Or You Could Just Buy the Galaxy Note 8 and Forget the Rest…
  • Posted byby Kellen

Or You Could Just Buy the Galaxy Note 8 and Forget the Rest…

As hard as I tried to sell the world yesterday on the idea that waiting for Google to unveil the Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 before buying their next phone is the right move, I can’t help but think, “Yeah, that’s cool and all, but we all know the Galaxy Note 8 is going to stomp on everyone.” That’s not an overstatement either. Last year’s Galaxy Note 7 was the best phone of 2016, we just stopped talking about it because of its unfortunate situation(s). With the Galaxy Note 8, I’d be a fool not to admit that this phone is about to bring it and potentially lap the competition.

Also, remember those pundits who thought the Galaxy Note line should die after the Note 7 debacle? ????

Galaxy Note 8 will have everything and then some

With the Galaxy Note 8, I’d fully expect Samsung to bring even more firepower (sans exploding battery) than last year to make an even bigger statement about the importance of the Note line. According to the dozens of leaks, that’s exactly what they appear to be doing.

We’re getting a slightly bigger QHD AMOLED Infinity Display (6.3-inch) than we saw on the Galaxy S8+. But just because it’s slightly bigger, won’t mean that much bigger of a body. In fact, all you need to do is pick up an S8+ and you’ll know exactly how the Note 8 will feel, if you can also imagine a less round body. The Note line has always been somewhat squared off and leaks show just that with the Note 8.

So not only are we getting another best-in-class AMOLED display from Samsung, we’ll also get the latest Snapdragon processor from Qualcomm (likely the 835), 6GB RAM, 64GB storage with a microSD slot, 3300mAh battery, IP68 water and dust resistance, fingerprint reader, fast wired and wireless charging, S Pen, Iris Scanner, USB Type-C port, 8MP f/1.7 front camera, and dual 12MP rear cameras, a first for Samsung’s Galaxy line. I’m not sure this phone is missing anything because all of that will be housed in a premium metal and glass body too.

Compare that list to the rumored Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 specs and Google’s can’t really match-up. Only one of Google’s will have on-par design, but we don’t know how good that first LG POLED display will be, plus there won’t be an SD slot, wireless charging, dual cameras, or the S Pen. We also don’t know how water resistant the Pixels will be (if at all).

The LG V30 should come close to matching the Note 8 in terms of specs and features, but without an S Pen or wireless charging, it still doesn’t quite get there. Also, I’d argue with anyone that Samsung’s software is better than LG’s at this point, plus Samsung pushes monthly security patches while LG isn’t as on top of things.

Samsung’s first dual camera!

I still don’t know that I care about dual cameras on phones, but the Note 8 will be Samsung’s first attempt at it in the Galaxy S or Note range and that’s kind of a big deal. Samsung has killed it in the photography department for as far back as I can remember, so their implementation of two cameras has me at least somewhat excited.

According to rumors, we’re getting dual 12MP shooters, one that’s a Dual Pixel sensor at f/1.7 and a second that offers 2X optical zoom and f/2.4. It’s a lot like Apple and OnePlus’ implementation rather than the wide-angle switch that LG does. I’m sure Samsung will let you take not only zoomy-zoom pics, but also use that second sensor to create depth and better portrait photos.

I’ll let you decide if that sounds interesting or not.

Software that’s getting better

I mentioned yesterday in my Pixel 2 write-up that one of the biggest factors in considering the new Pixels over the Galaxy Note 8 relates to software. You know Google’s new phones will get the newest versions of Android first, without any extra fluff or bloatware or skinning. But Samsung has at least gotten better at offering up monthly updates that include the latest security patches.

While security isn’t new software features, I honestly wonder how much Samsung really cares about the upfront Android innovations like they might have in the early years. What I mean is that Samsung has its own software suite on top of Android where they innovate. For example, multi window is old news to them. They tend to focus on big features like that and push them before Google does. They also try to innovate with their Edge panel and its software, along with the S Pen and its entire ecosystem. Samsung offers full skinning of their OS, so things like adaptive icons aren’t necessarily going to be a big deal. Android O’s notification channels might be, but the theming of notifications isn’t something that Samsung ever mimics Google on.

In a way, you have to look at Samsung as really utilizing Android as a base that just runs their own focused software where they don’t follow Google’s lead. This is not me discounting Samsung’s slowness when it comes to big updates. You should wonder just how long it’ll be before the Note 8 gets Android O. For a phone that could cost $1,000, waiting 6 to 7 or 8 months for a big update is embarrassing. In the end, this is really just part of the story and obviously a number of you are OK with that.

Seriously, remember the Note 7?

No, I don’t mean remember the bomb! I mean, remember how amazing of a phone the Note 7 was? It was 2016’s phone of the year until it starting catching fire on the regular. Assuming Samsung is continuing to improve from that phone, as they have with the Galaxy S8 and S8+, I mean come on, how can you not just settle into it and forget the rest.

It’s tempting.

