Samsung Galaxy S9+ long-term review

25 June 2018
To find out how easy or frustrating it is to live with the Galaxy S9+, we used it as our one and only smartphone for an extended period of time and we are ready with the verdict. Once we go past the superficial aspects (such as looks), there are a lot of new things crammed into this glass and metal package, which are worth talking about. So join us over the next pages as we take a look at what makes Samsung's latest flagship tick, where it delivers more than we expected, and where it falls short.

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  • K
  • Koala
  • p@5
  • 28 Jun 2018

Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018What's the point of doing a review one year later when peop... more"Some people here lack logic"
LOOOOOOOL.

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • IW@
    • 28 Jun 2018

    Galaxy Note 9, 27 Jun 2018It may be the case with Samsung earlier trying for frequent... moreI would like to believe your explanation but the evidence is all over the place. Newer midrange and entry level phones running smoother and faster than older model flagships with supposedly more powerful processors. Android software updates that progressively slow down the phone and introduce annoying lags and stutters and increase battery drain. It really is planned obsolescence. There really needs to be worldwide legislation and regulation to combat planned obsolescence. If not, we'll soon find $1,000 - $3,000 'waterproof' wireless charging windows laptops with non-upgradeable, non-expandable internal storage and sealed, non-user replaceable laptop batteries and laptop software support of two years only. All installed software/apps/programs will only be subscription-based with monthly or annual payments, and storage expansion will likewise be cloud based only with monthly premiums for continued use and continued access to cloud data. I mean, if a company as reputable as Apple did it (intentional slow down), there's no reason why Android manufacturers won't do the same for as long as there is no law or regulation worldwide forbidding planned obsolescence. I'm not saying we resist cloud storage and other subscription based models because they do serve some important purposes but to intentionally remove alternative models of storage and upgrade options to force a user to use only the subscription based models is wrong. I don't want smart tv's and self driving cars engineered with planned obsolescence that make them unusable after 2 years or so.

      • G
      • Gabix
      • 0Ur
      • 27 Jun 2018

      The Exynos Chipsets are really crap compared to the Qualcomm Snapdragon.

        Anonymous, 27 Jun 2018Your experience is typical of owners of older model Samsung... moreIt may be the case with Samsung earlier trying for frequent updates slowed down the mobile (never experienced slowed down mobiles with any manufacturers in the past several years) but now a days Samsung stick to the base OS version and keep pushing only security patches and some minor enhancements. Anyone wants new experience (new hardware features) required to upgrade the mobile.

        My Note 5 still doing great never bothered to change battery almost 3 years. Performance is good. Though I don't do lots of having etc, but watch videos, stream music etc write heavy usage I would say.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • vjw
          • 27 Jun 2018

          Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018You're the one that lacks knowledge s9 is only a couple of ... moreI'm complaining about people who complain about this long-term review being only 3 months after the phone was released and ask for a review one year later.

            • E
            • Exciticar
            • FMY
            • 27 Jun 2018

            Can you please do a long term review for either the 1+5t or 1+6 or preferably both! :)

              Anonymous, 27 Jun 2018Your experience is typical of owners of older model Samsung... moreOh yeah. Unless a a law is passed, its not gonna stop.
              1. I have a Lenovo yoga premium laptop, exactly after one year and few days the motherboard mysteriously died for no reason whatsoever.After the MB replacement, the same got repeated another time in another one year and a few days, again for no reason.
              2. My two yr old galaxy s7 edge runs slower than a 2018's A8 plus. Formatting doesn't help it.
              3. S9 plus I am currently using is crippled with a batterylife that doesn't suffice. Samsung made a mistake or its a planned mistake?
              4. Apple did it without letting anyone know for years at first and then had to declare it due to pressure with an excuse that they did it to "prevent data loss"- B.. sh*t.
              ...The list goes on.

                Hafefiof, 27 Jun 2018Is this the exynos or snapdragon version???Exactly. Read sometimes. Lazy fella.

                  Hafefiof, 27 Jun 2018Is this the exynos or snapdragon version???Didn't read the article? LOL
                  It's Exynos.

                    • H
                    • Hafefiof
                    • 8ss
                    • 27 Jun 2018

                    Is this the exynos or snapdragon version???

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • IW@
                      • 27 Jun 2018

                      Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018I disagree with the s9 plus being first samsung flagship to... moreYour experience is typical of owners of older model Samsung flagships. It is not supposed to slow down. Definitely not, with a more than capable flagship processor. The updates not only bump up the security patches and/or Android version, but 'mysteriously' also bring in lags/stutters and faster battery drain which was never there before until about a year, just in time with the release of a new flagship. It's planned obsolescence really through carefully engineered software updates meant to progressively demand more battery power and memory/processing power. How else would anyone explain why newly released midrange or even budget range phones run well under the latest Android version despite a lower powered processor than the previous year's flagship? And it doesn't matter even if you factory reset a recently updated year old flagship phone. Planned obsolescence. That's the name of the game. There should be worldwide legislation and regulation against it.

                        Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018What's the point of doing a review one year later when peop... moreHey did u use a time machine to send yourself back a few months? Lmfao...

                          • i
                          • imRGZ
                          • vGI
                          • 27 Jun 2018

                          Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018Which does it have a remvable back that doubles as a charge... moreYeah, right. Not just my fav brand, every smartphone brand is dying. Apple, Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, etc.,. Because ALL manufacturers moved on and you are still stuck in 90s. I think you should work for all these companies and save them by showing the right path. Smartphone world really needs your services. Please go and save them bud. Don't waste time here in this forum.

                            evnvc, 26 Jun 2018You surely haven't experienced enough the FPS placement on ... moreSure, the S9 has a better location for the FPS. But upgrading to the S9 from the S8 just because of that is a pretty dumb waste of money.

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                              • Anonymous
                              • IKm
                              • 27 Jun 2018

                              Big HD screen + small battery = pass

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 32S
                                • 26 Jun 2018

                                Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018What's the point of doing a review one year later when peop... moreYou're the one that lacks knowledge s9 is only a couple of months old.

                                  • B
                                  • Brnare
                                  • S1c
                                  • 26 Jun 2018

                                  I love my S9+

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • pVN
                                    • 26 Jun 2018

                                    Anonymous, 26 Jun 2018What's the point of doing a review one year later when peop... moreStatistics show that most people keep their phone for 2-3 years. Not in your bubble obviously...

                                    Then again gsmarena is read from people who live in a bubble, so I stand by your statement. Most people here don't keep their phone for a year. To them long term is 3 months use...

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • n5i
                                      • 26 Jun 2018

                                      I disagree with the s9 plus being first samsung flagship to be smooth as can be. For the first year of my s7 edge it was awse and as smooth as it could be. Its not smooth now after many updates. I'll be buying a s9 plis but if in two years time it becomes sluggish like my s7 edge then I will leave Samsung.

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • vjw
                                        • 26 Jun 2018

                                        What's the point of doing a review one year later when people have moved on to newer and shinier phones? Some people here lack logic.

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