The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has been out for quite some time, and we’ve spent enough time with the device to compile a list of the best tips and tricks for Samsung’s latest and greatest. So without further adieu, here are the best tips and tricks for the Galaxy Note 8.
For years, smartphone makers raced to include the most megapixels possible in their cameras, but more pixels doesn’t guarantee a good camera. After a brief respite, manufacturers are again trying to cram in more pixels. Devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra and Motorola Edge+ have a 108MP primary sensor. Samsung’s latest ISOCELL GN1 sensor has fewer pixels, but it might take better photos thanks to improved autofocus and bigger pixels.
Like many aspects of the modern smartphone, camera performance is constrained by the size of the device. These camera sensors are small compared with what you can fit in a “real” camera. Cramming in more megapixels means each pixel on the sensor gets smaller and less sensitive to light. The megapixel race picked up again when manufacturers developed pixel binning technology that can rope together several smaller pixels to act like one larger pixel. So, your phone might have a 108MP sensor, but the photos are only 12MP.
The ISOCELL GN1 has 1.2μm pixels, which is on the large side for smartphones. It also supports Samsung’s Tetracell pixel-binning technology to produce larger effective pixels (2.4μm) and collect more light. Samsung says this doubles the sensor’s light sensitivity and produces 12.5MP photos.
Samsung launched the S20 Ultra earlier this year with the 108MP ISOCELL Bright HM1. While this sensor is more technically capable than the GN1, it hasn’t performed as well in practice as we’d hoped. The S20 Ultra was almost universally derided for sluggish autofocus, which used phase detect technology. With phase-detect, light splits upon entering the camera. The lens elements adjust to merge the two images, which means they’re in focus. This is harder to do with larger sensors, though.
The S20 Ultra’s giant camera assembly, courtesy of iFixit.
The ISOCELL GN1 should improve focus performance with the use of Dual Pixel autofocus. Dual Pixel technology analyzes each diode’s signal to determine focus and then combines those signals to create a sharp image. Dual Pixel technology specifically means there are two photodiodes in each pixel, for a total of 100 million phase-detection auto-focus (PDAF) agents.
The ISOCELL GN1 will go into mass production later this month, so it could appear in phones over the summer. Some will be from Samsung, but many won’t. While the GN1 sounds like a good alternative to the 108MP HM1, Samsung probably isn’t done trying to fix that sensor. We expect to see the HM1 make a return in the Galaxy Note 20.
I’ve been around the smartphone world since the very beginning (2002, with the Nokia 7650) and have seen cameras improving dramatically year on year. And the LG G4 and Samsung Galaxy S6 (here in its Edge variant) each have the very latest camera hardware, itself a surprising leap up from 2014’s technology. Can this space improve any further, into 2016? Oh, quite possibly, there are still some tweaks left to add back in (cough, Xenon flash), but the performance here, in almost all light conditions, is astonishing. However, there’s one obvious question that needs answering – which (G4 or S6) smartphone camera is better?
In a sense, of course, the question, and this entire feature, is irrelevant, since the image quality is SO good that, at all normal viewing sizes, users won’t be able to tell the results apart. However, there are some characteristics worth noting, plus there are definite bragging rights for the overall winner.
[For those following my other writings, you may be wondering how these two camera-toting flagships stack up against the traditional camera champions with the ‘Nokia’ name on – the Lumia 1020 and 808 PureView? In short, the G4 and S6 even blow the two Nokias away for general imaging, though the latter do still have a slight edge in terms of zooming and that Xenon flash evening event use case.]
As it turns out, the overall specification of the G4 and S6 rear cameras are surprisingly similar, both 16MP and with a sensor size of 1/2.6″. The G4 has a larger aperture, at f/1.8, though the S6’s camera is only slightly smaller at f/1.9, while the G4 scores with the laser focussing and ‘colour spectrum sensor’, though as we’ll see below, this isn’t infallible. The specs are close enough, and the resolution certainly so, that I can compare 1:1 crops from the same photos taken with each smartphone and you’ll be able to spot any differences, where appropriate.
