Samsung Galaxy S9 review

Read our full review to find out how the Samsung Galaxy S9 differs, what our opinion of it is and whether it's worth the money.
Added by on 02.26.18 | Last update 12.13.21
Samsung Galaxy S9 ревю
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Intro

Like its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S9 looks superb and flawless. Even with such a large display, it lies pleasantly in the user's palm. The image quality is beyond doubt, as is the quality of the photos. It is excellent. What exactly the Galaxy S9 offers us we will look at in the following lines. 

Before reading the full review, you can familiarize yourself with the detailed Samsung Galaxy S9 specs or watch the video below the article.

Specifications

  • Release date: 2018, February
  • Colors: Midnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue
  • Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm.
  • Weight: 163 g.
  • Screen: 5.8" inc, 1440 x 2960, Super AMOLED
  • Camera : Single, 12MP
  • Chipset: Exynos 9810 Octa (10 nm)
  • CPU: Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEA
    Octa-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
  • Memory: 64/128/256 GB, 4 GB RAM
  • Battery: 3000,  Non-removable Li-Ion
  • Network: GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
  • Operating system: Android 8.0 (Oreo)
  • Sensors: Iris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2

Design 

The South Korean manufacturer has been using design as a key advantage of its phone models for several years now. This approach has definitely reaped success. Proof of this is that the flagship model design can now be seen in some A series models. 

If before the release of the Galaxy S9 on the market there were rumors that its appearance would not change significantly, then after its appearance we actually made sure that this is the case. The situation is similar with two other Samsung models - the Galaxy Note 8 and the Galaxy A8. 

Curiously, despite the extreme similarity between the new and old models, the company's designers managed to attract the attention of consumers. There is no way that a model from the Galaxy series will not be distinguished from other devices on the market. 

Galaxy S9 has received a metal construction, which has glass on both sides. There is a decorative glass on the back of the device and a curved AMOLED display on the front. 

Unlike Apple, Samsung has taken a different approach with the screen. Small bezels have been kept at the top and bottom of the panel. They're not obnoxiously thick and almost blend into the off display. Even in Always On mode, the Galaxy S9's front panel looks as one. If the charge and message notification LEDs aren't lit, the front of the device is devoid of dominant visual elements. On the rear panel, of course, the logo and camera unit stand out. 

In the Galaxy S9, the company has used quality glass, which nevertheless collects the user's fingerprints. Therefore, it is advisable to put the device in a case. 

Display 

An important element in the success of the Galaxy S9 is the screen. Its quality determines not only the comfort in the process of using the smartphone, but also the sparing of the user's vision. The Super AMOLED screens that are used in Samsung smartphones are a proprietary development and contain organic LEDs rather than the usual liquid crystals at their core. 

This makes these displays brighter but not unnaturally contrasty. In the sun with them, information is effortless to read. The black colour is as natural as possible, as the technology switches off the LEDs completely to visualise the dark elements of the image. 

The Galaxy S9 features a 5.8-inch screen with a resolution of 2960 x 1440 (Quad HD+), a pixel density of 570 ppi. At the time of the model's appearance on the market, no competing device had such an indicator. The high density makes the image detail maximum. 

We must mention the tempered Corning Gorilla Glass 5, rounded on the sides. The solution is so interesting that even if the phone is lying with the screen down, the user can see information about missed calls, messages or even notifications.

Performance 

The Galaxy S9 uses the company's Exynos 9810 as the processor. It significantly enhances the performance of the device. The processor handles running all kinds of programs with ease - whether they are lighter or heavier, resource-intensive, etc. The smartphone can simultaneously play music from any application, run a game on it in parallel and turn on screen recording mode. 

We must also take into account the amazing Quad HD+ screen resolution. It draws on the resources of the processor, but without harming other functionalities. This is explained in one way - by the characteristics of the Exynos 9810. It includes 4 cores clocked at 2.7 GHz and 4 cores clocked at 1.7 GHz. 

Memory

The Galaxy S9 has 4 GB of RAM. It is fast and in multi-tasking mode does not slow down the performance of the device. The internal storage is 64 GB. If you are low on memory, you can use a memory card with up to 400 GB. 

Camera 

The pride of the Galaxy S9 are the cameras. The main one has a resolution of 12 MP. This is the smartphone's first camera with a variable aperture. The latter allows to control the flow of light falling on the sensor. Until now, fixed aperture lenses were used in phones. 

By adjusting the aperture, the user can change the depth of field of the photo and also take better quality subject photos. For example, in darkness, it is advisable to open the aperture as wide as possible. With this innovation, you can also take photos with a bokeh effect without a second lens. To do this, quickly take two photos with different degrees of aperture opening and you get a blurred background. Samsung has made sure that the photo quality is better when you shoot in light deficient conditions. 

The main camera can save photos in RAW and JPG formats, and 4K resolution when recording video.

The front camera of the Galaxy S9 is an 8-megapixel one. It records video at 1440 resolution. 

With this Samsung model, entertainment is an integral part of everyday life. For this, use AR-emoji, a mode where you can create personal emoji and use them in messengers. 

Autonomous operation 

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is equipped with a Type-C port. The battery capacity is 3000 mAh. It's not the most opening stock on the market, but with 100% charge you can use the smartphone all day in intensive mode.

The device supports fast and wireless charging feature. 

Scanners 

You can unlock the Galaxy S9 using a handy technology that brings together the facial recognition feature and the eye's retina scanner. The smartphone automatically selects the optimal way to identify the user. For this purpose, it orients itself according to the situation and the ambient light level. 

Protection 

The model has received a high level of protection against the ingress of water and dust inside the housing. For 30 minutes, the user can hold the device under water to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters. 

With Galaxy S9, it is no problem to talk and write messages to friends and relatives even when it is raining outside. 

Conclusion 

The Galaxy S9 is yet another Samsung flagship!

Pros:

  • Quality display;
  • Top performance;
  • Excellent cameras; 
  • AR-emoji;
  • Fast and wireless charging technologies. 

Disadvantages: 

  • Could work on autonomy and photo quality. 

Samsung Galaxy S9 video review

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on our team's personal experience with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and third-party sources. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, readers should keep in mind that this is a subjective assessment. The writing of this article was not paid for or sponsored by Samsung.

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor is a technology expert and journalist based in the UK. With a degree in Computer Science from the University of Birmingham, he provides insightful analysis and expert reviews of the latest smartphones and technology. His technical expertise, passion for technology and years of experience make him a trusted source in the industry.

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