Samsung Galaxy S9 Impressions!

Marques Brownlee provides a thorough first look at the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, framing them as refined upgrades built on the Galaxy S8 design. He notes color options including black, coral blue, lilac purple, and international silver titanium, while highlighting the return of a mirror-like finish and the existing premium build. A key design shift is the fingerprint sensor moved under the camera for better reach and usability, and the phone preserves essential traits like the 5.8 and 6.2 inch Infinity displays, IP68 rating, wireless charging, USB-C, and a headphone jack. He remarks that the physical layout remains familiar with the power button, volume rocker, and Bixby button in the same places, and he suggests users may still opt for protective skins to combat the glossy finish. On performance, the S9 line gains a Snapdragon 845 in some regions and memory configurations of 4 or 6 GB RAM, with 64 GB storage plus microSD expansion, along with new biometric options such as iris scanning and facial recognition. A standout focus is the camera, where Samsung introduces a groundbreaking variable aperture lens that can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4, a first for smartphones, with software that automatically adjusts for lighting while offering a pro mode for manual control, and it includes slow motion video at up to 960 fps. He also mentions additional camera features like improved HDR, noise reduction, object recognition, and AR capabilities, and closes by acknowledging the anticipated full review and upcoming availability in March with pre-orders starting March 2, inviting viewers to stay tuned for more detailed testing and comparisons.

Topics · technology · mobile devices · smartphones · camera technology