Written by

Kellen

It’s not often that you get to merge personal passions into a professional life, but that’s what Kellen did when he launched Droid Life in 2009. After working years of unsatisfying jobs in the medical and property management fields, he took a risk to try and create an online community while playing with the coolest gadgets on the planet each day, a risk that has turned out to be incredibly rewarding. Outside of Droid Life, Kellen is your typical Portlander who drinks way too much good beer, complains often about the Trail Blazers, and can be found out on the streets for a run, rain or shine.

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239 Comments

  • Does anyone know if Samsung will be offering discounts/rebates/etc. for those of us who had to abandon their Note 7’s?
    I am currently stuck with an LG V20 (the only comparable phone at the time), and I hate it. Between getting hot, not getting calls, I am done with it. Already exchanged it twice. Verizon refuses to do anything other than keep sending V20s, and both VZW and LG have refused to give me a refund from the start(last October).

  • Buying a phone with “pure Android” like the Pixel is like getting a car with manual windows, manual brakes, stick shift and no intermittent windshield wipers. Yeah, it might be cool for some but I like features, features, features.

  • Kellen is really excited for a very small step up from the s8+ and one down in the battery department. Not sure how you are this excited for not much.

  • Live74s

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  • Same old same old around here year after year with respect to Android phones… You can either have the best software with Nexus/Pixel, or the best hardware with Samsung or LG. But can you have it all? Nope. There’s only one way to get that, and it ain’t with Android.

  • I’m still scratching my head why this phone only has 3300 mAh battery and with that large screen size. I don’t care how great the phone will be with the snapdragon 835 this phone should have had something at least close to the s8 active but to have a phone with larger screen than the s8+ and the note has a smaller battery I just don’t get it .

  • to the people in the comments shouting PIXEL PIXEL PIXEL… i’ve never had an issue with my s8+. ive been a nexus owner in the past and honestly, couldnt care less anymore about if my phones a company’s flagship or if its stock AOSP. i run novalauncher with no app icons or widgets on my home screen, i utilize samsung’s “edge” feature to access quick apps and use gestures to bring up the rest. ive completely tailored my phone to suit my needs which is what everyone should do and that is the beauty of android. i’ve removed or disabled bloat and never looked back, or even thought about what If i flashed an AOSP rom. the only benefit to pixel is the updates which let’s face it, they’re becoming apple and releasing os updates on phone releases, not really the iterative/experimenting philosophy everyone believes

  • Some people simply don’t want the cruft and nonsense Sammy brings to all of their devices.
    Besides, edge screens stink.
    Samsung, the Dominator X of phones (and all of their noisy over the top garbage).

  • S Pen is a really cool feature that other phones just don’t have. It’s the reason I’m considering the Note.

  • No updates after the first year wipes out all the goodness described in the post. And if it does get one after the first year, it will be six months late. Pass.

  • Or it was in the argument because it was a great phone despite not being water proof and a high price point. That’s evident by how many people wanted to buy it. Mainstream features are subjective honestly. What you need in your phone aren’t necessarily the same things that I need in my phone.LG performs underwhelmingly every year. Samsung is what it is, it’s #1 for a reason. But you gotta give the Pixel it’s just due. No lag, day 1 updates, stock Android. My 3 pillars of a great phone.

  • The Note 8 is going to embarrass the Pixel 2 & Pixel XL2. Google always leaves put important hardware, this year will be no different. They take features away but keep the expensive price tag.

    • Sorry i just can’t bring myself to pay $35 a month or more for a phone on top of the monthly bill. That’s just insane.

  • Having gone from Nexus purist to Galaxy S8+ owner, I have to say that the software differences are moot. Samsung’s theme engine will allow you to change your phone so that it looks and feels exactly like a pixel. Put a google launcher on it and you might as well be using a pixel except on hardware that doesn’t suck. Sure I have to use package disabler pro to get rid of some crap bloatware but so what – I can’t really complain about it if I have the tools to fix it myself with minimal effort.

    Couldn’t be happier with my Galaxy S8+ – and I was hesitant to get on board with it after being all nexus all the time.

    Bluetooth works. Holy hell you know how awesome it is that bluetooth actually works?!

    • I am exactly same situation, been a pure Android since the Nexus S, going all the way through the Nexus 6P.

      The Pixel line interested me, but was often unavailable, decidedly expensive for what it was/is. Having less features than the competition but having the pure software, software updates and camera to uphold it.

      I actually just upgraded to a blue S8. And have changed to the Google Launcher, enabled Google Now, Assistant, I remapped Bixby button to activate camera. Love the always on display. It’s seriously the most impressive phone to date. I will be following the Note 8 and Pixel XL2 closely, as it may dictate my next device. Otherwise, a dual camera with the same S8 display, hopefully better fingerprint sensor placement or having it under the screen…. phones are now having increased longevity. (But price will rise with it.)

