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Showing posts with label Samsung Galaxy S9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Samsung Galaxy S9. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2018

12/27/2018 09:28:00 PM

Samsung Galaxy S9 Android Pie update begins rolling out

But not everyone is getting it yet


After weeks of beta testing, the long-awaited Android 9 Pie OS update is ready for the Samsung Galaxy S9, meaning some users of the S9 and Samsung S9 Plus can now download the new operating system.

Right now, the update is only available in the following countries: Germany, Switzerland, Italy, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, and Turkey – however, it is in the process of being rolled out to the rest of the world, with the update expected to land globally in January 2019.

So, if you're in the UK, US, or Australia, you shouldn't have too long to wait to get your hands on the update for your Galaxy S9 or S9+ – although exact timings are yet to be confirmed.

More to come

The update for Android Pie should bring a number of upgrades to your Galaxy S9/S9+, including an improved user interface, enhancements to the Samsung keyboard, and adaptive brightness, among others.

Don't have the Samsung S9? Not to worry, the Android Pie update is probably coming to your Android-powered phone as well. Here is the full schedule of updates for the different models:


  1. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ – January 2018
  2. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 – February 2019
  3. Samsung Galaxy S8 – March 2019
  4. Samsung Galaxy S8+ – March 2019
  5. Samsung Galaxy Note 8 – March 2019
  6. Samsung Galaxy A8 2018 and A8+ 2018 – April 2019
  7. Samsung Galaxy A7 2018 – April 2019
  8. Samsung Galaxy A9+ 2018 – April 2019
  9. Samsung Galaxy J4 and J4+ – May 2019
  10. Samsung Galaxy J6 and J6+ – May 2019
  11. Samsung Galaxy J7 2017 – July 2019
  12. Samsung Galaxy J7 Duo – August 2019
  13. Samsung Xcover4 – September 2019
  14. Samsung J3 2017 – September 2019
  15. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7 – September 2019
  16. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 2017 – October 2019
  17. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 – October 2019
  18. Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5 – October 2019


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Saturday, March 24, 2018

3/24/2018 06:44:00 PM

Galaxy S9 touchscreen 'dead spots': Samsung's looking into user complaints

Fresh out of the box, some Galaxy S9 touchscreens aren't responsive in certain patches.


Samsung says it's looking into a growing number of complaints that the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus touchscreen isn't responding to touch.

Some users on Samsung forums are complaining about "dead spots" on various parts of the screen on Galaxy S9 devices, with touches not registering often around the top and bottom.

Reddit users are also complaining about problems on parts of the screen on both the S9 and S9+. A video has been posted online showing the effect of the dead spot.

The dead zone complaints come just a week after Samsung began selling its new flagship smartphones.

Until these issues emerged, the Galaxy S9 had been credited with having the best screen available, beating Apple's iPhone X benchmarking by screen-testing firm DisplayMate.

Samsung has issued a statement to ZDNet sister site CNET, confirming that it is investigating the reports and has encouraged owners to contact it.

"At Samsung, customer satisfaction is core to our business and we aim to deliver the best possible experience. We are looking into a limited number of reports of Galaxy S9/S9+ touchscreen responsiveness issues," a Samsung spokesperson said.

Now read: Mobile device computing policy

"We are working with affected customers and investigating. We encourage any customer with questions to contact us directly at 1-800-SAMSUNG."

Some Galaxy S9 owners have reported that Samsung provided replacement phones.

As CNET notes, the touchscreen is crucial to navigating on the Galaxy S9 because it lacks a physical home button.

It's not clear how widespread the issue is but the company will be doubtless keen to avoid a disaster on the scale of the fire-prone Galaxy Note 7.


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Friday, March 23, 2018

3/23/2018 06:36:00 PM

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus: This is how much your new smartphone costs to build

The new smartphone model's 'much higher' costs are driven by its updated camera, but the screen remains the most expensive component.


The 64GB version of Samsung Galaxy S9+ adds an extra $43 in materials costs over the previous model, largely down to the new camera and the higher cost of memory.

