Last year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Samsung took the wraps off of the Galaxy Note 10.1, its first proper tablet with S Pen support. We weren't terribly fond of the Note 10.1 when we eventually reviewed it, but Samsung is back this year with the Galaxy Note 8.0. Already leaked numerous times before its official reveal, the Note 8.0 is Samsung's mid-size, S Pen enabled tablet that slots in between the 5.5-inch Note II smartphone and the larger 10.1-inch Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.
When it comes to specs, the Note 8.0 is similarly mid-range: its 8-inch display features a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, it's powered by a quad-core Samsung Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz and paired with 2GB of RAM, it has 16GB or 32GB of internal storage with support for microSD cards, and it has a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.2-megapixel front-facing camera. The tablet is pretty thin at 7.95mm, and its 338g weight is just a hair heavier than the iPad mini. The Note 8.0 doesn't deviate from Samsung's recent design ethos — it looks like a super-sized Galaxy S III or Note II — and it still uses the relatively cheap feeling glossy plastic that dominates the rest of the company's line.
For the Note 8.0, Samsung has expanded the S Pen functionality to support control of the device's capacitive hardware keys — a first for the Note line, believe it or not — and it has enabled the S Pen's hover feature to work with third party apps. A special version of Flipboard for Android is the first third-party app to have this feature and will be shipping on the Note 8.0. The Note 8.0 runs Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, not the latest Android 4.2, with the latest version of Samsung's TouchWiz software. And, even though the Note 8.0 is a rather massive 210.8mm x 135.9mm device, you can indeed make and receive calls on it (the international 3G model, at least) with its integrated earpiece and microphone and phone app.
Other new software features include Samsung's TV Discovery app that lets you control your TV and entertainment center with the Note 8.0's IR blaster. TV Discovery provides schedules and show listings, and lets you search for live TV and other video content. It's powered by Peel, the same software behind HTC's recently announced Sense TV app for the One smartphone. Samsung has also beefed up its Reading Hub with a mode that optimizes the display's contrast for easier reading when you view ebooks. The company says that this feature will work with third-party apps like Kindle and Nook if users enable them in the main Settings app of the device.
We spent some brief time with the Note 8.0, and for the most part, performance was pretty good. The MultiView feature that lets you use two apps at the same time is greatly improved over the Note 10.1, and the browser was speedy and responsive even with a rather slow internet connection and loading our image heavy website. The biggest disappointment was actually in the camera app — the camera was slow to focus and images were blown out and generally not good. The Note 8.0 might be able to match the iPad mini in some features, but it can't really touch the camera.
Samsung plans to launch the Note 8.0 globally by the end of the second quarter. It will have Wi-Fi, HSPA+, and LTE versions eventually, but Samsung has not announced US launch plans just yet. The company also hasn't nailed down pricing for the Note 8.0, though company reps did tell us that it would vary by region. Between the Nexus 7 and the iPad mini, it's hard for companies to make a compelling play in this size range, and we're not quite sure the Note 8.0's added S Pen do enough to give the two most popular tablets a run for their money.
Comments
Why 8 inches?
By tnkboy on 02.23.13 9:02pm
because iPad Mini. That’s pretty much it.
By AllyOmega on 02.23.13 9:04pm
Not necesarily. This is just a logical medium bewteen the 5.5 inch phone and the 10.1 inch tablet. 7 inches would be too close to the 5.5 one, and more than 8 inches would be too close to the 10.1. It’s not necessarily a “response” type of device, it was likely in the planning long before the Mini got released.
By Ben49 on 02.23.13 10:16pm
you know he is right. I know he is right. Samsung and Apple know it as well.
By TerionLanister on 02.24.13 10:53am
Lol. Sure.
A better excuse would be that Samsung has been releasing their devices in every size, hoping (and succeeding in some cases…) one will stick.
By 1 Infinite Loop on 02.24.13 3:10pm
It is unlikely that a multi-billion dollar company is relying on guessing to identify successful products.
