Galaxy Note 8 Vs iPhone 8 Plus: Rumored Specs, Design, And Features Comparison

The smartphone market would definitely be interesting next year, with some of the most anticipated handsets from the world’s premiere smartphone brands set to be released. Among the formidable lineup of devices slated to for a 2017 release, two are most highly-anticipated – the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8. Both of these devices are extremely important for their respective manufacturers, with the Note 8 taking on the task of rebuilding the damage the ill-fated Note 7 did to Samsung’s reputation, and the iPhone 8 Plus arguably being the most important device Apple will release in the post-Steve Jobs era.

While very little is known about these devices, they have attracted the interest of many. Considering the innate rivalry between Samsung and Apple, the hype surrounding the Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus is completely justified. If there is anything that consumers can be certain of at this point, it is that the next year would see the clash of these two smartphone titans once more – a clash between Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 and Apple’s iPhone 8 Plus.

Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus – Specs

The Note 8 is a device that would serve two primary purposes for Samsung. One, it would be a form of apology for its loyal consumer base who were disenchanted with the brand due to the exploding Note 7 controversy, and two, it would rebuild the damaged reputation of Samsung’s Note line of devices. The same is true for the iPhone 8 Plus, especially since avid iPhone fans are eagerly anticipating a real upgrade due to the iPhone 7 Plus being yet another half-step update to the aging iPhone 6S Plus.

Thus, the rumored specs surrounding these two devices are quite encouraging. For the Note 8, it is speculated that the phablet would run a high-powered Snapdragon-Exynos hybrid processor coupled with at least 6GB of RAM and 126 GB of storage. Considering that Samsung is practically going for broke with the Note 8, rumors are also high that the upcoming flagship phablet would be equipped with a 4K display.

The iPhone 8 Plus, on the other hand, is rumored to come with the most powerful specs found on an iPhone yet. While it is unlikely that the iPhone 8 Plus would match the Note 8’s 6GB/128GB combination, rumors are high that the next flagship phablet from Apple would carry the firm’s homegrown A11 chip, as well as a 2K OLED display with True Tone technology. The Note 8 would most likely outgun the iPhone 8 Plus in terms of raw specs, but in terms of real-world performance, the two devices would probably be comparable.

Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus – Design

Both the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus are all but confirmed to carry massive design changes from their predecessors. Samsung would most likely redesign the Note 8 from the bottom up, considering the catastrophic design flaws that effectively made the Note 7 into a ticking time bomb. As for Apple, the iPhone is badly in need of a massive redesign with the company using the same frame for three years now. With this in mind, these two phablets would most likely be released with killer looks.

During the height of the Galaxy Note 7 fiasco, numerous critics remarked that Samsung tried and failed to do the impossible with its ill-fated phablet. Being far too thin and sleek, the device ended up compromising a number of important components. Thus, while the Note 8 would most likely keep the dual-edge feature found in its discontinued predecessor, it would most likely be created with much stronger and much safer materials.

As for the iPhone 8 Plus, rumors about the device’s new design have been emerging since the iPhone 7 was first announced. Speculations are high that the iPhone 8 Plus would be radically different from the iPhone 7, with an all-glass or ceramic body and a bezel-less display. Coupled with the rumored True Tone 2K OLED panel, the iPhone 8 Plus would most likely be the most stunning Apple smartphone yet.

Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus – Unique Features

Flagship devices live and die by their features, and with the Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus, both devices would most likely carry features that go far and above those that were found in their predecessors. While the imaging capabilities of each device would definitely carry the best that Samsung and Apple have to offer, and while the Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus would most likely have enhanced A.I. assistants, each of these devices have rumored features that make them truly unique.

A recent patent filing regarding the Note 8’s S-Pen is of particular interest, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office publishing documents showing an S-Pen design with an integrated speaker. According to the patent, the S-Pen’s speakers could be utilized by the Note device while docked inside and while separated from the phone. As to how such a technology would be utilized remains unclear, but Samsung’s willingness to try out new designs is quite refreshing.

As for the iPhone 8 Plus, one notable feature has been of value lately – real wireless charging. Apple has shied away from wireless charging technology for the iPhone in the past, despite the tech firm using charging docks for other devices such as the Apple Watch. For the iPhone 8 Plus, Foxconn is reportedly building a special wireless charging module that uses resonant inductive coupling, which would allow the phablet to charge even at a distance. With wireless charging, the absence of the iPhone 8 Plus’ headphone jack would be a non-issue.

Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone 8 Plus – Conclusions

The Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus would most likely be the phablets to beat in 2017. Though the LG V30 and the OnePlus 4 are set to make a huge splash in the phablet market, the Galaxy Note 8 and the iPhone 8 Plus just have so much riding on them that one cannot help but be intrigued by the two devices and how well they would compete with each other. With one device aiming for redemption and one aiming for renewed domination, 2017 would most likely see the culmination of one of the most compelling tech rivalries in recent years.

[Featured Image by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images]