According to an analysis by researchers IHS Markit, this year's model of Samsung's big-screen smartphone has a bill of materials of around $375.80, which is $43 more than the Galaxy S8+. The higher bill of materials is driven mainly by the rising prices of DRAM and NAND flash memory, as well as the smartphone's new dual-lens mechanical aperture camera module.

The research company previously said that the 64GB iPhone X carries a bill of materials of $370.25, while Samsung's Galaxy S8 with 64GB of storage costs $302 (IHS has not analyzed the Galaxy S9 yet).

Andrew Rassweiler, senior director of cost benchmarking services for IHS Markit, said that despite the higher costs for Samsung, the Galaxy S9+ offers consumers better specs at about the same price point as the Galaxy S8+, including a brighter screen and better camera technology.


The Galaxy S9 broken down.

IHS said the most significant new feature is the 12-megapixel dual-lens camera, which includes the first variable-aperture system built into a smartphone, supporting F1.5 and F2.4, image over-sampling and 960 frames-per-second slow motion. The combined bill of materials cost for the primary, secondary, iris camera, and other modules is $44.95. Of this, $34.95 is down to the new primary camera, which delivers better results in low-light conditions.

The Galaxy S9+ also upgrades from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor to the Snapdragon 845 -- one of the first smartphones to do so. The 845 chipset contains an LTE CAT18 modem, offering peak LTE speeds up to 1.2Gbps (via 6 carrier aggregation and 4x4 MIMO support). The Snapdragon 845, including all supporting components from Qualcomm, is estimated to cost $67.

IHS said the Galaxy S9+'s 6.2-inch Super AMOLED screen (2960x1440 pixels, 529ppi) provides 700-nit brightness, which is slightly higher than last year's Galaxy S8+. The entire display comes with a bill of materials cost of $79, making it the most expensive component of the device.

The bill of materials is not the only cost that goes into a phone of course, as it does not include items such as software, assembly, marketing, and distribution.


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Wednesday, March 21, 2018

3/21/2018 01:49:00 AM

Galaxy S9: Drop test shows how easily Samsung's flagship can break

Maybe Samsung's new Galaxy S9 refined Infinity Display isn't all it's meant to be in terms of durability.


How well does Samsung's new Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus do against drops? It's not very surprising. You should expect a lot of shattered glass and despair.

SquareTrade conducted a Galaxy S9 drop test to see its durability. (Image: SquareTrade)

Phone warranty company SquareTrade performed a drop test (more like a torture test) with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus from a variety of different heights. While Samsung's new phones are more durable than Apple's iPhone X and its own Galaxy S8 released a year earlier, Galaxy S9 owners should still expect cracked glass if it hits the pavement.

Samsung touts a "refined Infinity display" on the Galaxy S9 to supply enhanced durability. It bumped the thickness over previous models 20 percent from 0.5T to 0.6T.



SquareTrade found after dropping the Galaxy S9 on its back from six feet, the phone shattered and starburst and hairline cracks appeared. When dropped on the front, the Galaxy S9 had loose glass and hairline cracks.

SquareTrade also tested how the Galaxy S9 lineup faired against bending and tumbling. In terms of repairability, SquareTrade found it's not easy. The LCD can be easily broken while attempting repairs, and it's difficult to remove the back panel.

"All of that glass means that durability has actually gone backward over the past year," SquareTrade global creative director Jason Siciliano told CNET in a statement.

Maybe Galaxy S9 owners should consider a case.




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Wednesday, March 14, 2018

3/14/2018 02:06:00 AM

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus review


Below expectations

OUR VERDICT

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is a great phone, but it's not really a big update over the Galaxy S8 series. The dual-aperture feature makes less of a difference than you would think, and the Pixel 2 remains a better camera phone.

