With the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ available for pre-order in most countries and scheduled to hit the retail stores on March 16, the first set of reviews for the handset are now out. Given that the Galaxy S9 packs modest improvements over its predecessor, it will be interesting to see what the reviews say about Samsung’s latest flagships.
So, what do other major publications have to say about the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+? Let’s find out in our review roundup.
Samsung Galaxy S9 Review Roundup
The Verge
The publication calls the Galaxy S9 Samsung’s most “predictable” handset yet, with its design and display being its strong points but the software remains a weak point. Despite having a similar design as the Galaxy S9, the S9 is definitely impressive to look at and hold. The relocated fingerprint scanner is easier to reach but it is still too small compared to fingerprint scanners found on other devices. The Intelligent scan feature which combines iris scanning and face unlock into one is slow and simply not as good enough as Face ID on the iPhone X. The stereo speakers are also a nice improvement, though they are far from the best speakers you will find on a smartphone. Performance is also impressive thanks to the powerful internals that the Galaxy S9 packs. The battery life, sadly, is average and you will not find any major improvement in this regard compared to the Galaxy S8. The Galaxy S9’s camera is its highlight with its variable aperture design. Samsung has also made improvements to its image processing and used a newer image sensor which should help the S9 offer much better imaging performance. Sadly, while the camera’s performance is definitely an improvement over the Galaxy S8, it is still not that much better than the iPhone X or the Pixel 2. As for that variable aperture? It hardly makes any improvement in terms of image quality. Worse, the secondary telephoto lens on the Galaxy S9+ is no good as well. The review concludes by praising the Galaxy S9’s hardware and saying that “the whole package makes for a great phone” but Samsung’s poor software history is a big point of concern. ➤ Read
Android Police
The Galaxy S9’s design is striking despite being similar to that of its predecessor. But the relocated fingerprint scanner is still not perfect as its very hard to feel due to its glossy surface which feels “exactly like the lens cover glass over the camera module.” The Galaxy S9’s display is one of its strength despite packing modest improvements over the panel used on the Galaxy S8. The primary 12MP camera on the Galaxy S9 is definitely a step up from the Galaxy S8 and even the Note 8. In low-light, the Galaxy S9’s camera performance rivals that of the Pixel 2 in terms of noise and details. In daylight though, the Pixel 2 manages to capture better photos with better dynamic range than the Galaxy S9 thanks to its HDR+ algorithm. Overall, its the Pixel 2 which continues to take better photos than the Galaxy S9. … In particular, low-light performance has seen a positively massive boost. The S9’s f/1.5 wide aperture mode, combined with the enhanced multi-frame composition on the camera, manages some extremely impressive results in dim conditions. I’ll tell you now: in a dark room, the fine detail and contrast of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are often noticeably superior to even the Pixel 2. The sensor is gathering more light, and the result is sharper, brighter, and more vivid images. The Pixel 2 can manage overall scene balance – especially highlights – better, I’ve found. Talking about performance, the Galaxy S9 does fairly well thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset. In certain aspects, the phone is even faster than the Pixel 2, though, in typical Samsung fashion, animations are still a bit janky and stuttery. Samsung’s Intelligent Scan is no good when compared to Apple’s Face ID as well. Overall, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are better versions of their predecessors but given the relatively minor improvements, they pack, existing Galaxy S8 owners should not look forward to upgrading to it. ➤ Read
Android Central
The Galaxy S9’s display, build quality and overall design are truly one of its strengths. And sadly, Samsung’s software is still a mashup of its old TouchWiz and a new version of Android. The Galaxy S9’s performance is good but if you are coming from the Pixel or Pixel 2, you will notice those dropped frames. The battery life on the Galaxy S9+ is just about good enough to last a day of heavy use. The Galaxy S9’s camera can take some great photos but it cannot beat the Pixel 2. Overall, the Galaxy S9 is a great phone but it might not be for everyone. ➤ Read And since videos speak louder than text nowadays, check out some video reviews of the Galaxy S9 below.
What do you think about the Galaxy S9 based on the above reviews? Do you still plan on buying one?