By csnoke on 02.24.13 7:55pm
Oh, so they didn’t spend 2011 and ’12 releasing tablets in every shape and form? Heh, the person I replied to forgot about the Galaxy 8.9 inch tab. :P
By 1 Infinite Loop on 02.26.13 12:01am
To be fair, if you look at Samsung’s next gen design logic – it’s always been about up-ping the screen real estate. With their phones, tablets (This was a 7.0, then a 7.7 and now an 8.0) and TV for that matter. So an 8" from a 7.7" is a natural progression. Not necessarily because Apple had iPad mini at 7.85.
By krissh on 02.23.13 11:03pm
I’d say this is the best reasoning, and it is also what really makes me hate Samsung. I don’t want a 5" phone, I want a 4.5" phone, but they just keep pushing the market to it’s limits at every level they can and it’s starting to make me seriously resent them. Though, if you asked me what’s most likely to be my next phone I would have to respond by saying the Galaxy S 4, so make of that what you will.
By Kelsomatic on 02.24.13 5:01am
You hate Samsung for giving you choice ? An S3 has a 4.8" screen, do you really think that is any different than a 4.5" – Grow Up!
By fourthletter on 02.24.13 5:22am
A lot of people liked the 4.3-4.5" sweet spot and don’t like the gigantification of phones continuing. I know a a few people who love their S2s to bits, but aren’t interested in the S3 (and likely the S4) because the screens just keep getting bigger and bigger. It does make a difference.
Samsung don’t necessarily give you the choice of having a leading handset in the size you want (anymore). If you want something fast you have to have a screen the size of your head. If you want something modestly sized, you have to settle for gimped specs (see S3 Mini)
By Jewp on 02.24.13 5:51am
I agree. I have an S2 and wanting to upgrade, I like the Nexus 4, but wanted to wait for the S4 to see if it is a better option. But as soon as S4 specs leaked out saying it will come with a 5" screen, I immediately bought the Nexus 4. I’ve seen the Note 2 and concluded that I do not want a 5" screen phone. It is just too big.
By bebopblues on 02.24.13 6:45am
Samsung give more choice than any other smartphone manufacturer.
By Runrate on 02.24.13 8:03am
Indeed, by pure number of variations and specs they have more choice (aren’t there over 100 or so different “Galaxy” range phones?), and for sure they offer more variants than companies like Apple. All I was getting at is that if your criteria is based on a want for the latest specs and a model that is guaranteed to get all the updates, with Samsung your only options are either:
a) A massive screen
or
b) A ridiculously massive screen
By Jewp on 02.24.13 3:39pm
Actually, it is exactly 0.3" of difference. Sadly, growing up doesn’t guarantee you certain skills in math.
If there were no difference, they could just make a 4.5" phone or only one model couldn’t they?
By azsxdc on 02.24.13 9:00am
Its not just a 4.8 inch screen, they also have physical buttons which make the device bigger. This actually makes the device way bigger than u r thinking. On screen buttons are the best solution which Samsung, HTC and some other companies don’t wanna adopt to just because they want their device’s UI and design to be different than any other device ( They want their UI and design to be exclusive to them and their signature), no matter if it results in ugly device, UI and the overall UX.
By bhu1 on 02.24.13 10:31am
Not offering a top tier 4-4.3"device is not offering choice. It makes me laugh when people say this. Samsung only has one size in its flagship galaxy s and galaxy note line and if you want it with you will get it despite its size.
By angermeans on 02.24.13 10:56am
Come on you can talk around it all you want, but history has shown Samsung did an 8" device to at least is some way not only match apples offering, but also best it by a small margin (even though making something larger doesn’t best it in my opinion and I don’t know why Samsung always does as well. I’m really starting to wonder if they can even make a high smaller device. I think the HTC one looks really nice and they didn’t have to simply increase the footprint to fit the components like Samsung does).
