Samsung Galaxy S9+ review

15 March 2018
Generation 9 in plus size - this is the Samsung Galaxy S9+. Unlike last year when the S8 and the S8+ had just size setting them apart, in 2018 Samsung's Plus means more than higher battery capacity and larger display diagonal.

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Anonymous, 17 Mar 2018Well you were not clear in mentioning which low light sampl... moreLess noisy, but not sharper.
It's about as sharp, and the extra noise is due to the higher ISO (320 vs 500).
One thing is, at times, a noise-free image feels too artificial. The XZ2 can be determined as an image taken from a camera, unlike the S9 that looks like a drawn image.

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    • AnonD-458768
    • fxH
    • 17 Mar 2018

    Great review from the staff. But google pixels are still roks!

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      • Anonymous
      • vjw
      • 17 Mar 2018

      [deleted post]Well you were not clear in mentioning which low light samples you were referring to when there are so many of them. Anyway, all the S9+ lowlight samples look less noisy and sharper than the XZ2's.

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        • Anonymous
        • I8m
        • 17 Mar 2018

        AnonD-696542, 16 Mar 2018S9 is really the best smartphone in the world but it's edge... moreSamsung also heavily dialed back the sharpening

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          • Anonymous
          • JT5
          • 16 Mar 2018

          Anonymous, 16 Mar 2018That's mainly because Sony has improved its camera software... moreLow light has nothing to Pixel size...

          S9 has 1,4 micron but they are only 12 million.
          XZ2 has 1,22 but they are 19 million of them.

          Sony chooses high ISO instead of OIS. Because OIS is not good for video.
          With same SS and ISO, any Sony flagship can do better than Samsung.

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            • AnonD-637110
            • aXb
            • 16 Mar 2018

            Mitochondria, 16 Mar 2018As usual, never buy Samsung flagships at launch (unless the... morenot just about the price, the initial batches tend to be riddled with problems, and the initial updates to fix these problems are not polished enough, and may require full phone reset for full effect, but nobody tells you that.

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              • AnonD-637110
              • aXb
              • 16 Mar 2018

              Anonymous, 16 Mar 2018If it wasn't for the severe bloatware and just alright batt... moreAMEN

                Anonymous, 16 Mar 2018That's mainly because Sony has improved its camera software... moreActually the tripod mode is present in the XZ1 ( and I assume the XZ Premium as well ). And it does lower the ISO, slow shutter speed etc.

                I'm guessing much of the improvement in the XZ2 comes from the revamped Bionz algorithms using the new Spectra 280 ISP in the Snapdragon 845

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                  • AnonD-696542
                  • Hkt
                  • 16 Mar 2018

                  S9 is really the best smartphone in the world but it's edges aren't as smooth as S8.. Probably no galaxy has smooth edges like S8,, even iphone x feels sharp unlike previous smooth iPhones so personally I love the hold of S8 and wish they start working on same smoothness in future flagships.

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                    • Anonymous
                    • EFS
                    • 16 Mar 2018

                    Akkediae, 15 Mar 2018I just wish it didn't have the curved screen edges like tha... moreYes! This!

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                      • Anonymous
                      • vjw
                      • 16 Mar 2018

                      Hayaan Mo Sila, 16 Mar 2018Nah, look at the comparison between the S9+, Pixel 2 XL, 8 ... more-_-

                      The XZ2 was using ISO 200 and shutter speed 1/8 s in the studio low light shots. It is on tripod and you have been informed of that.
                      You just want to insist that XZ2 is good at EVERYTHING. Fine, XZ2 is the best phone ever made. Happy?

                        Anonymous, 16 Mar 2018That's mainly because Sony has improved its camera software... moreNah, look at the comparison between the S9+, Pixel 2 XL, 8 Plus, and XZ2. With such high ISO values, I'm pretty sure that they were all taken with hands (the XZ2 will only go to ISO 200 and 1/8s in Auto when it is on a tripod) and image looks great, as good as the S9+ if not better.
                        The Pixel 2 XL has widest dynamic range, but the sky is grainy as heck, one would easily mistake the noise as stars in the sky.
                        iPhone 8 Plus is just fine. It is good, but I certainly feel it is a bit behind the rest. Those who don't need too good pictures (aka regular consumers) will be satisfied.
                        Galaxy S9+ has what it takes for the best all-round camera device. While it holds true for the most part, they could definitely make it better still.
                        The Xperia XZ2 is just fantastic for what it is. The narrowest aperture, smallest pixel size, no OIS, yet yielding similar result, it's a big achievement right there. Sony has done a lot more effort this year than Samsung in terms of camera. 1080p @960fps is more enjoyable with extra resolution. Auto capturing on the S9+ sometimes doesn't work, but sure thing is it is a better way of implementation.

                          Anonymous, 16 Mar 2018Note 8, not even close, its battery life is laughably bad. ... moreObvious exaggeration is obvious. Or perhaps you're another one of those people who use secondhand information because you can't afford to get a note8 in the first place.

                          For the people who actually care about accurate information, take it from someone who's owned a note8 for 5 months now and counting. The battery life isn't stellar, but it's nowhere near "laughably bad" level like this nobody here is purporting. I get 5 hours sot consistently, even with QHD+ on instead of FHD+. However, i have AOD turned off as i don't really have a need for it.

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                            • Swsko
                            • ftU
                            • 16 Mar 2018

                            My battery lasts more than 18hrs with 7hrs of SOT but then again it depends on what you do with your phone. Btw coming from the s8, the s9+ is way faster and more fluid, i love it even if i was the first one to critise

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                              • Anonymous
                              • pVN
                              • 16 Mar 2018

                              wasox, 16 Mar 2018SAMSUNG Galaxy Note 8 & S9+ , just the best phones arou... moreNote 8, not even close, its battery life is laughably bad. S9+ kind of fix this but srill bad.

                              Autonomy is a big deal on phones and Samsung simply doesn't care. Phones that cannot make heavy days are not flagships, sorry. Old Notes could perfectly do it (due to accepting spares), new ones not even close...

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                                • AnonD-481725
                                • StN
                                • 16 Mar 2018

                                86 hours endurance for 3500mah? As usual rubbish optimization from Samsung, that is why Samsung never again.

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                                  • Lccy
                                  • pL$
                                  • 16 Mar 2018

                                  I so wish there was a flat version, the curved display is the only thing that really bothers me, especially when watching video.

                                  I feel like I am left with fewer and fewer choices as other manufacturers are removing the headphone jack, don't have Netflix hd compatibility (Huawei), use 1080p pentile screens (oneplus), or use wide angle rather than telephoto (LG)

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                                    • wasox
                                    • 8Vt
                                    • 16 Mar 2018

                                    AnonD-739231, 15 Mar 2018Awesome phone! If you don't care about s-pen then S9+ is th... moreSAMSUNG Galaxy Note 8 & S9+ , just the best phones around, that's it, plain simple

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                                      • Anonymous
                                      • vV5
                                      • 16 Mar 2018

                                      AnonD-725563, 15 Mar 2018Very good phone, but I also have to say, from low light cam... moreThat's mainly because Sony has improved its camera software to enable the use of a slower shutter speed, and hence lower ISO when it is mounted on a tripod. For handheld lowlight shots, the Sony is still inferior to Samsung because of its smaller pixel size.

                                        Mackbrag, 16 Mar 2018And what made you type this comment mate? If flagships are ... moreWell said