Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Review

May 21, 2018 | Amy Davies | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star Half rating star

Introduction

Samsung’s flagship smartphone was announced at Mobile World Congress, back in February 2018. Both the S9 and the S9 Plus were announced on the same day, with the S9 Plus being both bigger and having some additional features, particularly to the camera.

The larger Samsung S9 Plus has a 6.2-inch screen, and weighs around 26g more than the smaller S9. The screen is a Quad HD+ Super AMOLED screen with 529ppi.

Like several other line-leading smartphones, the S9 Plus has a dual camera set up. It has a wide-angle camera with a 12 megapixel 1/2.55” sensor, which is joined by a telephoto camera, also with a 12 megapixel sensor - but it is smaller at 1/3.6”. Only the wide-angle lens has the dual aperture option, giving you the choice between f/1.5 and f/2.4. The telephoto lens has an f/2.4 aperture.

Other features include 4K video recording at up to 60fps, super slow motion video at 960fps (720p), 10x digital zoom, and compatibility with Micro SD cards - the inbuilt memory is 64GB. The Samsung S9 Plus runs on Android 8.0 (Oreo).

Ease of Use

The 6.2-inch screen of the S9 Plus makes it one of the larger smartphones on the market, but thanks to its bezel-less design (whereby the screen goes all the way to the edges of the device), it manages to stay just on the right side of ridiculousness. Still, you’ll probably find that you want to use two hands when typing out emails, or perhaps even to steady the phone when taking a photograph - the smaller, standard S9 may let you get away with holding the phone in just one hand more often.

Unlike phones such as the Huawei P20 Pro or the iPhone X, there’s no notch at the top of the Samsung S9 Plus, so the display stops just short of the top of the screen. Similarly, it doesn’t go all the way to the bottom of the screen either - unlike with some phones the fingerprint scanner is not at the bottom of the screen, but rather on the back of the phone. You can also set up face unlock, or use a pattern or a pin to unlock the phone if you prefer.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Front of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

The native camera app can be accessed quickly by swiping up from the bottom right hand corner of the home screen (or the top right if you’re holding the phone in landscape orientation). As we’ve seen in previous Samsung phones, the native camera app is pretty well specced, giving you lots of shooting choices and modes to work with.

All of the main modes can be seen along the top of the S9 Plus camera app screen. You’ve got Food, Panorama, Pro, Live Focus, Auto, Super Slow-Mo, AR Emoji and Hyperlapse. You can add or remove these modes from the main screen in the settings menu, if you find you never use a particular shooting mode. To move between these different modes, you can tap the text at the top of the screen, or alternatively, you can use a swiping motion on the screen to choose between them. This is very quick, but it’s also rather sensitive, leading to accidental mode changes when you may not want them. Similarly, you can swipe up and down on the screen to change between the front facing and the rear facing camera - this is also pretty sensitive and can therefore change when you may not want it to.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Rear of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

By default, the camera app launches in “Auto” mode, which is what you’ll probably want to use for the majority of your shots. As you’d expect, in this mode you don’t have a huge amount of options which you can change from the main screen. As standard, the camera shoots with the wide-angle lens, but you can tap the 2x icon if you want to access the telephoto camera instead. To activate the camera’s digital zoom, you can use a pinching motion on the screen - up to 10x is available. Along the bottom of the screen when in this mode, you’ll see that you can switch a flash on/off, as well as access some digital filters.

To actually take a photo, there’s a virtual shutter release button  seen at the bottom of the screen. Alternatively, you can use either the volume up or the volume down button to take a shot, if you prefer.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Front of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

Whereas the standard S9 has a mode called “selective focus”, the S9 Plus has a similar mode which is called “Live Focus”. The reason for the disparity is that the S9 Plus is using two lenses to create a shallow depth of field effect, whereas the standard S9 does it all with software. When using the Live Focus effect you’ll need to hold the camera reasonably far from the subject - but it will let you know if it’s ready to shoot. If you get too close to the subject - or too far away - the screen will instruct you on what you need to do to make Live Focus work. Once ready, tap the shutter button to take your photo - occasionally you may find that you need to tap the subject of the photo as well to get it refocus, if the camera has accidentally selected the wrong subject (which is reasonably rare).

