Samsung Galaxy S9+ Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ is a flagship smartphone that promises a captivating experience. With its stunning Super AMOLED, HDR10 display and sleek glass design, it's a visual masterpiece. Powered by either the Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 chipset, it delivers seamless performance. The dual 12 MP rear camera captures exceptional photos, while the 8 MP front camera ensures perfect selfies. The device boasts features like an iris scanner, fingerprint sensor, and IP68 water resistance. With multiple variants available, including single and dual SIM options, there's a model to suit everyone. Packed with top-of-the-line specs, the Galaxy S9+ is a premium device worth considering. And with a price starting at around 420 EUR, it offers excellent value for money.

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ boasts a sleek and premium design that exudes sophistication. With its glass front and back panels, framed by an aluminum frame, the device offers a stunning aesthetic appeal. The Gorilla Glass 5 protection on both sides enhances its durability, ensuring resistance against scratches and accidental drops. The device measures 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm and weighs 189g, providing a comfortable grip and a sense of sturdiness. Its form factor strikes a balance between a large display and one-handed usability, making it convenient for daily use.

The 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with HDR10 support impresses with its vibrant colors and excellent contrast. The slim bezels surrounding the screen maximize the screen-to-body ratio, offering an immersive viewing experience. The finishing touches on the design, such as the curved edges and the seamless integration of the fingerprint sensor on the back panel, contribute to the overall premium look and feel of the device.

The placement of buttons and controls on the Samsung Galaxy S9+ is well-thought-out, ensuring easy access and intuitive use. The device features a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, along with a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a convenience for users who prefer wired audio. Additionally, the IP68 rating certifies its dust and water resistance, providing peace of mind in various environments.

Overall, the design and build quality of the Samsung Galaxy S9+ showcase a combination of aesthetics, functionality, and durability. Its sleek design, premium materials, and attention to detail make it an appealing choice for those seeking a high-end smartphone experience.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ features a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, ensuring durability against scratches and accidental drops. With its large screen size and high pixel density of approximately 529 pixels per inch, the S9+ offers a visually immersive experience with sharp and vibrant visuals. The OLED technology used in the display provides deep blacks and excellent contrast, making colors pop and enhancing the overall viewing experience.

The S9+ also supports HDR10, allowing for high dynamic range content playback with enhanced contrast and color accuracy. This feature makes videos and photos look more vibrant and lifelike. Additionally, the display has a wide color gamut, ensuring rich and accurate color reproduction.

Outdoor visibility is improved thanks to the display's high brightness levels, making it easier to view content even in bright sunlight. The S9+ also offers excellent viewing angles, allowing users to comfortably view the screen from various positions without color distortion.

Other notable features include an always-on display, which shows useful information like the time and notifications even when the screen is off, and a blue light filter that reduces eye strain by minimizing blue light emission. The adaptive brightness feature adjusts the screen's brightness based on the surrounding lighting conditions, providing optimal visibility while conserving battery life.

In summary, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ boasts a large, vibrant, and high-resolution display that offers an immersive viewing experience. With its OLED technology, HDR support, and excellent color accuracy, the S9+ delivers stunning visuals for both multimedia consumption and everyday use.

Performance

The performance of the Samsung Galaxy S9+ is highly commendable, thanks to its powerful chipset and efficient GPU. Equipped with the Exynos 9810 (EMEA variant) or Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (USA/LATAM, China variant) chipset, the Galaxy S9+ delivers exceptional processing power. The octa-core CPU, consisting of high-performance cores and energy-efficient cores, ensures smooth multitasking and app loading speeds. Synthetic benchmarks such as AnTuTu and GeekBench reveal impressive scores, showcasing the prowess of the device.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the Galaxy S9+ offers a delightful gaming experience. The Mali-G72 MP18 GPU in the EMEA variant and the Adreno 630 GPU in the USA/LATAM, China variant provide excellent graphics performance. Gaming benchmarks demonstrate high graphics scores, indicating the device's ability to handle graphically demanding games with ease. The device also supports 3D Touch, adding an extra layer of interactivity to gaming.

Moreover, the Galaxy S9+ excels in system optimization and thermal management. The device efficiently manages its resources, ensuring a lag-free and smooth user experience. It intelligently allocates power and adjusts performance based on the task at hand, resulting in a balanced and efficient processor performance.

