Android Circuit: Galaxy S9 Vs iPhone X, Samsung Confirms S9 Release Date, Nokia's Love Affair
Galaxy S9 Launched
The big news out of this week’s Mobile World Congress was the highly anticipated launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The handsets look broadly similar to last year’s Galaxy S8 family but pack in a lot of new technology under the hood. Over to Samsung:
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ deliver an enhanced entertainment experience with powerful stereo speakers tuned by AKG, immersive audio with Dolby Atmos and a refined edge-to-edge Infinity Display – a key staple in Samsung’s design heritage. In addition, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with the new SmartThings app, which unites Samsung’s existing IoT services into one single, smart experience.
“The way we use our smartphones has changed as communication and self-expression has evolved,” said DJ Koh, president and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S9 and S9+, we have reimagined the smartphone camera. Not only do the Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, it’s a smartphone that’s designed to help them connect to others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them.”
Dan Seifert gets a hands-on with the two handsets for The Verge:
Though Samsung didn’t make a lot of changes to its formula for the S9, the ones it did make should be appreciated, and it will likely be a popular phone this year. It’s interesting how there are more things different between the smaller S9 and larger S9 Plus this year, which might make it harder for those looking for a compact phone with all of the bells and whistles.
A hostess holds two new Samsung Galaxy S9 mobile phones during the Samsung Galaxy S9 Unpacked event on February 25, 2018 in Barcelona (Photo Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images)
The Good News On S9 Pricing Hides A Nasty Surprise
Samsung may have pitched the price of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus below expectations ($720 and $840 unlocked, direct from Samsung, notes Gordon Kelly), but unfortunately the US carriers didn’t get the message, as Zach Epstein reports:
There has never been a modern flagship smartphone with pricing that varies by as much as $90 depending on which company you buy it from. It’s a disaster, but we’ll help make things simpler. There are only three places you should consider when buying the Galaxy S9: Samsung, Best Buy, or T-Mobile.
If you’re getting a Galaxy S9 or a Galaxy S9+ and you plan to use it with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint, preorder the phone from Best Buy this coming Friday, March 2nd. Why? Because Best Buy has a one-day promotion that shaves $100 off the price of either phone, and the offer is good whether you pay in full up front or spread your payments out with a financing plan. You can find more details here. Remember, this offer is good for one day only.
Samsung vs Apple Round Elventy-Four: Galaxy S9 v iPhone X
We now have the two flagship handsets that will define the smartphone skirmishes during 2018 - the Galaxy S9 is going to be held up against the iPhone X. Putting aside the fanatical portions who love each platform, which is the better handset for those who are undecided? Jay McGregor runs through the comparison, starting with an old favorite:
">Who knew something as simple as the headphone jack would become such a contentious battle ground for smartphone makers? With the other major Android phone - Google’s Pixel 2 - following Apple’s lead by removing the headphone jack, Samsung has smartly kept the 3.5mm connection.
Of the three big smartphone makers - Apple, Google and Samsung, only the latter has kept this technology, which is good marketing for the Korean company. Also, as someone who has tested various devices and lived with no headphone jack for the last year - this is a good consumer move.
Forget arguments about audio quality and design principles, having the headphone jack is better than not having it in purely practical terms - especially if you don’t want to venture into the murky world of wireless headphones yet.
Taking a look back at seven days of news and headlines across the world of Android, this week’s Android Circuit includes the launch of the Galaxy S9, pricing details on Samsung’s flagship, how it matches up to the iPhone X, the new fleet of Nokia handsets running AndroidOne, Huawei’s Pro tablet focus, Sony’s new Xperia design, and the first signs of Galaxy Note 9 madness.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).
Galaxy S9 Launched
The big news out of this week’s Mobile World Congress was the highly anticipated launch of Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus. The handsets look broadly similar to last year’s Galaxy S8 family but pack in a lot of new technology under the hood. Over to Samsung:
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ deliver an enhanced entertainment experience with powerful stereo speakers tuned by AKG, immersive audio with Dolby Atmos and a refined edge-to-edge Infinity Display – a key staple in Samsung’s design heritage. In addition, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ will come with the new SmartThings app, which unites Samsung’s existing IoT services into one single, smart experience.
“The way we use our smartphones has changed as communication and self-expression has evolved,” said DJ Koh, president and Head of IT & Mobile Communications Division, Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy S9 and S9+, we have reimagined the smartphone camera. Not only do the Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, it’s a smartphone that’s designed to help them connect to others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them.”
Dan Seifert gets a hands-on with the two handsets for The Verge:
Though Samsung didn’t make a lot of changes to its formula for the S9, the ones it did make should be appreciated, and it will likely be a popular phone this year. It’s interesting how there are more things different between the smaller S9 and larger S9 Plus this year, which might make it harder for those looking for a compact phone with all of the bells and whistles.
A hostess holds two new Samsung Galaxy S9 mobile phones during the Samsung Galaxy S9 Unpacked event on February 25, 2018 in Barcelona (Photo Lluis Gene/AFP/Getty Images)
The Good News On S9 Pricing Hides A Nasty Surprise
Samsung may have pitched the price of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus below expectations ($720 and $840 unlocked, direct from Samsung, notes Gordon Kelly), but unfortunately the US carriers didn’t get the message, as Zach Epstein reports:
There has never been a modern flagship smartphone with pricing that varies by as much as $90 depending on which company you buy it from. It’s a disaster, but we’ll help make things simpler. There are only three places you should consider when buying the Galaxy S9: Samsung, Best Buy, or T-Mobile.
If you’re getting a Galaxy S9 or a Galaxy S9+ and you plan to use it with Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint, preorder the phone from Best Buy this coming Friday, March 2nd. Why? Because Best Buy has a one-day promotion that shaves $100 off the price of either phone, and the offer is good whether you pay in full up front or spread your payments out with a financing plan. You can find more details here. Remember, this offer is good for one day only.
Samsung vs Apple Round Elventy-Four: Galaxy S9 v iPhone X
We now have the two flagship handsets that will define the smartphone skirmishes during 2018 - the Galaxy S9 is going to be held up against the iPhone X. Putting aside the fanatical portions who love each platform, which is the better handset for those who are undecided? Jay McGregor runs through the comparison, starting with an old favorite:
Who knew something as simple as the headphone jack would become such a contentious battle ground for smartphone makers? With the other major Android phone - Google’s Pixel 2 - following Apple’s lead by removing the headphone jack, Samsung has smartly kept the 3.5mm connection.
Of the three big smartphone makers - Apple, Google and Samsung, only the latter has kept this technology, which is good marketing for the Korean company. Also, as someone who has tested various devices and lived with no headphone jack for the last year - this is a good consumer move.
Forget arguments about audio quality and design principles, having the headphone jack is better than not having it in purely practical terms - especially if you don’t want to venture into the murky world of wireless headphones yet.
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