As you might expect, Pro mode gives you the opportunity to change a number of different parameters. You can adjust ISO, shutter speed, AF mode, metering, picture style and white balance. You can leave any or all of these on automatic, or adjust each of them accordingly as you choose. Unlike most other smartphone cameras, you’ve also got the opportunity to adjust the aperture - with either f/1.5 or f/2.4 available - use the wider (f/1.5) aperture in darker conditions to let more light in, or f/2.4 when you’re shooting landscapes or similar to let less light in. Unfortunately, there’s no option to shoot in raw format though. If you want to use the telephoto lens when in pro mode, you can’t access that directly through the pro mode - which is a bit odd. If you tap 2x in Auto mode, and then switch back to Pro mode, you’ll find that you’re shooting at telephoto, though - a bit of an odd workaround.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
Front of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

In order to record a video, you need to tap the video record button at the bottom of the screen - which appears in all the modes. You’ll find that if you tap it, it starts recording immediately, with no chance to compose your image first (it uses a different aspect ratio to that shown on the screen). If you want to compose first, if you hold down the record button, you’ll be able to frame the shot, then release the button to start recording. If you’re in the Super Slow-Mo Mode, there’s only a video record button available.

When using the selfie camera, you’ve got a few options to choose from here. There’s the standard selfie mode, which launches by default and takes a standard photo. To the left is “Selfie Focus”, which creates a shallow depth of field effect for your images, and there’s also AR Emoji, which you can use to create emojis from your face, and Wide Selfie, which is ideal for either group selfies, or for getting a lot of background in your selfies.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 5Mb.

Colours directly from the S9 Plus in good light are nice and vibrant, without going too over the top. Other phones in this category, such as the iPhone X and the Huawei P20 Pro can tend to oversaturate certain colours such as blues, greens and reds, whereas the S9 Plus is a little more natural - which approach you prefer is down to personal taste, of course.

Detail in good light is very good, and while you might be able to see a little oversharpening taking place if you examine images very closely, this is something which most smartphones tend to do, and the results when looking on a phone screen, or printed up to A4, are still generally very good.

Having the variable aperture available means that you can shoot in low light with a wide aperture, keeping the ISO down. That means that low light images are very good (especially for a smartphone with a small sensor). We’d say that the Huawei P20 Pro has the edge - especially with its fantastic “Night Mode”, but the S9 Plus also puts in a very solid performance.

Live Focus - the mode which creates a shallow depth of field - puts in good performance, and is better than the standard S9’s “Selective Focus” mode. However, you should be mindful to avoid subjects which have a complicated background - as you might find that odd artefacts around the subject are more obvious than you’d like.

Generally speaking, the automatic metering setting does a good job to keep exposures balanced, while automatic white balance generally gets colours on the right side of accurate under artificial lighting.

Noise

ISO 50 (100% Crop)

ISO 100 (100% Crop)

iso50.jpg iso100.jpg
   

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso400.jpg
   

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

 
iso800.jpg  

Focal Range

Optical Zoom - 1x

focal_range1.jpg
 

Hybrid Zoom - 2x

focal_range2.jpg

Flash

Flash Off - Wide-angle

flash_wide_off.jpg
 

Flash On - Wide-angle

flash_wide_on.jpg
 

Flash Off - Telephoto

flash_tele_off.jpg
 

Flash On - Telephoto

flash_tele_on.jpg
 

Flash Off

flash_off.jpg
 

Flash On

flash_on.jpg
 

Selfie - Flash On

flash_rear.jpg

Macro

macro.jpg

Night

night.jpg

Live Focus

live_focus1.jpg
 
live_focus2.jpg
 
live_focus3.jpg
 
live_focus4.jpg

Panorama

panorama.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus camera, which were all taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 60 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 153Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 102Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 60 frames per second. Please note that this 16 second movie is 57Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 29.8Mb in size.

This is a sample slow-motion movie at the quality setting of 1280x720 pixels at 960 frames per second. Please note that this 12 second movie is 17.3Mb in size.

Product Images

Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro
 
Huawei P20 Pro

Conclusion

The Samsung S9 Plus is one of the best smartphones currently on the market for those whose primary concern is the quality of the camera. Its main competitors are the iPhone X and the Huawei P20 Pro - all three cameras have (at least) two lenses. The S9 Plus just edges past the iPhone X for image quality, but the Huawei P20 Pro is the best overall. You might prefer to go for the Samsung model if you prefer Samsung’s user interface, or simply the look and feel of the device. 