  • People have told me that their/parents’ Android phones are laggy and slow and janky and all that. When I asked about those devices, they mention Galaxy this and LG that and (insert cheap 200 dollar Blu-type) phone. I could only tell them, sorry, and show them my stock Google device.

    • FWIW, my last Samsung device was an SGS4 and in the 4 months of using it, I regretted every moment. The best non-stock device manufacturer so far, has been HTC. The M8 that I picked up the S4 scenario was excellent, minus the sketchy UltraPixel camera.

  • “But…but…but…but TouchWiz!!!”

    There. Just saved everyone the trouble of having to read through all the comments.

  • Kellen with the Divide and Conquer.

    Speak in favor of Google in one article, then in favor of Samsung in the next, let the readers fight it out in the comments, win.

  • Shop46s

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  • Actually I think they are releasing quite an uninspiring version of the Note series with the 8. It is actually NOT a bigger display it is the exact same display and the extra .1″ comes from square corners. It will be exceedingly fragile. My Note 4 has been fairly tank like. And the 6.3″ display is essentially exactly the same size as a Note 4 screen just taller for all 16:9 content.

    Note 8 should be the ultra flagship, bigger, faster, more rugged, bigger battery and S-Pen

    This version of the the Note 8 will pretty much have a better camera, and that’s it.

  • “…plus there won’t be an SD slot, wireless charging, dual cameras, or the S Pen. We also don’t know how water resistant the Pixels will be (if at all).”All things I could live without. The OG Pixels didn’t have these things & were still in the argument for best phone of last year.My experience with Galaxy phones is that they’re great for about the first year, after that, they become laggy & bogged down.Add in TouchWiz still being what it is & I still can’t consider getting a phone from Samsung again.

    • Nope. Hipster nonsense. First Pixel got hyped because it was the first, then the world realized what it actually isn’t. Outside Android forums, it’s a non-starter. If it weren’t for Google’s Assistant, the Pixel wouldn’t even exist.

  • Or it was in the argument because it was a great phone despite not being water proof and a high price point. That’s evident by how many people wanted to buy it. Mainstream features are subjective honestly. What you need in your phone aren’t necessarily the same things that I need in my phone.LG performs underwhelmingly every year. Samsung is what it is, it’s #1 for a reason. But you gotta give the Pixel it’s just due. No lag, day 1 updates, stock Android. My 3 pillars of a great phone.

  • Please don’t remind me of my Note 7. Yeah, I was one of those people waited until november to send mine back.
    I have an S8+ right now but I miss the stylus. That said I agree with your point. the N8 will pretty much have everything. I’m a mobile worker and my phone is my device of choice. A PC or laptop can’t hope to match a high-end phone for my job requirements where work is done through a web portal, photos are often required, constant texts, emails and phone calls throughout the day, field notes entered in Evernote, multiple engineering PDFs referred to and that’s a slow day. No mobile Windows device can cut it. And none have the all-day power and pocketability of the Note series(OK, cargo pant pocketability…)
    The note will be worth every penny.

  • As soon as you want to give me the money I might get a Note 8. Until then no thanks. I don’t make the big time blogger money you do.

  • I have a pixel and my wife has a S8+. I wouldn’t trade with her even if she kicked in and extra $300. My pixel is my first non Motorola device and I’ve grown accustomed to pure Android. The junk that Samsung adds to a perfectly good operating system is gross. At least Motorola added useful stuff that other companies have been slowly trying to copy. The Samsung tweaks make the phone more confusing and annoying and I find myself having to help my wife with her phone frequently. Bixby is garbage compared to Google Assistant. I’ve never been impressed with Samsung phones and I don’t see that changing any time soon.

  • I think the POLED screen would make that very possible, because plastic is more flexible. Not sure how it will work with Gorilla Glass on top, but they can figure it out. What I find funny about the prospect of pressure sensitive screens is that it’s kind of a throwback to the resistive touch screens we had before capacitive touch took over. I’m just hoping they don’t do squeeze input like the U11. I’d be doing it in error all the time.

  • I tried to buy the Pixel last year but Google never got stock in so I just gave up. Minus some act of god, I have to assume it will be the same this year as well (as it was with every Nexus/Pixel made so far). A lot of folks on here bash Samsung but at least they can get actual phones in stores or available for sale.

  • Actually, no, not remotely excited.

    It’s too big for how I use a phone, which means that it doesn’t matter what else it has or does. You know, there is no “one size fits all” in this business, and hence no single “best phone”.

  • I hope the writer of this article gets higher salary. Really well written article, I wish there was more article writers like Kellen. Professionalism in this article is just amazing.

  • I’d rather get unbreakable POled screen with pure Android than the glass wonder with jank and bloat that will be the note 8.

  • That S-pen and S-Note are the only reasons I don’t bother looking at other phones. They are extremely useful for me. I feel stuck.

    • Same here. Even though I haven’t had a Note since the Note 3, it was one of my favorite Android phones ever. I was planning on getting a Note 7 to replace my G4 before all the battery shenanigans happened. The S-Pen is sooo amazing. I used it almost daily.

