Samsung Galaxy S9 review: specs and price
Samsung Galaxy S9
Why is Samsung Galaxy S9 better than the average?
- Pixel density?
570ppivs351.96ppi - Resolution?
1440 x 2960pxvs1.88MP - CPU speed?
4 x 2.9GHz & 4 x 1.9GHzvs12.52GHz - Internal storage?
256GBvs84.77GB - Video recording (main camera)?
2160 x 60fpsvs52914.58fps - Download speed?
1200MBits/svs1122.2MBits/s - Wide aperture (main camera)?
f/1.5 vsf/1.9 - Bluetooth version?
5vs4.53
Price comparison
User reviews
Overall Rating
Features
Build quality
9.4/10
23 votes
Display quality
9.7/10
23 votes
Battery life
7.0/10
23 votes
Photography
8.8/10
23 votes
Performance
9.2/10
23 votes
Design
weight
163g
We consider a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to carry. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.
thickness
8.5mm
The thickness (or depth) of the product.
width
68.7mm
The width represents the horizontal dimension of the product.
height
147.7mm
The height represents the vertical dimension of the product.
weather-sealed (splashproof)
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
The device is protected with extra seals to prevent failures caused by dust, raindrops, and water splashes.
The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against dust, while the second number refers to protection against liquid. E.g. a first number of 6 denotes that it is completely dustproof, and a second number of 7 denotes that the device can withstand full immersion in water.
The waterproof depth rating indicates how well the device is protected against water ingress and water pressure. Devices which can withstand more water pressure are better for swimming or diving.
volume
86.25cm³
Volume is the quantity of three-dimensional space enclosed by the product's chassis or, in simpler terms, the space the product occupies.
lowest potential operating temperature
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
The minimum temperature at which the device can perform to the optimal level.
Display
screen size
5.8"
The bigger the screen size is, the better the user experience.
Has an OLED or AMOLED display
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays are formed of organic materials that emit light. They have higher contrast ratios and wider viewing angles compared to LCDs. AMOLED and POLED are types of OLED displays.
has an IPS screen
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
IPS (In-Plane Switching) is a technology used for LCDs. It was designed to overcome the main limitations of conventional twisted nematic TFT displays: limited viewing angles and low-quality color reproduction. PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching) is a type of IPS screen developed by Samsung, with increased brightness and lower production costs.
pixel density
570ppi
Pixel density is a measurement of a screen's resolution, expressed as the number of pixels per inch (PPI) on the screen. A higher pixel density translates into more clarity and sharpness for the images rendered on the screen, thus improving the quality of the viewing experience.
resolution
1440 x 2960px
Resolution is an essential indicator of a screen's image quality, representing the maximum amount of pixels that can be shown on the screen. The resolution is given as a compound value, comprised of horizontal and vertical pixels.
refresh rate
60Hz
The frequency at which the screen is refreshed. Higher frequency results in less flickering (less noise) and more natural movement representation in action-intense scenes.
brightness
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
A nit is a measurement of the light that a display emits, equal to one candela per square meter. Brighter displays ensure a screen's contents are easy to read, even in sunny conditions.
has branded damage-resistant glass
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
Damage-resistant glass (such as Corning Gorilla Glass or Asahi Dragontrail Glass) is thin, lightweight, and can withstand high levels of force.
Gorilla Glass version
Gorilla Glass 5
Gorilla Glass is one of the most popular brands of chemically strengthened glass, manufactured by Corning. Several versions have been developed, the newer ones being more durable and providing better damage resistance.
Performance
internal storage
256GB
The internal storage refers to the built-in storage space available in a device for system data, apps, and user-generated data. With a large amount of internal storage, you can save more files and apps on your device.
RAM
4GB
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of volatile memory used to store working data and machine code currently in use. It is a quick-access, temporary virtual storage that can be read and changed in any order, thus enabling fast data processing.
Android version
Android 10
A newer version of Android generally provides a better user experience. Major Android releases include new features and improvements to performance, as well as important security updates.
