T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Smartphone + $200 Samsung Rewards Expired

Note 8 User here (from T-Mobile)

Is your phone the primary source for your photos and is photo clarity very important to you? Note 8 has excellent cameras (perhaps not as good as iPhone X) with 2x zoom that I find far more useful than other phones that have a secondary camera with a wide angle instead. I'd rather have the option to zoom in without losing pixels.



Do you jog a lot and require your phone come with you? Do you drive / text a lot? It's a big screen, this goes for any large screen phone.. dont expect to strap this to your arm or text with one hand.



Gaming, watching Netflix, YouTube.. are these things you do daily? As a "power user" aka someone that uses their phone to the fullest extent, I love the big screen now, especially for gaming and watching video.



Do you really need the S Pen? As someone new to the Note and a not middle aged yet guy I can say I don't use it constantly but I do use it. I was explaining my layout last night, was able to do a screen capture, circle, use arrows and send it to the person all within 20 seconds. I dont draw but I like the adult coloring book app it comes with.. and for gaming when the tip of my fingers start to hurt, I can get the pen out with no issues. And if you leave the pen out, the phone warns you you're walking away from it. But is it really worth the extra money?



Size of phone, would it be uncomfortable for you in general? My greatest concern was going from an average sized phone to one of the largest screens on the market. I don't hold my hand from the very bottom to begin with so it boiled down to the width, not the length. Compared to the S7 Edge width, it's barely even noticeable. And with a case, I never have issues with it. I thought when I first got it that I'd hate it but I love Samsungs dimensions on the phone and lack of bezel. Note 8 is .1" larger than the S8+ in regard to screen size so if you're okay with that phone, this is a no brainier if you want the 2x zoom / S-pen and it's features.



Fingerprint scanner, how bad is it? I agree with everyone that it belongs in the front but also a reminder that Samsung wasn't ready yet as they're putting it behind the screen and not using a dedicated button (thank god) thus they're ultimately going forward in technology, many other new phones also have it somewhere on the back. I honestly don't like how it's right at the camera lens but if you're using your pointer finger every time you quickly build up muscle memory. In a few days it becomes a non-issue. Iris scanner is excellent for unlocking when it's flat on your desk and just as secure, you can use BOTH plus a pin code with these phones to unlock your telly.




Would I recommend this to a friend? If they couldn't hold out for the new Samsung phones coming out sometime next year, could be 6+ months and with the Note almost a full year.. then yes I think it's a fantastic phone and as some have said, Samsung played it safe with the 8 after what happened to the 7.. I'm totally fine with that.

Personal cons to me:

Sumsung phones in general does not let you remap the Bixby button, I've yet to know of anyone that loves Bixby except fanboys.
I've got used to the finger scanner position and use Iris scanner too for fast unlocks but I do wish they places it elsewhere, but I do give kudos for NO dedicated button on the front, that is the future rather people like it or not.
I wish the S-Pen had more functionality like an extra mic or something beyond note taking. I know they're supposed to really upgrade the pen soon but still, for the cost of a new one it's lacking.
Audio with all the 2017 high end Samsung phones have the mic on the bottom, Apple did this originally but they corrected it by putting speakers on the top too. Samsung failed to do this thus if your hand hits that speaker, your audio is going to be extremely muffled.
Way easier said than done but I wish Samsung would put their own processor in with North American phones the same they do with other regions, it's far more capable including possible 60 FPS shooting 4k. 30 FPS 4k almost gives a drunk effect (look on YouTube) thus if you want a snappy video, you need to go down to 1080 60 FPS aka shooting in old technology, not the latest and greatest.


Many of the things I don't like are things I'm expecting to be ironed out with the new Samsung phones.. they do have a lot of competition so at least 70% of them I'd expect to be improved which is why if you can wait, go ahead. But I have no regrets at all getting my Note 8. It's even has the latest in Bluetooth technology, something most 2017 phones failed to add.

Samsung pay credit can be used anywhere that takes credit cards. It adds as a card to your Samsung Pay wallet.

Actually that's not true. The following glass protector works great (gets good reviews on XDA, Reddit). I have had no problems using the s-pen on it:

Note 8 Screen Protector Glass [amazon.com]