With lots of control on offer from the native camera app, you’ll also feel more at home with the S9 Plus than the iPhone X if you’re an enthusiast who likes to make your own settings changes. It’s a shame that raw format shooting isn’t available here, to really round off the settings completely. 

Using the native camera app is very easy - you do have to watch out for accidentally sweeping through modes when you don’t want to though, so we can’t help but feel that this function is a little over-sensitive. 

Image quality is very good, with vibrant yet realistic colours, and plenty of detail. Shallow depth of field effects can be produced reasonably well, but you just need to be mindful of complicated backgrounds which can throw up unusual patterns or shapes in the background - keep it as simple as possible for best effect. 

Buying the Samsung S9 Plus outright will set you back around £870. That makes it cheaper than the iPhone X (at least £1000), but a little more expensive than the Huawei P20 Pro (around £800). Arguably, the ability to add memory via a Micro SD card gives it a little extra value that the P20 Pro doesn’t offer, though. 

Consumers are left with a lot of choice when it comes to well-performing cameras on their smartphones at the moment. The Samsung S9 Plus is a fantastic example of just how good smartphones are at the moment - it’ll be interesting to see how Apple responds to it in the coming months. 

4.5 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4.5
Features 4.5
Ease-of-use 4
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 4

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.

Apple iPhone X

The Apple iPhone X is the most anticipated smartphone of 2017, but can its photographic capabilities really satisfy the keen photographer? Read our in-depth Apple iPhone X review to find out...

Asus Zenfone 4

The Asus Zenfone 4 is a flagship smartphone with a mid-range price and a surprisingly long list of photographer-friendly features. Read our in-depth Asus Zenfone 4 review to find out if it's the right smartphone for the keen snapper...

Google Pixel 2

According to DXO, the Google Pixel 2 offers the best image quality of any smartphone currently on the market, but is it really the best option for photographers? Read our in-depth Google Pixel 2 review to find out...

Honor 7X

The Honor 7X is a mid-range smartphone that offers a lot of bang for your buck, including a 18:9 format 6-inch screen, a 16 megapixel rear camera with additional 2 megapixel depth sensing camera, and Full HD 1080p videos at 30fps. Read our in-depth Honor 7X review for photographers now...

Honor View 10

The Honor View 10 is a flagship smartphone that won't break the bank. Key features include a 18:9 format 6-inch screen, a 16 megapixel twin rear-facing cameras each with f/1.8 apertures, and 4K video at 30fps. Read our in-depth Honor View 10 review for photographers now...

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

The Mate 10 Pro is the latest flagship phone from the Chinese manufacturer Huawei, and as with a lot of new smartphones these days, it promises a lot for the keen photographer, not least Leica-branded f/1.6 lenses and dual colour / monochrome image sensors. Read our in-depth Huawei Mate 10 Pro review for photographers now...

Huawei P10 Plus

The new Huawei P10 Plus smartphone has once again been co-developed with Leica, this time around focusing on delivering "stunning artistic portrait shots in the Leica image style". Is this the best smartphone for photographers? Find out by reading our in-depth Huawei P10 Plus review...

Huawei P20 Pro

The Huawei P20 Pro is one of the most exciting new smartphones of 2018 for photographers - find out why by reading our in-depth Huawei P20 Pro review with full-size sample images and videos...

Huawei P20

The Huawei P20 is the cheaper alternative to the flagship P20 Pro smartphone that wowed us a couple of weeks ago, but that doesn't mean that it's not worth a look. Check out our in-depth Huawei P20 Pro review with full-size sample images and videos...

Kodak Ektra

The new Kodak Ektra is billed as the perfect smartphone for keen photographers, from enthusiasts to experts, but does it offer enough to replace the smartphone that's currently in your pocket? Find out by reading our Kodak Ektra review...

OnePlus 6

The OnePlus 6 is the latest flagship smartphone on the block, but this one doesn't cost the earth, retailing for about half the price of the big players. Can it really take on Apple, Samsung and the rest though? Find out now by reading our in-depth OnePlus 6 review...

