Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review: Specs of the 8-inch Android powered Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is very much admired by its die-hard users. The tablet has basically led the charge in the 8-inch screen category for tablets and since it was initially considered too expensive at $400 when it was launched, it’s lowered price of between $260-300 is definitely a bargain for many.

There have been some rumors that Samsung Galaxy Note 8 may have a 2014 edition. In a forum post on Android Central, on user noted that the new line-up for the Note line would be the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung Galaxy Note 8 (2014) and Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014). Another user commented that the Note 8 (2013) edition is already dropping in inventory, a sign that retailers are waiting for a new version to come out.

According to CNET, it has the “best-looking small tablet screen” and writing with S-Pen feels natural. CNET further says that the Note 8 is a stunning tablet with a truly useful stylus. The International Business Times has billed the device as one of the best tablets to come in 2013.

Phone Arena praises the units quad-core processor and the fact that it has lots of RAM. It also supports special active stylus for input. Some of its notable features is its extremely thin body, expandable storage and light weight.

Specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note include a TFT capacitative touchscreen, 16M colors that offers 800 x 1200 pixels, 8-inch display with a 189 ppi pixel density. The device also has a microSD card, enabling storage to go up to 64GB. Immediate storage size for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 comes in 16 and 32GB; system memory is at 2GB RAM. Battery life could be up to eight hours and the tablet includes a 5MP camera and an Exynos 4412, Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A9 processor.

An added plus for the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is its access to an Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update. The rollout for the device’s update, both Wi-Fi and LTE, began months ago and users of the device are expected to have had the update in their hands by this time. The update brings a a new set of features for the already popular tablet.

Once the latest update is installed on Galaxy Note 8.0, users will have an improved level of performance through superior S Pen support, the daydream function and a lock-screen widget.

According to CNET, in terms of design, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is comfortable to hold. The device has a Watch On feature that has potential to become a universal remote/video content hub. The design of the Note 8 is not as simple or as elegant as the Mini’s, but the tech site noted that what it lacks in simplicity, it makes up for in utility.