Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) vs Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.3"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
5.2"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x1920
16
MP
MP
16mp
3GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N)
The phonemore's choice is much more technical than personal. Therefore, you shouldn't only consider this. Our goal is to help you, but what's important to us may not be important to you. You decide which one is the best! Comment!
27 Advantages 
5 Advantages | 24 Common items in both devices |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Super AMOLED |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera / Autofocus |
| 4G LTE-A |
| Capacitive |
| +17 specs and more in the table below |
Check the comparison table below for more items that are not evaluated in comparison score above.
Highlight differences Clear highlight📱 Model features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note8 N950N (LGU+/KT/SK Telecom), Samsung Baikal | Galaxy A5 2017 (NTT Docomo) SM-A520K |
| Country or region available |  South Korea | South Korea |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/1/2017, Announced: 8/23/2017 | 1/13/2017 |
| Depth | 8.6 millimeters (0.34 inches) | 7.9 millimeters (0.31 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.8 x 162.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.4 in) | 71.4 x 146.1 millimeters (2.81 x 5.75 in) |
| Weight | 195 grams (6.83 ounces) | 157 grams (5.5 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.3" inches | 5.2" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~82.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.5% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 1080x1920 pixels (16:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 522 PPI | 424 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| System version | Android 7.1.1 Nougat | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 8.0 Oreo |
| User Interface | Grace UX UI | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 8895 (10nm) | 64bit: Samsung Exynos 7 Octa 7880 (14nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.3GHz M2 Mongoose (Quad-core) 4x 1.7GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 1 processor: 8x 1.9GHz ARM Cortex-A53 (Octa-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | ARM Mali-G71 MP20 (546MHz) | ARM Mali-T830 MP3 |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 262850 (v8) Geekbench: 6748 (v4.4) GFXBench: 13fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 3GB LPDDR4 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (53GB available) UFS 2.1 | 32GB (22GB available) eMMC 5.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 256GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | 300/50 Mbps |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | 2G, 3G, 4G |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Tri-Band 900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | LTE Cat6 (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20, 28) TD-LTE (Bands 38, 40, 41) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, TD-SCDMA, UMTS, TD-HSDPA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A |
| Secondary 2G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 3G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary 4G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Secondary data network | Not supported | Not supported |
📷 Camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.452mm1/3.6"1.0µmAF2x-optical-zoom | 16 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4608x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/1.9 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | 27mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | feature not registered |
| Autofocus | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera | Autofocus |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | EIS: Digital stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Only digital zoom |
| Face/smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection | Face detection, Smile detection |
| BSI sensor | Supported | Not supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 2MP irisscanner | 16 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 4608x3456 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/1.9 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | 1/3.1" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) 32-bit/384kHz | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | FM |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, WMV |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 2.0 Type-C reversible connector |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Not supported |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 4.2 + A2DP |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac [wifi5] (2.4GHz, 5GHz) + MIMO WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Not supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Sensors | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 | Accelerometer Ambient light sensor ANT+ Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3300 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 | 18W Wired fast charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 22 hours | 16 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | Polyphonic and customized |
| Web browser | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 | HTML, XHTML, HTML5 |
| Antenna | Internal antenna | Internal antenna |
| Qwerty physical keyboard | Not supported | Not supported |
| Miscellaneous | • Colors: Black, Blue, Gold, Orchid Gray • Samsung DeX (desktop experience) • Curved edge screen • Corning Gorilla Glass 5 back panel • Samsung Gear VR compatible • Samsung Pay | • Colors: Black, Gold, Blue, Pink • Gorilla Glass on the back • Samsung Grace UX |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950N) | Galaxy A5 2017 (SM-A520K) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.337W/kg (head), 0.987W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |