dailyO
Technology

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launched at Rs 67,900: But is it worth it?

Advertisement
Sushant Talwar
Sushant TalwarSep 12, 2017 | 14:00

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 launched at Rs 67,900: But is it worth it?

Days after its global launch, South Korean tech giant, Samsung, has launched its latest flagship in the form of the Galaxy Note 8 in India. The phablet has been launched at a price of Rs 67,900 and will be available in Classic Midnight Black and Maple Gold colour variants. Pre-booking for the device will start today but shipping of the phone will only begin on September 21.

Advertisement

This make or break device for the brand comes after the much-publicised troubles of the Galaxy Note 7 which set the smartphone manufacturer back by billions of dollars after devices from the series developed a battery snag which made them explode on overheating. 

The company had to infamously recall the devices, not just once, but twice, and as a result, many had started sounding the death knell for the Galaxy Note series after the fiasco. However, the Note series which looked to be on the verge of extinction appears to have risen spectacularly from the ashes of all the countless battery explosions. 

Samsung Electronics earlier in the week claimed that global pre-orders for its Galaxy Note 8 smartphone have hit the highest-ever for the Note series, beating its predecessor Note 7 over five days by about 2.5 times.

It would be interesting to see if Samsung – one of the most trusted smartphone manufacturers in the country – can replicate the success in India.

But before you head off to buy the phone, let's take a look at what Samsung is giving you in return for your money. 

Display and design

Advertisement

Like many of its Galaxy Note predecessors, the Note 8's biggest USP is its big, but beautiful, infinity display that has been crafted to catch your attention. However, the ultra-widescreen Super AMOLED infinity display on the Note 8 is slightly less curved than the one found on the S8 series.  

The massive 6.3 inch 1,440x2,960 QHD+ display with a pixel density of 521 pixels per inch merges seamlessly into the phone's intimidating metallic frame. However, the phone's design scheme is such that despite the Note 8's size, it still remains a phone that fits in your palm really nice and feels like a perfect fit for-two handed use. 

note8-copy_091217010832.jpg

Specifications and camera setup

The Note 8 is a beast when it comes to the internals. The device uses Exynos' 8895 variant for the Note 8 launched in India. The SoC has been paired with 6GB of RAM and up to 64GB of built-in storage that can be expanded using a MicroSD card.

Coming to the camera setup, the Note 8 brings with itself Samsung's first attempt at including a dual camera setup with its phones. The device brings a 12-megapixel dual camera module that Samsung claims is the best in the business because of the inclusion of OIS technology on both the telephoto sensor sitting next to the wide-angle sensor already found on the Galaxy S8.

Advertisement

On the software front, the Note 8 offers a feature called Dual Capture mode. This allows the dual camera setup to click two pictures simultaneously and allow you to save both images; one close-up shot from the telephoto lens and one wide-angle shot that shows the entire background.

Powering the package is a 3,300 mAh battery which Samsung claims has been subjected to an 8 point battery checks to ensure that it does not blow up while sitting in your pocket. The battery also brings with it fast and wireless charging capabilities.

Interesting features

The Note 8 runs Samsung's take on the Android 7.1.1, which enables nifty tricks such as simultaneously running two apps. The particular feature shines because of the phone's 6.3 inch display. The inclusion of Samsung Pay and Bixby voice assistant also adds to the package that the Note 8 is. The Bixby voice that has been announced for the country supports US English, but Samsung claims that it has been made for India and as such can understand our accents from any part of the country.

However, the coolest feature of the phone, one that is akin to the Note series, is the addition of the S-Pen. 

The phone's stylus is the one feature that also sets the Note 8 apart from the crowd. Be it drawing Live Messages, art, taking notes or simply hovering the tip of the S-Pen over a word for live translation, the stylus turns out to be more than just an expensive gimmick.

The phone also supports IRIS scanner along with PIN and password authentication to keep your data secured.  There's also IP-68 water and dust protection. 

Is it worth it?

Considering the US pricing of the device ($930) Samsung has played it safe by bringing the Note 8 to India at Rs 67,900. However, in return the company has decided to only bring a 64GB only variant of the Note 8 to India.or it. But considering the troubles of the  Note 7 are still fresh in the consumers' mind, not breaching the Rs 70k mark ahead of the iPhone anniversary edition's launch looks to be a good pricing strategy.  

And if you are still not convinced, there's also Harman made, AKG-tuned headphones included in the box to make you change your mind.

Last updated: September 12, 2017 | 14:04
IN THIS STORY
Please log in
I agree with DailyO's privacy policy