Note 8 Specs, In The Box Accessories, and More:
The Note 8 box includes:
Note 8
S pen
S pen tips
S pen tip remover
Samsung Fast Charger
USB-C Cable
USB Connector (which can be used to easily switch from one phone–no matter the brand– to a Samsung Phone with Samsung Smart Switch)
Micro USB to USB-C Connector
Manuals and Information
SIM and micro SD tray Eject PIN
AKG Earbuds
AKG Earbud tips
Specs*
Extra Features
The features I'm aware of that differentiates this phone from the rest are things like the S pen. If you get the VirtualTablet Lite or VirtualTablet app, you can use the Note 8's 4096 pressure sensitivity S pen with your computer, making the phone a graphics tablet. This is especially great since Wacom works with Samsung for their S pens and it's close to some of the Wacom tablets pressure sensitivity. The S pen can be used with multiple apps for drawing and has many other features, not that new, that come with it.
Bluetooth
The Note 8 uses the new Bluetooth 5.0 standard which, in my experience, is great for moving around 2-3 floors of a house compared to my S5 active (which uses Bluetooth 4.0) which I could barely get out of a room with. The phone also allows for multiple Bluetooth devices to be connected at the same time. I tested this by connecting my Bluetooth SoundPeats Q12 earbuds and my desktop to the phone at the same time. I was trying to use the HP Orbit app with Bluetooth on the desktop, but the app exhibited failure on the desktop's part.
Security
The Note 8 security features come with an awkwardly placed fingerprint scanner, Infrared eye scanner, and the option to use pattern, pin, or passwords on the phone. Honestly, because of where the fingerprint scanner is placed, I suggest using the eye scanner,which works 9/10 times – or at least using your middle finger to reach it – though I use both.
Overall:
I have multiple reasons why I wanted and now have a Note 8. I wanted the Note 7, even though it blew up twice, as crazy as my friends and family would say that is. It's the latest Note, so I expect some updates in the future. It' the only trustworthy major branded phone, besides past Galaxy Notes (with the exception of Note FE, though it's not expected in the US), with a stylus. Last, and not least, my S5 active has become almost unusable as a smart phone and I'd obtain more for free from Samsung Promotion anyways.
Unless you want the S pen, I suggest you get the S8, S8 Plus, or get the Note 8 from Best Buy, unlocked or not. They'll allow you to get the phone locked to your carrier for cheaper over the months or in most cases, even cheaper unlocked.
If you're still thinking about getting the Note 8, I suggest you save your receipt and go to Samsung Promotions to get a free Wireless Charger and 128 GB micro SD card or the Gear 360 (if you'll actually use that).
For the average user, the S8 or S8 plus is a cheaper alternative, with very few differences.
Artists and/or animators may be able to consider the phone when compared to a Wacom tablet, though I would say a Wacom tablet is the way to go
*Although this may be a little unfair, I'm comparing my previous Samsung Galaxy S5 Active with my Note 8 because the S5 Active is the device I had beforehand. A more appropriate – but still slightly unfair – comparison would be between the Note 8 and S8, S8 plus, or phones released in the timeframe of 2016-2017, with 2017 being the sweetspot. keep in mind that although I say "my" S5 active, I won't actually be using it as it's been factory reset to be sold. Anything related to the S5 active is from muscle memory.
*If you want the full specs of the Note 8 click here and if for some reason you want the full specs of the S5 active click here.