JOHANNESBURG - The biggest concern Samsung had yesterday when unveiling the new Note 8 was to ensure that the same traumatic experiences that occurred with the Note 7 did not repeat itself.
Samsung said that the Galaxy Note8’s battery has undergone Samsung’s 8-Point Battery Safety Check, which is supposed to be the most stringent in the industry.
The phone currently cost R18 499.
"We have been closely working with Samsung to make meaningful advancements in the science of smartphone quality and safety evaluation. As a result, the Galaxy Note8 has successfully completed a rigorous series of device and battery safety compatibility test protocols. We look forward to maintaining our strategic relationship with Samsung and helping ensure device safety for all consumers,” said Sajeev Jesudas, President, UL International.
The device has a larger screen which is 6.3-inch Quad HD hitch is an inch larger than the Note 7 and Super AMOLED Infinity Display aimed to let you see more and scroll less.
The device also has a duel camera with 12 MP (Megapixels), Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and has X2 optical zoom, 10X digital zoom and the front camera has 8MP.
It also has a Live Focus feature lets you control the depth of field by allowing you to adjust the bokeh effect, ( which is the quality of the blur when an image is taken out of focus ) in preview mode and after the photo is taken. This means that your image will still be clear even when taken while moving.
In Dual Capture mode, the two rear cameras take the pictures and allow you to save both images; one close-up shot and one wide-angle shot that shows the entire background. In terms of space, the device has 6GB RAM, a 10nm (nanometer) processor, and expandable memory (up to 256GB).
The S-Pen which is described as the heart and soul of the note by Samsung, has a finer tip, improved pressure sensitivity and upgraded features. The S-Pen allows you to Live Message which allows you to share animated texts or drawings across platforms that support animated GIFs.
The S Pen Translate feature, by highlighting text, translates individual words as well as entire sentences, in up to 71 languages. It also converts units and foreign currencies.
The personal assistant on the device also known as Bixby, was launched in SA and works through voice, touch or text commands. Bixby can be personalised for own needs via Quick Commands, which is a feature that allows you to easily create a custom voice command.
Compared to Siri and Google Assistant, Bixby pays more attention to detail. For example, When asking Bixby to take a selfie, it will open up the camera and take a selfie. However, Siri and Google Assistant can do so as well but they can't open your front camera.
Another example, you can use the command “good night” as a shortcut for ‘Turn on Do-not-disturb mode, set an alarm for 6:00 AM and turn on blue light filter.’
Other features include:
1. Water and dust resistance
2. Has wireless charging
3. Security has many biometric authentication options, including iris and fingerprint scanning, while Samsung Knox6 provides defense-grade security at the hardware and software layers.
4. The additional, Samsung DeX that enables a desktop experience powered by your phone.