Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) vs Apple iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Apple iPad Air 2 devices, 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
9.7"
IPS
IPS
1536x2048
8
MP
MP
1.2mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Triple-core
7340
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better device? Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U)
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!
32 Advantages 
4 Advantages | 19 Common items in both devices |
| 64GB (53GB available) / 64GB (54GB available) |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back / Aluminum body, glass front |
| 60Hz |
| 16 million |
| PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera / Autofocus |
| HDR photo/video on both cameras / HDR photo/video and HDR photo on front camera |
| Capacitive |
| +12 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-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note8 N950U1 (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile), Samsung Baikal | iPad Air 2 A1566 (WiFi), iPad 6 |
| Country or region available |  USA |  (Global, International) |
| Brand | Samsung | Apple |
| Release date | 9/1/2017, Announced: 8/23/2017 | 10/24/2014, Announced: 10/16/2014 |
| Depth | 8.6 millimeters (0.34 inches) | 6.1 millimeters (0.24 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.8 x 162.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.4 in) | 169.5 x 240 millimeters (6.67 x 9.45 in) |
| Weight | 195 grams (6.83 ounces) | 437 grams (15.3 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | Aluminum body, glass front |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | Not supported |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | TFT LED-Backlit IPS LCD |
| Screen size | 6.3" inches | 9.7" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~82.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~71.6% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 1536x2048 pixels (4:3) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 522 PPI | 264 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Scratch-resistant glass |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 Always-On Display | Not supported |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| System version | Android 7.1.1 Nougat | iOS 8.0 |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | iPadOS 13 |
| User Interface | Grace UX UI | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) (10nm) | 64bit: Apple A8X (20nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.35GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) 4x 1.9GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) | Triple-core, 1 processor: 3x 1.5GHz Typhoon (Triple-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 540 (670-710MHz) | PowerVR GX6450 Rogue (8-core) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 206130 (v8) Geekbench: 6750 (v4.4) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | Basemark X: 29753 |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (53GB available) UFS 2.1 | 64GB (54GB available) |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Not supported |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | Not supported |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | feature not registered |
| Network technology | 2G, 3G, 4G | feature not registered |
| Frequency, bands | Expand band details Collapse details | |
| GSM MHz band | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | Not supported |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | Not supported |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat16 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 252, 255) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | Not supported |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, TD-LTE, LTE, LTE-A | Not supported |
| 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-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.452mm1/3.6"1.0µmAF2x-optical-zoom | 8 megapixels |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps | Full HD (1920x1080) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.4 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | 31mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1.12µm pixel |
| 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 | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video and HDR photo on front camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 2MP irisscanner | 1.2 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 1280x960 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | HD (1280x720) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | 31mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | feature not registered |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | feature not registered |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Loudspeaker | Mono sound (not stereo) 32-bit/384kHz | Supported |
| Active noise cancellation | 2 microphones or more | 2 microphones or more |
| Radio | Not supported | Not supported |
| TV | Not supported | Not supported |
| Video formats | MP4, H.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD | MP4, H.264, MOV |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, eAAC+ |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | MicroUSB 2.0 |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Proprietary TV-out |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 4.0 + 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) |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | Not supported |
| NFC | Supported | Not supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| 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 Barometer Compass Fingerprint sensor (front-mounted) Gyroscope |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Not supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | LiPo: li-ion polymer (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3300 mAh | 7340 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Not supported |
| Talk time autonomy | 22 hours | 10 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Not supported |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | E-mail, Push mail |
| Hands-free calling | Supported | Supported |
| Video calling | Supported | Supported |
| Ringtones | Polyphonic and customized | feature not registered |
| 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: Space Gray, Silver, Gold • Retina display • Oleophobic coating • AirDrop file sharing • iCloud service • iCloud Keychain • FaceTime HD |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | iPad Air 2 (WiFi 64GB) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | feature not registered |