Samsung Galaxy S9
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 13, 1969 in Suwon, South Korea |
| Headquarters | Suwon , South Korea |
| Products | Smartphones, including Galaxy S9 and S9+ |
Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ Overview
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are Android-powered smartphones developed, produced, and distributed by Samsung Electronics as part of the renowned Galaxy S lineup. These models were officially introduced at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona on 25 February 2018, succeeding the Galaxy S8 and S8+. Notably, this generation marks the final Galaxy S series to feature an iris scanner, a variable aperture camera lens, and a notification LED.
In terms of design and specifications, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ closely mirror their predecessors, retaining identical display dimensions and aspect ratios. A key differentiator lies in the repositioning of the fingerprint sensor: unlike the S8’s sensor which was placed adjacent to the rear camera, the S9 places it directly below the camera module, resembling the arrangement found in Samsung’s A series. The most significant enhancements appear in the camera system, where several improvements over the previous generation have been introduced.
Upon release, these smartphones garnered predominantly positive evaluations, with reviewers highlighting the upgraded camera capabilities and improved fingerprint sensor placement as strong points. Nonetheless, some criticism was directed at the devices for their resemblance to the earlier models. The Galaxy S9 series was offered in seven distinct color options: Lilac Purple, Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, Coral Blue, Sunrise Gold, Burgundy Red, and Polaris Blue. This line was eventually succeeded by the Galaxy S10 series in March 2019.
Launch
Several aspects of the Galaxy S9's design and features were revealed through leaks weeks ahead of the official announcement, with the launch video itself surfacing just hours before the formal presentation.
On 25 February 2018, Samsung introduced the Galaxy S9 and S9+ at the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona, positioning them as the direct successors to the Galaxy S8 and S8+ models.
Display
From a visual standpoint, the front design of both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ closely resembles that of their predecessors, the S8 and S8+. Each device is equipped with a Super AMOLED display featuring a resolution of 1440p and an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The standard S9 sports a 5.8-inch (15 cm) screen, whereas the larger S9+ comes with a 6.2-inch (16 cm) panel. Both displays curve elegantly over the horizontal edges, and they support HDR content with peak brightness levels reaching 864 nits.
Cameras
Camera enhancements were a key focus for both phones. The Galaxy S9+ incorporates a dual rear camera system, similar to that found on the Note 8, while the S9 is equipped with a single rear camera lens. Devices powered by Exynos processors utilize Samsung’s proprietary ISOCELL S5K2L3 sensor, whereas Snapdragon variants employ Sony’s Exmor IMX345 sensor. A notable feature is the Dual Aperture rear camera capable of toggling between apertures of Template:F/1.5 and Template:F/2.4 based on lighting conditions, marking it as the first smartphone since the 2009 Nokia N86 to offer variable aperture functionality.
Video recording capabilities include support for 4K resolution (2160p) at 60 frames per second, albeit restricted to five-minute clips, alongside 1080p video at 240 frames per second and "Super Slow-Motion" footage at 720p running at 960 frames per second for durations up to 0.2 seconds. These frame rates represent first-time enhancements in Samsung’s flagship lineup since the 2014 Samsung Galaxy S5.
The introduction of AR Emoji, akin to Apple's Animoji feature on the iPhone X, allows users to create personalized emojis through augmented reality-driven facial recognition technology. This feature also supports integration with third-party applications.
A subsequent software update brought over an AI-powered function from the Galaxy Note 9, which alerts users to potential issues in photographs such as closed eyes or blurriness.
Chipsets and Storage
The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are equipped with the Samsung Exynos 9810 system-on-chip in the majority of regions. However, models distributed in the United States, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Latin America utilize the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC instead.
Regarding memory, the S9 is fitted with 4 GB of RAM, whereas the S9+ includes 6 GB. Initially, both variants were available exclusively with 64 GB of built-in storage. Following widespread feedback that 64 GB was insufficient, Samsung introduced 128 GB and 256 GB storage options in May 2018, though these larger capacities were only purchasable through Samsung’s official website. Additionally, both models support storage expansion through a microSD card, accommodating up to an extra 400 GB.
Batteries
Battery capacity remains consistent with the previous generation, offering 3000 mAh for the S9 and 3500 mAh for the S9+. These batteries are integrated and not designed for user replacement. The S9 continues to support wireless charging standards including AirFuel Inductive (formerly PMA) as well as the Qi standard from the Wireless Power Consortium.
For wired charging, the devices can achieve speeds up to 15 watts using Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 technology. Wireless charging is supported at speeds reaching up to 10 watts.
Audio
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ feature stereo speakers that have been fine-tuned by AKG, alongside support for Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. Additionally, these models remain among the limited number of smartphones that continue to include a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Exterior
The most prominent design modification from the S8 series to the S9 and S9+ is found on the rear panel. The fingerprint sensor has been relocated from its previous position beside the camera to a more central spot directly beneath the camera lens, similar to the placement seen on the Galaxy A8 and A8+, enhancing user convenience. Moreover, Samsung introduced an advanced unlocking system named Intelligent Scan, which combines facial recognition and iris scanning into a unified security feature.
In terms of build quality, the S9 and S9+ incorporate several enhancements over the S8 and S8+ models aimed at boosting durability. These improvements include thicker glass panels, a reinforced metal frame with increased thickness, and the use of a different metal alloy less susceptible to bending or deformation.
