Samsung Galaxy S9 Review

April 23, 2018 | Amy Davies | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star

Introduction

The Samsung Galaxy S9 sits alongside the S9+ as the latest flagship smartphones from Samsung.

Both phones are notable in that they are the first smartphones to offer cameras with a variable aperture lens, that is one that you can control yourself. You can choose between f/1.5 and f/2.4 depending on the lighting condition, or the camera itself will choose the aperture automatically depending on the shooting mode you’re in.

The standard S9 has one camera/lens, a 12 megapixel sensor, with a 26mm (equivalent) f/1.5-f/2.4 lens. It uses phase-detection autofocus, has optical image stabilisation, and has an 8 megapixel front-facing camera with an f/1.7 lens. 4K video recording is available at up to 60fps, as well as super slow-motion video at 960fps (720p resolution).

For the purposes of this review, we have been loaned the Samsung Galaxy S9 by Vodafone, which offers the S9 on a variety of different contracts.

Ease of Use

The S9 uses a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED Gorilla Glass screen. As is pretty common these days, it uses a display which goes all way to the edge of the screen, being slightly curved for an attractive design. There is a bezel at the top and bottom of the screen - Samsung hasn’t followed in the footsteps of Apple and Huawei by adding a “notch”. While this means the phone doesn’t maximise the available space, you may be of the opinion that the look is cleaner, or uninterrupted.

A fingerprint sensor is found on the back of the phone, which you can use to unlock the phone, or you can set up face unlock or an unlock pattern. At the top of the phone is the SIM card tray, which also contains space for a MicroSD card - you can expand the inbuilt memory by adding your own SD card here - this marks it as a point of difference from several other high-profile phones currently on the market, such as the Google Pixel 2, iPhone X and the Huawei P20 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy S9
Front of the Samsung Galaxy S9

From the lock screen you can access the native camera app by swiping upwards from the bottom right hand corner of the screen. By default, the app launches in “Auto” mode, which is fine to use for the majority of shooting scenarios. With this, the phone will automatically decide on the best settings for you, meaning you can’t adjust the aperture yourself - you should find that if you’re shooting in low light, it will automatically switch to the wider setting.

Along the top of the app (or to the left when shooting in landscape mode), you’ll see the various shooting modes that the S9 camera app offers. In order to move between them, simply swipe in the main app area. Along with Auto, there’s also Selective Focus, Pro, Panorama, Food, Super Slow mo (video), AR Emoji, and Hyperlapse.

Selective Focus is the S9’s “shallow depth of field” effect, which you can use to create a fake bokeh type look. In order to use it, you need to point the phone at something within 50cm and take the photo. You’ll see that a yellow circle goes around the virtual shutter button while the effect is being applied - you can then see the image in playback. Occasionally, the phone will not apply the effect if it can’t detect a subject - this is usually when you’ve photographed something in the distance (such as a landscape), rather than something close to the camera. When looking at the image in playback, you can change the focus, from near focus to far focus, which can be helpful if the subject hasn’t quite worked.

Samsung Galaxy S9
Rear of the Samsung Galaxy S9

Pro mode is where you can adjust a wide variety of different settings. You can change ISO, white balance, metering, exposure compensation, shutter speed and, the S9’s selling point, the aperture. You can also manually focus, too. In terms of aperture, you’ve only got two options - f/1.5 and f/2.4 - choosing the wider aperture (f/1.5) when shooting in low light, and the narrower (f/2.4) in good light. If you look at the lens while you’re tapping this icon, you can physically see the aperture blades opening and closing. Unlike with some other smartphones at the moment, there’s no option to shoot in raw format.

For Panorama mode, you need to sweep the phone across a scene to create an ultra-wide angle view of the scene. You can choose a standard panorama or a motion panorama - if the latter, you can view your panorama back as a video instead of just a still image.

Samsung Galaxy S9
Front of the Samsung Galaxy S9

As you might imagine, Food mode is intended for photographing food. Basically, it creates a radial blur effect, whereby the centre of the image is sharp, but the rest is blurred. You can also select various points across the frame, not just the centre, if you prefer.

The other three modes are Super Slow-Mo, which you can use to create super slow motion videos. You can set it to either “Multi Take”, whereby you can record multiple “moments” in one video, or “Single Take” where just a single “moment” is captured. AR Emoji allows you to create emojis of yourself, while Hyperlapse is a way to create a time-lapse video.

Whichever mode you’re shooting in, you’ll be able to click on a cog icon in the bottom left hand corner of the screen to change a variety of different settings. The settings which are available are different depending on which mode you’re working in. In the Pro mode, you’ll be able to change the Picture Size, Video Size, Turn on the Timer and so on.

Samsung Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9 In-hand

In order to actually take a photo, you can use a virtual button via the app. Just next to this button, there’s another for video recording, and another to view your images in playback. If you’re using the camera app from the lock screen, you’ll only be able to view the images you’ve taken in your current “session”. You can also use the physical volume button to take a shot. By tapping the video record button, it will start recording video immediately. However, if you hold down the video record button, you’ll be able to frame up your shot, before releasing the button to start actually recording.

Along the bottom of the screen you’ll also find the icon you need to switch to shooting with the front facing camera. In selfie mode, you have four different options. There’s the standard Selfie mode, which you can apply Beauty mode to, if you like (or turn it off completely), there’s Selfie Focus, which you can use to create a shallow depth of field effect in your selfies, AR Emoji, and Wide Selfie, which you can use for group selfies to make sure you get everyone in the shot.