  • I loved my Note 7. Aside from moving the fingerprint sensor, I really can’t see me not liking the Note 8.

      • Day to day use. Touch, swipe, haptic feedback, etc. Pixel does everything in a much more refined and reliable way. And comforting to have unlimited storage and updates happen right now, not a year from now. Gotta use a Pixel to understand the experience.

        • I rocked both my S7E & the Pixel XL. My friend’s a manager at a 3rd party VZW store so he lets me test drive his extra demo units. Personally (key word) I wasn’t impressed. Yes, the pics were better & it ran smoother than my S7E. My Note 7, not so much. Everything on my Note 7 was better, but…you know, hence why I’m in an S7E.

          “And comforting to have unlimited storage…”

          I’m only using 13 of the FREE 256GB SD card I got with my Note 7 & the card loaded my 3000 pics & 5 movies faster than any of the cloud based apps I used on the XL.

          “…and updates happen right now, not a year from now.”

          Exaggeration.

          So it’s just a bad experience to you.

          • 128gb internal on the Pixel XL outperforms any SD. No need for cloud-based apps, except for the unlimited backups that happen seamlessly in the background. No messing around with SD cards. If you owned the Pixel and alternated it and the Samsung as daily drivers, you’d eventually see what I mean by experience, and you’d sell the Samsung. Nothing beats the Pixel experience.

          • Whether I purchased the phone or borrowed it, it gave me the same experience. Stock Android to me is boring. And you said unlimited storage. I’m quite sure you were referring to space, not updates. Either way, IN MY OPINION and from my personal experience, the Note 7 was better than the XL so I’m sure I’ll have the same experience with the Note 8.

          • I repeat, if you actually owned them and used them as daily drivers rather then just briefly trying them out, you’d understand what I mean. Pixel experience rules. It’s so good, I’ll be happy with the current Pixel XL until the Pixel 3 XL comes out. That’s saying something since I’ve owned 9 Android phones.

          • WTF do you think I did, play with the phone at the store?! I had the demo Pixel XL for a week. Took my SIM card out & left my S7E at home. All week. So I repeat, whether I purchased the phone or borrowed it, it gave me the same experience. We get it, you love the Pixel. Get the new joint when comes out use what works for you, like I’m doing with the Note 8.
            BTW I’ve owned the OG DROID, Samsung Epic, Nexus S, Motorola Photon, DROID 2, DROID X2, DROID Razr Maxx, DROID Maxx, LG Optimus G Pro, G2, S4, Moto X, DROID Maxx, Note 3, 4, 7 & S7E, in that order. Please quit thinking you’re talking to someone who just started using Android last year.

          • Settle down, Bevis. It’s just a phone. I hope you’ll remain happy with your Samsung. I’m contentedly waiting on the Pixel 3 XL. Nice not to feel compelled to upgrade phones quickly for a change. Google’s experience transcends features.

          • LMAO! Now you say it’s just a phone but prior to that you were swearing up & down that the Pixel is the only way to go; and that’s true, for you. I’m not knocking it at all. It’s a great device, it’s just not for me.

          • You too. Hopefully your new pixel will be water resistant. I personally couldn’t care less about wireless charging. Bought one & took it back the next day.

          • Having been a Nexus phone user with pure Android since 2010 with the Nexus One all the way to the 2015 Nexus 6P. I was going to upgrade to the Pixel XL back in 2016, but the hardware left me unimpressed. The price? Historically from a Nexus perspective was astronomical, going for $900+ realistically. The bezels were and have been hideous. At least my 6P had dual front facing speakers to account for the bezels, and a 5.7 screen vs 5.5. Mind you, my back up 6P is running Android 7.1.1. No water/dust resistance, I’d actually be LOSING wireless charging capabilities I had with my 6P if I had gotten a Pixel, I still have that with my S8. The way I’ve set up my S8, is practically near stock Android, plus Samsungs added capabilities, some aspects of the software are not perfect, sure. But it should be telling how I’m willing to accept it as being nothing but a pure Android user.

          • near stock for me as well, all bloat removed, nova launcher, using only google based apps over samsungs, yup

          • 1. My pics are also backed up inn the cloud & I back my phone up every week.
            2. Haven’t lost a phone since 2003.
            3. Yea, robbed….because stolen Samsung phones have always been hot on the streets.

          • According to QuickPic yes, but because I’m not very knowledgeable with (and don’t trust) cloud-based services I still do the old school drag & drop backup.

          • I’ve only done one cloud backup with them. What would be a better option other than manually backing up my pics to my PC (which I don’t mind)?

          • If you want original file backup, you’ll need lots of storage. With time, you’ll end up needing to pay for extra space on Google drive, dropbox, etc.

          • Gotcha. I generally delete the previous weeks’ backup to save on storage space & I only backup my wife’s phone once a month because she’s not on it as much as I’m on mine. I’ll just stick to the drag & drop method.