Benchmark tests and performance analysis further validate the Galaxy S9+'s impressive performance metrics. The device demonstrates its processor efficiency and GPU efficiency, delivering superior performance while maintaining optimal power consumption. With its powerful hardware and software optimization, the Galaxy S9+ provides a seamless and responsive user experience.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ stands out as a high-performance smartphone, capable of handling demanding tasks, multitasking, and providing an exceptional gaming experience. Its powerful chipset, efficient GPU, and system optimization contribute to its impressive benchmark scores and smooth performance. Whether it's gaming, multitasking, or everyday usage, the Galaxy S9+ offers a reliable and lag-free performance, making it a top choice for gadget enthusiasts.

Software and User Interface

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ comes with the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system, which is upgradable to Android 10 with the One UI 2.5 interface. This combination offers users a smooth and user-friendly experience. The One UI interface is known for its intuitive design and easy navigation, allowing users to customize their device according to their preferences. It provides a clean and clutter-free interface, making it easy to find and access apps and settings.

The S9+ also comes with a range of pre-installed apps that enhance the user experience. Some of these apps are developed by Samsung and are specifically designed to take advantage of the device's features. For example, Samsung Pay is a convenient and secure mobile payment app that allows users to make payments using their phone. Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant, is also pre-installed on the S9+, providing users with voice commands and dictation capabilities.

While the S9+ offers useful pre-installed apps, it's worth noting that some users may consider certain apps as bloatware, as they may not find them useful or prefer alternative options. However, these pre-installed apps can often be disabled or uninstalled, providing users with the flexibility to personalize their device and free up storage space.

Overall, the software on the Samsung Galaxy S9+ provides a user-friendly and customizable experience. With the Android operating system and the One UI interface, users can enjoy a smooth and intuitive interface, as well as access to a range of pre-installed apps that enhance their smartphone experience.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ boasts a powerful camera system that captures stunning photos and videos in various settings. With its dual 12-megapixel rear cameras, the S9+ offers versatile photography capabilities. The primary camera has a variable aperture of f/1.5-2.4, allowing for excellent low-light performance and the ability to create a shallow depth of field for portrait shots. The secondary telephoto lens with an aperture of f/2.4 enables 2x optical zoom and adds depth to your compositions. The camera setup also features optical image stabilization (OIS) for both lenses, ensuring sharp and steady shots even in challenging conditions.

During daylight photography, the S9+ produces images with vibrant colors, excellent sharpness, and impressive dynamic range. The sensor size and pixel size help capture ample detail, resulting in high-quality photos. In indoor and outdoor environments, the camera maintains natural colors and accurately reproduces the scene. The device's low-light sensitivity allows for impressive night photography, with reduced noise and improved image clarity. The S9+ employs advanced noise reduction algorithms and a night mode feature to enhance low-light performance further.

The camera app includes several shooting modes, such as portrait mode for professional-looking bokeh effects, HDR for balanced exposures, and panorama mode for capturing wide landscapes. Additionally, the pro mode offers manual controls for experienced photographers. The S9+ camera also benefits from AI scene recognition, which intelligently optimizes settings based on the subject, resulting in better image outcomes.

When it comes to video recording, the S9+ excels with its ability to shoot 4K videos at 30 or 60 frames per second, delivering exceptional detail and clarity. Video stabilization ensures smooth footage, while slow-motion video and time-lapse features add creative options. The device supports multiple video formats, allowing for easy sharing and editing of your recordings. Overall, the camera of the Samsung Galaxy S9+ provides impressive performance and a wide range of features, making it a top choice for mobile photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ is equipped with a non-removable Li-Ion 3500 mAh battery, which offers a decent battery life. The device supports fast charging technology, allowing users to quickly charge their phone. Additionally, it also supports wireless charging options, providing convenience for users who prefer a cable-free charging experience. The battery performance of the Galaxy S9+ is optimized to ensure efficient power usage, maximizing the screen-on time and standby time. With its battery optimization features, users can expect a satisfactory battery backup and usage. However, some users have reported battery drain issues, which can be addressed by optimizing the device's settings and managing background apps. Overall, the battery capacity and health of the Galaxy S9+ are adequate for daily usage, and its charging speed and efficiency make it convenient for users on the go.

