Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) vs Samsung Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 Active 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
5.1"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1080x1920
16
MP
MP
2.1mp
2GB
RAM
RAM
Quad-core
2800
mAh
mAh
(Removable)
What's the better phone? 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!
29 Advantages 
4 Advantages | 19 Common items in both devices |
| Super AMOLED |
| 16 million |
| PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera / Autofocus |
| 4K UHD (3840x2160) |
| 4G LTE-A / 4G LTE |
| Capacitive |
| Multitouch |
| +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) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note8 N950U1 (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile), Samsung Baikal | Bell Samsung Galaxy S5 Active SM-G870W for Canada |
| Country or region available |  USA |  Canada |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 9/1/2017, Announced: 8/23/2017 | 5/30/2014 |
| Depth | 8.6 millimeters (0.34 inches) | 8.9 millimeters (0.35 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 74.8 x 162.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.4 in) | 73.4 x 145.3 millimeters (2.89 x 5.72 in) |
| Weight | 195 grams (6.83 ounces) | 170 grams (5.95 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back | feature not registered |
| Protection against water and others | IP68 certified: water-resistant up to 1.5 meters for 30min and dust-resistant | IP67 certified: dust proof and waterproof over 1 meter and 30min. MIL-STD-810G military certified: salt, dust, humidity, rain, vibration, solar radiation, transport and thermal shock resistant. |
📲 Display | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.3" inches | 5.1" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~82.9% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~67.2% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 1080x1920 pixels |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 522 PPI | 432 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | feature not registered |
| Display features | HDR10 Always-On Display | feature not registered |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| System version | Android 7.1.1 Nougat | Android 4.4.2 KitKat |
| Firmware update | Android 9.0 Pie | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| User Interface | Grace UX UI | feature not registered |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) (10nm) | 32bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 MSM8974-AC (28nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.35GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) 4x 1.9GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) | Quad-core, 1 processor: 4x 2.5GHz Krait 400 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 540 (670-710MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 330 578Mhz |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 206130 (v8) Geekbench: 6750 (v4.4) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | feature not registered |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 2GB LPDDR3 |
| Internal storage | 64GB (53GB available) UFS 2.1 | 16GB (11GB available) |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 128GB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Dual-SIM | Not supported | Not supported |
| SIM card | 1 slot (Single-SIM) nano-SIM (4FF) | 1 slot (Single-SIM) micro-SIM (3FF) |
| Maximum Download / Upload | 1024/150 Mbps | 150/50 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 | Quad-Band 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 2G network | CDMA 800/1900, GSM 850/900/1800/1900 | GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Primary 3G network | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 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, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66, 252, 255) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | LTE Cat4 700/850/1700/1800/1900/2100/2600 |
| 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 | GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE |
| 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) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| 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 | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/2.2 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | feature not registered |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/2.6" inches |
| 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 | Supported |
| HDR | HDR photo/video on both cameras | HDR photo/video only main camera |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 2MP irisscanner | 2.1 megapixels |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | Full HD (1920x1080) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | feature not registered |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | feature not registered |
| 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) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| 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, DivX, XviD, H.264, H.263, WMV |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, WAV, WMA, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | MicroUSB 2.0, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C (reversible) | Micro-B USB MHL-2 |
| 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) WiFi Direct, hotspot |
| DLNA | Not supported | Supported |
| GPS | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS, GALILEO, BeiDou | A-GPS, GeoTagging, GLONASS |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| 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 Gyroscope Proximity sensor |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Removable) |
| Battery capacity | 3300 mAh | 2800 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 | Wired charging |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | feature not registered |
| Talk time autonomy | 22 hours | 29 hours (1.2 days) |
| Standby | feature not registered | 480 hours (20 days) |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| Messaging | SMS (T9), MMS, E-mail, Push mail | SMS (Swype), 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: Camo Green, Titanium Grey, Ruby Red • Picture-taking during video recording • HAC M3/T4 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950U) | Galaxy S5 Active (SM-G870W) | |
| SAR 1.6W/kg (USA, Mexico, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.65W/kg (head), 1.09W/kg (body) |
| SAR 2W/kg (Europe, UK, etc.) | feature not registered | 0.667W/kg (head), 0.451W/kg (body) |