Seeing lots of bad reviews

[TrueFangz]

Not gonna post any links, but I just watched several YouTube reviews and many people are giving it bad reviews. I don't know what to think anymore. Luckily my company provides my phone so it's completely free to me, but still, I'm starting to wonder if this won't be the phone we all hope it will be.

The biggest turn off for me is the battery. I know Chief explained that the processor, and the ram should help utilize better battery performance, but still, I'm worried about this. On my S7 Edge, I've been unplugged for 5.5 hours today and am already at 68%, and that's with minimal usage today. Well, the note is bigger, and has a smaller battery, so you can see my point.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen some good reviews too, and heard that there have already been more pre-orders for this phone than the Note7, but there seems to be more negative feedback out there than positive.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Rob]

My thoughts exactly!
I loved my Note 5 and was DYING to get a new shiny phone with all the bells and whistles and the note checked all the boxes for me. Except battery.
For now I won't buy it unless I see some miraculous battery test results. I just can't imagine getting through a full day with how I use my phone and that big honking screen.
I'm also prepared to be unimpressed with the pixel 2. I know it will be a great phone but I want something DIFFERENT. The Moto Z2 could have been that but reviews weren't great.
Not sure what's next on my list... I might grab a weird offbrand mid-range phone to hold my curiosity over until I'm really intrigued by something.
If this had a 4000 mAh battery I'd have bought it in an instant.

 

[TrueFangz]

Yep... I've loved every Note I've had so far, 3, 4, 5, 7. They've all set the bar high, so I'm hoping for nothing less superior.

I gave up Moto after my RazrMaxxHD, which was awesome, but I tried the Turbo and Turbo2 for 1 week when they each came out, and after using Samsung, I wasn't digging the Moto experience anymore. The Pixel never looked good to me (both physically, and spec wise) So in reality, if the Note8 does not hold up to my standards, I'll consider exchanging it for an S8+ within the grace period.

 

[The_Chief]

I'll let you know how horrible it is in 12 DAYS!
😁

 

[kokiangel]

Folks are posting bad reviews without actually using the phone first in real life situations? Or am I missing something here?

 

[donmeca2020]

I am still using my good ol note 4.... Sooo i have been overdue for a new phone. the problem is that nothing else caught my eye like the Note series of phones, because of their large screens. So have a little faith, just because a couple of schmucks on youtube said it was not to their standards, doesn't mean it won't be up to yours.

i always believe in trying something yourself before taking the advice from others, you just never know.

 

[marctronixx]

this type of mischief happens on many highly popular devices, not just phones.

i have my own mind and think for myself. this is my first ever sammy device and it has everything *I* am looking for in a flagship device.

 

[mikedt]

It's YouTube and haters are always going to hate, even if it's the best product in the whole world.

 

[tube517]

Only Youtube reviews I watch are CNet, Erica Griffin (Technology Nerd), Max Lee/Zedomax, and Flossy/White Shoes (Xerxes the cat) . I am not shopping for a Note 8 so I haven't any on that device, but did you watch any of those?

 

[SplendidSun]

Folks are posting bad reviews without actually using the phone first in real life situations? Or am I missing something here?

I'm also wonder how can people judge based on someone's reviews? personally, I need to see the device myself first, touch and try it and only after I can give any comments

 

[evohicks]

Yeah I usually look at a Flossy Carter review before buying, he's a natural 'real' reviewer, but this time I'm going to have the device around the same time as him. His first grump is going to be the price, that's for sure! but for the battery, I'm not so sure.
I'm going to use the Note 8 as I used all my other Note phones but remember, those first few weeks when you just receive the phone, you hammer the hell out of it, it's new remember, you're going to use more battery, just like these guys on YouTube that you mention!

 

[dontpanicbobby]

Guess I'm going to have to go to YouTube and see for myself.

Okay I watched about 8 first impression reviews and none of them could be considered a bad review for this phone. What I have noticed is click-baitey titles like the ones below. The worst anyone has had to say about this phone so far is that it costs too much. Frankly I don't think anyone needs a YouTuber's opinion to realize that.

The Samsung Note 8 Is Probably Not For You.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 - TOO POWERFUL
DON'T Buy The Samsung Galaxy Note 8

 

[Hadron]

The biggest turn off for me is the battery. I know Chief explained that the processor, and the ram should help utilize better battery performance, but still, I'm worried about this. On my S7 Edge, I've been unplugged for 5.5 hours today and am already at 68%, and that's with minimal usage today. Well, the note is bigger, and has a smaller battery, so you can see my point.

Actually if you had minimal use then the size is irrelevant (because minimal use means the screen is off most of the time, and that's the only component whose power consumption is related to size). For that usage pattern the more efficient SoC should mean that you would do better even with a slightly smaller battery.

Though losing 1/3 in 5.5 hours with minimal use doesn't sound good to me. Are you in a weak signal area, doing a lot of cell handovers, or do you just have a lot of stuff updating and downloading in the background?

 

[Daniel Fernandes]

Well, if I would buy a phone with less battery capacity, then I'd just use a power bank that I can carry easily. That way I'll get some more battery life...

 

[The_Chief]

Power banks are fine, I guess, and we have several of them here... but we only break them out in case the electricity goes out or it might (like a coming storm). Wireless fast charging is so effective and efficient that just a few minutes can give you hours of use.

