Whether you should buy Samsung S9 or not, depends on whether you already own the Samsung S7/S8 or a similar iPhone product. In this case, you are better off with your current device. Improvements are only incremental and will not justify maxing out your credit card.
Yet, if you decide to make a significant upgrade from another company or an earlier device, such as an S5, it is a world away. Read on to learn what you will get for the hefty price tag (around $900) that will most likely send you first to Crediful.com looking for financing options.
Design and Display
Get ready for a substantial screen-to-body ratio (83.6%) with extremely narrow bezels. The diagonal is the standard 5.8 inches, and it comes with a stunning QHD+ 2960 x 1440) display of AMOLED panel, which has become Samsung’s trademark for a few years now.
The screen looks sharp, delivers excellent contrasts, scoring perfectly on the colorimeter and reaching 300cd/m2 on energy saving mode and up to 990cd/m2 in full brightness.
Performance and battery life
The Samsung S9 comes with either the Snapdragon 845 which is an octa-core supporting 4K at 60 fps. Performance benchmarks show that it lags a bit behind either Apple iPhone X or even Sony Xperia XZ2. Yet, the processor paired with 4GB of RAM is a powerhouse, and it’s Samsung’s best performing device up to date. Compared to S8 there is at least a 25% improvement in scores in stress tests. Yet, this will not be obvious for the average user, on casual requirements.
Also Read: Samsung Gear Sport Smartwatch – Review
The performance takes its toll on battery life. The review from TechRadar deemed it as disappointing. The 3000mAh is the same as the one found in S8. You can expect about 8 hours of battery left at 70%, but background processes can make that number drop faster than expected. The only good news related to battery life is the fast charging option which is also wireless.
Camera
The only legitimate reason to get a Samsung S9 (or an S9+ if you fancy the 6.2 frame) is its camera. The highlight is the adjustable-aperture which is more similar to a DSLR, than a smartphone camera. The other features are identical to what we were used, a 12-megapixel sensor and optical image stabilization.
Measured in f-stops, aperture shows just how much light can pass through. The f/1.5 which is the widest available on a smartphone is useful in low-light environments. Tests show that even in the darkest settings the camera was able to perform outstandingly. Conversely, the f/2.4 is excellent on sunny days to avoid washed-out colors.
If you are interested more in the video features, you can rejoice since the camera is able to record 720p at 960 fps for some extreme slow-mo.
Security
Jumping on the biometric bandwagon, Samsung brings to its users the “Intelligent scan” which reunites in the Samsung S9 the iris and facial recognition features. Practically, if one authentication method fails, the phone automatically switches to the other one, reducing the user’s frustration. This change is great, especially in low light environments.
The fingerprint sensor has been upgraded, now you only need to swap twice to register. You will now have a dedicated fingerprint as an additional layer of security for the Secure Folder.
Special features
The Desktop Experience (DeX) Pad is a revolution since it turns a smartphone into a computer. Considering that modern phones have the same power of average laptops from five years ago, this idea is not so far-fetched. The interaction between the phone and peripherals needs to be fine-tuned, but it can definitely be a great business gear.
Another nascent feature is Bixby, the AI assistant. The producer’s website claims that it talks, sees, and is able to offer appropriate recommendations. The most refreshing feature about Bixby so far is that it can tell the difference between individuals talking to it and is aware of context.
The bottom line is that you should only think about getting the new Samsung S9 if you are currently holding an outdated device.
