This Galaxy Note 8 is so exclusive, you can't even buy it

This special-edition of Samsung's Galaxy Note 8 is only available to athletes participating in this year's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Lynn La

Feb. 9, 2018 7:00 a.m. PT

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Josh Miller/CNET

Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

In honor of the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic games, Samsung will donate a Galaxy Note 8 to every athlete participating in the games.

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Josh Miller/CNET

Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

Unlike Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge Olympic Games Limited Edition phone from 2016, it's available only to athletes -- consumers won't be able to get their hands on it.

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Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

The endeavor has put the South Korean company in quite a bind in that it may violate UN sanctions against two countries: North Korea and Iran.

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Josh Miller/CNET

Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

The limited edition phone includes a special Olympic logo on the back and Olympic-themed wallpaper.

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Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

But the phone's hardware remains identical to the Note 8 that's commercially available, including an embedded S Pen stylus.

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Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

In addition, there's a preloaded app called Pyeong Chang 2018 (after the county where the games are held in South Korea).

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Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

The app offers the latest Olympic news, lists event schedules, and lets athletes keep track of medals awarded, their favorite Olympic events and countries.

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Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

A look at the menu items in the preloaded Olympic app.

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Josh Miller/CNET

Galaxy Note 8 Olympic Edition

For the time being, it is unclear whether or not Samsung will go ahead and give the phones to North Korean and Iranian athletes, decline giving the phones to them or require the athletes to return the phones after the games are over.

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