Samsung Galaxy S9: Designed for Smartphone Photographers
The much-awaited Samsung Galaxy S9 has landed at the MWC 2018. Samsung’s all-new flagship device comes with a slew of unique features, with the cutting-edge camera being its showpiece and selling point. Here’s a rundown of its full specs and features.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Price and Release Date
Samsung Galaxy S9 is available for pre-order starting from February 27 to March 6 and will hit the store shelves in the Philippines on March 16. The smartphone comes in three storage variants: 64 GB (P45,990), 128 GB (P55,990), and a 256 GB version that will be released on March 23 and will cost P60,990. The Galaxy S9 core version will also be available in two colors: black and lilac purple.
Premium Glass and Metal Design
The Samsung Galaxy S9 retains the premium glass and metal chassis that is found in the Galaxy S8, although the bezels at the top and below the display have been whittled down a little. This helps trim down the handset’s overall height. As for the build, the Galaxy S9 weighs 163 g which is lighter than its rival, the iPhone X, that weighs 174 g.
Super AMOLED QHD+ Infinity Display
The Samsung Galaxy S9 wields the same screen as the display on the Galaxy S8. Last year’s iteration came with a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED Infinity Display with QHD+ resolution and an 18:5:9 aspect ratio, which was regarded as one of the best premium smartphone displays in 2017. The 18:5:9 aspect ratio has become increasingly popular in flagship phones, so it’s no surprise that Samsung retained this feature on the Galaxy S9. Not to mention, the Infinity Display which was a key selling point for the S8 was integrated again into the S9.
Powerful Camera with a f/1.5 Aperture
The 12-MP rear camera is the main selling point for the Samsung Galaxy S9. It comes with a f/1.5 aperture which is the world’s first for a smartphone camera. It also has Samsung’s very own dual-aperture technology which enables the camera aperture to shrink and expand depending on the lighting, similar to how human eyes work! When it comes to image quality, the Galaxy S9’s rear camera is capable of capturing images with stunning detail and clarity and produces 30% less noise than its predecessors.
Smooth Performance and Decent Battery Life
Much like some of its features, the Samsung Galaxy S9 retains the same battery found in the S8, carrying a 3000 mAh battery capacity. This allows the device to last a day with moderate usage. On the other hand, Samsung integrated a much-improved chip into the Galaxy S9, namely the Exynos 9810, which will power the S9 handsets sold in Asian and European markets. The Galaxy S9 comes with a 4 GB of RAM, providing enough power to keep its operating system running smoothly. It’s also equipped with a 64-GB internal storage which can be expanded further up to 200 GB using a micro SD card.
Samsung Galaxy S9: Specs, Pre-order, and Release Dates Revealed
Loyal Samsung fans in the Philippines are excited about the release of the new Galaxy S9 smartphones. They are about to be revealed at the Galaxy Unpacked celebration during the Mobile World Congress 2018 this Sunday. At this point in time, the bulk of rumors and leaks regarding this much-awaited device has done a remarkable job so far in revealing the Galaxy S9 specs ahead of launch.
Rumored Specs
Galaxy S9 Leakers – WinFuture and Evan Blass – revealed that the Galaxy S9 core version will come in Coral Blue, Lilac Purple, and Midnight Black colors, while the Plus variant will come in two colors – Lilac Purple and Coral Blue. Sources close to the Galaxy smartphone manufacturer disclosed to WinFuture that the much-awaited handsets will retain the screen size of last year’s iteration. The regular Galaxy S9 will come with a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with a Quad HD resolution of 2960x1440p. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S9 Plus’ front panel will be flanked by a 6.2-inch screen with the similar resolution to the core variant.
Much like the Samsung Galaxy S8, the Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus will have an Infinity Display in which the screen will be curved on the sides. When it comes to the design, both devices will look similar to their previous iterations, although it is expected that there will be some minor changes. The fingerprint sensor, for example, will be placed below the rear camera unit. Other design features in the upcoming flagship smartphones include two dual stereo speakers to improve the audio experience.
Another thing fans can expect from the new Galaxy s9 smartphones is that both devices will come equipped with an incredible camera. The Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus will sport an 8-MP front camera with autofocus and f/1.7 aperture. As for the rear sensors, the Galaxy S9 core version will wield a 12-MP lens, while the Plus version will come with dual 12-MP sensors which are arranged vertically.
In terms of hardware, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus will run on the latest Exynos 9810 chip with 8 cores clocked at 1.9 GHz and 2.9 GHz. The core version will have 4 GB of RAM, while the Plus model will offer a bigger 6 GB of RAM. Both devices will be packed with a 64-GB built-in storage capacity which can be expanded further up to 400 GB using a microSD card slot. In addition, the regular S9 version will house a 3000 mAh battery, while the Plus variant will come with a bigger 3500 mAh battery.
Pre Order, Release Dates, and Price
According to the latest reports, Samsung may start taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus in major international markets from February 28 which is a few days after MWC. The company will begin shipping the new Galaxy smartphones on March 9, with an expected delivery date between March 9 and March 15. As for the release date of the Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus, it will be on March 16. As of writing, the Samsung Galaxy S9 price, it remains uncertain for now. But based on the latest rumors, the core Galaxy S9 will set you back by around PHP 50000, while the S9 Plus will cost PHP 56000.
Noteworthy Features of the Upcoming Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus in the Philippines
In 2017, the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus were among the best smartphones you could get your hands on. It has been less than a year since the release of the S8 and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is rumoured to be released at the end of February. Here are some of the significant features that you can look forward to.
Thinner Display
Although there won’t be major upgrades in the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, there are a few aspects that should be taken note of. While the smartphone will feature the same curved displays with the 6.2-inch Super AMOLED panels, it will utilise more of the Y-OCTA display technology this time around. Instead of using a distinct film-type layer like on the older generation of Samsung phones, this advanced technology integrates the touch layer in the encapsulation layer of the OLED display. Thus, the Y-OCTA display on the S9 Plus will be thinner and have better optical properties.
Bigger RAM
Since Samsung has already equipped the Galaxy Note 8 with 6GM of RAM, it would only make sense that the S9 Plus is equipped with it too. It is the boost it needs for it to stand out as not just a larger phone but also higher-end phone. On top of that, there will be a choice of 64GB, 128GB, 256GB and perhaps even a 512GB of storage.
Dual-camera Setup
For the camera, there’s also indication of an advanced facial recognition features as well as a 3D sticker mode. There are also claims that the S9 Plus will feature a discrete iris scanner that will be upgraded from 2MP to 3MP and a regular selfie camera. This is probably due to the space limitations and supply constraints. Another new feature is the ISOCELL camera sensors that is incorporated with the ISOCELL Fast, which is a 3-stack fast readout sensor that allow cameras to record video in Full HD (1080p) resolution with a whopping 480 frames per second. On the other hand, the ISOCELL Bright supposedly helps by taking better photos especially in low-light conditions. There is also the ISOCELL Dual that helps to improve dual sensor smartphones which includes better light sensitivity, depth effects, and sharper brightness. The final ISOCELL feature is the Slim which purportedly offer high-quality images.
Design
It seems that the S9 Plus will have a smaller bezel from its predecessor. It also will house the fingerprint scanner at the notch at the bottom of the smartphone or could possibly be moved to a more central position on the back. Nevertheless, the overall design will be similar to the S8 Plus, featuring a glass back and a metal frame.
Battery
As for the battery on the S9 Plus, it is said to have a 3,500mAh which is a reasonable for the phone size. However, it is also possible that it could be somewhat smaller. Just like the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, it has a smaller 3,300mAh unit in spite of being larger phone.