Specs Showdown: Samsung Galaxy S9+ Vs Samsung Galaxy Note8

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ has been crowned the king of the Androids. However, with Oreo support on the way, many are wondering whether the stylus-equipped Note8 might be a better buy – especially now that it’s a little cheaper.

For the perennial fence-sitter, it’s now time to make a decision: do you stump up the cash for the sleekest and shiniest Galaxy phone on the market, or plump for its immediate predecessor? Let’s take a look at the specs to see which one comes out on top.

The Samsung Galaxy Note8 originally launched in August, 2017. It comes with a 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display, 6GB of RAM, a 3300mAh battery with fast and wireless charging and an “enhanced” S Pen which boasts a finer tip and improved pressure sensitivity. It runs Android 7.1 out of the box, although an update to Android 8.0 is reportedly coming.

The Galaxy S9+ launched last month. It comes with a slightly smaller 6.2-inch display that is otherwise identical, 6GB of RAM, an improved dual rear-facing 12-megapixel camera and a a 3000mAh battery. It runs Android 8.0 on Octa-core processors (2.7 GHz Quad + 1.7 GHz Quad.)

Here’s how the specifications compare:

As you can see, there’s not much terribly different about these two phones. The S9+ benefits from a newer operating system which includes the latest version of Bixby; Samsung’s voice-controlled AI assistant. It also has a better camera. On the flipside, the Note8 has a larger display and comes with an inbuilt stylus.

In the end, it probably comes down to price. At the time of launch, Note8 had a higher price tag than the S9+ but it has since come down to under $1000. If you’re buying outright (and really dig the idea of a stylus), the Note8 is the smartphone to get. Otherwise, the only real reason to buy the S9+ is for its superior camera.