Huawei Mate 8 vs Samsung Galaxy Note: Key Differences

The Huawei Mate 8 and the Samsung Galaxy Note series (specifically the Galaxy Note 5, its direct contemporary) differ most significantly in design philosophy, software experience, and battery strategy. The Mate 8 prioritizes a large battery and a clean, stock-like interface, while the Galaxy Note 5 focuses on productivity features like the S Pen and a more polished, feature-rich software suite. This article compares the two to help you decide which better fits your needs.

Background and Release Context

The Huawei Mate 8 was announced in November 2015 as the successor to the Mate 7, targeting the premium large-screen market. It was powered by Huawei’s own Kirin 950 chipset, which was notable for its efficiency and strong performance at the time. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5, released in August 2015, was the fifth iteration of Samsung’s phablet line, designed to compete directly with the iPhone 6s Plus and other large-screen flagships. Both phones were launched within months of each other, making them natural rivals in the Android flagship space.

Design and Build Quality

The two phones take different approaches to materials and ergonomics. The Mate 8 features an aluminum unibody with a brushed metal finish and chamfered edges, giving it a professional, understated look. It measures 157.1 x 80.6 x 7.9 mm and weighs 185 g. The Galaxy Note 5 uses a glass front and back with a metal frame, a design that feels more premium but is also more fragile. It is slightly smaller and lighter at 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm and 171 g. The Note 5’s curved back and narrower width make it easier to hold despite its large screen, while the Mate 8’s flat back feels more secure in the hand but is noticeably wider.

Display and Multimedia

Both phones have 5.7-inch displays, but they use different technologies. The Mate 8 uses an IPS-NEO LCD with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (386 ppi). It offers accurate colors and good viewing angles, but blacks are not as deep as on an AMOLED. The Galaxy Note 5 uses a Super AMOLED panel with a higher resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels (518 ppi). This results in sharper text and more vibrant colors, with true blacks and excellent contrast. For media consumption, the Note 5’s display is generally considered superior, but the Mate 8’s LCD is still very good and consumes less power at high brightness.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Mate 8 is powered by the Kirin 950 octa-core processor (four Cortex-A72 cores at 2.3 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz) with a Mali-T880 MP4 GPU. It comes with 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD. The Galaxy Note 5 uses Samsung’s Exynos 7420 octa-core processor (four Cortex-A57 cores at 2.1 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz) with a Mali-T760 MP8 GPU. It has 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of storage, but no microSD slot. In benchmarks, the Exynos 7420 generally edges out the Kirin 950 in GPU performance, while the Kirin 950 is slightly more power-efficient. For everyday tasks, both are smooth, but the Note 5 has a slight edge in gaming and heavy multitasking.

Battery and Charging

Battery life is a major differentiator. The Mate 8 packs a 4000 mAh battery, which, combined with the efficient Kirin 950 and lower-resolution display, easily lasts a full day and often into a second day with moderate use. The Galaxy Note 5 has a smaller 3000 mAh battery, and while the Exynos 7420 is efficient, the higher-resolution screen and feature-rich software take a toll. In real-world usage, the Note 5 typically needs a charge by evening. Both support fast charging, but the Mate 8’s larger capacity gives it a clear advantage for heavy users. The Note 5 also supports wireless charging, which the Mate 8 lacks.

Software and Features

Software is where the two diverge most. The Mate 8 runs EMUI 4.0 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which heavily skins the interface to resemble iOS, with no app drawer by default and a Settings menu that consolidates options. It is clean but takes some getting used to. The Galaxy Note 5 runs TouchWiz (later renamed Samsung Experience) based on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, which is more feature-rich but also more cluttered. The Note 5’s standout feature is the S Pen, which supports hover previews, screen-off memos, and smart select. The Mate 8 has no stylus, but it offers a fingerprint sensor on the back that is fast and reliable, and it supports dual-SIM cards (hybrid slot). Samsung’s fingerprint sensor is on the home button and works well, but the software is less customizable than EMUI.

Camera Comparison

The camera systems also differ. The Mate 8 has a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 8-megapixel front camera. It produces sharp, detailed photos in good light, but low-light performance is average, with noticeable noise. The Galaxy Note 5 has a 16-megapixel rear camera with OIS and a 5-megapixel front camera. Samsung’s camera software is more mature, offering faster autofocus, better dynamic range, and superior low-light shots. The Note 5 also supports 4K video recording, while the Mate 8 is limited to 1080p. For photography enthusiasts, the Note 5 is the clear winner.

How to Choose Between Them

Your choice depends on your priorities:

Battery life: Choose the Mate 8 if you need all-day (or two-day) battery life.
Stylus and productivity: Choose the Galaxy Note 5 if you want the S Pen for note-taking and precise editing.
Display quality: Choose the Note 5 for its sharper AMOLED screen.
Expandable storage: Choose the Mate 8 if you need a microSD slot (Note 5 lacks it).
Software cleanliness: Choose the Mate 8 if you prefer a simpler, more iOS-like interface.
Camera performance: Choose the Note 5 for better low-light and video capabilities.

Common Problems and Considerations

Both phones have known issues. The Mate 8’s EMUI has been criticized for aggressive background app killing, which can delay notifications. The Note 5 has a non-removable battery and no expandable storage, and its glass back is prone to cracking if dropped. Also, the Note 5’s S Pen can get stuck if inserted backwards, a well-documented design flaw. Neither phone received major Android updates beyond their initial versions, so security updates are limited today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Huawei Mate 8 better than the Galaxy Note 5?

It depends on your needs. The Mate 8 has better battery life and expandable storage, while the Note 5 has a better display, camera, and the S Pen. For most users, the Note 5 is the more capable device, but the Mate 8 is more practical for heavy users.

Can I use the S Pen on the Mate 8?

No, the Mate 8 does not have a stylus or any S Pen support. It is a standard touchscreen phone without digitizer technology.

Which phone has a better battery?

The Mate 8 has a 4000 mAh battery versus 3000 mAh in the Note 5. Combined with its more efficient processor and lower-resolution screen, the Mate 8 lasts significantly longer on a single charge.

Does the Galaxy Note 5 support expandable storage?

No, the Note 5 does not have a microSD slot. You must choose between 32GB or 64GB internal storage. The Mate 8 offers expandable storage via a hybrid SIM slot.

Are these phones still usable in 2024?

Both phones are outdated and lack modern security patches. They can still make calls, run basic apps, and browse the web, but they are not recommended for banking or sensitive tasks due to security vulnerabilities.

Which has a better camera for low-light photography?

The Galaxy Note 5 has a better low-light camera thanks to its larger pixel size and more advanced image processing. The Mate 8’s camera struggles in dim conditions, producing softer and noisier images.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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