Samsung Galaxy S9: Everything You Need to Know

Following one of the biggest events in the smartphone calendar, eager consumers can now get their hands on what’s said to be one of the best handsets of 2018. As of today, March 16, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are now on sale worldwide. The latest smartphones from the Korean electronics giant are available to buy outright or on contract with all major carriers.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 costs £739, while the Galaxy S9+ will cost you £869.

Depending on your network contract, you can expect to pay between £35 and £50 a month, which should include a decent data package to make the most of the S9’s capabilities.

That being said, you do get a lot for your money – Samsung have made a number of significant improvements from the S8 line and added several exciting new features to this year’s handsets.

Its works incredibly well in low light and is capable of capturing super-slow-motion video – just two of the camera’s many capabilities. Reviewers have crowned the S9 as the best smartphone camera, surpassing the Google Pixel 2.

Samsung have introduced their answer to Apple’s Animoji – the AR Emoji. Rather than animating dogs or aliens, AR Emoji creates a virtual avatar based on your face. You can then create GIFs and videos of your digital self to send to your friends (or your mum).

The Galaxy S9 is also the first device from Samsung to feature dual speakers; the Dolby Atmos sound system produces great quality audio, with sound coming from both the top and the bottom of the device.

Reviewers noticed the S9 line is 30% faster compared to its predecessors, capable of multitasking without slowing down – the S9+ also comes with an impressive 6GB of RAM.

With S8 critics saying the biometric features were almost unusable, Samsung now have all three features working seamlessly together. The fingerprint scanner is in a more convenient location, and unlocking your phone is much faster with the iris scanner and facial recognition working together.

After Bixby’s disappointing debut last year, we’re impressed by how much the digital assistant has improved with the S9. Bixby Vision is now much better at recognising objects, and its translation capabilities are also very strong.

Eagle-eyed critics will spot that the S9 looks almost identical to the S8 line.

But don’t judge a book by its cover; the S9 and S9+ have a number of significant upgrades including far more powerful processors, a tougher frame, and a camera which outperforms almost every other device in the market.

The S9 is available from £739, whereas the minimum price tag for the iPhone X starts at £999.

When it comes to choosing between the two devices, it ultimately depends on user preference. If you prefer a fingerprint scanner to facial recognition software, the S9 is the better choice. However, if sound quality is your priority, the iPhone X offers more punch and clarity with their speakers.