AnTuTu benchmark score
249446
AnTuTu is one of the most important benchmarks for Android devices. The score reflects the overall performance of a device by summing up results of individual tests that various parameters, such as RAM speed, CPU performance, 2D & 3D graphics performance.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). Source: 3DMark.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). The Unlimited version runs off-screen so that factors such as display resolution don’t affect the score. Source: 3DMark.
3DMark Wild Life Extreme benchmark
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Wild Life is a cross-platform benchmark developed by 3DMark that tests the graphical performance of a device (using the Vulkan API on Android/Windows and the Metal API on iOS). The Extreme version is much more graphically-demanding than the standard Wild Life benchmark. Source: 3DMark.
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's multi-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Geekbench 5 is a cross-platform benchmark that measures a processor's single-core performance. (Source: Primate Labs, 2022)
Cameras
The number of megapixels determines the resolution of the images captured with the main camera. A higher megapixel count means that the camera is capable of capturing more details. However, the megapixel count is not the only important element determining the quality of an image.
The number of megapixels determines the resolution of the images captured with the front camera. A higher megapixel count means that the front camera is capable of capturing more details, an essential factor for taking high-resolution selfies.
has built-in optical image stabilization
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
Optical image stabilization uses gyroscopic sensors to detect the vibrations of the camera. The lens adjusts the optical path accordingly, ensuring that any type of motion blur is corrected before the sensor captures the image.
video recording (main camera)
2160 x 60fps
The maximum resolution available for videos shot with the main camera. Although it may be possible to choose among other frame rates, those recordings usually have lower resolutions.
With a wider aperture the sensor can capture more light, helping to avoid blur by enabling a faster shutter speed. It also provides a shallow depth of field, allowing you to blur the background to focus attention on the subject.
Has a dual-tone LED flash
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
A dual-tone flash has LED lights with different color temperatures, delivering a better color balance to photos and videos.
has a BSI sensor
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
A BSI (backside illuminated) sensor is a camera image sensor which captures better quality images in poor lighting conditions, and offers better overall sharpness and image quality.
has continuous autofocus when recording movies
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
When recording movies they stay focussed and sharp.
Has phase-detection autofocus for photos
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
Phase-detection autofocus is much faster than a contrast detection autofocus, allowing for sharper images.
Operating system
has clipboard warnings
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
This privacy feature alerts you with a small notification when an app copies data from your clipboard.
has location privacy options
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
This privacy feature allows you to share your approximate location with an app instead of your precise location.
has camera/microphone privacy options
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
You can enable or disable an app’s access to the camera or microphone on your device. There are also indication icons to show you when an app uses the camera or microphone.
has Mail Privacy Protection
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
Mail Privacy Protection is a feature built into the default email app that blocks senders from using “tracking pixels” to see when you’ve read an email. It also hides your IP address from senders.
has theme customization
✔Samsung Galaxy S9 (Android 8.0 Oreo)
Theme customization allows you to easily change the appearance of the user interface (UI). For example, by changing the system colors or the app icons.
can block app tracking
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
Some apps track your activity even when the app is not in use. This privacy feature allows you to block this tracking, either across all apps or on a per-app basis.
blocks cross-site tracking
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
This setting (in the default browser) allows you to block cross-site tracking cookies and data to help protect your privacy.
has on-device machine learning
✖Samsung Galaxy S9 (Android 8.0 Oreo)
On-device machine learning is used to recognize people, places, and more in the Photos app. The algorithms run on the device, where this sensitive data is then kept. Competing services upload the photos and perform this on their servers, which requires the sharing of personal data.
Can play games while they download
✖Samsung Galaxy S9 (Android 8.0 Oreo)
This means you don’t have to wait for the entire game to download first, as the later stages of the game download while you are playing.
Battery
battery power
3000mAh
Battery power, or battery capacity, represents the amount of electrical energy that a battery can store. More battery power can be an indication of longer battery life.
has wireless charging
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
It supports a wireless charging standard such as Qi. To charge the device, you simply put it down on a compatible charging pad.
Supports fast charging
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
Fast charging technologies, like Qualcomm’s Quick Charge or MediaTek’s Pump Express, are used to reduce the time it takes to charge a device. For example, with Quick Charge 3.0, the battery can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.
charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed. In order to achieve the advertised charging speed, it is important to use a compatible charger.
wireless charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed. In order to achieve the advertised charging speed, a compatible wireless charger must be used.
has reverse wireless charging
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
The device can be used as a wireless charging station to power other gadgets.
reverse wireless charging speed
Unknown. Help us by suggesting a value.