FOR

  • Good camera
  • Dependable, fast performance
  • Excellent display

AGAINST

  • The camera often takes washed out photos
  • Pixel 2 takes noticeably better photos
  • Nothing except the camera is new
















It's the “tick” year for smartphone makers, meaning changes will be subtle and possibly inconsequential. But amongst the many “small” features Samsung has made to its flagship, one stands out. The Galaxy S9 Plus is of course about the variable aperture camera, because without it, this is at best a minor update to the Galaxy S8. So, let's begin with what matters.



See all Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus deals

Samsung Galaxy S9 release date and price
Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus release date: March 16
Price starts at Rs 64,900 for 64GB variant

It’s still cheaper than an iPhone X

The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are priced at Rs 57,900 and Rs 65,900 respectively for the 64GB variants, and the 256GB variants are priced at Rs 64,900 and Rs 72,900. Vodafone users buying the phones will get free one year Netflix subscription. The sale kicks off on 16 March. The phones will be available to purchase from Samsung India Store, Flipkart, and Airtel Store.

Camera

F/1.5 is the widest aperture we've seen on a smartphone yet. The Galaxy S9 compliments that by allowing a toggle for smaller F/2.4 aperture. On the auto mode, the camera will switch between 1.5 and 2.4 on its own volition. If you want to actually see the aperture change, you can switch to the Pro mode and hit the aperture toggle. You will see the blades close in on the primary lens when shifting to the narrower aperture. What the Galaxy S9 Plus can't do is manage transitions across these apertures. You either have f/1.5 or f/2.4, which theoretically speaking, is still a big deal.

You'll probably (and rightly) marvel at the technology here. However, its impact may not be evident to you right off the bat. Samsung's phones always shoot bright photos, compromising details for colour vibrancy. 

Don't get me wrong, this is still a great camera, but long time Samsung users will notice a definite change in the company's imaging philosophy here. Where Samsung has focused on making colors as vibrant as possible in the past, the S9 Plus tilts towards a more natural shade.

However, in doing so, many images appear washed out (in auto mode), especially when put next to the same image shot from a Pixel 2. In bright light, the Galaxy S9 Plus takes some of the best photos you can get, with punchy colors. In low light, wide aperture and tried-and-tested algorithms work together to produce very bright photos. Yet, if you compare to a Pixel, you'll notice that the Galaxy S9 Plus is still inferior to Google's Pixel 2. Details are lost due to aggressive noise removal, and colors are often washed out, which is specific to the S9 Plus. Personally speaking, this is the only Samsung flagship that has disappointed me in any way, when it comes to the camera.

That said, if you're sharing photos on social media only, this camera is more than enough. Despite its shortcomings, the Galaxy S9 Plus can certainly rank amongst the best, but I personally would switch this to the Note 8 any day.

Camera Samples






AR Emoji

Samsung admits that this new feature is all about having "fun" with the Galaxy S9 Plus. Switching to AR Emoji mode on the camera app allows you to take a selfie and convert it into a cartoonish character. The character the phone creates will almost never look like you, which is where the fun element comes in.

What AR Emoji seems to do is create a more exaggerated version of the expression on your face. It can come off as creepy but indeed makes for some fun times with friends. That is, till the novelty wears off.


Super Slo-Mo video

Taking a page out of Sony's book, the Galaxy S9 Plus can shoot 960fps slow motion video. And just as it was with the Xperia, it's a feature I almost never used. In fact, the only reason I even tried it because I had to write this review.

That said, super slow motion video might find use in certain niche use-cases. What you must know is that the Galaxy S9 Plus has to be quite stable for this to work, so a tripod is recommended. A moving car, low light, while walking etc. are not the perfect situations for shooting super slow motion videos. In essence, depending on the type of user, super slow motion can either be a gimmick, a novelty or absolutely useless.

Summing up the Galaxy S9 Plus' camera

Samsung impressed the world by putting variable aperture on a phone. However, it also has the first mover's disadvantage here. It seems to me that the company's algorithms aren't perfectly tuned to changing aperture yet, causing the washed out images. What's more noteworthy though is that when it does shoot right, the S9 Plus isn't a huge upgrade over the S8 or Note 8. If anything, the Note 8 can trump this one at times.