          • lol never seen someone so defensive in these comments, so i decided to reply to most of your comments, have a good day rod 😀

          • how’s handing data ro CM any different than to google, apple, dropbox etc? if you’re on a smartphone at all, you’ve already given up your right to privacy of your files

          • I think anyone will prefer handing their info to Google, instead of an obscure chinese startup.

          • never had a phone stolen or lost. if i did, i deserve to lose my sd card. like with anything else. u lose your car you lose your tires, you dont get to keep them lol

  • Tracker161s

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  • I bet the pixel 2 will be water and dust resistant because its coming from lg. Also wireless charging is up there too. Because they also have the g6 with it. Im just saying its possible.

  • Yea stop making it had for me to decide you bugger i hate curved screens but i hate this s7edge so much i want it gone.

  • Why is everyone getting so bent out of shape? Kellen is running a Android website and it’s giving his opinions and facts on each flagship phone that is going to be released in the coming months.

    If he writes up an article next week about the facts and his opinions on why someone would want to buy the LG V30 phone is everyone going to say “oh now LG is paying him $$$” …c’mon people don’t get all up in arms just because he’s keeping his site relevant and up-to-date… Just saying

  • Wow… we like Samsung now? We’ve come full circle because I was all about Sammy when DL was hating incessantly. Now that I’m on the Pixel, I dont ever want to see another Samsung. I have a S7 for work and it’s just terrible compared to the pixel. In fact I use both phones to demonstrate to people Samsung basically ruins Android.

      • I know ahhaha… it’s back when I was literally on my 4th or 5th Samsung product. Never bothered to change it. Im sorry but the jank on Samsungs is just uncacceptable. I mean, just entering the PIN to unlock my S7 is sluggish. On the Pixel, it feels like an iphone. Just snappy as hell. I’ve come to the conclusion that Samsung just doesnt care and people dont really know what they’re missing in the pixel and frankly the iphone.. I tried the iphone for awhile after swearing of Samsung.. it was super smooth and fast… Night and day compared to Galaxy products… but then I jumped back to Android for the Pixel after playing with it in the store. My first impression is “this is like an Android iphone!”

        • I gotcha. I miss Motorola in their heyday, man. It’s like they listened to customers with a splash of, “We hear you but……..” & the but is what knocked them off the throne. My problem with Sammy is my new Samsung phones have been excellent, it’s the refurbs that I’ve had to get due to screen burn in that’ve been laggy as hell. Sometimes instead of being able to Swype my message out moves so slow that I just voice text everything. I plan on getting a tablet use that at home & use my phone away from home that way my display gets a break & I’m not forced into a refurb.

  • Give me a Pixel’s Stock-ish Android and fingerprint sensor placement. Put that in the S8 or Note 8 body and spec’s and you’d have all my money no questions asked.

      • Kellen isn’t the only writer on this site. He is however the worst and is the reason I visit this site maybe once a month when i use to visit weekly. It’s same reason I switched from androidcentral 4-5 years ago. Clear this is a pay to play site now. Kellen contradicts himself on a daily basis now and spews whatever garbage out of his mouth he is getting paid for. But he has a right to his “opinion”, as do I, and as do you.

        • Or, OR, maybe there’re so many options with Android that makes sense to post an article about why you should wait to get the Pixel/XL 2 AND an article about why you should get the Note 8. You articles on just 1 phone, visit whatever iPhone only forums are out there.

          • Most people get sold on article like this. No matter how much those phones are good they should not cost over $600 period. Spending $1000 for a phone is throwing your money trough the window. Vast majority of people will buy new phone next year spending more money on a new phone because they are trendy. Not to mention that certain cheaper phones can do a same job as same as the “flagship”. So I disagree about the prices on all new phones that will get out and not just Samsung Note 8. For some phones it’s worth waiting 6 months until their price drop. Just like now Lg G6/Samsung Galaxy S8-S8+. You save at least $200-$300 for some models.

  • I think I’m just doing the Note 8 and Iphone 8. I still have the pixel xl but it is pretty boring plus the bluetooth issue, the lens flare and speaker issue and absent water resistance kind of turned me off from the pixel and now just use it as a back up. the funny thing is I would have passed on it last year if my note 7 would have worked properly. Don’t get me wrong the pixel is a good phone the camera is the best in my opinion still need ois but still great, they would need to totally knock it out the park in order for me to think about it. They price was crazy too, and it was very hard to get the phone in general especially my blue one.

  • I must be cursed. Every Samsung I’ve owned had developed terrible lag. My Pixel XL and Moto Z were lag free. I doubt I’ll ever buy another Samsung.

    • My Moto Z lags quite a bit. Still love the overall package and pre-ordered the Z2. Before that was a loyal note user before the note 7 debacle. I miss S-Pen and the gorgeous design the note 7 had. May end up switching back of there’s a ridiculous trade in for my old note 5.

      I have a pixel and pixel XL also. Underwhelming. No lag though, which is nice.

