The Samsung Galaxy S9 flagship has finally been unveiled at the MWC 2018 event in Barcelona, Spain, after a long wait. It was made available together with the larger Galaxy S9 Plus version. The phone has a better camera but roughly the same functionality as the previous Samsung Galaxy S8. The Samsung Galaxy S9 shares a similar appearance with its predecessor but offers more functions thanks to an expanded AI presence. As we go through each function on this smartphone one at a time, please join me.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Key Specs and Features
- 5.8-inch, Super-AMOLED Display, 1440 X 2960 pixels (570 ppi)
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) with 4GB RAM
- Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 845 (USA & China), Octa-core Exynos 9810 (EMEA)
- 64GB / 128GB / 256GB built-in storage and support memory card up to 200GB
- 12MP Rear Camera
- 8MP front camera
- 4G LTE
- Fingerprint sensor (rear)
- Wireless charging
- Water and Dust Proof (IP68 certification)
- 3,000 mAh Non Removable Li-ion Battery
Design and Display
The Samsung Galaxy S9 maintains the same beautiful premium build as its predecessor in terms of appearance. Additionally, it combines metal and glass for a sophisticated and fashionable smartphone.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 feels more luxurious in the hand even though it is a 9th generation Samsung Galaxy smartphone because it is slightly thicker and heavier.
Although the fingerprint sensor has been moved to the side but is still a component of the camera module, which is rare, the fingerprint sensor was previously criticized for being in an inconvenient position at the side of the camera.
Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, and Coral Blue are the colors that are available for the Samsung Galaxy S9, albeit not all colors may be offered in every country.
With a more deliberate effort from Samsung to conceal the sensors further, the top bezel also appears to be a little smaller than previously. The Samsung Galaxy S9 keeps the 3.5mm audio jack, which is great considering several recent premium flagships have abandoned it.
The Android phone has IP68 certification, which means it is dustproof and can withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes.
An Infinity Display
One of the best features of the Samsung Galaxy S9 flagship is its bright, vibrant display, which is identical except that it measures 5.8 inches instead of 6. The 18.5:9 aspect ratio is still present, allowing you to enjoy extra screen real estate without being overly huge.
The Super AMOLED display defaults to full HD resolution in order to save power, but if you prefer the maximum 2960 X 1440 pixels (570 ppi) and don’t worry about battery life, you may alter this in the settings.
Additionally, you have that curved display that is free of obstructions on the sides, which, upon closer inspection, is kind of charming. For scratch resistance and ease of damage, the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 is available in the Samsung Galaxy S9.
The display delivers a screen that is almost completely bezel-free from edge to edge, giving the appearance of an infinite display. Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy S9 has an Always On feature that keeps the time and date visible even when the screen is locked.
The Always on Display can be altered to show more or less data. HDR10 and 3D Touch are also supported on the screen’s home button.
Battery and Camera
Even if we wished the Samsung Galaxy S9’s battery had a bigger capacity, it only has a 3, 000mAh capacity.
This was a slight issue with its predecessor, but the configuration conserves battery and still supports Quick Charge 2.0 utilizing the USB Type-C connector. Additionally, Qi / PMA wireless charging is supported.
For the Galaxy S9, Samsung claims a Wi-Fi usage time of up to 14 hours. With 4G and 3G, you could use the internet for up to 12 hours and 11 hours, respectively. Additionally, Samsung Galaxy S9 touts a 16-hour video playback time.
Two Good Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy S9’s camera features stronger AI integration, which is more common in high-end flagship models looking to provide the next-generation capturing experience.
A new 12MP rear camera with a DRAM chip installed on top is also available. This provides electricity straight to the camera, which results in a significantly faster processing speed. The dual aperture technology, which alternates between an f/1.5 and f/2.4, is yet another fantastic feature.
This is based on the brightness of the surrounding area; it uses a smaller aperture to produce a better image when there is a lot of light and a bigger one when there is less light. The Samsung Galaxy S9’s ability to record in slow motion up to 960 frames per second in 720p was another feature that was displayed at the MWC 2018 event.
Although this is interesting, the timing to catch the really quick moves is a challenge. The motion detector, which initiates the recording once motion is detected, provides the solution. At 240 frames per second, you can also capture Slo-Mo in 1080p full HD.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 can record 4k videos at either 30 or 60 frames per second. The same pace can be used to record Full HD videos as well.
The Samsung Galaxy S9’s rear camera additionally features optical image stabilization and an 8X digital zoom. The camera also has a built-in background blur feature, also known as a Bokeh effect.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 offers a better selfie experience than the previous model by aiding in the reduction of noise in photographs. A 8MP sensor is used by the smartphone to produce superior wide-angle selfies.
The Bixby Vision, which enables real-time translation of texts from languages other than your own into those languages, is another highlight. Samsung also claimed that the camera can assist you in estimating the number of calories in your diet, however it is currently unclear exactly how it achieves this.
Software and Hardware
Depending on your country, the Samsung Galaxy S9 provides two distinct options under the hood. While, let’s say, in the USA, some carriers could not be compatible with a specific chipset.
The Samsung is shipping with two distinct SoCs to prevent this. You have an Octa-core Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 845 processor with an Adreno 630 GPU for consumers in the USA and China. A Mali-G72 MP18 GPU is included on the Octa-core Exynos 9810 chipset for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) area.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 has 4GB of RAM, which, in my opinion, is plenty for a fluid performance. Additionally, you have internal storage options of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. For more capacity, the smartphone is compatible with memory cards up to 400GB.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 uses the Samsung Experience UI, formerly known as TouchWiz, to run Android 8.0 Oreo. DeX, which supports desktop experiences, is also included. Knox provides real-time security monitoring and protection as well. Additionally, you can make protected folders that need biometric scanning (such as iris or fingerprint scanning) in order to access them.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 includes Samsung Pay out of the box for quick and secure mobile payments.
The smartphone features USB Type C, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and dual-band Wi-Fi.
Up to 1200 Mbps Download Speed
The Samsung Galaxy S9 supports LTE Cat 18, which offers download and upload speeds of 1200 Mbps and 200 Mbps, respectively. This translates to incredibly quick surfing and video streaming.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 will be able to use LTE in Nigeria on all networks, including MTN, Glo Mobile, Airtel, 9Mobile, Ntel, Smile, and others.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Price and Availability
In Nigeria, the Samsung Galaxy S9 costs roughly 105,000 Naira. In the US, the device costs about $155; in the UK, it costs 148 GBP; in Kenya, it costs 29,000 KSh; and in Ghana, it costs 1,499 GHS.
Announcing the Samsung Galaxy S9 at the 2018 Mobile World Congress. On March 16, it began its global introduction with a starting price of approximately £739, or 373, 000 Naira. This is far less expensive than Apple’s current flagship, the iPhone X. As of right now, you may purchase the Samsung Galaxy S9 in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana via reputable online retailers like Jumia.