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is Samsung's biggest and most expensive smartphone, but is it also the best? Find out what it offers photographers in our in-depth Samsung Galaxy Note 8 review...

Samsung Galaxy S9

The Galaxy S9 is the smaller of two new flagship smartphones from Samsung for 2018, featuring the much heralded variable aperture lens and super slow-motion video recording at 960fps. Read our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S9 review with full-size sample images and videos now...

Sony Xperia XZ1

The Sony Xperia XZ1 is a new flagship smartphone that's a little more affordable than the other flagships out there. For photographers, it offers a 19 megapixel Exmor RS sensor, f/2 25mm Sony G branded lens, 4K video recording, and a manual shooting mode. Read our Sony Xperia XZ review now to find out more about Sony's latest handset...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus from around the web.

trustedreviews.com »

The Galaxy S9 Plus is considered a incremental upgrade from the Galaxy S8 Plus, but that’s not to mean the few new features it brings to the table aren’t worth your hard-earned cash – even if there isn’t a flashy new design to go with them. That said, we can’t help but think that Samsung could have pushed the envelope a little further, rather than relying on some mediocre additions to drive sales. Here’s why.
Read the full review »

techradar.com »

You won't find a bigger and better Android phone than the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, thanks to its oversized 6.2-inch curved screen and low-light-defeating dual-lens camera. Sure, it looks exactly like last year's S8 Plus, but it does fix the fingerprint sensor location (it's now center-aligned on the back) and speakers (now stereo). The new AR Emoji mode is overrated, though, and its higher price is tough to justify. This is for people who want the biggest screen and the best camera on one phone.
Read the full review »

cnet.com »

The Galaxy S9 is great, but the Galaxy S9 Plus is objectively the better phone, and the one power users should get if they can't choose between the two.
Read the full review »

Specifications

Design

Colors

Lilac PurpleMidnight BlackTitanium GrayCoral Blue

*Images of Galaxy S9+.

*Available colors may vary by country or carrier.

Dimensions &
Weight

68.7 mm 8.5 mm 147.7 mm Galaxy S9 Dimensions:
147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm
Weight: 163 g
73.8 mm 8.5 mm 158.1 mm Galaxy S9+ Dimensions:
158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm
Weight: 189 g

Display

Galaxy S9 5.8" Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2960x1440)
570 ppi
Galaxy S9+ 6.2" Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2960x1440)
529 ppi
  • *Infinity Display: a near bezel-less, full-frontal, edge-to-edge screen.
  • *Default resolution is Full HD+ and can be changed to Quad HD+ in Settings.
  • *Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners.

Camera

Front Camera

  • 8MP AF sensor
    • Sensor size: 1/3.6"
    • Pixel size: 1.22µm
    • Sensor ratio: 4:3
  • FOV: 80˚
  • F1.7 aperture
  • Selfie focus
  • Selfie
  • Wide selfie
  • Selfie focus
  • Selfie
  • Wide selfie

Rear Camera

  • Food
  • Auto/Pro
  • Hyperlapse
  • Panorama
  • Super Slow-mo

*Super Slow-mo only supports HD resolution. Limited to 20 shots per video with approximately 0.2 seconds of recording and 6 seconds of playback for each shot.

Galaxy S9
  • OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
  • Digital zoom up to 8x
  • Selective Focus (background blur effect)
Rear camera
  • Super Speed Dual Pixel
  • 12MP AF sensor
    • Sensor size: 1/2.55"
    • Pixel size: 1.4µm
    • Sensor ratio: 4:3
  • FOV: 77˚
  • Dual Aperture: F1.5 mode/ F2.4 mode
Galaxy S9+
  • Dual camera
  • Dual OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)
  • Optical zoom at 2x
  • Digital zoom up to 10x
  • Live focus with bokeh filters (background blur effect)
  • Dual Capture
Wide-angle camera
  • Super Speed Dual Pixel
  • 12MP AF sensor
    • Sensor size: 1/2.55"
    • Pixel size: 1.4µm
    • Sensor ratio: 4:3
  • FOV: 77˚
  • Dual Aperture: F1.5 mode/ F2.4 mode
Telephoto camera
  • 12MP AF sensor
    • Sensor size: 1/3.6"
    • Pixel size: 1.0µm
    • Sensor ratio: 4:3
  • FOV: 45˚
  • F2.4 aperture

Front & Rear Camera

  • VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization)
  • AR Emoji
  • Grid lines
  • HDR (High Dynamic Range)
  • Motion photo
  • Location tags
  • Full view
  • Filters
  • Timer
  • Floating camera button
  • Stamps
  • Quick launch

*Apps that do not support animated GIFs may still send AR Emoji stickers as a still image.