Connectivity and Networking

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring that users stay connected wherever they go. It is equipped with 4G LTE capabilities, allowing for fast and reliable data speeds. The device supports various network compatibility, making it compatible with different carriers around the world. Additionally, it supports dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Galaxy S9+ features Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, supporting dual-band frequencies. This ensures a stable and fast internet connection when connected to Wi-Fi networks. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0, which provides faster data transfer and improved range compared to previous Bluetooth versions.

The device comes with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, enabling contactless payments and easy file transfers with other NFC-enabled devices. It also features a USB Type-C 3.1 port, which allows for fast charging and data transfer.

For navigation purposes, the Galaxy S9+ includes GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and GALILEO, providing accurate positioning information. It also offers a mobile hotspot feature, allowing users to share their internet connection with other devices.

Furthermore, the Galaxy S9+ supports wireless charging, making it convenient to charge the device without the need for cables. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options, ensuring seamless connectivity in various scenarios.

Additional Features

• Standout Features: The Samsung Galaxy S9+ comes with a range of standout features that make it a top-tier smartphone. From its stunning Super AMOLED display with HDR10 support to its powerful dual camera setup, this device offers an exceptional user experience.


• Water and Dust Resistance: With an IP68 rating, the Galaxy S9+ is both water and dust resistant. This means it can withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, providing peace of mind for users who often find themselves in wet or dusty environments.


• Wireless Charging: The Galaxy S9+ supports wireless charging, allowing users to conveniently charge their device without the need for cables. It is compatible with Qi wireless charging, making it compatible with a wide range of wireless charging pads and accessories.


• Advanced Sensors: The device is equipped with a variety of sensors, including an accelerometer and a gyroscope, which enable advanced motion tracking and immersive gaming experiences. Additionally, it features a sensor suite that includes environmental sensors, providing data on temperature, humidity, and more.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ is a flagship smartphone that offers a range of features and specifications to compete with other devices in the market. When comparing it to related gadgets, such as the iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 XL, and Huawei P20 Pro, it becomes clear that the Galaxy S9+ holds its own in terms of performance and innovation.

In terms of specifications, the Galaxy S9+ boasts a large 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display with a high resolution of 1440 x 2960 pixels. This puts it on par with the iPhone X's OLED display and the Pixel 2 XL's P-OLED display. It also features the latest Gorilla Glass 5 protection for added durability. The Galaxy S9+ also stands out with its IP68 dust and water resistance rating, a feature not commonly found in its competitors.

When it comes to camera capabilities, the Galaxy S9+ excels with its dual 12 MP rear cameras. The variable aperture of f/1.5-2.4 allows for excellent low-light photography, while the telephoto lens offers 2x optical zoom. This puts it in direct competition with the Huawei P20 Pro's triple camera setup and the Google Pixel 2 XL's highly praised camera system.

In terms of performance, the Galaxy S9+ is powered by either the Exynos 9810 or the Snapdragon 845 chipset, depending on the region. These processors offer top-notch performance, similar to the iPhone X's A11 Bionic chip and the Huawei P20 Pro's Kirin 970 chipset. The Galaxy S9+ also offers ample storage options, ranging from 64GB to 256GB, with the ability to expand storage using a microSD card.

When it comes to pricing, the Galaxy S9+ is positioned as a premium device, with a price point comparable to its competitors. However, it offers a competitive advantage with its unique features, such as the iris scanner, stereo speakers, and Samsung's Bixby assistant.

In terms of market share, the Galaxy S9+ faces stiff competition from other flagship devices. However, its strong brand reputation, innovative features, and competitive pricing make it a popular choice among consumers.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ holds its own when compared to related gadgets in the market. It offers a strong combination of design, performance, and features, making it a compelling option for tech enthusiasts and smartphone users alike.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ proves to be a powerful and feature-packed smartphone. With its stunning Super AMOLED display, impressive camera performance, and sleek design, it offers a premium user experience. The device is equipped with top-notch specifications, including a powerful processor, ample storage options, and a long-lasting battery. It also boasts water and dust resistance, adding to its durability. However, considering its age, potential buyers may want to weigh their options with newer models available in the market. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy S9+ remains a solid choice for those seeking a reliable and high-performing smartphone, but it may not provide the latest cutting-edge features found in newer devices.