This review is a collaboration between Chris and Jason, who respectively have been reviewing the Galaxy S9+ in Lilac Purple, and the smaller Galaxy S9 in Midnight Black. There’s more than just size between them; the larger Galaxy S9+ features two rear cameras (a first for Samsung’s Galaxy S line, though Note 8 had it last year), as well as a larger battery and more RAM. Some of this is to be expected a larger body needn’t mean just a larger screen but some of it is a welcome inclusion. The two rear cameras, for example, make for some fantastic photography.
There is, however, an element of “same same” here. In the hand, custodia iphone 7 adidas there’s very little between last year’s Samsung Galaxy S8 and this year’s Galaxy S9. In fact, with a case, they’re visually indistinguishable. It feels a bit like we’re reaching a bit of a slowdown in innovation in the mobile space, and while there’s little doubt Samsung has worked some magic in “reimagining” the camera, the difference zalando cover iphone 6 plus between the video di cover per iphone 5 S8 and S9 is nowhere near the difference between say the S5 and S6, or even S6 and S7.
When phones are so expensive the top spec Galaxy S9+ tops out at just shy of $1,500 it almost feels like we’re entitled to a bit more innovation than we’re receiving. However, one wonders what smartphone manufacturers could usefully innovate on to keep us satisfied. That’s a question for another day.
What’s inside a Galaxy S9
First, what’s outside. As has become a bit of a trend, Samsung’s Galaxy S9 range is IP68 certified, meaning it can take a dip in the pool, get all dirty, and take a shower to freshen up. This should be the de facto standard in smartphones which are let’s face it designed to be taken and used literally everywhere.
Australian Galaxy S9’s feature only a single SIM option, though in overseas markets, a dual SIM option will be available. It’s a shame the outright models sold here aren’t dual SIM, because the only reason they all aren’t is because of cranky carriers.
The other major differences are size 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5mm for the Galaxy S9+, and 147.7 x 68.7 phone cover x 8.5mm for the smaller Galaxy S9, and weight 189g vs 163g. The display, too, accounts for much of the size difference. There’s a large 6.2 inch SAMOLED in the S9+, and a smaller (though not by much) 5.8 inch in the S9.
It’s after this that the differences essentially stop. Both phones feature Samsung’s in house Exynos 9810 in Australia and across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with limited markets (USA and China) receiving Snapdragon 845 processors instead. In practice, there should be no noticeable difference between the two configurations, and if anything, the Exynos chip is on paper, at least, custodia iphone 7 lifeproof slightly faster.
4GB of RAM is standard cover samsung a 5 2016 for the S9, which jumps to 6GB for the S9+, though the difference isn’t really all that obvious to the user. The primary rear camera, too, is the same a 12MP camera with variable f/1.5 to f/2.4 aperture, a first for smartphone cameras. The Galaxy S9+ comes with a second 12MP camera with fixed f/2.4 aperture and 55mm equivalent telephoto lens (which can achieve some interesting results, see below).
Front cameras iphone 8 back cover glass are the same (8MP, f/1.7), USB C is standard, as with all the standard range of connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.0.
It really should come as no surprise that Samsung’s thrown the best of everything inside the Galaxy S9 range. Probably the only disappointment is the slightly lacklustre battery capacities only 3,500 mAh in the Galaxy S9+, and 500 mAh less for the S9 but given Samsung’s past experience with batteries, perhaps not overdoing it is a wise move.
It worth noting, though, that while the battery capacities probablycould be a little higher, the Galaxy S9+ (at least) will last all day with reasonable use. For those who hammer their phones, fast charging is supported and can add an awful lot of juice in a short time, and you don have to use Samsung own charger to access it even the Pixel USB C charger, or any generic cigarette lighter fast charger car adaptor will charge it quicky. This makes a big difference.