A few notes before diving into the images:
Both smartphone cameras were used on full ‘Auto’, i.e. how end users would shoot photos 99% of the time. Do note though that both camera interfaces allow complete control over things like ISO, white balance, exposure, etc. through a ‘Pro’ mode. In fact, almost everything a DSLR user would get to fiddle with – so any perceived deficiencies in imaging settings could be easily rectified. But testing has to be on full ‘auto’, of course, since there are millions of parameter combinations that would otherwise have to be compared!
Cropping in so that you can ‘see’ detail down at the pixel level is revealing, sure, but it’s also a little artificial. Bear in mind that out of 16 million pixels per photo, I’m only showing you central detail from around 240,000. Still sounds a lot, but in fact, it’s only 1/64th the size of each complete frame. So view the crops in context!
On then with the test scenes and 1:1 crops, I’ll comment on each as I go along:
Test 1: Landscape, sunny
In this case, down at the local golf club, with the clubhouse nicely lit up and with plenty of detail:
Here then are the 1:1 crops, firstly on the LG G4:
And then the same framing 1:1 crop on the Galaxy S6 (/Edge):
Great though the S6’s image was, the clarity and sharpness in the G4’s is astonishing. I might expect such sharpness in a downsampled image, perhaps at 5 Megapixels (for example), but to be this precise right for every one of the 16 million pixels is incredible. Bear in mind that, at the pixel level, we’re talking pixels taking it in turns across rows to either be Red, Blue or Green, and then software intelligently averages things out so that both detail and colour end up about right. With the miracle above.
I’m speechless. The G4 camera is right up there with the best DSLRs for shots like this. The S6 is close behind, but it is… behind, at least according to this test shot.
Test 2: Natural detail
One of the biggest tests of camera phones is how they handle nature – petals, leaves, grass, and so on. Here’s another test scene:
Here then are the 1:1 crops, firstly on the LG G4:
And then the same framing 1:1 crop on the Galaxy S6 (/Edge):
Now, the 1:1 pixel detail from the S6 is exactly what I’d expect to see from a 16MP camera module at this level – some smearing, some artefacts, some processing. This isn’t a criticism, it’s just how digital cameras work, especially when the detail is massive and the sensor relatively small (compared to DSLRs). However, the G4’s output is again astonishing. There’s magic sauce at work, I tell you, imaging alchemy. The LG G4’s detail is massive.
As an anecdote, I also did some zoom and raw detail tests today against the Lumia 1020’s physically much larger, 41MP sensor. And the G4 was quite comparable. How is this possible?
Time to move indoors, to a scene with much less light and more chance of digital noise and uncertainty.
Test 3: Indoors, low light
In this case, inside a local church, still with plenty of detail, as you can see in this overall scene:
Here then are the 1:1 crops, firstly on the LG G4:
And then the same framing 1:1 crop on the Galaxy S6 (/Edge):
Again the G4 camera manages to achieve more detail and less noise, under what are trying circumstances – low light, distant subject, etc. It’s as if LG’s camera engineers have managed to warp the laws of physics. Again, the S6’s camera is good, but not good enough to win out.
Test 4: Indoors, macro
Under a single 60W room light, so not that bright, but up close with some Sharpies:
Here then are the 1:1 crops, firstly on the LG G4:
And then the same framing 1:1 crop on the Galaxy S6 (/Edge):
Though you could argue that the G4’s photo is ‘warmer’ and with less noise, I’m actually going to plump for the Galaxy S6 camera here. The colours are more accurate – the Sharpie barrels should be grey and the tip top right of the crop is a red-brown, not the bright red shown by the G4. This is all a little odd, considering that it’s the G4 that has the ‘colour spectrum sensor’ and that it’s supposed to get colours right under all conditions, so perhaps just take it that the Galaxy S6 camera does especially well here, so a point in the other direction.
Test 5: Extreme low light
Out in the road, it was almost completely dark, with just a faint glow left in the sky (to my naked eye), it was much dimmer than the photos make it look:
Here then are the 1:1 crops, firstly on the LG G4:
And then the same framing 1:1 crop on the Galaxy S6 (/Edge):
This comparison’s interesting in a number of ways. Remembering that I deliberately left both smartphone cameras on ‘Auto’, the G4 leapt in and used multi-shot HDR here. Which I wouldn’t normally associate with extreme low light shots, but then multi-shot attempts at improving low light performance have become possible now that these smartphones all have optical image stabilisation (OIS), so who knows what the S6 is also doing behind the scenes.