Video
Recording

  • 4K video recording at 30 fps or 60fps
  • QHD video recording at 30 fps
  • 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps
  • 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
  • Super Slow-mo video support 720p at 960 fps
  • Slow motion video support 1080p at 240 fps
  • Hyperlapse video support 1080p
  • VDIS (Video Digital Image Stabilization)
  • Digital zoom up to 8x (Galaxy S9) or up to 10x (Galaxy S9+)
  • High CRI LED Flash
  • Continuous autofocus video
  • Face detection
  • Tracking AF
  • Take 9.1-megapixel still photos while recording 4K video
  • Playback zoom
  • Video location tags

*Super Slow-mo only supports HD resolution. Limited to 20 shots per video with approximately 0.2 seconds of recording and 6 seconds of playback for each shot.

Performance

AP

  • 10nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor *2.8GHz + 1.7GHz (Maximum Clock Speed, Performance Core + Efficiency Core)
  • 10nm 64-bit Octa-Core Processor *2.7GHz + 1.7GHz (Maximum Clock Speed, Performance Core + Efficiency Core)

*May differ by country and carrier.

Memory

Galaxy S9
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB
Galaxy S9+
  • 6GB RAM
  • 64GB

*May differ by country and carrier.

*Actual user memory may be less due to pre-installed operating system/softwares and may change after software updates.

Network
& Connectivity

Enhanced 4x4 MIMO/CA, LAA, LTE Cat.18

*May differ by country and carrier.

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80 MU-MIMO, 1024QAM

Bluetooth® v5.0 (LE up to 2Mbps), ANT+, USB type-C, NFC, location (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou)

*Galileo and BeiDou coverage may be limited. BeiDou may not be available for certain countries.

Expandable
Memory
& SIM Card

Single SIM model: one Nano SIM and one MicroSD slot (up to 400GB)

Dual SIM model (Hybrid SIM slot): one Nano SIM and one Nano SIM or one MicroSD slot (up to 400GB)

*May differ by country and carrier.

*Availability of Dual SIM may vary by country and carrier.

*MicroSD card sold separately.

OS

Android 8.0 (Oreo)

Audio

Stereo speakers tuned by AKG

Surround sound with Dolby Atmos technology (Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus included)

Ultra High Quality Audio Playback

UHQ 32-bit & DSD support PCM: Up to 32 bits

DSD: DSD64/128

*DSD64 and DSD128 playback can be limited depending on the file format.

Audio playback format

MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, APE, DSF, DFF

Bluetooth

Dual Audio: connect two Bluetooth devices to the Galaxy S9 or S9+ to play audio through the two devices simultaneously.

*The two connected devices may exhibit a slight difference in sound output.

Scalable Codec: Enhanced Bluetooth connection under ambient radio frequency interference.

*Available only for certain accessories made by Samsung.

Recording

Recording quality is improved with the High AOP Mic that minimizes distortion in noisy environments.

*AOP: Acoustic Overload Point

Bundled Earphones

Pure sound tuned by AKG
Hybrid canal type
2way dynamic unit

Video

Video Playback Formats

MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

TV Connection

Wireless: Smart View (Miracast 1080p at 30 fps, mirroring support available for devices supporting Miracast or Google Cast)

With cable: supports DisplayPort over USB type-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter (DisplayPort 4K 60 fps).

Water Resistance

IP68

*Based on test conditions of submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.

Battery

Galaxy S9
Battery Capacity

3000mAh

Battery Life
  • MP3 playback (AOD on): up to 48 hrs
  • MP3 playback (AOD off): up to 80 hrs
  • Video playback: up to 16 hrs
  • Talk time: up to 22 hrs
  • Internet use (Wi-Fi): up to 14 hrs
  • Internet use (3G): up to 11 hrs
  • Internet use (4G): up to 12 hrs
Galaxy S9+
Battery Capacity

3500mAh

Battery Life
  • MP3 playback (AOD on): up to 54 hrs
  • MP3 playback (AOD off): up to 94 hrs
  • Video playback: up to 18 hrs
  • Talk time: up to 25 hrs
  • Internet use (Wi-Fi): up to 15 hrs
  • Internet use (3G): up to 13 hrs
  • Internet use (4G): up to 15 hrs

*Based on internal lab test condition. Actual battery life may vary depending on device model, usage pattern, other surrounding and environmental factors.