Software
Out of the box, the S9 and S9+ run on Android 8.0 "Oreo", equipped with Google Mobile Services and Samsung's proprietary Samsung Experience interface and software suite. While largely consistent with the software found on the S8 and Note 8, this iteration introduces new functionalities such as enhanced customization options, live language translation within the camera application, and support for landscape orientation on the Samsung home screen—a feature long sought after but absent in earlier models like the Galaxy S3.
Both devices support Project Treble, which facilitates faster and more efficient system updates compared to previous Galaxy smartphones.
In December 2018, Samsung commenced rolling out Android 9.0 "Pie" for the Galaxy S9 series. This update brought about a significant redesign of Samsung's Android interface under the branding of One UI. A key aspect of One UI is its deliberate repositioning of essential interface elements in native applications to enhance usability on larger displays: prominent headers shift content towards the center of the screen while navigation controls and interactive elements are repositioned near the bottom for easier reach.
By February 2020, Samsung had begun distributing the Android 10 update bundled with One UI 2.0 across all Galaxy S9 devices. Official software support for this series concluded in April 2022 with the release of that month’s security patch.
Despite official support ending, unofficial versions of One UI continue to be available. For instance, Android 13 paired with One UI 5.1 can be installed via FloydROM for both the Galaxy S9 and Note 9 families. Furthermore, Android 15 alongside One UI 7 is accessible through CornROM for these same device lines.
Advertising
In the middle of 2018, Samsung released a set of satirical advertisements titled "Ingenius" that targeted the iPhone's absence of features found on the Galaxy S9. These included an audio jack, expandable storage via memory cards, and purportedly weaker network transfer speeds and camera capabilities.
One advertisement depicted a dissatisfied customer unable to find a memory card slot on her iPhone. When she asked an Apple Store employee, she was informed that such a slot does not exist on the device. The employee then suggested using cloud storage as an alternative for expanding storage, despite its reliance on internet connectivity and slower transfer speeds with higher latency compared to physical memory cards. The customer expressed a preference for keeping her data stored locally rather than "up there," prompting the employee to recommend purchasing an iPhone model with greater built-in storage capacity.
Reception
John McCann from TechRadar praised the enhanced camera and the repositioned fingerprint sensor but remarked that the Galaxy S9 bore too close a resemblance to its predecessor, the Galaxy S8, and criticized the limited functionality of AR Emoji.
On 8 March 2018, Brian Heater of TechCrunch reviewed the S9+ and described it as building upon the "success [of the S8] in several respects."
Computerworld provided a favorable evaluation, stating that the device was "noticeably improved compared to its predecessor," though it lacked any particularly groundbreaking new features. Similarly, PC Magazine offered positive feedback for both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ models.
Todd Haselton from CNBC noted on 8 March that the S9+ outperformed the standard S9 due to its larger display, dual-camera setup, increased RAM, and bigger battery capacity.
Samuel Gibbs of The Guardian awarded the S9+ a perfect score of 5/5 stars, labeling it "the best big-screen smartphone by far." He commended the screen quality and camera performance but mentioned that battery longevity could be improved. Gibbs also appreciated Samsung's inclusion of a headphone jack at a time when many competitors had eliminated this feature.
The camera on the larger S9+ earned a score of 99 from DxOMark, marking it as the highest-rated mobile device camera at that time. However, this record was soon overtaken by the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro, which received scores of 102 and 109 respectively.
Dan Seifert from The Verge gave the S9 an 8.5 out of 10 rating, acknowledging its solid performance, camera quality, and design. Nevertheless, he expressed dissatisfaction with average battery life and Samsung’s inclusion of Bixby, while also criticizing Samsung’s track record for software updates.
Ryan Whitwam of Forbes observed that in 2018, although the S9+ featured 6 GB of RAM compared to 4 GB in the S9, this difference was unlikely to impact everyday use since Android did not yet benefit significantly from having 6 GB of RAM at that time.
Sales
In their Q2 2018 earnings report, Samsung characterized the Galaxy S9's sales performance as "slow." Industry experts anticipated that this model would mark the poorest sales figures among Galaxy S flagships since the Samsung Galaxy S5.[1] Over its initial two quarters on the market, the device sold a notably low total of 19.2 million units.[2]
Touchscreen problems
Approximately one week following the launch, users began reporting touchscreen malfunctions where certain sections of the screen failed to register touch input, persisting even after performing a factory reset.[3] This phenomenon was commonly referred to by consumers as "dead zones."[4] Samsung acknowledged these concerns by issuing a statement indicating they were "investigating a limited number of reports of touchscreen responsiveness problems on the Galaxy S9/S9+.".[5]
Black Crush display concerns
Certain Galaxy S9 owners have encountered what is known as "Black Crush," a display issue where darker shades fail to render accurately. Samsung confirmed awareness of "a limited number of reports concerning the Galaxy S9/S9+ displaying dark colors differently than intended in specific scenarios," though an official resolution has yet to be announced.[6][7]
Battery performance problems
Users of the Exynos-powered versions frequently reported unsatisfactory battery endurance. Analysts attributed this to suboptimal tuning of the four Samsung-designed CPU cores, which led to reduced battery efficiency.[8] This concern was partially alleviated following the rollout of an update in August 2018.[9]
Exynos 9810 performance
In earlier Galaxy S models, the Exynos chipset delivered performance comparable to its Snapdragon counterpart. However, the Galaxy S9 equipped with the Exynos 9810 exhibited slower speeds relative to other flagship devices and the Snapdragon-powered S9 variant. This discrepancy was less noticeable in synthetic benchmark tests but became more apparent in evaluations reflecting practical usage scenarios, such as those conducted by PCMark.
See also
References
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External links
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