Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) vs Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W)
Side by side comparison between Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 8 phones, differences, pros, cons and full specifications. What's the better?
,
6.4"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
4000
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
vs
6.3"
AMOLED
AMOLED
1440x2960
12.2
MP
MP
8mp
6GB
RAM
RAM
Octa-core
3300
mAh
mAh
(Non removable)
What's the better phone? Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB)
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!
8 Advantages 
4 Advantages | 45 Common items in both devices |
| 6GB LPDDR4X |
| UFS 2.1 |
| Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC |
| Aluminum frame, glass front/back |
| Super AMOLED |
| HDR10 |
| 60Hz |
| +38 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Model | Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) |
| Other model names | Galaxy Note9 (Qualcomm) 6GB RAM, Samsung Crown | Bell/Rogers/Wind Galaxy Note8 N950W, Samsung Baikal |
| Country or region available |  USA |  Canada |
| Brand | Samsung | Samsung |
| Release date | 8/24/2018, Announced: 8/9/2018 | 9/1/2017, Announced: 8/23/2017 |
| Depth | 8.8 millimeters (0.35 inches) | 8.6 millimeters (0.34 inches) |
| Size (width x height) | 76.4 x 161.9 millimeters (3.01 x 6.37 in) | 74.8 x 162.5 millimeters (2.94 x 6.4 in) |
| Weight | 201 grams (7.04 ounces) | 195 grams (6.83 ounces) |
| Build, materials | Aluminum frame, glass front/back Back: Gorilla Glass 5 | 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Display type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Screen size | 6.4" inches | 6.3" inches |
| Screen-to-body ratio | ~84% (screen-to-body ratio) | ~82.9% (screen-to-body ratio) |
| Display resolution | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) | 1440x2960 pixels (18.5:9) |
| Touchscreen | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points | Capacitive Multitouch 10-points |
| Pixel density (dot pitch) | 514 PPI | 522 PPI |
| Colors | 16 million | 16 million |
| Scratch-resistant glass | Gorilla Glass 5 | Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Display features | HDR10 2.5D glass Always-On Display | HDR10 Always-On Display |
🤖 Operating System | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| System version | Android 8.1 Oreo | Android 7.1.1 Nougat |
| Firmware update | Android 10 | Android 9.0 Pie |
| User Interface | One UI 2.0 / 2.5 | Grace UX UI |
⚙️ Processor | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Chipset | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845) (10nm) | 64bit: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (MSM8998) (10nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.8GHz Kryo 385 Gold (Quad-core) 4x 1.7GHz Kryo 385 Silver (Quad-core) | Octa-core, 2 processors: 4x 2.35GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) 4x 1.9GHz Kryo 280 (Quad-core) |
| GPU graphical controller | Qualcomm Adreno 630 (710MHz) | Qualcomm Adreno 540 (670-710MHz) |
| Performance (benchmark) | AnTuTu: 249124 (v7), 316449 (v8) Geekbench: 9026 (v4.4), 2092 (v5.1) GFXBench: 15fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 206130 (v8) Geekbench: 6750 (v4.4) GFXBench: 12fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
💽 Memory and storage | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| RAM memory | 6GB LPDDR4X | 6GB LPDDR4X |
| Internal storage | 128GB (111GB available) UFS 2.1 | 64GB (53GB available) UFS 2.1 |
| External storage | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) | Until 1TB microSD, microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
📶 Mobile networks | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| 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 | 1200/150 Mbps | 1024/150 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 TD-SCDMA 1900/2000 UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 | UMTS 850/900/1700/1900/2100 |
| Primary 4G network | LTE Cat18 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) | LTE Cat16 (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 25, 26, 29, 30, 66) TD-LTE (38, 39, 40, 41) |
| Primary 5G network | Not supported | Not supported |
| Primary data network | GPRS, EDGE, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev 0, CDMA2000 EV-DO Rev A, 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 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Back camera (main camera) | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.41/3.4"52mm1.0µmAFOIS2x-optical-zoom | (dual camera) 12.2 megapixels 12MP telephoto f/2.452mm1/3.6"1.0µmAF2x-optical-zoom |
| Main camera resolution | 4032x3024 pixels | 4032x3024 pixels |
| Video recording (primary) | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 60 fps | 4K UHD (3840x2160) 30 fps |
| Flash | Dual-LED flash | Dual-LED flash |
| Focal aperture | f/1.5 (aperture) | f/1.7 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 26mm lens | 26mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/2.55" inches | 1/2.55" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.4µm pixel | 1.4µm pixel |
| Autofocus | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera | PDAF on back camera and autofocus front camera |
| Touch focus | Supported | Supported |
| Image stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization | OIS: Optical stabilization |
| Zoom | Digital and optical zoom | Digital and optical 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 on both cameras |
| Camera extras | feature not registered | feature not registered |
📸 Front camera | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Front camera (secondary) | 8 megapixels | (dual front camera) 8 megapixels 2MP irisscanner |
| Front camera resolution | 3264x2448 pixels | 3264x2448 pixels |
| Video recording (secondary) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) | 2K UHD (2560x1440) |
| Front flash | Not supported | Not supported |
| Focal aperture | f/1.7 (aperture) | f/1.7 (aperture) |
| Focal length | 25mm lens | 25mm lens |
| Sensor size | 1/3.6" inches | 1/3.6" inches |
| Pixel size | 1.22µm pixel | 1.22µm pixel |
🔉 Sound and multimedia | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Loudspeaker | Stereo sound 32-bit/384kHz | Mono sound (not stereo) 32-bit/384kHz |
| 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.265, H.264, H.263, DivX, XviD |
| Audio formats | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC | MP3, OGG, eAAC+, FLAC |
🔌 Connectivity | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| USB | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go | USB 3.1 Type-C, USB OTG On-The-Go |
| Audio output | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| TV output | USB Type-C SlimPort® | USB Type-C (reversible) |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 + A2DP/LE | 5.0 + A2DP/LE |
| 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, GALILEO, BeiDou |
| NFC | Supported | Supported |
| Infrared port | Not supported | Not supported |
🧭 Sensors | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| 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 Face unlock Fingerprint sensor (rear-mounted) Gyroscope Hall effect Heart rate Iris scanner Proximity sensor SpO2 |
| Vibrating alert | Supported | Supported |
🔋 Battery | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Battery type | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) | Li-Ion: lithium-ion (Non removable) |
| Battery capacity | 4000 mAh | 3300 mAh |
| Charger, watts | 15W Wired fast charging | 15W Wired fast charging Quick Charge 2 |
| Inductive / wireless charging | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) | Qi wireless charging (Qi/PMA) |
| Talk time autonomy | feature not registered | 22 hours |
| Standby | feature not registered | feature not registered |
➕ Other features | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| Call control | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands | Voice dialing, Voice recorder, Voice commands |
| 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, Copper, Purple, Blue • S Pen Stylus (Bluetooth) • Samsung Pay • Samsung DeX | • 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 |
☢️ Radiation rate | ||
| Galaxy Note 9 (SM-N960U 128GB) | Galaxy Note 8 (SM-N950W) | |
| 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 |