Charging

Fast Charging on wired and wireless
Wireless charging compatible with WPC and PMA

Sensors
& Buttons

Sensors
  • Iris sensor
  • Fingerprint sensor
  • HR sensor
  • Pressure sensor
  • Gyro sensor
  • Proximity sensor
  • Accelerometer
  • Geomagnetic sensor
  • RGB Light sensor
  • Barometer
  • Hall sensor
Buttons
  • On/Off key
  • Volume key
  • Bixby key

Security

Authentication

  • Lock type: pattern, PIN, password
  • Biometrics lock type: iris scanner, fingerprint scanner, face recognition
  • Intelligent scan: Combines iris scan and face recognition for convenient unlocking and in some cases provides enhanced security for certain authentication services.

Security

  • Knox protection: real-time security monitoring and protection.
  • Virus, malware prevention (Powered by McAfee)
  • Secure Folder: a secure space on the device to keep content such as apps, photos, movies, and private files private using iris scanning or fingerprint scanning.

*Virus and malware prevention solution providers may vary by country.

Payment

  • Credit & debit cards: supports MST or/and NFC
  • Membership cards
  • Gift cards
  • Transit cards
  • Reward point service

*Available in select countries. Payment solutions and available features may vary by country, carrier and service providers.

Intelligence

  • Voice
  • Vision: AR Experiences for Translation, Shopping, Place, Food, and Image
  • Reminder
  • Home

*Available functions and features may vary by country.
*Samsung Account login and data network (Wi-Fi or internet connection) required for some features.
*Bixby Voice only recognizes select languages and accents/dialects.
*The processing speed of Bixby Vision is dependent on network environment and type/number of contents.
*Translation function is limited to selected languages. For the full list of languages please visit http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/bixby/vision/.

Customization

Edge Screen

Edge Panels: Apps edge, People edge, Smart select, Reminder, Tasks edge, Quick panel, Clipboard edge, Device Maintenance, Weather, Calendar

Edge Lighting

Video Wallpaper

Up to 15 seconds of video can be used.

AOD
(Always On Display)

AOD content

Choose from a variety of clock designs and information.

  • Clock: digital clock, analogue clock, world clock, and edge clock (option to choose color and wallpaper).
  • Active clock (with second hand)
  • Calendar
  • Image: select an image from Gallery or Smart select and set it as wallpaper for the AOD screen.
  • Animated GIF
  • Other settings: set custom text, date, battery level, app notifications, and song information.

Face Widgets

Experience different widgets on the AOD screen by double-tapping the clock area.

Pin to AOD

  • Pin text and images you wish to remember to the AOD screen. The pinned memo can be easily viewed or deleted.
  • You can pin memo to the AOD screen using Reminder and Share via.

AOD Themes

  • Download AOD-exclusive themes from Theme Store.
  • Decorate your AOD screen with various themes.

*Available contents and features may vary depending on country/carrier and may be subject to additional charge.

Themes are sets of wallpaper, icons, and other design details available for download to the Galaxy S9 or Galaxy S9+.

*Compatible apps and features may vary by theme.
*Available contents and features may vary depending on country/carrier and may be subject to additional charge.

Accessibility

Accessibility
Features

To continue making our technology accessible to everyone, Samsung has developed and applied a variety of technical solutions. With solutions for vision, hearing, dexterity, and interaction, people with disabilities can easily use technology and take advantage of new and exciting features.

  • Voice assistant
  • Color lens
  • Mono audio
  • Voice label
  • Color adjustment
  • Universal switch
  • High contrast theme, font, and keyboard
  • Sound detector
  • Assistant menu
  • Magnifier window
  • Flash notification
  • Direction lock
  • Magnifier widget
  • Sound balance
  • Direct access

In the box

Galaxy S9 | S9+

  • Device
  • USB Cable
  • Earphone
  • Ejection pin
  • USB power adapter
  • Quick start guide
  • USB connector (USB type-C)
  • Micro USB connector
  • Clear view cover

*Actual components may vary by country and carrier.

