Galaxy Note 9 v Galaxy Note 8 – What’s the difference and which should you buy?

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 v Galaxy Note 8 (Image: SAMSUNG)

Galaxy Note 9 was unveiled by at the start of the month with this updated phablet offering some supercharged internals.

The Note 9 features up to 8GB of RAM and a whopping 512GB of internal storage in addition to a new, and faster, processor from the South Korean tech giant.

However, the phablet retains an incredible resemblance to its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 8, meaning some of the differences between the two can be hard to spot at first glance.

But Express.co.uk has put together a list of everything new the Note 9 brings to the table and whether it is worth paying the extra money over the Note 8.

THE DESIGN

You would be forgiven for mistaking the Note 9 for its older sibling at first glance – the two devices share an aluminium frame sandwiched by two panels of glass.

But there are some minor changes with the Note 9 bringing a slightly bigger Infinity display than was present on the Note 8.

The new phablet features a 6.4-inch screen while the Note 8 comes in at 6.3-inches.

Panels on both phones look stunning with Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology working wonders.

Colours on both devices are clear and blacks, in particular, appear extremely deep.

Other than the slightly larger display, the most notable difference on the Note 9 addresses complaints fans had with its predecessor.

The fingerprint sensor has now been moved to below the camera sensor rather than sitting alongside it – as found on the Note 8.

It’s worth noting that, before you buy either device, these are big phones and should only be considered if you feel you manage their giant size.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 has a new position for the fingerprint scanner (Image: SAMSUNG)

THE PERFORMANCE

At the unveiling of the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung was not shy about touting the brand new internals of the phablet as a reason to pick it up.

The Galaxy Note 9 comes rocking a Exynos 9810 chip in European regions – such as the UK – while the US model comes with a Snapdragon 845 processor.

Both first appeared in the Galaxy S9 and S9+ when they launched back in March.

This allows for the fastest performance on a Note ever.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 8 features a last-generation Exynos 8895 chip or a Snapdragon 835 depending on which region it is purchased in.

Although the processors present in the newer Note 9 are faster and more efficient, neither sets of chips are slow by any stretch of the imagination.

While opening applications and browsing the internet may be a snappier experience on the Note 9, both phablets are incredibly speedy and extremely capable.

The Note 9 comes in two varieties; one features 6GB of RAM while another comes with 8GB.

Greater amounts of memory can lead to faster performance overall and apps to retain their status in the background if they are minimised.

The Note 8 touts 6GB of RAM so it is incredibly comparable to its successor on a memory front.

Overall, both phones are going to offer blisteringly fast performance with the Note 9 having a slight edge over the older hardware thanks to its refined processor and larger amounts of RAM in its more expensive model.

One of the biggest reasons to pick up the Note 9 is because of its gargantuan battery however.

The 4,000mAh pack inside the new phablet promises all-day battery life for the most intensive of users.

This is something that makes the device incredibly appealing over the Note 8 that only came with a 3,300mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (Image: SAMSUNG)

THE FEATURES

The Galaxy Note 9 introduces radical changes to the S Pen accessory that has become incredibly popular with Samsung fans.

The S Pen in the newest version of the phablet features Bluetooth functionality that allows it to perform a variety of functions with the press of a button.

In addition to allowing the user to take photos remotely from the accessory itself, Note 9 owners are also able to control music playback and proceed to the next slide in presentations using the S Pen.

Such features are not present in the Note 8 that offers a more basic functionality for the stylus.

And the Note 9 also makes using Samsung DeX cheaper and more simple than ever.

Instead of having to purchase a dock to allow users to take advantage of the PC-like features, all Note 9 owners need is a USB-C to HDMI cable to take advantage of the functionality.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 looks very similar to the Note 8 (Image: EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)

THE CAMERA

The Note 9 takes its camera system from the Galaxy S9+ but refines it with the help of artificial intelligence.

This means the phablet has the “Dual Aperture” system that allows the main camera sensor to open and close based on lighting conditions.

Such a feature means low-light snaps retain more detail and are clearer than ever.

The camera is also able to detect flaws in any images that are taken and will prompt users to re-take shots in certain instances.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

(Image: EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Note 9 gets a refreshed camera (Image: EXPRESSS NEWSPAPERS)

Note 9 is able to detect if a subject has blinked at the moment a photo was captured for instance.

The new camera addition means pictures are more likely ooze clarity than on other Samsung devices.

But the Note 8 is no slouch in the camera department either.

Although the phablet lacks the Dual Aperture system and AI features in its successor, the two sensors are very capable of taking stunning photos.

In fact, when Express.co.uk reviewed the Note 8 last year we were extremely impressed with the two 12-megapixel sensors.

So although the newer Note 9 trumps the Note 8 in the camera department the difference in clarity may be closer than you think.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The new S Pen now includes Bluetooth technology (Image: EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS)

THE PRICE

The Galaxy Note 9 is one of the most capable Android phones around, but those wanting one will have to pay up.

Samsung’s latest phablet comes in two models; one comes with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM costing £899 while another version features a whopping 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM that retails for £1,099.

Meanwhile, Samsung is currently selling the Note 8 for a discounted price of £769.

However, you can pick up the last-generation phablet for much cheaper than that at other outlets online.

Amazon is currently selling the Note 8 for £558 through a third-party distributor.

Such a price cut makes the Note 8 incredibly appealing for those who do not want to pay extremely high prices for a smartphone or do not need the latest and greatest features.

And while the Note 9 boasts impressive functionality and specifications, it is certainly more of an iterative phone than one concerned with pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone can do forward.

Want to know more about the Galaxy Note 9? You can read our