Design

With the camera covered, I feel like there's nothing more I can tell you about the Galaxy S9. It has a more rectangular design than last year and feels wider than the S8 Plus. But it's still a mighty compact smartphone when you consider the large screen size. Other than that, this is just the same design as the Galaxy S8 Plus, at least on first glance.

See all Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus deals
Samsung used Gorilla Glass 5 for the body this time and the S9 Plus is heavier than both the S8 Plus and Note 8. The extra weight is possibly a result of a heavier aluminum chassis on this device. It's just enough to be reassuring, but not enough for the phone to feel unwieldy.

Samsung is following the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy here, and it's hard to argue against. Yet, the enthusiast in me says I want newer designs on smartphones every year. It's funny how fast a "new" design gets old.

Display



And just like the design, the Galaxy S9 Plus' display is a repeat of 2017 too. You get a 6.2-inch Super AMOLED display that impresses no matter what you use it for. It feels premium, colors pop and refreshes rate is high. There's really nothing to complain about. It can take on any of the top-end flagships today, and be barring the iPhone X, there's nothing out there that could compete against the S9 Plus.

Performance

The performance difference between 2017 and 2018 Exynos chipsets is essentially the same as that between Qualcomm's offerings during this time. The Exynos 9810 that runs on the Galaxy S9 Plus is as capable as any flagship-class chipset should be.

I turned off all animations on the phone, just to see apps opening as fast as they could. At least in these initial days, the Galaxy S9 Plus is smooth and lag-free. It is sure to slow down over time, just like any Android phone will, including the Pixel 2 XL. 

Speaking from experience though, Samsung has improved its software over the years and its phones don't start lagging as fast as they did. I've used the Galaxy Note 8 for over six months before this, and though it's slower now, I only realized that after using a fresh out of the box Pixel.

Biometrics



Apple may be trying to kill fingerprint sensors, but Samsung's not buying it. The fingerprint placement here has changed too, thankfully. It's easier to get used to, though it's still tough to discern sometimes. The sensor lies below the dual-camera module on the back, aligned vertically. Medium sized and large hands should reach it easily, but it might take you a few days to adjust to it. When you have adjusted, the sensor never missed a beat.

See all Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus deals
Samsung also improved the iris scanner this year, using both the IR sensors and an RGB photo of your face to unlock. Given how much Google's built-in face recognition software has improved though, this isn't surprising. The Iris scanner is more usable now, but it's far from being perfect. It still stutters in low light and is slow and unintuitive.

Battery life



When using the S9 Plus without games or other heavy use cases (like shooting long videos), it lasts for 14-16 hours quite easily. However, with the screen turned to auto and heavy gaming during the day, the battery life fell to between 12-14 hours. That's up to flagship standards and makes the Galaxy S9 Plus dependable enough. You will get by with a single charge at the end of the day.

The Galaxy S9 Plus does support fast charging, but Samsung's solution feels more like...umm...charging once you've seen OnePlus' Dash Charge in action. That said, we'll be updating our thoughts on fast charging once the phone has been used a bit longer. The Galaxy S9 Plus' battery might need some time to actually settle down. On the upside, it does support fast charging on both wireless and wired connections.

Our Verdict

The Galaxy S9 Plus is a great phone, but personally, I'm not very impressed. The changing aperture is very cool to look at, but it doesn't make a big difference. The camera can't beat our current favorite, the Pixel 2 and other aspects of the phone are the same as last year. The Galaxy S9 Plus is a good phone, but it's more like a Galaxy S8 2 than a whole new flagship. And that is disappointing.




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Friday, March 2, 2018

3/02/2018 11:10:00 PM

Samsung Galaxy S9+ beats iPhone X and Pixel 2 to claim top smartphone camera DxOMark Mobile score




Want the best camera that a smartphone can offer? The DxOMark Mobile test says that you should bin your iPhone X or Google Pixel 2 and get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S9+.

The Samsung Galaxy S9+ scored 99, highest-ever combined photo and video rating for a smartphone camera, and a photo score of 104 points, again, the highest ever photo score award to a smartphone.

