The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is OFFICIAL and, like the rumours suggested, it is something of a beast. Pretty much everything you’ve read prior to launch was true as well, as the specs and hardware tally up nicely with what leakers were reporting since around April.

The camera on the Note 8 is a dual-sensor setup, a first for Samsung and, mercifully, it is still rocking a 3.5mm headphone jack (praise the lord). Though all these nifty updates come at a price – a price of £849.99. 

“Samsung’s launch of the Note 8 underlines its current confidence. It’s a testament to Samsung’s stubbornness and determination that the launch of the Note 8 cements its position as the leading Android smartphone maker drawing a clear line under the Note 7 problems," said Ben Wood, Chief of Research, CCS Insight.

He added: “The Note 8 joins the well-received S8 and S8+ arguably giving Samsung the best high-tier Android line-up of any manufacturer. The fact Samsung was prepared to continue using the Note brand shows its belief that there is significant pent up demand for another top-of-the-line flagship device alongside the rest of its smartphone portfolio.”

Apple is also expected to launch the iPhone 8 in September (alongside the iPhone 7s and iPhone 7s Plus), and likewise, it has been the subject of a long and increasingly intense period of leaks and rumours. However, with Apple being a much more secretive company, our impression of the iPhone 8 isn't quite as comprehensive at this stage. We know some things for certain, but other details remain a mystery or the subject of continued back-and-forth speculation and contradictory evidence. For example, a big question mark still hovers over whether or not it will have Touch ID, and where exactly, if so, the scanner button will be placed.

Several sources suggest that, up until VERY recently, Apple has still been deciding on a final design, meaning many key design features have remained up-in-the air. We have not been certain of the authenticity of such rumours, however, given the fact that Apple has long needed to get the iPhone 8 into production in order to meet the September launch bracket.

Logically, at this stage, the iPhone 8 has been in production for a while already, meaning the design must be finalised and complete.

There is a ton of competition in the smartphone space right now though, for both Samsung and Apple to contend with. The OnePlus 5 and HTC U11 are still relatively recently launched, but on top of that we have Andy Rubin's Essential Phone PH-1 as a newcomer with something of an Android pedigree and some very competetive specs. Then there's the imminent arrival of the Google Pixel 2 series in October AND Nokia's triumphant return to the smartphone space with the Android-based Nokia 8 flagship that has only just been launched.

For some people, however, the contest between Samsung and Apple as the two leaders (number one and number two spot in global sales, respectively) is the only one that matters. Some analysts believe that's going to change though, and that the lead of these two is slowing as the market diversifies!

In the meantime though, let's take a look at how two of 2017's biggest and most hotly rumoured phones stack up...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Specs

• Dimensions: 162.5 x 74.6 x 8.5mm
• Display: 6.3in Quad HD+ Super AMOLED, 2960x1440 Infinity Display (18.5:9 Aspect Ratio)
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (10nm) octa-core CPU OR Samsung Exynos 8995 (10nm) octa-core CPU - region dependent
• GPU: Adreno 540 (Qualcomm Snapdragon) OR ARM Mali-G71 (Samsung Exynos) - region dependent
• RAM:6GB
• Software: Android Nougat
• Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Type-C USB, NFC, GPS, Fingerprint scanner, Iris Scanner, Face Scanner
• Storage: 64GB, 128GB or 256GB - region dependent
• MicroSD: Yes
• Primary Camera: Dual-12MP, f/1.7 and f/2.4 apertures, 1/2.3" sensor size, 1.55µm pixel size, Dual-Pixel Phase Detection Autofocus, OIS, 2x optical zoom, touch focus, face/smile detection, Auto HDR, panorama, 2160p video @30fps, 1080p video @60fps
• Secondary Camera: 8MP with autofocus, f/1.7 aperture, Auto HDR, 1440p video @30fps
• Battery: 3,300mAh
• Other: IP68 Certified (Water & Dust Resistant), S-Pen Stylus

iPhone 8 Rumoured & Leaked Specs

• Display: 5.8in 2800 x 1242 OLED
• Storage: 64GB and 256GB
• CPU and RAM: A11 processor, 3GB RAM
• Front Camera: 8MP
• Rear Camera: 12MP dual lens, 4K video recording
• Extras: FaceID, wireless charging

Essentially we know the iPhone 8 will feature a brand new A11 processor, and we also know it will use an edge-to-edge OLED display provided by Samsung. In the past the rumours said it was curved, but sources suggest Apple ditched the curvature in favour of a flat implementation. The above design is based on numerous leaked schematics and dummies of the final product, the kind of stuff sent out to case makers so they can build accessories which fit, so we have good reason to believe it is the real deal in terms of aesthetics.

We still don't know what the deal is with the Touch ID scanner though, some sources suggest it may have been dropped in favour of a 3D face and iris scanning technology possibly dubbed "FaceID". It's believed Apple could not successfully implement in-screen fingerprint scanner technology but wanted to preserve the edge-to-edge OLED panel. The only other options speculated include embedding the scanner in either the back panel or the side-mounted power key, neither of which has been apparent so far.

A bulk of sources also point to fast charging and wireless charging, a dual-sensor camera is practically confirmed at this point too, as is 3GB of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 vs iPhone 8 – Samsung Outlines Note 8's USPs

Here's the official line via Samsung:

“We appreciate the relentless passion of the Note community. They’ve been a constant inspiration to us and we designed the new Note for them,” said DJ Koh, president of Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “From the Infinity Display to the enhanced S Pen and a powerful Dual Camera, the Galaxy Note8 lets people do things they never thought were possible.”

And the Galaxy Note 8's main selling points:

• Water and Dust Resistance: Four years ago, Samsung introduced the first Galaxy device with water resistance. And today, you can take your Note almost anywhere you want with water and dust resistance (IP685) on the device and the S Pen. You can write even when the display is wet.
• Fast Wireless Charging: Two years ago, Samsung introduced the first Galaxy device with wireless charging. The Galaxy Note8 supports the most advanced wireless charging capabilities yet, so you can get a quick, convenient charge6 without having to mess around with ports or wires.
• Security: The Galaxy Note8 offers a choice of biometric authentication options—including iris and fingerprint scanning. Samsung Knox7 provides defence-grade security at the hardware and software layers and with Secure Folder, keeps your personal and professional data separate.
• Powerful Performance: With 6GB RAM, a 10nm processor, and expandable memory (up to 256GB), you have the power you need to browse, stream, play games, and multitask.
• Innovative Mobile Experiences: Samsung DeX enables a desktop experience, powered by your phone. You can keep your files on your device, conduct work on the go, and use Samsung DeX when you need an even bigger screen. The Galaxy Note8 includes Bixby8, a smarter way to use your phone; it learns from you, improves over time, and helps you get more done.

You can now pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 at Carphone Warehouse – they have A LOT of deals, ranging from as little as £49 a month right up to £70. 

If you're something of a pimp and want to pick one up off-contract, prices start at £849, then you can do so by going directly to Samsung.