The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 + will hit stores next week and the first reviews are starting now. The Galaxy S9 packs quite a few new features, but how much better than its predecessor really is? And, of course, the next question arises: is the new Samsung flagship better than iPhone X?
Below we have collected for you the reviews of the largest publications on the Galaxy S9.
The verge
The Samsung Galaxy S9 was named the company's most 'predictable' smartphone of all time. The main advantages of the smartphone are its design and display, but the system is still rather weak. Despite the fact that the new flagship has retained the design of last year, the Galaxy S9 is very pleasant to hold in your hands.
Although the design and appearance of the S9 remain the same as the S8, it is a pleasure to watch and hold in your hands. Even seasoned gadget reviewers were surprised at how good the S9 looked when they first saw it. The sleek shape combined with the tall display makes it feel like you're holding one screen.
The fingerprint scanner is now easier to reach, but still small compared to other devices.
The S9's scanner is now right under the camera, making it much easier to reach, especially on the larger S9 Plus. The scanner is still small, especially when compared to other smartphones, and is still too close to the camera. It is very easy to make a mistake and swipe the camera in an attempt to open notifications.
The smart scan feature that combines iris scanning and face recognition is slow and performs worse than Face ID on iPhone X. Stereo speakers have also been improved, but they are still not the best speakers on a smartphone. Smartphone performance is impressive thanks to its powerful hardware. The battery consumption rate is, alas, average, it has not improved compared to the Galaxy S8.
The biggest selling point of the Galaxy S9 is its variable aperture camera. Samsung has also improved its photo processing engine and added a sensor that should significantly improve image quality. However, the flagship's camera is still not much better than the camera iPhone X or Pixel 2.
Samsung promises improved low-light performance with a lens that can absorb more light, as well as improved processing and noise reduction. In a dark environment, the S9 can take great photos, but they are no better than the Google Pixel 2 or even iPhone X. Compared to the S8, there is less noise and colors are more pleasing.
What about a variable aperture? It does not greatly affect the quality of photos.
Personally, we did not notice much difference in the pictures taken with different apertures. A small lens and sensor already have a very deep image depth, so reducing the aperture has little effect on what's in focus. Moreover, changing aperture is not enough for professional photography. For example, it does not help to take long exposure photos, and for this you still need additional accessories.
The Galaxy S9 +'s secondary telephoto lens isn't great either.
Samsung Live Focus is not as good as Apple or Google. In low light conditions, the photo quality is rather poor. The S9 Plus is only worth buying over the S9 if you like larger displays or if you need a more powerful battery. But not because of the extra camera.
The conclusion says the Galaxy S9 has everything to make it a 'great smartphone', but Samsung's system footprint still leaves a lot to be desired.
Android Police
According to this review, the design of the Galaxy S9 is also an asset, despite the similarities to its predecessor.
Like the S8, the Galaxy S9 is a decent smartphone with a nice design. It is very stylish, and due to this, the smartphone stands out strongly against the background of Google Pixel 2 or HTC U11.
The new position of the fingerprint scanner is still not ideal, as it is difficult to find it due to the smooth surface of the camera. The display of the smartphone is one of its main strengths, even with very slight improvements over the Galaxy S8.
Samsung knows how to make a great display like no one else. I'm sitting in a café writing this review, and I'm very pleased to see the ideal display tones, the brightness of which hardly changes at different angles. OLED – Samsung's panels are truly amazing and the S9's display is by far the company's best display.
The Galaxy S9's 12MP main camera is better than the Galaxy S8 and even the Note 8. In low light, the Galaxy S9's image quality matches the Pixel 2 in terms of noise and detail.
First, the S9's main camera is much better than the S8, S8 + and Note8. The aperture balance is perfect, details stand out better, color reproduction is also better. Pictures now look more natural and realistic.
…
Low-light shots look much better. The f / 1.5 aperture mode, together with multi-frame fusion, helps you achieve impressive results. In a dark room, the Galaxy S9 and S9 + have better image quality than the Pixel 2. The camera captures more light for sharper, brighter and more detailed images. The Pixel 2 balances performance better, especially highlighting, though.
With good lighting, the Pixel 2 takes better pictures than the Galaxy S9 thanks to its HDR + algorithm. Overall, the Pixel 2's camera is better than the Galaxy S9.
The Galaxy S9 performs well thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. Sometimes the smartphone is even faster than the Pixel 2, but the animations are still not perfect. Samsung's Intel ligent Scan feature is no match for Face ID.
The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 + are improved versions of their predecessors. Galaxy S8 owners don't have a compelling reason to buy a new model.
The S9 and S9 + are great smartphones. There is nothing revolutionary about them, but when you are already at the top, you do not need to come up with something new every year.
Android Central
The Galaxy S9's display, build quality and design are the best aspects of the flagship.
The Galaxy S9 is almost indistinguishable from the Galaxy S8, but its design is still great. It's a beautiful modern design that looks good and fits a large screen in a small package. The Galaxy S9 is a compact smartphone by today's standards.
Samsung's system is still frustrating.
Perhaps some details are far-fetched, and many are satisfied with the Samsung system. But personally, I don't like how much I have to do before I start using my new smartphone. Sometimes a lot of features are not the best solution. It is unlikely that an inconvenient system will be a reason to refuse to buy a new flagship, but it will definitely disappoint many users.
The Galaxy S9 performs well, but the Pixel or Pixel 2 animations are much better.
I have been using my smartphone every day, and it is not much different from the Galaxy S8 or Note 8. If you have used the Pixel 2, you will notice the animation flaws of the Galaxy S9. However, the difference is not that big. The Galaxy S9 + handles all the workloads and never fails. I hope that over time, the smartphone does not start to work worse.
The Galaxy S9 +'s battery will last a full day of heavy use.
Samsung's 'full day of use' promises proved to be true. The Galaxy S9 + has a 3500mAh battery, and it worked for me for about 17-18 hours, 3-4 of which I actively used it.
The Galaxy S9's camera can take great pictures, but the Pixel 2 is still better.
Both smartphones have great cameras that are a pleasure to shoot with. I can't say the Galaxy S9 +'s camera is the best, but it does a great job in all situations and does a lot that the Pixel 2's camera can't do. I was very surprised by the pictures taken with the Galaxy S9 +.
Overall, the Galaxy S9 is a great smartphone, but it's not for everyone.
The question is, isn't it better to buy the Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL? They may not have the best displays and not many features, but the simplicity and convenience of the system will seem like a huge plus for many users. If details are more important to you, it is better to choose one of these smartphones. Nevertheless, many people will buy Samsung's new flagship and will be satisfied with it.