class=”c5″ Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 |
class=”c5″ Key Features |
class=”c8″> Operating System | Android 4.1.2 |
class=”c8″> Processor / speed | CPU: Exynos Quad 1.6GHz GPU: Mali MP400 |
class=”c8″> Memory / Storage | internal memory of 16/32 GB Memory 2GB Micro SD Slot |
class=”c8″> screen technology and definition | Screen 8 “LCD 1280×800 pixels |
class=”c8″> Camera | 5 megapixel camera with autofocus 1.3 megapixel Webcam |
class=”c8″> GPS | Yes |
class=”c8″> FM Radio | Yes |
class=”c8″> Battery | 4600 mAh |
class=”c8″> Dimensions | 135.9 x 210.8 x 7.95mm |
class=”c10″> Weight | 338 grams |
Galaxy Note 8.0 is the latest variation of the range hybrid tablet / smartphone from Samsung. But this time rather tablettte side! A promising competitor to the iPad mini with a stylus as a trademark …
Design and ergonomics back to overview
Nothing like a Samsung another Samsung, and the Galaxy Note 8.0 even further accentuates this resemblance. So far, tablets manufacturer sported a specific design, significantly different from their smartphones.
Galaxy Note 8.0 looks about him a giant Galaxy Note 2 (yes, say it like that, it’s weird), or more exactly a Galaxy S4, which it takes the thinnest edges and light pattern on the back of the hull. More importantly, we find the two touch buttons and the central button hitherto reserved for smartphones from the manufacturer.
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Who said design to the Samsung said plastic construction: we can not say that the tablet is ended badly, but compared to the quality of workmanship and materials of the iPad mini, is here is a notch below .
However, the 8.0 rating proves only marginally heavier and bulkier than its main competitor: 338g against 308g for the iPad Mini and a few more centimeters in height. Nothing undermines its grip quite comfortable, even with one hand.
The plastic back is immovable. A micro SD slot is still present, covered by a cap. In addition to locking buttons and volume on the edge, there is an infra-red transmitter. The speakers are located on the bottom edge, where there is also a Micro USB connector …! Hooray: Samsung has finally abandoned his nickname dock connector on its shelves! The S-Pen stylus fits into the bottom right corner
To close the design, it is regrettable that the camera more than a little of the hull:. We appreciate the finesse of the tablet, but suddenly it is not perfectly stable laid flat. A webcam is also present on the front.
Components back to overview
The Galaxy Tab 8.0 features close to those of the Galaxy Note II components, namely a Exynos 4412, quad-core processor, clocked at 1.6GHz, with again a Mali 400MP for graphics. Since the release of more powerful Snapdragon SoC, such as 600 or Samsung Exynos 5, it is not the best of the best, but its performance is still quite satisfactory, and at the height of what is done best tablet, especially in this format mini
??screen continues the momentum of the Galaxy Note 10.1:. this is still a PLS LCD panel, 8 inches in size, therefore, and displaying a definition 1280×800 pixels. This results in a lower pixel density than that of a Nexus 7 but greater than that of a Mini Cases. The viewing angles are correct, but problem especially in dark videos. Overall the screen is nevertheless attractive: bright, flattering, accurate … Not much to complain
Obviously, the feature of the screen is to integrate a Wacom layer for management of the pen. No surprise there is the very good response and management of pressure levels Note II, and management overview of the stylus which allows to perform certain actions (saw, scroll …)
The Galaxy Note has 8 photo / video sensor 5MP back without flash, which is standard on a tablet. The camera is capable of capturing video at 720p. Webcam climbs on it to 1.3 MPix, and is limited to VGA (640×480 pixels). The camera still use extra for a tablet, but the 8.0 rating is neither much better nor much worse than its direct competitors.
On the storage side, there are 16 or 32 GB internal storage that can be expanded via the Micro SD slot. The tablet has 2GB of RAM
The wireless is no surprise. Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS chip. A 3G/4G version, even to make calls, is planned, but it is the Wi-Fi version we tested here.
OS and interface
The Galaxy Tab 8.0 has not had the luck of the Galaxy S4 and released with version 4.1 of Android, the 4.2 update is apparently coming soon. As the presence of physical buttons and touch the left think the tablet gets rid of the specificities of Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Galaxy Note to adopt exactly the same as the smartphone manufacturer interface more touch buttons on the screen
Samsung Touchwiz overlay is very similar to that found on the Galaxy Note II: Some features have since appeared on S3 and S4, but the most significant is the dual screen mode
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Compatible with most standard tablet applications, as well as some third-party applications (Twitter, Facebook, Poweramp …), it makes sense on a tablet, and fits perfectly with the stylus. Take notes while watching a video, take a look at Maps by writing an email, display side by side Twitter and Facebook, while it is possible to efficiently and smoothly, we only regret is that the functionality is not yet compatible with all applications for which we would like it to be. We dream that Evernote is supported, for example.
also find notes in pop-up mode can be displayed in unsheathing the stylus (not stupid to jot something during a call), and the overview of the use of stylus. This may seem a bit gimmicky, except as for previewing mails some cases, but it works more reactive than the use of finger on the Galaxy S4.
entry in cursive does not move relative to Note II … And so it proves quite satisfactory level of recognition. Not much to complain about either the virtual keyboard like the Galaxy Note II and S4, we appreciate the presence of a row of numbers that avoids trips / returns. One can also opt for a pop-up keyboard smaller, or separated into two parts keyboard.
