Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy Note 5: Worth the Upgrade?

With Galaxy Note 8 pre-orders readily available and the release date almost here buyers have a tough choice to make. Those with the aging Galaxy Note 5 have plenty of new phones to choose from, and we’ll help you decide if the Note 8 is the right choice. After the Note 7 recall, the Note 5 is Samsung’s last Note device. Here’s how it compares to the newest release.

Rumors were right on target. The Galaxy Note 8 has a bigger 6.3-inch screen, two cameras on the back, and lots of software enhancements. A lot changed since the Note 5, but not everyone will enjoy some of the changes.

Samsung’s new Note is available for pre-order as we speak, with a release date scheduled for September 15th. It’s also expensive, coming in over $900. Is it worth the upgrade? Read on to find out.

Read: 10 Reasons You’ll Love the Galaxy Note 8

While the Galaxy Note 5 is still a great phone it’s starting to show signs of aging. That’s because Samsung’s new phones are water-resistant, have microSD cards, and vastly improved cameras. There are plenty of reasons one would upgrade to the Galaxy Note 8 and we’ll break them all down in the slideshow below.

If you’re still using the Galaxy Note 5 chances are you’re considering an upgrade. And while the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ earlier this year were enticing options, Samsung brought even more to the table with the all-new Note. It’s bigger than ever before, faster, and has a few extra software tricks up its sleeve.

Typically the choice is just about getting the latest specs or a bigger screen, but there’s a lot more to this upgrade cycle. Mainly because most with the Note 5 still have it because of the Galaxy Note 7 recall. As a result, you have a phone that’s a few years old and missing lots of key features.

Read: 10 Things the Galaxy Note 8 Can Do

For those of you on the fence, we want to help you make the right decision. Here we’ll compare the older Galaxy Note 5 to the new Galaxy Note 8. Additionally, we’ll explain what makes it worth buying or if you’ll be better off just getting a Galaxy S8+ instead.

Galaxy Note 8 vs Galaxy Note 5: Display

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First things first, we need to talk about the display. The Galaxy Note line was always Samsung's biggest and best smartphone. That changed in 2017 though, because the Galaxy S8 and S8+ are almost just as big.  The Galaxy Note 5 has a 5.7-inch Quad HD display. It looks great and all, but it's actually the smallest screen out of any high-end Samsung released this year. The new Galaxy S8 is 5.8-inches, the Galaxy S8+ is 6.2-inches, and the new Galaxy Note 8 comes in at a whopping 6.3-inches. It's pretty massive.  However, physically, it isn't much bigger than the Galaxy Note 5. So don't think you're getting a gigantic phone you won't be able to hold one-handed. Samsung slimmed down the bezels around the screen and removed the home button. As a result, the front is almost all screen.  Going from 5.7-inches to 6.3-inches in the Galaxy Note 8 is a big change. One that most will enjoy. Samsung actually made the screen taller and not as wide, so it's actually still very easy to use with one hand.  Both phones have a Quad-HD AMOLED screen that looks gorgeous. If you can handle the bigger screen, just upgrade. The only big question you need to ask yourself is if you want a curved screen. The display on the Note 8 curves off the sides of the device instead of laying flat. Some love it, others don't. Decide what's right for you.

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