Samsung recently launched the Galaxy Note 8 after the failed series was recalled due to exploding batteries. Critics suggested that the brand should be retired given the lack of innovation in this model and how similar it is to the Galaxy S series phablet.
But the Note model is here to stay, Samsung's mobile chief Koh Dong-jin said in an interview, and the recently launched Note 8 is living proof that the company remains committed to this device.
The Note 8 comes with a 6.3-inch display, slightly larger than the Galaxy S8+'s 6.2-inch display, both with a resolution of 1440×2960 pixels. The two devices share the same chipset (Snapdragon 835 and Exynos 8895), as well as the same GPU.
The Note, on the other hand, comes with the Samsung S Pen, a dual-camera setup (which uses a lens borrowed from the S8), RAM (like the South Korean version of the S8+), and multiple storage options up to 256GB. It also has a battery of just 3,300 mAh compared to the Galaxy S8+'s 3,500 mAh.
“Customer demands are different. Some always want new features, while others want a phone that can be used for two to three years. We are not stuck on innovation itself. We will pursue innovation that customers can truly embrace. The Note 8 has also been upgraded based on customer surveys,” the spokesperson said when asked about the lack of innovative features in the new Note.
Koh Dong-jin said Samsung wants to sell more than 11 million Note 8 units, although he admitted the company could adjust shipments because it is also focusing on the Galaxy S8. The South Korean company is well aware of the potential for the two devices to steal market share from each other, especially given their similarities.
But in the end, the Note brand will live on, regardless of the criticism, says Samsung's official spokesperson, so stay tuned because there's a good chance the Note 9 will launch in the summer of 2018.
