Coming from a Nexus 6P. Note 8 or S9+?

[anon(5506951)]

Hi everyone.

Let me start by saying I've never owned a Note. My first and only Samsung smartphone was an international variant S3 (i-9300). My mom does have the Note 4 and a Galaxy Tab A which I set up for her, but other than that, it's been stock for me. Obviously this is the Note 8 forum, so people will be biased, but I need absolutely honest opinions. I'm looking to upgrade from my current Nexus 6P. I was all set to buy the Pixel 2 XL, but after holding in my hand at a local Verizon store (before the reviews were even out), I vowed I wouldn't give Google my money. Sure it was fast, but the blue shift on the screen was horrendous, and it honestly felt as light as a plastic toy.

Then I went and held the orchid grey Note 8-- wow. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, and the in-hand feel is second-to-none, despite being all glass. I'm a female with small hands, though, so the placement of the fingerprint sensor concerns me. The prospect of having to do hand gymnastics with an expensive all glass phone is scary, even if I get a case like the UAG Monarch.

I do appreciate the fact that Samsung has kept/is keeping the headphone jack, as I do stream my music on GPM often. My favorite audio implementation on smartphones is HTC's BoomSound, though. As far as LG goes, I've seen the perfect video on YouTube that demonstrates how a good pair of 50 ohm headphones really does make a difference with the quad DAC.

Next concern for me is obviously the battery life, which I've heard mixed reviews about with the Note 8. I'm by no means a heavy user; I'm not heavy into photography, nor gaming. All I do is talk, text, listen to music and forum. So I need a phone that has excellent standby time.
Reception and call quality are important as well.

So my question is, do I go Note 8, or wait for the S9+? Or a different phone all together? The S9+ will have the better FPS placement, as well as stereo speakers "tuned by AKG". Although I don't know how that will translate to sound through the jack. Will it be on the level of BoomSound or the quad DAC? Screen visibility in direct sun obviously won't be an issue.

Battery life and standby time will be in question, as will reception. The Note line does have the S pen, though, adding so much flexibility. Even though I probably wouldn't need it, the fact that it's there further justifies its price (although to me, no phone is worth $1,000+ when all is said and done), and it is a comfort knowing it's there if I did.

Then there's the issue of TouchWiz, Samsung Experience, or whatever they're calling it nowadays. Logic dictates that it's changed since my S3 days, but how much has it really changed in everyday use? Any hiccups or stutters? Does performance degrade overtime? I've seen people say that the battery has.

TL; DR: I've soured on Google trying to be more like Apple (I don't hate Apple, by the way) and become bored with stock Android. Based on my needs, do I go Note 8, S9+, or something else entirely? I don't take spending $1,000+ lightly, folks, lol.

Thanks in advance.

 

[rsmin]

Hi everyone.

Let me start by saying I've never owned a Note. My first and only Samsung smartphone was an international variant S3 (i-9300). My mom does have the Note 4 and a Galaxy Tab A which I set up for her, but other than that, it's been stock for me. Obviously this is the Note 8 forum, so people will be biased, but I need absolutely honest opinions. I'm looking to upgrade from my current Nexus 6P. I was all set to buy the Pixel 2 XL, but after holding in my hand at a local Verizon store (before the reviews were even out), I vowed I wouldn't give Google my money. Sure it was fast, but the blue shift on the screen was horrendous, and it honestly felt as light as a plastic toy.

Then I went and held the orchid grey Note 8-- wow. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, and the in-hand feel is second-to-none, despite being all glass. I'm a female with small hands, though, so the placement of the fingerprint sensor concerns me. The prospect of having to do hand gymnastics with an expensive all glass phone is scary, even if I get a case like the UAG Monarch.

I do appreciate the fact that Samsung has kept/is keeping the headphone jack, as I do stream my music on GPM often. My favorite audio implementation on smartphones is HTC's BoomSound, though. As far as LG goes, I've seen the perfect video on YouTube that demonstrates how a good pair of 50 ohm headphones really does make a difference with the quad DAC.

