Earlier today in New York City, Samsung showed off its newest do-it-all smartphone, the Galaxy Note 8. Now, I’m not normally one for mega-huge “phablet” phones, but the Note 8 caught my eye with a few really slick features that could make a hectic day of juggling work, family, and fun just a wee bit easier. If you’re into that sort of thing. ?

Always-on display

Even if you have your phone locked, the screen remains active, showing you important bits of info like the time and notification icons. This lets you see what’s happening at a glance without having to actually grab your phone and push a button. It’s been a staple of the Galaxy phones for a while now, but the big beautiful edge-to-edge display of the Note 8 just makes it all the more useful.

Screen off memo mode

I love having a smartphone with me at all times, but sometimes if I need to jot down a note or remind myself about something, I’d just rather have a pen and paper. The Note 8 is kind of like the best of both worlds, and its new Screen Off Memo mode lets you use the S Pen stylus to scribble up to 100 pages of notes right on the front of the phone. No navigating to a specific app or opening a to-do list — just grab the S Pen and write! It’s so, so simple.

Dual-capture cameraThe Note 8 has not one but two camera lenses, just like the iPhone “Plus” sized phones. It also has a feature that’s a bit like Apple’s Portrait Mode for snapping photos with whimsical, blurry backgrounds that make selfies really pop. What the Note 8 does different is that it captures both the standard and fancy versions of the photo, and lets you tweak the effect after the fact, so you can preserve the original for whenever you might want it.

Strong against water and dustClose calls with soda spills and sink drops have left me confused when it comes to smartphone durability. These gadgets are with us all the time, so shouldn’t they be built to withstand just about anything? The Note 8 makes good progress on that front, with water and dust resistance that rivals any smartphone on the market, and it can take up to a half hour soak in as deep as one and a half meters of water before it croaks, so you can breathe easy if a carless kid causes a countertop spill.

The Note 8 is already up for pre-order at wireless carriers and electronics outlets in the US and Europe, and the phone will formally launch on September 15th.

Do you care? Will you buy it? How do you think it stacks up against the next iPhone 8 coming out soon too? Be sure to let us know via social media!