Charging speeds are expressed in watts (W), a measure of electrical power. A higher wattage results in a faster charging speed.
has a removable battery
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
The battery is removable and can be replaced by the user if broken.
Has an ultra power-saving mode
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
The ultra power-saving mode, also called low power mode, is an effective way to extend the battery life of the device. Usually, it involves limiting screen brightness and contrast, disabling location services, restricting connectivity, and turning off nonessential apps.
Audio
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
With a standard mini jack socket, you can use the device with most headphones.
has stereo speakers
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
Devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better experience.
has aptX
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
aptX is a codec used for transmitting audio wirelessly with Bluetooth. It is developed by Qualcomm, and supports 16-bit audio at a bit rate of 384kbps.
has LDAC
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
LDAC is a codec developed by Sony for Bluetooth audio. It is capable of a very high bitrate of 990kbps, which provides high resolution audio. It can also automatically adjust to a lower bitrate of 330kbps or 660kbps to increase stability.
has aptX HD
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
aptX HD is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It supports high quality 24-bit audio (at a bit rate of 576kbps).
has aptX Adaptive
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
aptx Adaptive is an audio codec for Bluetooth devices that is developed by Qualcomm. It has a variable bit rate (between 279kbps and 420kbps), which means it can adjust the bit rate for different scenarios, such as listening to HD audio or reducing interference from other devices.
Has a radio
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
A built-in FM radio tuner allows you to listen to most of the live-broadcasted FM radio stations without using the internet.
More microphones result in better sound quality and enable the device to filter out background noise.
Has dedicated media keys
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
Phones with physical keyboards have dedicated media keys, such as: play, stop, next, previous, volume up/down, etc.
Features
has 5G support
✖Samsung Galaxy S9 (Samsung Exynos 9810)
The fifth-generation wireless technology delivers higher speeds and lower latency than the previous, fourth-generation tech.
download speed
1200MBits/s (Samsung Exynos 9810)
The download speed is a measurement of the internet connection bandwidth, representing the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can access online content.
upload speed
200MBits/s (Samsung Exynos 9810)
The upload speed is a measurement of the internet connection bandwidth, representing the maximum data transfer rate at which a device can send information to a server or another device.
Has USB Type-C
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
The USB Type-C features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.
USB version
3.1
Newer USB versions are faster and have better power management.
has NFC
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
NFC (near-field communication) allows a device to perform simple wireless transactions, such as mobile payments. Note: this feature may not be available in all markets.
supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
Wi-Fi 6, released in 2019, is based on the IEEE 802.11ax wireless LAN standard. Designed to operate in all frequency bands between 1 and 6 GHz, it offers higher data rates and lower latency compared to previous Wi-Fi technologies.
supports Wi-Fi 6E
✖Samsung Galaxy S9
Wi-Fi 6E was announced in 2020 and has several advantages compared to Wi-Fi 6. In addition to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, it can operate on the 6GHz band, which provides faster speeds and extremely low latency.
supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
✔Samsung Galaxy S9
802.11ac wireless works on the 5GHz frequency range. It offers higher transfer rates, improved reliability, and improved power consumption. It provides advantages for gaming and HD video streaming.
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Comments
Gabriel
11 months ago
8 / 10
About the Samsung Galaxy S9 Pros and Cons
Gabriel
11 months ago
8 / 10
Pros
Cons
Familola oluwadamilare
1 year ago
7 / 10
Samsung s9 is good phone to me...
Familola oluwadamilare
1 year ago
7 / 10
Is it Good using phone...
Pros
Cons
Isabel
10 months ago
10 / 10
Gama alta de años anteriores aún vigente.
Isabel
10 months ago
10 / 10
Excelente equipo en todos los aspectos. Rendimiento, pantalla, materiales. Es mejor un gama alta antiguo que casi cualquiera de la actual línea A de Samsung (gama media).
Pros
Cons