What runs the Galaxy S9 range
Though Android 8.1 is the latest official platform at the moment, Samsung’s Galaxy S9 range runs on Android 8.0 with Samsung’s User Experience 9.0 on top. Gone is the gaudy crap of early Galaxy S phones, and the inconsistency of Grace UX . Samsung’s simply named User Experience is simple, iphone 5s cover apple elegant, and far from the over the top junk that Samsung used to throw on its expensive handsets.
The lack of Android 8.1 isn’t a huge thing; the latest security apple store cover iphone 7 updates are a given, despite not being the latest point release. In fact, there’s remarkably few features for phones that aren’t Google’s own, so Android 8.0 shouldn’t be a concern to you at all. There’s every likelihood that the Galaxy S9 will receive a major update to Android P (probably around end custodia cover huawei p8 lite of 2018, early 2019), cover iphone 5c queen just as Galaxy S8 owners are receiving an Oreo update at the moment.
The inclusion of Treble support which should make major Android updates significantly quicker and easier for OEMs like Samsung could, potentially, see the Galaxy S9 updated more quickly, and perhaps for longer. Instead of taking nine months to release a major update, Samsung could conceivably do it cover subacquea iphone 5s in just one or two. Treble is so new, though, that we simply don’t know how it will affect OEM software updates yet.
At this stage, I wouldn’t expect the Galaxy S9 range to be updated beyond Android P; unlike Google’s commitment to make its phones useful for three years or so, Samsung is still coming to terms with two. That said, technology despite not innovating all custodia per iphone 5s in pelle that much huawei p30 hoesje is moving fast enough that two badge pokemon years is still cover iphone 8 plus a long time in smartphones, and in two years time, you’ll be wanting something new. Even Google’s original Pixel is looking dated, and it’s only 18 months old so don’t panic about the perceived lack of longevity.
What are the stand out features
Besides the camera which gets its own focus section, below there’s a few welcome changes from 2017’s Galaxy S8 which make the Galaxy S9 a vastly better purchase. Mostly, they’re little things rather than complete overhauls, but they matter.
For starters, though Samsung moved the fingerprint reader to the rear in the Galaxy S8 a very, very welcome change it did something monumentally dumb. It placed the fingerprint sensor RIGHT next to the camera lens, meaning that most people simply put their oily digits on the lens instead of the fingerprint sensor. Samsung was seemingly aware it stuffed up, as the camera app helpfully reminded users that “oily deposits” left on the lens made for less than ideal photos.
In 2018, they fixed that, and the fingerprint sensor is now in a more natural position (and, a more common one too) below the camera sensors. This means that it’s much easier to find with your finger, and it’s thus much amazon custodia iphone 7 a libro harder to get fingerprints all over your camera lens.
Some of the stand iphone 6 nero cover out features are little more than gimmicks, but others show that Samsung has listened to feedback and thrown in many useful features that users want.
Samsung also slimmed the bezels, worked in stereo front facing speakers for cover samsung galaxy s6 edge disney media consumers, and even threw in a slimline TPU case in the box. In short, most of the things that people had been asking for, or wanting, for years, Samsung has now included.
Like I say, these are little things. The TPU case probably costs cents, slimming bezels is (relatively) easy enough to do, and an extra speaker component and working the space to put itundoubtedly mean engineering, but still, easy enough.
Other changes up to you whether they’re welcome or not include a new colour (Lilac Purple), though the carriers will only be ranging the Midnight Black colour. If you want colours, you’ll need to buy outright from places like how i met your mother cover iphone JB HiFi or the Samsung stores.
The other change which is probably not welcome is the pricing. Samsung has kept the premium pricing for the Galaxy S9 range, and it has gone up a bit since last year, too. Last year, the Galaxy S8+ topped out at $1,349. This year, it’s $1,499. For that extra $150 (comparing launch pricing, rather than the much cheaper S8+ today) there’s not a hell of a lot extra.
The good thing is that outright purchase isn’t your only choice, and with so many carrier offers and special deals around, the Galaxy S9 can be despite custodia cover samsung s7 its significant price quite affordable…