Latest Note 8 Leaks Promise Three Massive Advantages

Next week will see the launch Samsung’s latest phablet, the Galaxy Note 8. Thanks to the fiery fate of the Galaxy Note 7, this phablet will effectively be replacing the Galaxy Note 5. It’s been a long wait for Note fans for a new device, and the South Korean company is ready to satisfy the fans. But to be a success the Note 8 needs a much wider appeal.

The Note 8 has that potential. Here are three areas I believe Samsung should focus on that could be the difference between a solid performance and a spectacular success.

Let’s start with the timing. Samsung has, once more, been aggressive in its scheduling. Although the Note 8 is not going to be first in the batting order for the late 2017 flagships (HMD Global’s Nokia 8 wins that honour) it is the first with the potential to hit a home run. The Note 8 will set the tone that the other new flagships will be measured against - the main contender being the iPhone 8.

While the iPhone 8 remains under wraps the Note 8 can define the battleground in the media. It will then take the Note 8 to the Berlin IFA trade show and put it on display for the world’s tech press to get a hands on. All of this will take place before the iPhone 8 is announced, and there’s every chance that Samsung will open pre-orders before Tim Cook takes to the stage.

That means when consumers struggle to pre-order a new iPhone, they’ll be able to walk out of the store with a brand new Note 8 ready to go. Samsung needs to maximize this window to on-board as many new customers as possible.

Secondly, the various leaks have allowed us to get a good idea of what the Note 8 will deliver, and it has a number of selling points that are going to be attractive, especially to the enterprise market. The potential inclusion of dual SIM support in European models will increase the utility of the phablet. MicroSD support allows for an excess of storage and the ability to work for long periods away from a desktop, users can back up data on the device, and carry secure files.

Then there’s the S-Pen, which is the key distinction between the Note 8, the rest of the Galaxy range and many other Android devices. Acting as an interface for note-taking, along with opening up extra functionality in TouchWiz, the S-Pen is the trump card of the Note series that pushes it ahead of the Galaxy S handsets for those who demand a productivity focused device.

The third element has to be the sheer size of the device. With a 6.4 inch screen the Note 8 sneaks ahead of the Galaxy S8 Plus for real estate, but a further reduction in the size of the bezels creates the illusion of a much larger device. Apple may be going for smaller bezels on the presumptively named iPhone 8, but that device will sit between the 4.7 inch and 5.5 inch iPhone 7S models… the Note 8 is going to dominate the phablet landscape.

Storytelling. Stylus. Size. These are the three main advantages that Samsung has with the Note 8. All of them offer clear benefits over the competition, especially Apple. If the South Korean company can play this hand well, the Note 8 has the potential to be the stand-out smartphone of the year.

Now read more about the release dates of the Galaxy Note 8…