Internet and multimedia back to overview
The Galaxy Tab 8.0 is equipped with the same processor as the Galaxy Note II, he obviously has the same performance in surfing. Nothing to say: it is perfectly smooth, responsive, and Javascript tests show very good results. The tablet comes with the default browser of Samsung and Google Chrome, but beware: it does not support the small intricacies of stylus such as scrolling overview screen
The stylus is also involved in the POP3/IMAP/Exchange client: an overview of the messages can be displayed in this overview. But again, it is obviously available in the application customized by Samsung, not the Gmail client. The limits of a wrapper which adds its unique features.
However, all these people works wonders in dual screen mode, and as said above, this is a real bonus
No surprise level multimedia support: Samsung makes always flawless and Galaxy Note 8.0 is no exception: native support for DivX playback flawlessly all video formats (MP4, MKV, DivX, Xvid …), DLNA, HDMI output via MHL adapter and presence an application acting as electronic program guide and universal remote control infrared transmitter operator.
games are perfectly at home on the shelf: it was better since the graphics part of the Exynos Quad, but no problem to get even the most recent games like Real Racing 3. However, it goes without saying that it heats. Many
Photo and video back to overview
The Galaxy Tab 8.0 is equipped with a 5MP camera sensor, as version 10.1. Although he did before the Galaxy S4 a few weeks, it has not yet the photo layer of the latter, as it is still delivered in Android version 4.1. Photo layer therefore not brings the latest “finds” from Samsung, but still quite complete and customizable.
Photos captured with the tablet is no surprise: it is not ugly, but not more than that. There is a lack of detail, even if it is fairly clean, and the color rendering looks quite accurate. Nevertheless, there remains a sufficient level of quality for extra pictures, but far from what Samsung offers its smartphones.
video capture side, the limitation we regret to 720p, while many 5MP sensors can capture 1080p. Captured videos are very clean and smooth, however.
Performance and autonomyTo evaluate the performance of Galaxy Note 8, we submitted a series of benchmarks. These are manufactured with latest updates available at the time of the test (in this case the Android 4.1.2). Some tests are only available on Android, where the absence of some shelves.
Geekbench 2
Geekbench performs a series of operations on the CPU and RAM, and draws several scores with an overall score, which we reproduce in this test.
its Exynos Quad 1.6 GHz, the Galaxy Tab 8.0 is necessarily better than the iPad Mini and A5 which is showing its age, as already animated the iPad 2.
SunSpider
SunSpider benchmark is the author of the Webkit rendering engine. The test consists of a series of operations Javascript, and returns the total time necessary for their execution in milliseconds. Smallest result is best.
Galaxy Note 8.0 competes with the best tablets on Javascript performance. Again, it is not surprising: the SoC already showed good results on the Galaxy Note II
GL Benchmark 2.5
GL Benchmark offers a number of tests to measure the performance of the GPU, which Egypt HD scene that we use here, offscreen mode to ignore definitions for different screen
Without reaching the peaks of the last smartphones Snapdragon S4 or S600, or A6X the iPad with Retina display, the Note 8.0 achieves a very respectable score on GL Benchmark 2.5. We check anyway in practice that the latest games pass without any problems.
Talk Video
To assess the independence of the Galaxy Note 8.0 in video, we read a 720p film loop up off the shelf. The screen is configured to maximum brightness, the sound 50%. The Wi-Fi enabled and Bluetooth disabled. Note that we use for a few weeks a new test protocol, we could not, for the moment, apply to this Galaxy Note 8.0 to the iPad mini, which explains the absence of other tablets in the graph. Other results will be added soon.
Galaxy Note 8.0 which is a little more than 5 hours video or 2h under a mini iPad in the same test conditions, that is to say, with a maximum screen brightness. This is substantially below what was expected from Samsung anyway: it seems that the intensive use of the tablet is quite intensive battery. Autonomy in “normal” use is higher: you can easily take a day occasional use, or about 7 to 8 hours of heavy use. Nevertheless, it seems that there is room for improvement on this point.
Conclusion
Samsung has so far rarely been able to convince us of his tablets, often unworthy of their excellent high-end smartphones. We had already had a taste with the Nexus 10 or Galaxy Note 10.1, but the 10-inch tablet was perhaps a little too large to really achieve satisfactorily take the concept of Galaxy Note on a larger format. This is the case with the Galaxy Note 8.0: it is undoubtedly an Android tablet 8 inch quality
performance very comfortable in hand prints, to the quality of the screen and the few! input using the stylus, there is not much wrong with the 8.0 rating that proves more comfortable in many applications. Reading e-books or comics benefit from the screen, the SoC Exynos Quad is particularly effective for the game and reading the more resource-intensive video and not essential, the stylus brings a more through a layer software which had already seen some contributions on the Note II. We especially liked the dual screen mode, since increased on Galaxy S3 and S4, but still more comfortable in this format
However, the Galaxy Note 8.0 is not without drawbacks:. On could reproach him a little “cheap” design as often with Samsung, but mostly we think the price is substantially higher than that of an iPad Mini with the same capacity, and autonomy might have been expected better. Despite these criticisms, Samsung managed by an attractive tablet and really consistent with the rest of its range.
more
- lightweight and comfortable
Format
- Quality screen
- good use of the stylus
- Performance to top
least
- a low price
- Autonomy perfectible
- Heater intensive use
Good