DxO's review of the camera built into the Galaxy S9+ is very glowing:

The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is a smartphone without any real weaknesses in the camera department. In both still and video modes, it performs well across the board, delivering consistently good photo and video image quality in all light and shooting situations, thus earning itself our highest DxOMark Mobile score to date. Add one of the best smartphone zooms and a capable bokeh simulation mode to the mix, and the Galaxy S9 Plus is difficult to ignore for any photo-minded smartphone user. With the Galaxy S9 Plus, Samsung is setting the pace for 2018. We'll see if the competition can follow suit.
Also noteworthy is the ability of the S9+ to handle low-light conditions, thanks to its new variable aperture, which allows the lens to adjust to let in more or less light depending on the conditions.

In dim conditions, the rear camera uses a fast f/1.5 aperture, while in bright conditions the aperture closes to f/2.4 aperture, which improves sharpness and detail.

About the only criticism that DxO had of the Galaxy S9+ camera was the autofocus:

The Galaxy S9 Plus autofocus system is not the very fastest we have tested, but close to the best, and also produces very repeatable results. That said, we did find the occasional out-of-focus image in our samples in all light conditions.

However, DxO thinks that this is a non-issue:

The autofocus isn't the very fastest we have tested, but it's more than fast enough not to be an issue for any user.

Is the DxOMark Mobile benchmark the be-all and end-all of camera quality? No. There's plenty of valid criticisms that can be leveled at the test, and a couple of points, either way, is neither here nor there in the grand scheme of things.

But, if you're the sort of person who lives and dies by these sorts of tests, and you absolutely must have the best smartphone camera, then the Galaxy S9+ is the handset for you.




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Monday, February 26, 2018

2/26/2018 09:44:00 PM

Samsung to sell Galaxy S9 super slow-mo image sensors

Samsung's ISOCELL Fast 2L3 image sensor, which powers the Galaxy S9's camera, supports 960 frames per second super slow-motion recording and is likely aimed at Chinese smartphone vendors.



Samsung Electronics has launched the new ISOCELL Fast 2L3 image sensor that supports 960 frames-per-second super slow-motion recording.

It is installed on the new Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus smartphones unveiled at the Mobile World Congress.

The sensor integrates a 2Gb DRAM (LPDDR4) below the conventional pixel array layer and an analog logic layer which allows for high image readouts.

It allows 1/120 second-snapshots and 960 frames-per-second recordings.

The design is similar to that of Japanese tech giant Sony's image sensor with similar capabilities, which also integrates a DRAM.

The 1.4 micrometer, 1.2-megapixel ISOCELL Fast 2L3 also supports HDR, noise reduction, and prevents jello effect and image distortion.

Samsung will likely now compete with Sony to woo Chinese vendors, which except Xiaomi, are yet to adopt slow-motion features in their smartphone cameras.

The Japanese tech giant has dominated in CMOS image sensors thanks to its long legacy of camera technology, an area in which the South Korean tech giant is a fast-rising runner-up.

Earlier this month, Samsung introduced the ISOCELL Dual aimed at providing dual camera features for budget phone clients.





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2/26/2018 08:02:00 PM

Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9 Plus: Should you upgrade based on specs, price and camera improvements?

Samsung is betting that camera improvements will spur an upgrade cycle to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. Here's a look at the enterprise angle, specifications, deals, DeX and competitive landscape to help you decide.



Samsung launched its Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, outlined a camera-heavy pitch and updated its flagship smartphones. The next big question is whether the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus is worth the upgrade.

Here's a look at the moving parts in the buying decision:

THE CORE PITCH

Samsung is looking to redefine the camera experience with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. DJ Koh, head of Samsung's IT and mobile communications division, said technology is changing lives, but it only does so when innovation is in the hands of real people. Koh referred to customers as creators. "The most important function of the phone is not making calls. It's to capture that fleeting moment in a photo and sharing moments in videos. People took 1.2 trillion photos on their smartphones," said Koh, who said the camera upgrade is a breakthrough.

