The Samsung Galaxy S9 maintains the eye-catching design of its predecessor, while bringing notable improvements in biometrics and camera performance. In fact, rather than marking a complete change of style and concept from the trendsetting Galaxy S8, the Galaxy S9 seems more of a perfected, finessed version of an already winning smartphone. As they say, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it – just put a better camera on it!
The device retains its predecessor’s familiar, but still just as lush curved-edge concept, with a 5.8-inch display (but with slightly smaller bezels) and the same remarkable resolution and colour accuracy. All this comes encased in an even sturdier metal frame, enforced with a Gorilla Glass back and all-round IP68 water resistance, ready to brave clumsy hands and Friday nights out. Despite the robust frame, the phone is lightweight and ideally sized for one-handed use, with all of its back buttons easy to access, another improvement over 2017’s flagship. Samsung also took to heart the feedback on its previous biometric issues, as the face and finger recognition on the S9 work like a dream. The integrated blue-light filter that can be set to turn on every night is another nice touch from Samsung and saves you having to download yet another battery-draining app.
The Galaxy S9 features a considerably more powerful 12-megapixel rear camera than the previous models, distinctly equipped with a dual-aperture shutter and excellent at snapping bright and vivid shots outdoors. It also introduces new, super slow-motion recording capabilities for mesmerising HD videos. The 8-megapixel front camera is always sure to snap your good side, which you can always improve upon by using the editing software that comes free with the Galaxy S9.
The dual-speaker system produces loud, clear and balanced sound, which makes listening to music a joy and eliminates the necessity for speakers when watching videos in bed. Thankfully though, you do get the choice, as the Galaxy S9 does come equipped with a good, old-fashioned 3.5mm headphone jack! The powerful Exynos 9810 processor handles multi-tasking, graphics-intensive games and HD videos smoothly and hitch-free. Battery life is pretty standard for a smartphone in this range, and it should see you through a full day of regular use without any issues. The device also features fast-charging and wireless charging capabilities, which is always a positive. It comes with 4GB of RAM and a generous 64 GB storage space that can be stretched by using a microSD card.
All in all, the Galaxy S9 is a perfect example of taking a good thing and making it better, bringing together the strengths of Samsung’s previous flagships, with added high-end hardware and innovative features. This capable device is more than an iterative update, it’s the progress of an already top-ranking smartphone, making it an excellent value choice for 2020!