By angermeans on 02.24.13 10:58am
The sad thing is, Samsung did make a small high-end device, the Tab 7.7. It was fast, pretty and super high res. One of the best Galaxy products ever judging by reviews. Why can’t they move that premium line along and bring it up to date? This is just lazily phoning (excuse the pun) it in, because the iPad mini is the latest hot thing.
It undermines all the good work Samsung has (and could still have) done in mobile devices.
By DJFM on 02.24.13 11:08am
do you notice that the 8" Note has a higher ppi than the iPad mini.
By bermy_kid on 02.24.13 2:07pm
What? Seriously? Samsung & Google have had devices in the 7-8 range for a while now. The ipad mini is the APPLE attempt to match their offering.
By jagaa on 02.24.13 12:23pm
Exactly… Apple reacted with the Mini because every other player was coming out with 7" tablets and they were selling. Not to mention customer feedback asking them to make one via blogs, forums etc… They may not read them all but SJ was a master at saying whatever he needed to at the time to sell whatever gadget he’s selling. Six months later they build the exact product he said made zero sense to ever build. I don’t blame him, he’s a salesmen, but they were not the leaders to the 7" market by a long shot.
IMO they failed not putting retina on the mini to start with. Anyone that owned a iPad 3… then moved to Mini will either just ignore the poor pixilation of text or just lie to themselves to justify owning the Mini. I’ve had both, sold the Mini to stay with the 3, which is now upgraded to a 4.
On the flip side the (Samsung) the Note 2 is the best smartphone/device I’ve used, hands down. iPhone could learn plenty from the tech they use in the Note 2.
By bossxii on 02.25.13 4:50pm
Apparently, the Verge decided to delete the slightly offensive reply to my comment, which is fine, but all my clarification replies got deleted. Without them, my above comment might be interpreted as claiming that the Note 8 is a “copy” or “ripoff”, which I am not claiming. I just think that Samsung definitely had the Mini in mind when they made this tablet. I don’t think this because of the design, but because of the screen size and timing. Now that Samsung has some clout, they’re now directly competing with as many Apple products as they can. Because of the similar size as the Mini, it will obviously seen as a Mini alternative. It’s good that Samsung has the ability to do this, because I feel that Apple’s monopoly in the tablet industry has lead to stagnancy in innovation.
By AllyOmega on 02.23.13 11:38pm
The sentence
“Apple’s monopoly in the tablet industry has lead to stagnancy in innovation.”
has me a little perplexed.
A fairly new segment, the tablet, (born in 2010 in a sense, since you mention Apple’s monopoly) which is still trying to figure out what consumers want, that has seen many companies jump in as fast as they could to put out a model at first, then to come up with something new (pens, padfones, etc…) cannot be called stagnating I don’t think.
Even for a fast paced market like today’s mobile and tablet market, 3 years from “new category” to “stagnating” is just not right.
This speed issue is very present in every thread I happen to read here. You’re not dead if you screw up even for a few years (ie: Nokia and Sony) and you have not won just because you conquered the market’s trust (ie: Samsung and Apple).
Electronics’ “battles” are fought continuously, and being at the top only gives you more time to regain footing if you screw up in the future. Just as well to get to the top it only takes a new “toy” to become as popular as the iphone has been and you’re the new king. Everyone out there still has a chance to get up there, there is NOT only place for 2 or 3 mobile OSs at maximum. Everything is evolving and the merging between devices, tablets and laptops now, but eventually also phones is just being explored and this seems everything but stagnating.
This tablet too (Note 8.0) is very cool and I like the direction things are going.
Let’s not jump to conclusions too fast.
PS: I used your comment to make a general point, I wasn’t taking out frustration on you! Maybe… :)
By NetworkDude on 02.24.13 6:56am
The thing that needs to change the most for tablets to become amazing devices is the content.
The web is still not ready for fingers and it won’t be yet for quite a while, same goes for web content and delivery.
In other words I believe things will proceed incrementally, dictated by new HW availability and more importantly by new services and content until someone will crack a new segment or just a good formula and become the new king (or queen).
Better shut up now… :P
By NetworkDude on 02.24.13 7:03am