 

[Rob]

Unbox Therapy named his video, "DON'T BUY the Galaxy Note 8" and then it was basically a paid sponsorship to buy the phone. So annoying. That channel has become one big promotional paid sponsorship. Not very informative... but I'll give it to the guy... entertaining as hell and makes a zillion dollars.

 

[marctronixx]

White shoes in the building!

Flossy already has the NOTE8. He stated he will post up the review on the 31st. He was also at the Sammy event up there in NYC . Sammy even used his presence in part of their promotional video.

Yeah he already stated he doesn't dig the price and says , in HIS opinion, its not worth the near 1thou asking price. But he digs samsung and the note is one of his faves. Still I sold on the phone regardless. Of what anyone says.

Yeah i saw that "dont buy this phone" video and was absolutely NOT going to watch it, solely because of the clickbait style video title.

 

[evohicks]

White shoes in the building!

Flossy already has the NOTE8. .

Cool, will go take a look...
Ahhh no unboxing video tut tut

 

[TrueFangz]

True, many things out there have those click bate titles, I was looking at a lot of the Google News feeds yesterday too, which yes also are basically click bate. Most of the bashing is that it's really not much more compared to the S8+ device (which I don't have, so it still should be a win over my S7e)

The YouTubers are reviewers who already have the device in hand.

I think a lot of the negativity also spawned from the unpacked event. I watched it and honestly was almost falling asleep. They were announcing stuff that's old news, then pausing for applause which they didn't get. It was so quiet, you could hear crickets. They talked about the waterproofing, the SD slot, the headphone jack, blah blah. The Note 7 had all this stuff, the S7's and above have all this stuff. It's nothing new. The Spen is not new. They say it's got a smaller tip, yes, compared to the Note 5, but folks are saying it's the same as the 7. I'll find out, I kept the Spen from my Note7 .

Anyway, again, don't get me wrong, I'm so excited to get this phone and can't wait a day longer than 15 more days.

Actually if you had minimal use then the size is irrelevant (because minimal use means the screen is off most of the time, and that's the only component whose power consumption is related to size). For that usage pattern the more efficient SoC should mean that you would do better even with a slightly smaller battery.

Though losing 1/3 in 5.5 hours with minimal use doesn't sound good to me. Are you in a weak signal area, doing a lot of cell handovers, or do you just have a lot of stuff updating and downloading in the background?

Well the on screen time was a little over 45 minutes. Was showing 10% of usage, while "Android System" was at 37% of usage. This is typical, after rebooting and clearing cache, I don't seem to get any better results. I have a gear S3 watch, that is paired via BT to the phone at all times, I get emails here and there, but don't check them all day since I'm at work and check them on my desktop. I am connected to my work's WiFi all day, and we have really good strong cell service here, so looking at the 4 bazillion included packages within the "Android System", I'm unfortunately not able to find out what's killing my battery so much.

 

[tube517]

White shoes in the building!

Flossy already has the NOTE8. He stated he will post up the review on the 31st. He was also at the Sammy event up there in NYC . Sammy even used his presence in part of their promotional video.

Yeah he already stated he doesn't dig the price and says , in HIS opinion, its not worth the near 1thou asking price. But he digs samsung and the note is one of his faves. Still I sold on the phone regardless. Of what anyone says.

Yeah i saw that "dont buy this phone" video and was absolutely NOT going to watch it, solely because of the clickbait style video title.

I only watch for Xerxes "White Shoes" the Cat LOL.

Seriously, Flossy is entertaining but he is informative. I think he and Max are friends as they have done some joint videos.


Watching a Youtube video helps but it's not the end all be all for me to buy. I always take a look for myself.

 

[marctronixx]

Xerx in full troll mode is the best. ;-)

I think he will do a complete unboxing. He may have recorded the video days ago and was embargoed until the 31st. Hmmm.. i wonder if the 31st is a "soft" date the preorders may start to show up to people, because he did say he had to wait until three 31st... so maybe the 1st or so people will get these!

Yeah Mr. carter has said he and max are cool. Ive not seen one of Max's videos though.

Agree with you on Mr. Carters approach to tech review. Its not polished or fancy editing and all that--just a nicely lit viewing area, some comic relief from Xerx, and nothing but the product. He doesn't embellish, just go straight to it.

He did say he made a somewhat slick YouTube product presentation video when he was at the Sammy event, so look out for that too.

i do appreciate slick and polished video work so me of these video blog cats do, but on product reviews, just show me the goods man.

 

[Deleted User]

I'm not even considering Samsung anymore. 4 Samsung phones in a row. Love how they work, but I'm literally attached to a charger at all times with my s8. By 9am if I don't bump it, it's dead at noon. Ridiculous.

 

[TrueFangz]

Just saw these, a decent video and article stating that the battery life is actually better than I thought it would be.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/galaxy-note-8-battery-life,news-25785.html

 

[marctronixx]

all of this is subjective until each individual gets the phone in their own hands/environment. what may last 6 hours for me, may last 7.5 hours for someone else who uses their phone differently. i take all of these type of videos with a pinch of morton...

 

[Deleted User]

I can deal with charging my phone once in the middle of the day. But this trend of underbuilt batteries is crazy. I charge my Galaxy s8 3 times at minimum, but mostly 4 or 5 times a day. Not sure how they can even release these phones like this. Terrible.