Note that I also own and have reviewed the iPad Mini (http://philgadgames.blogspot.com/2013/05/ipad-mini-wifi-version-review-and.html). So, I may at times mention the iPad mini on my review.
The pros and cons on the Samsung Galaxy Note 8:
Pros
- it has a stylus pen.
- has a large 8 inch screen
- cost less than the iPad Mini
- can expand the memory with SD memory slot
- has apps exclusive to galaxy note line
Cons
- Shorter Battery life (Compared to iPad Mini) it drains so fast
- Non-removable battery
- screen is not gorilla glass, could be scratch easily if not protected by a case
- default screen color tone is very vivid, can be changed to soft color in settings
- can accidentally touch the return and menu button when in landscape mode
After using the Galaxy Note 8 for more than a month, it's something that I can use next to my iPad Mini. People say Apple product users are just nuts spending that much on the same device, but I say to them, don't judge unless you have used an Apple product yourself. You get what you pay for in Apple products, that's all I have to say, and move along to the Galaxy Note 8 review.
Galaxy Note 8 is a nice android tablet, with something special attached (a stylus pen). Although, I seldom use the stylus pen, when I use my Note 8. I only use it when I want to draw something, this is where Note 8 differs with other tablets. The stylus is really nice to write on the tablet since it has pressure sensitivity, making it write like a brush and a pencil. And this stylus was developed with Wacom (known for their stylus and tablet products). Maybe also one of the reason why it is more expensive.
Having the stylus feature out of the way, we now focus on the tablet itself. The Note 8 tablet was the first Samsung try on the 8 inch arena, following the release of iPad Mini, since before Samsung only have the 7 inch tablets. And it seems, to me, the 8 inch is just the right size and weight for a tablet.
Screen is sharper and more vibrant than the iPad mini. Being an android device it give the user an option to place widgets and customize initial content when you open the tablet.
The tablet has both a front 1.3 megapixel camera and back facing 8 megapixel camera. One of the reasons why this device is more expensive than most available android tablets out there, but you get what you pay for. Other tablets are cheaper, but only have one camera that is crappy or none at all, like the Polaroid tablets. I often scratch my head when I look at the price tags of these Polaroid tablets based on their outdated specs.
To be honest, I only own 2 tablets, one is the iPad mini and this Samsung Galaxy Note 8. I have handled a cheaper android tablet, and trust me, usually if you buy a cheap tablet, don't expect a premium device.
Galaxy Note 8, currently priced at the range of Php14,500 - Php16,000 a bit cheaper than the iPad mini.
