Let’s start with the good news first.
Whether you’re in the market for a Samsung device, an LG phone, something from HTC, or maybe even an offering from this little-known startup called Essential, you can rest assured that your money will go towards a high-end, highly capable, long-lasting smartphone, that can take great photos, and also isn’t bogged down by too much third-party software.
Now, the bad news.
In Canada, most premium-tier Android devices cost almost $1,000 CAD outright.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
LG G6
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Display
6.3-inch, Super AMOLED display, 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18:5:9 aspect ratio, HDR 10
5.7-inch, QHD+ display, 2880×1440, 18:9 aspect ratio
5.5 inch LED-backlit IPS LCD
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
Processor
Snapdragon 835 (Exynos 8895)
Snapdragon 821
Apple A10 Fusion
Snapdragon 835
RAM
6GB RAM
4GB of RAM
3GB RAM
4GB of RAM
Storage
64GB (expandable up to 256GB)
32GB (expandable up to 2TB)
32/128/256 GB
128GB
Dimensions (in.)
162.5mm x 74.6mm x 8.5mm
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm
158.2mm x 77.9mm x 7.3mm
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
Weight
195g
163g
188g
185g
Rear Facing Camera
12-megapixel (f/1.7) + 12-megapixel (f.2.4, OIS, AF) dual-LED flash
13-megapixel (f/1.8) +13-megapixel (f/2.4)
Dual 12-megapixel, (28mm, f/1.8, OIS & 56mm, f/2.8), phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
Front Facing Camera
8-Megapixel (f/1.7)
5-megapixel (f/2.2)
7-megapixel, f/2.2, 32mm, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, face detection, HDR, panorama
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
OS
Android 7.1 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
iOS 10.0.1
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
Battery
3,300mAh
3,300mAh
Non-removable Li-Ion 2,900 mAh battery (11.1 Wh)
3,040mAh
Network Connectivity
GSM / HSPA / LTE
GSM/HSPA/LTE
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
Sensors
Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, colour spectrum
Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
SIM Type
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Launch Date
August 23, 2017
April 7, 2017
September 16, 2016
May 30, 2017
Misc
Colours: Black, Blue | IP68 water/dust resistant, S-Pen, 18:9 aspect ratio, wireless charging, USB type C
Colours: Ice Platinum |USB Type-C port, Headphone jack, IP68 certified water and dust resistant
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.2, IP67 certified - dust and water resistant.
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
Display
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
6.3-inch, Super AMOLED display, 1440 x 2960 pixels, 18:5:9 aspect ratio, HDR 10
LG G6
5.7-inch, QHD+ display, 2880×1440, 18:9 aspect ratio
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
5.5 inch LED-backlit IPS LCD
Essential Phone (PH-1)
5.71-inches, IPS LCD display, 2560 x 1312 pixels, 19:10 aspect ratio
Processor
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Snapdragon 835 (Exynos 8895)
LG G6
Snapdragon 821
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Apple A10 Fusion
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Snapdragon 835
RAM
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
6GB RAM
LG G6
4GB of RAM
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
3GB RAM
Essential Phone (PH-1)
4GB of RAM
Storage
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
64GB (expandable up to 256GB)
LG G6
32GB (expandable up to 2TB)
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
32/128/256 GB
Essential Phone (PH-1)
128GB
Dimensions (in.)