Next concern for me is obviously the battery life, which I've heard mixed reviews about with the Note 8. I'm by no means a heavy user; I'm not heavy into photography, nor gaming. All I do is talk, text, listen to music and forum. So I need a phone that has excellent standby time.
Reception and call quality are important as well.

So my question is, do I go Note 8, or wait for the S9+? Or a different phone all together? The S9+ will have the better FPS placement, as well as stereo speakers "tuned by AKG". Although I don't know how that will translate to sound through the jack. Will it be on the level of BoomSound or the quad DAC? Screen visibility in direct sun obviously won't be an issue.

Battery life and standby time will be in question, as will reception. The Note line does have the S pen, though, adding so much flexibility. Even though I probably wouldn't need it, the fact that it's there further justifies its price (although to me, no phone is worth $1,000+ when all is said and done), and it is a comfort knowing it's there if I did.

Then there's the issue of TouchWiz, Samsung Experience, or whatever they're calling it nowadays. Logic dictates that it's changed since my S3 days, but how much has it really changed in everyday use? Any hiccups or stutters? Does performance degrade overtime? I've seen people say that the battery has.

TL; DR: I've soured on Google trying to be more like Apple (I don't hate Apple, by the way) and become bored with stock Android. Based on my needs, do I go Note 8, S9+, or something else entirely? I don't take spending $1,000+ lightly, folks, lol.

Thanks in advance.

To me the question is the use of the spen. If you don't think you would use it go with the s9+, but if you think you will use the spen your only choice is the note 8. I love the spen and it is the reason I stick with the note series.

 

[anon(5506951)]

To me the question is the use of the spen. If you don't think you would use it go with the s9+, but if you think you will use the spen your only choice is the note 8. I love the spen and it is the reason I stick with the note series.

Yeah, the idea of using a precision stylus to do so many things that would otherwise be a pain when using a finger is appealing. I've said long ago that things like scroll shot capture should be universally in Android. Smart Select is cool. The ability to quickly jot down a note or phone number with the screen off is great. Texting using the pen, etc. There's so much it offers.

 

[chazglenn3]

I came from the Nexus 6P to the Note 7 (R.I.P.) and now have the Note 8. I had the Note 5 before the Nexus 6P. I really like the option to use the S-pen and it is what drives me to the Note series. I think you would be happy with the Note 8. To address the fingerprint sensor placement, I don't find it to be a problem. That said I use the iris sensor as often if not more often than the fingerprint sensor. It works great!

 

[Lepa79]

Your decision will all come down to spen vs not. Since you never owned a Note, you will not miss it going to S9+. So S9+ is the better phone for you.

That being said, once you go Note you will never go back to anything else. So do you want an Spen or you don't care?
Answer that and you just decided what your next phone is going to be.

 

[Erick47]

Hi everyone.

Let me start by saying I've never owned a Note. My first and only Samsung smartphone was an international variant S3 (i-9300). My mom does have the Note 4 and a Galaxy Tab A which I set up for her, but other than that, it's been stock for me. Obviously this is the Note 8 forum, so people will be biased, but I need absolutely honest opinions. I'm looking to upgrade from my current Nexus 6P. I was all set to buy the Pixel 2 XL, but after holding in my hand at a local Verizon store (before the reviews were even out), I vowed I wouldn't give Google my money. Sure it was fast, but the blue shift on the screen was horrendous, and it honestly felt as light as a plastic toy.

Then I went and held the orchid grey Note 8-- wow. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, and the in-hand feel is second-to-none, despite being all glass. I'm a female with small hands, though, so the placement of the fingerprint sensor concerns me. The prospect of having to do hand gymnastics with an expensive all glass phone is scary, even if I get a case like the UAG Monarch.

I do appreciate the fact that Samsung has kept/is keeping the headphone jack, as I do stream my music on GPM often. My favorite audio implementation on smartphones is HTC's BoomSound, though. As far as LG goes, I've seen the perfect video on YouTube that demonstrates how a good pair of 50 ohm headphones really does make a difference with the quad DAC.

