that the S Pen brings more emotion to communications and melds art and productivity. Samsung outlined an effort call PenUp that will aggregate S Pen art and include coloring books. The aim of Samsung is to create more engagement for the S Pen and Note 8.
- An always on memo ability to take notes when the screen is off and improved translation features.
- Two dual 12MP rear cameras with optical image stabilization on wide angle and telephoto lenses. The front-facing camera is 8MP.
- Dual capture mode can all the rear cameras to take two pictures at the same time.
- And features such as water and dust resistance, fast wireless charging, Knox, biometric security and expandable memory found on the Galaxy S8 line.
Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8: In pictures
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