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
162.5mm x 74.6mm x 8.5mm
LG G6
148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
158.2mm x 77.9mm x 7.3mm
Essential Phone (PH-1)
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8mm
Weight
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
195g
LG G6
163g
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
188g
Essential Phone (PH-1)
185g
Rear Facing Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
12-megapixel (f/1.7) + 12-megapixel (f.2.4, OIS, AF) dual-LED flash
LG G6
13-megapixel (f/1.8) +13-megapixel (f/2.4)
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Dual 12-megapixel, (28mm, f/1.8, OIS & 56mm, f/2.8), phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, quad-LED (dual tone) flash
Essential Phone (PH-1)
13-megapixel, (f/1.85)
Front Facing Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
8-Megapixel (f/1.7)
LG G6
5-megapixel (f/2.2)
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
7-megapixel, f/2.2, 32mm, 1080p@30fps, 720p@240fps, face detection, HDR, panorama
Essential Phone (PH-1)
8-megapixel, (f/2.2)
OS
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Android 7.1 Nougat
LG G6
Android 7.0 Nougat
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
iOS 10.0.1
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Android 8.1.1 Oreo
Battery
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
3,300mAh
LG G6
3,300mAh
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Non-removable Li-Ion 2,900 mAh battery (11.1 Wh)
Essential Phone (PH-1)
3,040mAh
Network Connectivity
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
GSM / HSPA / LTE
LG G6
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
Essential Phone (PH-1)
GSM / HSPA / LTE / Band 66
Sensors
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
LG G6
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, colour spectrum
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Rear Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, 10 finger multitouch, Accelerometer, Magnetometer , Compass sensor, Ambient light Sensor
SIM Type
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Nano SIM
LG G6
Nano SIM
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Nano SIM
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Nano SIM
Launch Date
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
August 23, 2017
LG G6
April 7, 2017
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
September 16, 2016
Essential Phone (PH-1)
May 30, 2017
Misc
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Colours: Black, Blue | IP68 water/dust resistant, S-Pen, 18:9 aspect ratio, wireless charging, USB type C
LG G6
Colours: Ice Platinum |USB Type-C port, Headphone jack, IP68 certified water and dust resistant
Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.2, IP67 certified - dust and water resistant.
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Colours: Black Moon, Stellar Grey, Pure White, Ocean Depths | Modularity, USB Type-C, No headphone jack, Bezel-less, Titanium build
There’s some more bad news too. Android’s never been better, but if you’re looking for a smartphone, you also need to throw in Apple’s offerings into the mix.
So how does Samsung’s Note 8 compare to its Android rivals, as well as Apple’s blockbuster? All things considered, quite well actually.
First things first, if this was a competition based solely on screen-size, then the Note 8 would be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Samsung’s latest device features a bezel-less, 6.3-inch display, and the Essential’s 5.71 inches, the G6’s 5.7 inches, and the iPhone 7 Plus’s 5.5 inches seem downright small in comparison.
A quick aside to bring up the subject of fingerprint sensors: other than the iPhone 7 Plus, every device featured in this comparison has its fingerprint sensor on the back.
In terms of sheer processing power, the Note 8 compares favourably against all of this year’s major flagships. Like the Essential Phone, the Note 8 is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor. However, unlike the Essential Phone — as well as the G6 and the iPhone 7 Plus — the Note 8 has a staggering 6GB of RAM.
The Note 8 can also be upgraded with an additional 256GB of storage with an SD card — just like the G6, and unlike the Essential Phone and the iPhone 7 Plus. Also unlike the the iPhone 7 Plus and the Essential Phone — and like the G6 — the Note 8 features a headphone jack.
In terms of ecosystem, there’s really no comparing any device to the iPhone. The iPhone reigns over Apple’s walled empire with an anodized aluminum finish, and it works with Apple products ranging from as-of-yet unreleased smartspeakers to bluetooth headphones to laptops to desktops to omnipotent workstations.
Samsung, LG, and Essential simply can’t compete with Apple’s ecosystem, so if you own a macOS device or you’ve spent quite a bit of time cultivating an Apple lifestyle, it doesn’t really make sense to get an Android device.
As for photography, each of these devices boast a dual-camera set-up, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that their cameras are equal.
MobileSyrup hasn’t had time to fully test out the Note 8’s shooter, but if the Note 7, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8+ are any indication, Samsung’s latest phone is going to feature an almost unparalleled camera experience.
So, if you’re looking for something smaller — or something a little cheaper — than the Note 8, there are other equally capable devices available on the market.
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