    • Every Samsung phone I have owned has also developed lag. Every time that happens, I uninstall some apps and clear the app cache and voila… back to smooth performance.
      Using a smartphone without doing a little maintenance is the same as driving a car without changing the oil or keeping the tires filled with air and then complaining that the car doesn’t run like it used to. It’s not the fault of the car maker, it’s the fault of the car owner. Same thing with smartphones.

      • That really isn’t true. There are apps that don’t work well with OS upgrades which is separate from Samsung lag. What Samsung does is entirely different because the lag is caused by preinstalled apps that you cannot fully disable.

        • Which is also not entirely true. I believe most people will tell you (myself included, S3, S6, N4 owner) that the lag occurs over time, not right out of the box. If your statement were true, and the issue was the preinstalled apps, it would lag out of the box right? But they don’t. Netplayground is closer to the truth- a truth which I personally believe lies in the way Sammy attempts to push the envelope of what their phones and software can do. This coupled with the Android structure itself (every app installed on the phone writes a file structure; upon uninstall that file structure is left behind leading to performance degradation in the Java based OS) leads to a more laggy experience than say, N6. But that isn’t to say that Google’s phones don’t have lag, they can and do, just perhaps not at quite the same rate of speed to get to that point. I support over 1600 Android devices in the field- trust me- they all lag. A simple cache clear as netplayground suggests will usually clear it right up. Occasionally factory reset and the effect is even better.

        • Nougat and up you can uninstall apks without root. adb shell , pm uninstall -k –user 0 . Removed a ton of Google apks and a bunch of Samsung bloat apks. Then went through and “Greenified” a bunch of apks. Adb shell,
          cmd appops set RUN_IN_BACKGROUND ignore. Even though Google pulled the run in background option on Android O. My S8 Exynos is all cleaned up.

          • That was original. Are you the same Google fanboy that used that hilarious line last time. Some people choose not have their life harvested by Google. But with no other viable alternatives I am stuck with Android for a while.

        • Or just use Android and spend a little time debloating and use the services I want to use. Yes these services generally cost money. At the end of the day Google is not what it is was coming from a GNex to 5x user and Nest. Don’t care for their politics. Didn’t care for treating Nexus owners like second class citizens when the Pixel line came out, blacklisting IMEI’s for Pixels on FI that got resold, locking down Nest products. To name a few examples.

          • No one wants to tinker with their phones. They want to take it out of the box and start using.

            That’s why iPhones sell like a hot cake.

          • *hot cakes*. a hot cake on the other hand, is just a cake from the over. hot cakes are pancakes 😉

          • Yeah… That’s not true at all. Maybe “a lot of people” want to do that. But I am one that loves to tinker so “no one” is definitely wrong

          • I owned the S6, S7e, and S8 for a few months. I spent hours debloating when I first got them and routinely did maintenance on them making sure only the bare minimum was running. Galaxy’s are still not as close to as smooth and lag free as the iPhone and Pixel with no maintenance done.

          • I never stated at any point that it solved any sort of lag issue. If my Galaxy devices do lag it is not enough to bother me or to notice. And if you enjoy bare bone OS’s and monster bezels that also lag ( unless all those articles are fake news) great have at it. I will continue using the best hardware, most featured packed devices, stable Android build’s with monthly security updates. Compromise we have and we will continue to do so.

  • If you can deal with the inevitable janky behavior (which only those who have lived with it long enough pretend isn’t a thing) Samsung’s are great.

  • The Note 8 is going to embarrass the Pixel 2 & Pixel XL2. Google always leaves put important hardware, this year will be no different. They take features away but keep the expensive price tag.

  • The placement of the FPS on the Note 8 sucks. I’m going with the iPhone 8 this fall instead.

  • The 23rd can’t get here fast enough. I already know I’m getting the phone, but I’m just excited for what’s in store with this one compared to the Note 7.

  • I don’t use any of the samsung feature/gimmicks, and I think my Pixel’s still take better pictures than than my S8+.. I love the fact that just when I start getting tired of the Pixel is about the time Google pushes the developer preview of the next OS. I have had the O beta since the first preview and I love stock O.. I am trying to like the s8+ but it’s just not a pixel so I can’t imagine the pixel 2 series will be any less awesome..

        • IDK I think its valid.. I have the S8+ and I despise the location of the fingerprint scanner on it and all info leads to it being in the same place which would clearly cause me to dislike it on the Note 8. But it’s my opinion and that what matters to me when buying a phone.

          • I get that. It just made it sound like the fingerprint sensor is the only thing that would make or break you getting the phone, but like you said that’s what matters to you when getting a phone and that’s cool.

          • Oh no that wouldn’t cause me to not get it but it is in the equation since I use many, many times a day. So far on my S8+ I just haven’t gotten it completely natural yet.. Unlocking the Pixel is second nature now and with the Samsung I am just not there yet.

          • I don’t lock my phone, but using the iris scanner on the Note 7 in the Secure Folder was seamless.

