Apple users will say the iPhone is better, while Samsung fans will argue the Galaxy Note series is the best there is. If we’re objective about it, we can find the good in both handsets. But, as is often the case, your subjective opinion will determine which phone—the iPhone 8 Plus or Galaxy Note 8—is better.

It’s tough to compare devices with different operating systems and specs. Apple’s new iPhone features an A11 Bionic chip that performs amazingly in benchmark tests. But the Galaxy Note 8’s combination of 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 835 processor prove it’s no slouch.

A device like the Note 8 exists purely for diehard fans and business users who value the S Pen. The accessory allows users to jot down notes, draw pictures, and navigate the software in a way iPhone 8 Plus users cannot. That’s the beauty of the Note 8’s stylus, which has become an increasingly unique differentiator for the device.

The Note series also continues to push Samsung’s software in exciting ways. With the S Pen, users can instantly translate words and sentences, while the Note 8’s large 6.3-inch display is fantastic for launching two apps at once. With smart features like that, it’s easy to see why the Note 8 is such a powerhouse.

The iPhone 8 Plus holds its own in other areas, like usability and camera. And while iOS 11 isn’t nearly as versatile as Samsung’s take on Android, it’s still buttery smooth and exhibits excellent app performance, which remains an underrated part of the iPhone’s arsenal.

Apple’s device also features things like iMessage, Apple Pay, wireless charging, a beautiful all-glass design, and a fingerprint sensor that’s convenient to use. To be fair, the Note 8 matches Apple Pay with Samsung Pay, and it has wireless charging, too.

To a neutral, the Note 8 is the superior device because of its more elegant design, powerful set of features, and S Pen. But remember that the Galaxy Note 8 is nearly $1,000, while the iPhone 8 Plus starts at $799. Perhaps the more apt comparison would be to pit the Note 8 against Apple’s iPhone X, which is launching on November 3.

For a more thorough comparison between the iPhone 8 Plus and Galaxy Note 8, check out the video above, which breaks the fight down by category.

Apple - iPhone 8 Plus Samsung - Galaxy Note 8
Display Size 5.5-inch, 1080 x 1920 pixel display (401 ppi) 6.3-inch, 2960 x 1440 pixel display (522 ppi)
Resolution X 1080 2960
Resolution Y 1920 1440
Display Type Retina HD Quad HD+
Operating System iOS 11 (at launch) Android 7.1.1 (at launch)
Processor A11 Bionic chip with 64-bit architecture Octa core (2.3GHz Quad + 1.7GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm processor/Octa core (2.35GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10 nm processor - Differs by market
RAM 3GB (unofficial) 6GB
Storage
  • 64GB
  • 256GB
  • 64GB
  • 128GB
  • 256GB
External Storage No Yes
Main Camera (Back) 12MP 12MP
Secondary Camera (Front) 7MP 8MP
Networks
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev. A: 800, 1900, 2100
  • FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66)
  • GSM/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, 1900
  • TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41)
  • TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA: 850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0 Bluetooth 5.0 LE
Battery N/A 3300mAh
NFC Yes Yes
Connectivity
  • Lightning port
  • 3.5mm Headphone jack
  • MST
  • USB Type-C
Sensors
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Barometer
  • Proximity
  • Three-axis gyro
  • Touch ID
  • Accelerometer
  • Ambient light
  • Barometer
  • Fingerprint
  • Geomagnetic
  • Gyroscope
  • Hall
  • Heart rate
  • Iris
  • Proximity
  • Pressure
GPS
  • Assisted GPS
  • Digital compass
  • Galileo
  • GLONASS
  • QZSS
  • BeiDou
  • Galileo
  • Glonass
  • GPS
Height 6.24 inches (15.85 cm) 162.5 mm (6.40 inches)
Width 3.07 inches (78.0 mm) 74.8 mm (2.94 inches)
Depth 0.30 inches (7.6 mm) 8.6 mm (0.34 inches)
Weight 7.13 oz (202 g) 195 g (6.88 oz)
Colors Gold, Silver, Space Gray N/A
Supported Audio Formats AAC-LC, HE-AAC, HE-AAC v2, Protected AAC, MP3, Linear PCM, Apple Lossless, FLAC, Dolby Digital (AC-3), Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3), and Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+) MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DSF, DFF, APE
Supported Video Formats HEVC, H.264, MPEG-4 Part 2, and Motion JPEG MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM