The overall experience between the WiFi-only Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and the AT&T model is close to the same, however there is one key difference. That difference is in the connectivity. In addition to having WiFi, the AT&T branded Galaxy Note 8.0 also brings connectivity for the 4G LTE network. The Galaxy Note 8.0 came available with AT&T a short while back and as a result, we have recently spent some hands-on time with the tablet.
Aside from the addition of the LTE connectivity, this model of the Galaxy Note 8.0 also includes a few carrier branded apps. A few of the AT&T apps include myAT&T and AT&T Locker. The myAT&T app will allow you to track your current usage, review (and pay) your bill and also update your account. The AT&T Locker app is a cloud solution. This brings 5GB of free storage space for files to include documents, images and videos. There is also a widget that will keep you informed of your data usage.
Of course, you will need an active AT&T SIM and account to get those LTE speeds. Those purchasing the tablet from AT&T will have that card already in place, however that SIM card slot sits on the side of the tablet concealed by a trap door style opening. While it was nice having the LTE speeds for the always available connection, it is important to remember those speeds will vary from market to market and from time to time.
Otherwise, the Galaxy Note 8.0 has a look similar to that of the Galaxy S 4, but with one of the main features being the S Pen. In the case of the Galaxy Note 8.0, this S Pen functionality means the ability to hover to open a preview. For example, hovering over an image in the Flipboard app will give you a preview of the attached story. The Galaxy Note 8.0 capacitive buttons are also capable of being tapped with the S Pen.
As the WiFi only and AT&T models of the Galaxy Note 8.0 are very similar, we should also point you to our earlier review to get a full and complete picture of the experience. In this case we had an initial unboxing and hands-on as well as a full and in-depth review of the Galaxy Note 8.0.