*All specifications and descriptions provided herein may be different from the actual specifications and descriptions of the product. Samsung reserves the right to make changes to this web page and the contents herein, including without limitation, functionality, features, specifications, GUI, images, videos, benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, capabilities, and any other product information, without notice. All images, videos, user flow and sequences herein are simulated/dramatized for demonstration/illustrative purposes.

News

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones feature Super Slow-mo video, best-in-class low light camera and AR Emojis. Samsung’s Dual Aperture (F1.5 / F2.4) automatically lets in more light when it’s dark and less light when it’s too bright, taking photos that are crisp and clear. Super Slow-mo records dynamic, slow-motion video that captures 960 frames per second. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be available starting in March 16, 2018 in select markets and will be offered in Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, Coral Blue and a new hue, Lilac Purple.

Samsung Electronics Press Release

Built for the Way We Communicate Today: Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ fuel new discoveries with Super Slow-mo video, best-in-class low light camera and AR Emoji for a more personalized way to express yourself.

Samsung Electronics introduces the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+, the smartphones that reimagine the way people communicate, share and experience the world. Made for an age in which consumers increasingly communicate and express themselves more with images, videos and emojis, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ drive innovation with Samsung’s advanced camera. Redesigned with a new Dual Aperture lens that powers an innovative low light camera, Super Slow-mo video capabilities and personalized AR Emoji, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ ensure users do not miss a moment and make their everyday epic.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ deliver an enhanced entertainment experience with powerful stereo speakers tuned by AKG, immersive audio with Dolby Atmos® and a refined edge-to-edge Infinity Display 1– a key staple in Samsung’s design heritage. In addition, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with the new SmartThings app, which unites Samsung’s existing IoT services into one single, smart experience.

“The way we use our smartphones has changed as communication and self-expression has evolved,” said DJ Koh, president and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S9 and S9+, we have reimagined the smartphone camera. Not only do the Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, it’s a smartphone that’s designed to help them connect to others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them.”

Camera Reimagined

Today’s cameras are for more than taking pictures – they’re for connecting and communicating. Consumers want a smartphone camera with state-of-the-art technology, so they can express themselves with high-quality images and tools to tell their own, unique story. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ cameras are built with these consumers in mind, with a Super Speed Dual Pixel sensor with dedicated processing power and memory to take amazing shots with high photo quality. The Galaxy S9 and S9+’s camera features include:

  • Super Slow-mo: Make every day moments epic with dynamic, slow-motion video that captures 960 frames per second. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ also offer automatic Motion Detection, an intelligent feature that detects movement in the frame and automatically begins to record – all users have to do is set up the shot. After capturing the Super Slow-mo video, users can select background music from 35 different options or add a tune from their favorite playlist. Users can also easily create, edit and share GIF files with a simple tap in three playful styles of looping to watch the action over and over again.
  • Low Light Camera: Good lighting is the secret to any great photo. But often, photos are taken in less-than-ideal lighting conditions and most smartphone cameras have a fixed aperture that can’t adjust to low or bright lighting environments resulting in grainy or washed out pictures. Similar to the way the iris of a human eye expands and contracts, Samsung’s Dual Aperture2(F1.5 / F2.4) automatically lets in more light when it’s dark and less light when it’s too bright, taking photos that are crisp and clear.
  • AR Emoji: Samsung lets users create an emoji that looks, sounds and acts like them. AR Emoji uses a data-based machine learning algorithm, which analyzes a 2D image of the user and maps out more than 100 facial features to create a 3D model that reflects and imitates expressions, like winks and nods, for true personalization. AR Emoji shares users’ real-life emotions not only in video but also with a range of stickers and uses a standard AGIF file format so users can share their emojis across most third-party messaging platforms.
  • Bixby: Samsung’s intelligence platform, integrated into the camera, uses augmented reality and deep learning technologies to provide helpful information about a user’s surroundings.3 With real-time object detection and recognition, Bixby instantly generates information directly on top of the image that the camera is pointing at. Users can translate foreign languages and currency in real time with Live Translation, learn about their surroundings, purchase products seen in the real world and track calories throughout the day.4