          • When you use 2 phones it’s hard to get use to it. I had S8+ for 1 month and I got used to it’s fingerprint location but as I got U11 along with S8+ I felt S8+ annoying to unlock.

  • Or you can just buy the S8 Active now and stomp on everything now and for the next 6 months

    • I’d consider the Active if it wasn’t launching as an AT&T exclusive. At least launch the unlocked model at same time, Samsung. Exclusives suck.

  • Wait, this is the first I’ve heard the V30 won’t have wireless charging, can anyone source that?

    It’s still a 3 horse race for me until the phones are released and we get both a better look at teh specs and more in-depth reviews on based on actual use and not conjecture. I don’t really care about dual cameras. My last phone was a Turbo, which didn’t have it, and I’m currently on a G6 that does, and… feh. Can’t say I’ve bothered to use the dual cameras. More enticed by the successor to the Pixel’s otherwordly camera from last year, even if it is just the one.

    I am decently invested in the wireless charging infrastructure, so that’s a ding to the Pixel out of the gate. And also the V30 if they’ve dropped the wireless charging the G6 had. But it’s not a deal breaker pending other factors. Still hate the Note 8’s fingerprint reader placement, which will have a significant daily use impact, so that’s a ding there to it over the Pixel 2 or V30. I also would rather have a headphone jack, especially if Google ends up repeating last year’s Bluetooth issues. I have a pair of bluetooth headphones I use on occasion, but I always carry a wired pair as backup in case their battery runs down or I’m experiencing higher than usual interference and getting skipping music and whatnot. And, of course, I miss my Turbo’s massive battery and how no one in the industry has carried the big battery torch ever since Lenovo stripped it from Moto, but I’m not holding out any hope of the V30 or Pixel 2 coming in with a last minute surprise in that arena to make a significant difference over the Note 8. Also there’s Bixby and Touchwiz, which I’ve never wanted and still don’t.

    All of which is to say unless there’s some sort of truly world-beating deal on one of these at launch that saves me so much money it’s worth overlooking its cons, I’ll be waiting till all 3 are launched, reviewed, and real-world tested before making a decision. There’s no one factor that’s a deal breaker, but it’s going to be a matter of trying to make as few compromises as possible since no one is going to tick every box for me.

  • My decision is final… going with the Pixel XL 2. Samsung lost me with those tall and skinny screens.

    • I know Samsung has a loyal following in the HQ homeland. The FE is the one phone you could bring to the US and it would sell like hotcakes. But we all know Sammy wouldn’t undercut N8 sales.

  • Kellen: “Wait for the Pixel!”
    —————————–
    *email from Samsung, “Subject: $$$$$$$”*
    —————————–
    Kellen: “Screw the Pixel!”

    • Not likely true… but in a world of facts dictated by opinions… I’m sticking with it! ????

      • Note8 in general will be better product, but it might not be better for everyone.

        For me Pixel XL had better camera than my S8+
        On my first S8+ performance was bad and Pixel XL performed better but my second S8+ performed better as after that I had no performance issues.
        Using Pixel is like using iPhone in a sense you can use beta software which is exciting to me.

        Minor things superior in S8+ was ambient sensor, vibration motor was so precise and fast, even though AMOLED is really awesome it have it’s issues with grey scale. I did notice this on S8+ more.

        S pen sets note apart but I didn’t use S pen more than few days when I try to show people how cool it is.

        This season real winner will be a phone with better camera of all.

        • Tracker161s

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  • “…plus there won’t be an SD slot, wireless charging, dual cameras, or the S Pen. We also don’t know how water resistant the Pixels will be (if at all).”

    Literally nothing that I could honestly care about. The OG Pixels didn’t have these things and they were in the argument for best phone off last year even without the blowing up of batteries Sammy experienced.

    My experience with Galaxy phones is that they’re great for about the first year and become laggy, buggy units after that. Add in TouchWiz still being what it is and I still can’t consider getting a phone from Samsung again.

      • The fact that my last Galaxy was the S3 and the jank is still too obvious 5 iterations later is just maddening.

      • Samsung phones lags for sure. My first S8+ got 2 updates and got slower than my Pixel in app launch and animations stutters and I sold that phone and after month bought an other S8+ and this time experience was entirely different. It ran smooth, no stutters so if you can do one factory reset it might worth you a while. And I kept S8+ for a month and in that time I had no issue. Now I am using U11. I like it better than S8+ but S8 has few little things I miss. Like ambient sensor which controls brightness was more accurate, or vibration feedback and accuracy. If U11 had AMOLED display I would called it perfect phone for me. Cuz included headphones of U11 is way superior than on S8+, U11 is cheap consider that I got 6GB+128GB

          • What is screen size of S8+? 5.99″ inche 😉 or less. And when you play video on it and then left right is is unused. It’s not a comparison when you reading text but YouTube or TV series then screens are comparable. You probably didn’t know that

    • “All things I could live without. The OG Pixels didn’t have these things & were still in the argument for best phone of last year.”

