When CRN USA reviewed Samsung's Galaxy S8 Plus in the spring, we described the device as the ultimate smartphone for multitaskers. But Samsung has now one-upped itself with the debut of the Galaxy Note 8 , which ships 15 September.

Forgive me for passing up the chance to beat the exploding battery joke into the ground. Let's get straight to the point: Samsung's once dominant flagship phablet is back after a two year hiatus.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 feels like a greatest hits for the Note series. It has every feature that made previous Notes worth buying and slams them into the new Samsung smartphone design ushered in by the Galaxy S8, but as a consequence doesn't feel particularly new or innovative compared to...

great battery; impressive screen; water resistant; great camera; great stylus; microSD card slot; wireless charging

only Android 7.0; no USB-PD; fingerprint scanner placement awkward; expensive; very big for pockets

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has finally arrived, and with it confirmation that Samsung has shaken off the Galaxy Note 7 's disastrous launch last year. The new Note 8 comes out swinging with a big, beautiful screen, meaty internal hardware and a sleek, professional design.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is unquestionably one of those devices that is greater than the sum of its parts. It's not just a powerful tool or a capable multimedia machine, it's a joy to use and it can do anything you'd expect any top-tier smartphone to do and so much more.

Outstanding display; Rich S Pen integration; Excellent performance; Impressive camera

The Samsung Galaxy Note8 takes everything that was great about last year's Note7 and simply improves upon it in all the right ways but with a bigger Galaxy Note came a bigger price and consumers may have to contemplate even harder before pulling the trigger this time around.

Premium glass and metal build Gorgeous and large display improved S Pen features Excellent camera quality microSD expansion IP68 certified Fluid performance

Most expensive Galaxy Note to date Phone is very tall Fingerprint sensor still awkwardly located

Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is a big-screen phone that commands your attention - and not just because it's a sequel to a device the company was forced to recall. It's because the Note 8 ushers in a new class of smartphones that is super-premium.

Gorgeous 6.3-inch Infinity Display; Fantastic dual cameras; Fun and useful S Pen enhancements; Handy App Pair feature; Strong overall performance; Very good battery life

Awkward placement of fingerprint sensor; A couple of early bugs; Very pricey

Samsung has again launched a superb product with the Galaxy Note 8 and there is no real alternative phablet for fans of the S Pen. The handset comes with an outstanding configuration. However, the manufacturer could have gladly been a bit more generous with the internal storage in view of the price.

great display; fast SoC; expandable storage; Dual SIM optional available; great S Pen with many features; USB 3.1 with DisplayPort and HDMI; Gigabit LTE; fast Wi-Fi with high range; Quick charge and wireless charging; protected against water and dust; many sensors

SoC throttles under load; extended warranty does not apply to liquid damage; weak GPS performance; speaker should be better; fingerprint is not optimally placed

I pre-ordered the galaxy note 8 and John Lewis delivered on launch day the 15th of September (great service as always!). Right out of the box, the phone is a beauty! I thought it would be too big, mind you I'm a 6'4 guy, but it is actually not that much bigger than an Iphone 7 plus, it's narrower,...

The minute I powered on the Samsung Galaxy Note8 and started using it, I felt the urge to ditch my iPhone 7 Plus and go running back to Android. But am I still feeling that way after using it as my primary device for the past 5 days?

Very nice camera; Great display and I love the always-on feature; S Pen is handy

Expensive