Next concern for me is obviously the battery life, which I've heard mixed reviews about with the Note 8. I'm by no means a heavy user; I'm not heavy into photography, nor gaming. All I do is talk, text, listen to music and forum. So I need a phone that has excellent standby time.
Reception and call quality are important as well.

So my question is, do I go Note 8, or wait for the S9+? Or a different phone all together? The S9+ will have the better FPS placement, as well as stereo speakers "tuned by AKG". Although I don't know how that will translate to sound through the jack. Will it be on the level of BoomSound or the quad DAC? Screen visibility in direct sun obviously won't be an issue.

Battery life and standby time will be in question, as will reception. The Note line does have the S pen, though, adding so much flexibility. Even though I probably wouldn't need it, the fact that it's there further justifies its price (although to me, no phone is worth $1,000+ when all is said and done), and it is a comfort knowing it's there if I did.

Then there's the issue of TouchWiz, Samsung Experience, or whatever they're calling it nowadays. Logic dictates that it's changed since my S3 days, but how much has it really changed in everyday use? Any hiccups or stutters? Does performance degrade overtime? I've seen people say that the battery has.

TL; DR: I've soured on Google trying to be more like Apple (I don't hate Apple, by the way) and become bored with stock Android. Based on my needs, do I go Note 8, S9+, or something else entirely? I don't take spending $1,000+ lightly, folks, lol.

Thanks in advance.

I had my unlocked Note 8 since release date. Very little to no lag almost every day, I just spent about 8 hours today playing Fate Grand Order (a mobile game) and I went down to 30% and the brightness was about 50% the entire time and I was on LTE (no WiFi at grandparents house) and I was down to 30%. Battery is decent to great depending on how you use it but you mentioned you don't play games on your phone. That means the galaxy s9+ will most likely have similar (or better) battery life since it'll most likely have a bigger battery than the note 8 since it doesn't have an S-Pen taking up space inside the phone and the more efficient processor.


The screen will be great on both.


Reception isn't a problem on my note 8 but Idk how much of that is my phone and how much is Verizon. However, I'm sure most modern phones have decent to great cell reception.


Stereo speakers will be better for the galaxy s9+


The software will most likely be better on the s9+ unless you need the S-Pen


Overall, I'd probably buy the s9+ since there's nothing wrong with getting the newest and greatest. That's just how I see it though.

 

[Dooki]

Overall, I'd probably buy the s9+ since there's nothing wrong with getting the newest and greatest. That's just how I see it though.

This
If you are not worried about money and have no need for an spen the s9+ would be the way to go. Everything newer and project treble.

 

[Tsepz_GP]

I had my unlocked Note 8 since release date. Very little to no lag almost every day, I just spent about 8 hours today playing Fate Grand Order (a mobile game) and I went down to 30% and the brightness was about 50% the entire time and I was on LTE (no WiFi at grandparents house) and I was down to 30%. Battery is decent to great depending on how you use it but you mentioned you don't play games on your phone. That means the galaxy s9+ will most likely have similar (or better) battery life since it'll most likely have a bigger battery than the note 8 since it doesn't have an S-Pen taking up space inside the phone and the more efficient processor.


The screen will be great on both.


Reception isn't a problem on my note 8 but Idk how much of that is my phone and how much is Verizon. However, I'm sure most modern phones have decent to great cell reception.


Stereo speakers will be better for the galaxy s9+


The software will most likely be better on the s9+ unless you need the S-Pen


Overall, I'd probably buy the s9+ since there's nothing wrong with getting the newest and greatest. That's just how I see it though.

This really depends on if the SPen is important to you. Personally the SPen is used daily and so an S9+ would not be ideal for me.

The S9+ may continue the trend of the S8+ with a larger battery and being more of an all-rounder rather than a specialised Productivity beast like the Note8.

 

[anon(1733)]

Both will have the pluses and minuses. For me I use the spen albeit not that much. But it's nice to have for when I do need it. And if their close in price i would get the note 8 or wait for the note 9.

But I definelty see why people love the s8 series and will love the s9 series.