      Only because of the Note 7’s 2 month reign. And that’s still barely.

      “Add in TouchWiz still being what it is…”

      Actually, it ain’t.

      • Lol that’s regardless of its 2 month reign, which was much longer than that due to the amount of people who held on to the device. And that’s not counting the Fan Edition that was just released.

        Touchwiz while improved, is not comparable to stock Android in terms of quality or UI.

        But I’m happy that you’re such a fan of Samsung. Keep it up man!

        • “Lol that’s regardless of its 2 month reign, which was much longer than that due to the amount of people who held on to the device. And that’s not counting the Fan Edition that was just released.”

          There are a few articles out there that back up my statement, even a couple by the author of this one (Kellen), including this comment: “Last year’s Galaxy Note 7 was the best phone of 2016, we just stopped talking about it because of its unfortunate situation(s).”

          “Touchwiz while improved, is not comparable to stock Android in terms of quality or UI.”

          This is a to each his own situation.

          “But I’m happy that you’re such a fan of Samsung. Keep it up man!”

          I’m just a realist. I’ll always keep that up. Thanks!

    • They were an argument for best phones of the year because last year was kinda dull
      LG bombed early on and the V20 was a boring but solid device
      Samsung released a modest but healthy revision for the S-series and then the Note 7 was effectively phone of the year before the recall, disqualifying that.
      The iphone 7 was a whatever release
      Moto was interesting but the Z lineup was flawed and doomed to never go mainstream
      If the Note 7 had stuck around, if the ip7 was more interesting, the pixels flaws would have been far less forgivable. It lacks what are now mainstream features, its design is bland, its only major selling points are the camera and software and it is -crazy- expensive for what it offers

      • Or it was in the argument because it was a great phone despite not being water proof and a high price point. That’s evident by how many people wanted to buy it. Mainstream features are subjective honestly. What you need in your phone aren’t necessarily the same things that I need in my phone.

        LG performs underwhelmingly every year. Samsung is what it is, it’s #1 for a reason. But you gotta give the Pixel it’s just due. No lag, day 1 updates, stock Android. My 3 pillars of a great phone.

  • Do you guys think there’s any merit behind the pressure sensitive screen rumors that have surfaced in the last few days?

    • Those rumors came in so late I don’t think they’re true. Sound like the left over S8 rumors about the button being pressure sensitive. Which it already is. But we’ll see.

    • I think the POLED screen would make that very possible, because plastic is more flexible. Not sure how it will work with Gorilla Glass on top, but they can figure it out. What I find funny about the prospect of pressure sensitive screens is that it’s kind of a throwback to the resistive touch screens we had before capacitive touch took over. I’m just hoping they don’t do squeeze input like the U11. I’d be doing it in error all the time.

  • You didn’t mention the Janky behavior of the S8 you’ve been talking about on every podcast. It’s the reason I just sold mine. Hopefully those 6GBs will help Samsung smooth out those animations. But the Note line isn’t for me anyway, no use for the pen.

    Matter of fact I just bounced back to the Z Play #OG. Why did I ever return this phone?

    • I picked up an S8 from Best Buy on their last big sale and surprisingly haven’t experienced the usual jank. I must be doing something wrong

      • It’s all personal experience. All of my band new Samsungs have been great. It’s the refurbs that I’ve gotten after having screen burn in that’ve been janky. Took me 3 minutes you type this reply because this refurb S7E is so $#¡ťť¥.

      • You aren’t doing anything wrong. These people that experienced “jank” are clearly comparing the S8 and a stock phone side by side, which is an unrealistic situation for many who only carry one device.

      • My S7 Edge is a pile of jank and has been for about a year. Meanwhile, got my mom an S8 a few months ago and despite her loading god knows what onto it and generally taking no care of it, it’s still smooth as butter.

          • It’s true that iOS doesn’t have these same issues, but some of that is simply the lack of open source items to play with (NFC, anyone?) The other half is the C based programming languages (obj-C, C++, Swift). Aside from some difficult garbage collection (and possibly portability concerns). It’s pretty good at what it does. But then Apple limits you. Boxes you in. In the end, I’ll err on the side of freedom to play, and take the bad along with that.

        • It has an 835, it should be smooth as butter.
          Still gets its ass handed to it by the HTC 11 and Z2 Force

      • Same here… Very smooth phone. Very impressed with Samsung this go around and I haven’t had a Samsung since the 3

    • What jank? My [insert Samsung Galaxy model here] is 100% smooth. In fact, it’s as smooth as my [insert SO]’s iPhone [insert model]. I couldn’t be happier.

  • Just as long as they offer a descent color at launch other then black or gold then I’ll be getting two at launch. Coral blue, fine. They grey color of the s8, that’ll work. The deep blue that was rumored, probably even better.

  • For a thousand dollars this phone should get updates immediately…. this coming from an S7 unlocked phone owner…this is keeping me from considering another Samsung phone.

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