Samsung also said its Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus can manage your connected life, but at the end of the day, the core pitch revolves around the camera and its ability to take pictures in low light. The camera has its own DRAM processor as well as dual apertures to handle all lighting conditions.

S9 Plus boasts dual aperture camera, slow-motion capture | CNET: Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus cameras: Everything you need to know | New camera tricks | Hands-on



And yes, Samsung moved the fingerprint scanner to a better location. New features to Bixby are interesting, but hardly a reason to upgrade. Ditto for the Internet of things hooks into the Smart Things cloud and iris scanner and facial recognition features. In the end, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus will be about camera improvements and a less annoying fingerprint sensor for many folks.

SPECIFICATIONS

Both devices feature the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and that chip is one of the primary reasons Samsung can boast camera improvements. The primary thing to note here is that Samsung's Galaxy S9 Plus has dual cameras and the 5.8-inch version doesn't. The Galaxy S9 Plus joins the Galaxy Note 8 as dual-camera flagship devices. Here's a look at the core specs:

GALAXY S9 SPECIFICATIONS

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core (Exynos outside the US)

Display: 5.8 inch 2960x1440 pixels resolution Super AMOLED

Operating system: Android 8 Oreo

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64/128/256GB internal with microSD card slot

Cameras: Super speed dual pixel 12 megapixel OIS and mechanical dual aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4). Front 8-megapixel camera, f/1.7.

Battery: 3000 mAh with fast wired and wireless charging

Water resistance: IP68

Wireless connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth 5, ANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, MST

Audio: Dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm headset jack

Sensors: Iris, pressure, Accelerometer, barometer, fingerprint, gyro, magnet, heart rate, proximity, RGB light

Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm and 163 grams

GALAXY S9 PLUS SPECIFICATIONS

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core (Exynos outside the US)

Display: 6.2 inch 2960x1440 pixels resolution Super AMOLED

Operating system: Android 8 Oreo

RAM: 6GB

Storage: 64/128/256GB internal with microSD card slot

Cameras: Super speed dual pixel 12 megapixel OIS and mechanical dual aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4) and 12-megapixel f/2.4 telephoto camera. Front 8-megapixel camera, f/1.7.

Battery: 3500 mAh with fast wired and wireless charging
Water resistance: IP68

Wireless connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth 5, ANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, MST

Audio: Dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm headset jack

Sensors: Iris, pressure, Accelerometer, barometer, fingerprint, gyro, magnet, heart rate, proximity, RGB light

Dimensions: 158.1 x 73.8 x 8.5 mm and 189 grams

THE PRICE

Samsung is holding the pricing line with its Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus with the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus. The pricing from Samsung also is less expensive than Apple's iPhone X. As noted in Matthew Miller's roundup the Galaxy S9 from T-Mobile runs $720 full price and the Galaxy S9 Plus costs $840. There are also trade-in promotions. Deals from AT&T and Verizon are also in that price range but are a bit higher. Deals from Best Buy and other retailers are likely to be available. For instance, Xfinity Mobile from Comcast is offering $450 off the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus for a limited time.

IHS Markit analysts Gerrit Schneemann and Wayne Lam noted:

Success in the flagship pricing tier will be critical in 2018 for Samsung. Unless Samsung changes its portfolio strategy, IHS Markit forecasts Samsung's smartphone shipments will decline by 2.6 percent in 2018 compared with overall market growth of 3.9 percent. With the S9 and S9 Plus' iterative designs, Samsung is banking on its successful design language from 2017 to continue to match buyer preferences, while Samsung adds enough new features to justify upgrades.

WHAT'S THE TRADE-IN VALUE OF CURRENT PHONE?

The deals from carriers and retailers for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus may be sweetened by trade-in offers. Koh even mentioned trade-in promotions during his keynote so Samsung may be revving up the incentives. You can also shop around via various merchants to see what your smartphone is worth and ways to offset the price of a new device. See CNET's smartphone trade-in guide.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE THE GALAXY NOTE 8?