Entertainment Reimagined

Smartphones are often our go-to choice for entertainment, which is why Samsung created a device that offers premium sound experiences with stereo speakers tuned by AKG. Whether users are watching their favorite movie or streaming their favorite artist’s latest album, sounds are clear, crisp and rich in quality. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ also support Dolby Atmos, giving the effect of 360-degree sound.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ audio experience is complemented by Samsung’s revolutionary Infinity Display. First introduced on the Galaxy S8, the bold, bright Super AMOLED Infinity Display blends right into the phone with virtually no distracting notches. With adaptive contrast enhancement, users can use their device even in direct sunlight.

A Device that Fits with the Connected Lifestyle

As the first smartphone to support the new SmartThings app, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ are the central hub to manage every facet of the connected lifestyle at home, at the office or on the go. The SmartThings app will be introduced with the Galaxy S9 and S9+ and will connect to other Samsung and non-Samsung devices.

For those constantly on the move, the next-generation Samsung DeX empowers a mobile lifestyle by bringing a large, full-screen experience to the mobile handset. With the DeX Pad, a new docking system, users can easily connect the Galaxy S9 and S9+ to a larger monitor, keyboard and mouse to expand the mobile experience with enhanced document editing or even full-screen gaming.5Users can also transform the Galaxy S9 and S9+ into a Touch Pad with the DeX Pad.6

The Best Comes Standard with the Galaxy Foundation

Samsung sets the gold standard for smartphones with IP687 water and dust resistance and wireless charging and goes a step beyond with the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The devices now support expandable memory of up to 400GB with a Micro SD Card and are equipped with the latest premium application processors offering powerful performance and sophisticated image processing.

In addition, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ give users the peace of mind knowing that their phone is protected by Knox 3.1, Samsung’s latest defense-grade security platform. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ support three different biometric authentication options – iris, fingerprint, and facial recognition – so users can choose the way they want to protect their device and applications. The devices feature Intelligent Scan, a new verification that intelligently uses the collective strength of iris scanning and facial recognition technology to quickly and conveniently unlock a user’s phone in various situations. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ also introduce Dedicated Fingerprint, giving users the option to use a different fingerprint to access Secure Folder than the one used to unlock the phone.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ take health to the next level with an improved optical sensor built directly into the device, providing richer, more accurate information on users’ health status. This sensor allows the Galaxy S9 and S9+ to keep track of users’ Heart Load Factor, a new measurement of the real-time demand placed on the heart.8

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be available starting in March 16, 2018 in select markets and will be offered in Midnight Black, Titanium Gray, Coral Blue and a new hue, Lilac Purple.

1Infinity Display: a near bezel-less, full-frontal glass, edge-to-edge screen.

2The Dual Aperture supports F1.5 mode and F2.4 mode. Dual Aperture is installed on the rear camera (Galaxy S9) and rear wide-camera (Galaxy S9+).

3 Bixby service availability and features may vary by country or carrier. Voice Command recognizes English (U.S.), Mandarin Chinese and Korean. Not all accents, dialects and expressions are recognized. Voice command works with a select, growing list of Samsung and third-party apps. See “Apps with Voice” in Bixby for a list of compatible apps.

4 May differ by country and carrier.

5Available on select Samsung smartphones running Android 8.0+. Using the original HDMI cable and charger included with DeX Pad is recommended. DeX Pad, keyboard, mouse, monitor sold separately.

6DeX Pad comes with HDMI cable, wall charger and data cable. Accessories including monitor sold separately. Use of original HDMI cable and charger included with DeX Pad is recommended. Dex Pad also supports Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note8.

7Based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry if wet.

8Intended for general wellness and fitness purposes only.

9 Screen measured diagonally as a full rectangle without accounting for the rounded corners.

10 Default resolution is Full HD+ and can be changed to Quad HD+ (WQHD+) in Settings.

11 May differ by country and carrier.

12 May differ by country and carrier. User memory is less than the total memory due to storage of the operating system and software used to operate the device features. Actual user memory will vary depending on the operator and may change after software upgrades are performed.

13 Galileo and BeiDou coverage may be limited.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images taken with the new Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus smartphone.

A gallery of sample images taken with the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Sample Images

Sample Movie & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 60 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 153Mb in size.

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