Samsung Galaxy A9 (2016) review: A-lister

19 February, 2016
Prepare to meet the biggest premium phone Samsung has made. No, not the Note5, even that one is dwarfed by the Samsung Galaxy A9 and its 6" Super AMOLED screen.

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  • D
  • AnonD-84053
  • xqx
  • 21 Feb 2016

Anonymous, 20 Feb 2016Almost nobody gives the LED notification anymore. Everybody... moreI dont think so, every Sony phone has a led notification, s6/edge/plus has it, G4 has it, it is a standard deal, always on can't replace it

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    • AnonD-505239
    • KAX
    • 21 Feb 2016

    Most Disadvanteges
    1.Available with a hybrid dual-SIM/microSD slot
    2.No 4K video or 1080p@60fps
    3.No MHL (but USB OTG is supported)
    4.No notification light
    5.Backside Look Are Similar

      • D
      • AnonD-470738
      • fsK
      • 21 Feb 2016

      Is it possible for a Diamond subpixel matrix to be RGB not Pentile?

        • n
        • nganghanimtonla
        • t7X
        • 21 Feb 2016

        AnonD-259899, 20 Feb 2016No it doesn't, there is a misconception that slower process... moreyou said "SD652 is far more efficient than the SD615 of the A8"

        "far more" remember? you didnt said its depend.

        base on what you said now if i watch 2hrs movie in s652 phone ill finish it faster than in s615 phone? lol
        and if i play coc do my builder speed the building process? again no. lol
        and why s652 is only quad core a72 if its far more power efficient than a53? why not octa instead? rofl

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          • AnonD-259899
          • IVP
          • 21 Feb 2016

          AnonD-263817, 20 Feb 2016Well if you think that is true. It's an easy tweak or chang... moreAs a customer who was looking to get one the battery life is not impressive for browsing despite the large battery and modest screen resolution. So why is that you see that feedback as mere 'complaining' hmm?

          You sound just like a clergy member, always around to scorn those who question any aspect of the holy book. Only fanboys have this attitude.

          Learn not to take criticism personally and then you will realize there is nothing here to think people are simply complaining.

            • m
            • mir
            • t7E
            • 21 Feb 2016

            Pretty easy to tell that this phone is not for me. Just read the no notification light in the cons list and that was enough reason to stop right there.

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • 9GH
              • 20 Feb 2016

              AnonD-84053, 20 Feb 2016No LED notification light, really Samsung??? It's 2016 you knowAlmost nobody gives the LED notification anymore. Everybody is doing those Always On secondary displays, or the cover displays like HTC dot view or the one LG is coming out with.

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                • AnonD-263817
                • 7yZ
                • 20 Feb 2016

                AnonD-259899, 20 Feb 2016Lol maybe you need to take that advice and keep yours shut ... moreWell if you think that is true. It's an easy tweak or change browsers. Sounds like you are looking for something to complain about

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                  • AnonD-84053
                  • prk
                  • 20 Feb 2016

                  No LED notification light, really Samsung??? It's 2016 you know

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • tA$
                    • 20 Feb 2016

                    non-removable battery is a deal breaker

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                      • AnonD-259899
                      • IVP
                      • 20 Feb 2016

                      nganghanimtonla, 20 Feb 2016s615 still consume less power than s652 as a53 consume less... moreNo it doesn't, there is a misconception that slower processor consumes less power. The real answer is "it depends".

                      A53 is an in-order processor with less transistor budget because no transistors were put towards having instructions executed in out- of-order (OoOE) like the A72, this leads to less power being used because OoOE is power demanding. The caveat here is that this ONLY applies to loads/data sets that require very low processing power to begin with. The moment you start putting heavier loads not only are things done much slowly (therefore sluggish/laggy) you tend to be more at that A53's maximum core clock far longer to get that heavy work done. Where as on the A72 it would be fastest when it comes to the "race-to-sleep" condition. You put a heavy work load on the A72 and it will for sure use more instantaneous power for the time it is active but because the return on OoOE is pretty good that A72 core goes to sleep/low clock sooner and thereby ending up saving more power than the A53 would had it been given the task of handling that heavy workload.

                      The SD652 has both clusters, A53 and A72, the weak loads are run on the A53 but the heavier loads are tasked to the A72 and it is far more efficient because of the simple reason (yet complicated concept in terms of uArch implementation) "race-to-sleep"

                      Recall I mentioned "it depends" at the start of this post, this is because we all know the workload in today's smartphone usage is very mixed load, most of the apps today fall into the heavy loads with a large percentage, if the person does only whatsapp messaging, just sends out SMSes and makes cellular calls then you would better off with just A53s but that's not at all the modern smartphone's usage pattern. In the battery constrained mobile world "slow and steady" always fails the race, you need to fast and quick to sleep to deliver maximum battery savings.

                        • D
                        • AnonD-246723
                        • KZJ
                        • 20 Feb 2016

                        Raky, 20 Feb 2016And you are using your mobile for waching movies!? Good f... moreActually its a fact found by xda developers and those manufacturer admit that them self .

                          • R
                          • RnS
                          • rKj
                          • 20 Feb 2016

                          Raky, 20 Feb 2016What is "premium" here, exept price!? This is typical, we... moreIt has a Snapdragon 652 which is comparable/faster to/than the 810

                            • n
                            • nganghanimtonla
                            • t7X
                            • 20 Feb 2016

                            AnonD-259899, 20 Feb 2016Lol maybe you need to take that advice and keep yours shut ... mores615 still consume less power than s652 as a53 consume less power than a72 :)

                              Disappointed that it hasn't a QHD nor 4K display.

                                • S
                                • SDKforLumia
                                • KIA
                                • 20 Feb 2016

                                Omer, 20 Feb 2016A9 too big for me. Really love the A7, but the SD615 is a d... moreSD615+16 GB internal storage only option, those 2 are definite deal breakers for me.

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-167280
                                  • uuP
                                  • 20 Feb 2016

                                  optional, 20 Feb 2016could a 3rd party camera app enable 2160p video since the h... moreyes it 3rd party apps can enable it……
                                  but dont expect 30fps more like 20-30 fps you are likely gonna get.

                                    • O
                                    • Omer
                                    • 3Kf
                                    • 20 Feb 2016

                                    A9 too big for me. Really love the A7, but the SD615 is a dealbreaker for me. They should have put that SD652 also in the A7.

                                      • A
                                      • Attila from Budapest
                                      • atN
                                      • 20 Feb 2016

                                      Not for me.
                                      But the Note 6 for me ! :) ?? hmm :D
                                      I witing to the Note 6, only with MicroSD option.
                                      That's the only reason not to buy Note 5.
                                      For me Note to the business class , the A series of fashion mobile

                                        • R
                                        • Raky
                                        • nh2
                                        • 20 Feb 2016

                                        Angry Mobile Nerd, 20 Feb 2016Then shut it and buy a Mate 8. Oh wait, but the Mate 8 on ... moreAnd you are using your mobile for waching movies!?
                                        Good for you.

                                        You see, S6 for me can't do more then 5h of SoT (usually 4,5h and have to charge it afternoon) . And no, i do not use it to wach movies, it is a phone for job, some web browsing beside calls and office apps...
                                        But, if you like to believe synthetic benchmarks..that's ok.
                                        Just go and buy what Antutu recommends to you. Forget about what you read about manufactur's fine tuning to cheat at those tests, it is just a make up story from jealous people