Samsung Galaxy Note8
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until September 2020 · Buy-by September 2018
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~3-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy Note8 should be supported until around September 2020. Buying it today still gets you about -5.7 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
The first dual-camera Note and Samsung's comeback after the Note7 — a landmark phone, but its software support ended back in 2020.
Pros
- First Note with a dual rear camera and 2x optical zoom
- Classic Note package: S Pen, headphone jack, microSD, IP68
- Sharp 6.3-inch Infinity Display that still looks good
Cons
- Security updates ended around 2020 — long out of support
- Small 3300mAh battery and only 15W charging
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 6.3-inch Super AMOLED, 1440x2960 (QHD+), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 835 (US) / Exynos 8895 (global) |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB / 256GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 12MP |
| telephoto 2x | 12MP |
| front | 8MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,300 mAh |
| Charging | 15W wired, 15W wireless |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 162.5 × 74.8 × 8.6 mm |
| Weight | 195 g |
| Materials | Gorilla Glass 5 front and back, aluminum frame |
| Water resistance | IP68 |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 7.1.1 Nougat with Samsung Experience 8.5 at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB-C, S Pen, 3.5mm jack, microSD |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy Note8 get updates?
The Note8 shipped with Android 7.1.1 and received about 2 OS upgrades (to Android 9 Pie) and roughly 3 years of security patches, which ended around 2020. It no longer gets updates.
Was the Galaxy Note8 the first dual-camera Samsung phone?
It was Samsung's first Note with a dual rear camera, pairing a wide and a 2x telephoto lens, both with optical image stabilization.
Is the Galaxy Note8 still usable in 2026?
It can still run basic apps, but with security support ended in 2020 and a small battery, it is best kept as a backup or collector's device rather than a daily phone.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.