In any case, on full ‘auto’, both smartphone cameras do very well considering the extreme challenge here. Both produced a better result than my three year old Nokia 808 PureView, which has a sensor that’s four times larger. The S6’s image is dark, as it should be, and does a great job of smoothing out the inevitable digital noise. But the G4 eschews noise reduction in favour of squeezing in light and detail. Look at the illuminated window, for example, look at the car and other fine detail. Low noise or maximum detail is a necessary compromise under such extreme conditions, so let’s call this one a draw!
Verdict
With three distinct wins, one ‘draw’ and one loss, the LG G4 comes out of my five scene test here as the winner. Yes, the Galaxy S6 (and Edge) 16MP unit is terrific too, definitely the second best imaging powerhouse in the world for all purpose snapping, image quality, and so on. But the G4’s results are astonishing (I’ve put one of them from my tests up here, for you to download and analyse, should you feel inclined) and it has me rocked back on my heels – I never expected anything this good could exist housed within a standard smartphone body.
Wondering how LG’s latest flagship — the G4 — stacks up against Samsung’s Galaxy S6? Check out our tech specs comparison below to see for yourself. Also you can check Here the
Yesterday, a pair of Samsung trademarks hinted that the company was finally ready to try their hand at a circular smart watch. It didn’t take long for Samsung to come out and confirm those suspicions.
The company has issued an open invitation for developers to help them build their next wearables platform ahead of launch. They’ve confirmed that it’s for the 7 generation of their Gear lineup, and while they didn’t exactly spell out the word “circular” the teaser you see above should do enough to convince you.
Developers who want to get their apps going on the upcoming watch can get started as soon as today by heading here and grabbing the SDK. Unfortunately that’s as much as we know right now as Samsung didn’t even give us an idea as to when this product might be ready for consumers. All we know is that if the Samsung Galaxy S6 is anything to go by, Samsung’s first circular Gear smart watch could turn this market on its head.
You’ve done the things all Samsung Galaxy S6 owners should do right now, you’ve read up on our extensive rundown of tips & tricks. You are a seasoned Galaxy S6 veteran. The next step is outfitting your hardware with the apps and games that will truly showcase the S6 in all its glory. Here they are.
Best Samsung Galaxy S6 Apps
Samsung Smart Switch
We amass a lot of information on our smartphones — photos, apps, contacts, and more — and one of the biggest pain points of buying a new phone is getting all of that data from one device to the other. It’s particularly frustrating for those changing platforms, moving from an iPhone or even an antiquated flip phone to Android. If you gave up hope because the task seemed to daunting, download Samsung Smart Switch now and effortlessly transfer your data regardless of platform.
With the Galaxy S6 Samsung has done their best to slim down the notoriously bloated TouchWiz interface that comes standard on Galaxy devices, but the user interface remains divisive among Android users. If you aren’t a big fan of Samsung’s candy-coated UI, the Google Now Launcher is your best option for returning to an Android look and feel that is closer to Google’s stock design. An added bonus is easy access to your Google Now cards by swiping to the far right.
Like Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, if you aren’t happy with the keyboard options that come stock with the Galaxy S6 we recommend checking out Fleksy. A somewhat minimalist keyboard at its base, Fleksy is fully customizable through extensions and features support for animated GIFs, emojis, hot keys, and more. Above all it’s a super accurate keyboard that is only limited by how fast your thumbs can fly.
If you checked out our Samsung Galaxy S6 review, you will know that we found its camera to be perhaps the best to ever feature on a smartphone. Take it to the next level with Snapped, an app that offers powerful photo editing and manipulation tools to touch up photos or turn them into works of art. A detailed edit history dubbed Stacks means your original photo is only a few taps away giving you freedom to experiment with your photos as you see fit.