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.

In good light, images from the Samsung S9 display a good level of detail and vibrance. Colours are kept realistic while still managing to be punchy. Using the phone in its automatic setting is recommended for the vast majority of occasions.

In lower light, the S9’s ability to switch to a wider aperture comes into play, allowing you to keep ISO down and let as much light in as possible. This makes low light shots very good too, with a good overall impression of detail displayed in shots. If you examine very closely, it’s possible to see image smoothing in certain areas of the shot, but printing at normal sizes yields good results.

Overall, exposure is handled very well, with the all-purpose metering setting doing a good job to keep shots well-balanced. Similarly, automatic white balance does a good job of keeping colours on the right side of accurate.

As there is just one lens, there is no optical zoom available. Instead, there is a digital zoom, but the results from this are best avoided unless absolutely desperate as the results are extremely lacking in detail.

Another issue for the phone only having one lens is the shallow depth of field effect created in the “Selective Focus” mode. The results are quite good if you look at the images at a small size - such as on a phone screen - but if you look carefully you can see problem areas in the image where the fake effect hasn’t quite worked. It’s particularly problematic for subjects with a complicated outline, but for quick shots it’s more than adequate.

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

focal_range1.jpg
 

Digital Zoom

focal_range2.jpg

Flash

Flash Off

flash_off.jpg
 

Flash Off

flash_on.jpg
 

Selfie - Flash On

flash_selfie.jpg

Macro

macro.jpg

Night

night.jpg

Selective Focus

selective_focus_01.jpg
 
selective_focus_02.jpg
 
selective_focus_03.jpg
 
selective_focus_04.jpg

Panorama

panorama.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Samsung Galaxy S9 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 16 second movie is 143Mb 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 99.1Mb 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 13 second movie is 18.6Mb 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

Samsung’s latest smartphones are available in two variants - the S9 and the S9+. Which one you go for will likely very much depend on your budget, as well as how serious you are about the quality of your phone camera. 

While the standard S9 is capable of producing some lovely shots, including in low light, if you really want the best of the best for photography (and want to stick with the Samsung brand), it’s likely that the S9+ will be a better choice - we haven’t tested it yet, but other reports are very promising. Other excellent choices in this area of the market are the Huawei P20 Pro, iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2. 

On the other hand, if you prefer a smaller phone, the S9 makes more sense as it’ll fit more neatly in your pocket and is much easier to use one handed. 

This phone is the world’s first to include a variable physical aperture lens. This is great for adjusting the settings to meet the specific needs, but at f/1.5, the widest setting is not too far removed from the f/1.6 of the Huawei P20 Pro, the f/1.8 of the iPhone X or the Google Pixel 2. 

The S9’s native camera app is well-featured, with lots of different shooting modes, including the Pro mode to choose from. In an ideal world, we’d like to see raw format shooting available, especially given that the phone is aimed towards enthusiast photographers - but the same is true for the iPhone X and the Google Pixel 2. 

For those who are fans of Samsung phones, and want to keep it small, the S9 is an ideal purchase. However, it’s not particularly cheap, retailing for around £739 at the time of writing - which does make it significantly cheaper than the Samsung S9+, which retails for around £869. You can of course get it on contracts and pay much less upfront, but for just £60 more, you could get the Huawei P20 Pro - designed by DxO as the world’s best smartphone for photography. 

Hopefully, we will also be able to get hold of an S9+ at some point to compare the two models - but for now, our summary conclusion has to be that the S9 is very good, but there’s better available on the market.

4 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4.5
Features 4
Ease-of-use 4.5
Image quality 4.5
Value for money 3.5

Main Rivals

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

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 Lite

The Huawei P10 Lite is a new budget smartphone with a 12 megapixel sensor, fast-charging battery and a 5.2-inch Full HD display. Read our Huawei P10 Lite review 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...

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 Plus

The Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsung's flagship smartphone for 2018, boasting a 6.2-inch screen, dual cameras with dual-aperture, 4K video at 60fps and super slow motion video at 960fps. Is this the ultimate smartphone for keen photographers? Find out by reading our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S9 from around the web.

techradar.com »

The Samsung Galaxy S9 is a great phone, but one that hasn't really kicked on from the Galaxy S8, bringing a very similar design and screen to 2017's version. The improved biometrics were sorely needed, and the camera is a leap forward, but the amazing low light capabilities have resulted in sacrifices elsewhere. A top, top phone, but the S9 Plus outshines it.
Read the full review »

trustedreviews.com »

Samsung has been dominating the Android smartphone market for a while now, but does its latest flagship – the Galaxy S9 – have what it takes to keep it in pole position? Or is now the time to start looking at offerings from other manufacturers, like Huawei with its tri-camera-touting P20 Pro? Let’s find out.
Read the full review »

theverge.com »

There comes a point in most successful products’ existences where they become predictable. The new model, building off of the triumphs of its prior version, maintains the same look and feel while introducing more subtle enhancements. Apple’s used this tack with the iPhone and iPad for multiple generations, and Microsoft has done the same with the Surface Pro in recent years. Don’t rock the boat; don’t fix what isn’t broken.
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 smartphone.

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

Samsung Galaxy S9 Sample Images

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 16 second movie is 143Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 60 frames per second. Please note that this 17 second movie is 99.1Mb 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 13 second movie is 18.6Mb in size.

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