Many of the features in the Galaxy S9 Plus will wind up via software updates in the Galaxy Note 8. The Galaxy S9 Plus may have better camera technology, but other features aren't enough to spur a replacement. Samsung has set up some serious flagship confusion though.

HOW DOES GALAXY S9 AND GALAXY S9 PLUS COMPARE TO IPHONE X, GOOGLE PIXEL 2 AND OTHER LESS EXPENSIVE ANDROID PHONES?

Samsung has dual cameras in the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus and improvements to iris and facial scanning. The price points for Samsung's latest devices will fall below the iPhone X so that's a potential win.

As for the Pixel 2, Google has a single camera but has advanced the technology via software and machine learning.

What's also notable is how Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus will compete with Android rivals such as Huawei, Nokia, LG, and others. Many smartphone makers have gone with a pure Google Android experience and have been using that as a selling point. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus may compete with phones from the likes of Nokia too. Samsung Galaxy S9: Everything to know

WHAT'S THE BUSINESS PLAY?

As an enterprise device, Samsung has used the Galaxy Note 8 as the business flagship. What changed, however, is that the Galaxy S9 now has an enterprise edition. Samsung is using its smaller Galaxy S9 as the enterprise play and adds customization for enterprise-specific apps and more control for central IT. Samsung's enterprise edition approach doesn't apply to the Galaxy S9 Plus. Samsung puts business spin on Galaxy S9, joins Galaxy Note 8 with enterprise edition

It's also worth noting that Google is launching its Android enterprise program for smartphones and left Samsung out of the launch to start. That omission is something C-level executives may notice.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition features include:

  • Knox Configure, which enables enterprises to remotely provision and configure devices, and Knox 3.1.
  • Granular device settings.
  • Customizations for industry-specific use cases.
  • The ability to turn the Samsung Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition to a single purpose appliance.
  • Enterprise firmware over the air so IT departments can manage a fleet of devices via a central OS.
  • Security updates for 4 years after market availability.
  • Product lifecycle management for two years.
  • A network of partners to tailor experiences for employees.


And the specifications:

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 octa-core (Exynos outside the US)

Display: 5.8 inch 2960x1440 pixels resolution Super AMOLED

Operating system: Android 8 Oreo

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64/128/256GB internal with microSD card slot

Cameras: Super speed dual pixel 12 megapixel OIS and mechanical dual aperture (f/1.5 and f/2.4). Front 8-megapixel camera, f/1.7.

Battery: 3000 mAh with fast wired and wireless charging

Water resistance: IP68

Wireless connectivity: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth 5, ANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Galileo, BeiDou, MST

Audio: Dual stereo speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm headset jack

Sensors: Iris, pressure, Accelerometer, barometer, fingerprint, gyro, magnet, heart rate, proximity, RGB light

Dimensions: 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm and 163 grams

IS DEX PAD A DIFFERENTIATOR?

One thing the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus bring to the table is the DeX dock and a desktop experience. Samsung outlined its DeX Pad, which brings a cleaner design to what essentially can be a thin client for enterprises. The core concept here is that you can bring your device, dock it and use all the ports--two USB Type-A ports, an HDMI port, and a USB Type-C port as well as Ethernet--to replicate a desktop. DeX is a system that's not available for other devices and Samsung is sticking with the approach. If this desktop experience and smartphone docking capability is a win for you, then DeX may sway you to the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus.

Even if DeX isn't a winner yet, Samsung is showing that it will stick with the platform. That doggedness may mean DeX ultimately succeeds.



YOUR PERSONAL BUYING STRATEGY WITH ANDROID DEVICES?

Samsung is obviously in the premium device arena, but lower-end phones are catching up in features, cameras and relying on Google to improve the software experience. Do you need Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus or a $399 phone from the likes of Huawei or Nokia? Will the Sony Xperia smartphone work for you? The premium vs. mid-tier pricing battle is only going to continue. We're in the age of smartphone innovation stagnation. Samsung is feeling it to some degree and Apple is too. The real pricing battleground will be in the Android ecosystem.



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