The only thing better than having a Galaxy S6 in your pocket is having access to it from your computer, and AirDroid is the tool to do it. AirDroid seamlessly pairs you phone with your PC or Mac over your wireless network to allow you to send and receive SMS messages, transfer files, view notifications, or mirror your devices display and access apps all from your computer.
Echo takes your Galaxy S6’s notifications to the next level with a sleek lockscreen look that provides quick access to incoming messages, calls, and other alerts. This handy little app conveniently organizes notifications to clean up the clutter and allows you to snooze selected items so you can stay focused. Throw in a pinch of customization and its no wonder Echo has been dubbed the best lockscreen replacement by many.
The Galaxy S6 is a powerful device for power users, and Tasker’s automation capabilities make the perfect companion. Hundreds of possible actions can be linked to triggers like time and location to automate everything from silencing your phone while you sleep to sending a text message when you ignore a call, and it can do a whole lot more than that.
With so many options out there for streaming music and video it would be easy to write off Samsung’s own offerings as mere bloatware designed to lock you into the Galaxy ecosystem, but Milk Music and Milk Video in actuality represent compelling options for S6 owners looking to satiate their need for entertainment. With unique interfaces aimed at discovery, you’re sure to discover a new artist, song, or video almost every time you open either app.
What’s the easiest way to stay up to date on Galaxy S6 news, tips, tricks, and more? The Phandroid News app, of course. It’s everything you love about Phandroid in a handy little package designed to work natively with your Android smartphone.
No two users will want exactly the same thing out of their Galaxy S6, so you might find yourself passing on some of the apps listed above. That’s OK! Here are some more helpful links showcasing more of our favorite Android apps for everyone.
Best Samsung Galaxy S6 Games
Asphalt 8: Airborne
For fans of racing games, it’s hard to find a better Android entry than the latest in the popular Asphalt series. Asphalt 8: Airborne features sizzling 3D graphics that really showcase the Galaxy S6’s powerful hardware and display, but you will quickly crave the fast-paced gameplay complete with aerial stunts (hence the “Airborne” subtitle).
House of Cards viewers may have spotted Monument Valley make a brief cameo on fictional US president Frank Underwood’s tablet in the show’s most recent season, but we have been singing this game’s praises since it first launched in 2014. A puzzle/platformer that looks like an MC Escher sketch mashed up with Adventure Time, the gameplay is as addictive as it is beautiful. The Galaxy S6’s vibrant Super AMOLED display only makes it more apparent.
The endless runner genre has seen an explosion in popularity on mobile devices, and there is perhaps no finer example for Android devices than Subway Surfers. With vivid graphics that really pop on the Galaxy S6’s display, this one is easy to get into. Mastering it is a whole different story.
Badland is oddly gorgeous as its shapeshifting protagonist travels through a bleak, almost sinister world. While it appears on the surface to be a standard platformer, this is one game where you can only get a true sense of gameplay by picking it up and working your way through each level. And it will take work, but it’s well worth it.
Crossy Road takes classic Frogger-style gameplay and updates it for the mobile era, bringing us a game that gives us much more than its premise might suggest. The graphics and name might make Crossy Road easy to right off as just another title trying to leach off of the Flappy Bird craze of 2014, and while it is in the same way addictively simple Crossy Road is an entirely different beast.
Sky Force is an original when it comes to mobile games, its first iteration debuting 10 years ago when the makers of the Samsung Galaxy S6 could only dream of the future potential of smartphones. The game returns in a big way a decade later with amped-up gameplay and arcade-quality graphics, making this space shooter a must-have.
This music maker turns playing the piano into something akin to the popular Guitar Hero franchise of games, tasking players with tapping on a series of falling dots to play any number of songs from a large library of available music, from classical etudes to modern pop.
There is a certain beauty in simplicity, but there can also be maddening frustration. See Dots as an example of this. A minimalist puzzler, you’ll be glad your Galaxy S6 has Gorilla Glass protection when you go throwing it at the wall should the objective of clearing the dots prove too difficult.
When you grow tired of the above (which won’t be anytime soon), we’ve got even more hot takes on our favorite games for you to check out. These should keep you busy a while.
