Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Specifications, design, features

Here finally is the real thing, the Galaxy S9 and S9+ has been unveiled in Barcelona. This also concludes the seemingly unending stream of speculations and rumors we have had of the device for months on end so far.

Further, while the basic form factor remains largely the same as the S8, the new S9 duo has a lot going for it, which of course includes a vastly improved camera along with a whole lot of feature based on it. And the biggest improvement here is the camera’s ability to adjust its aperture from f/2.4 to f/1.5. The latter is the highest it has ever been on a smartphone while Samsung also said they have taken inspiration from the human eye while designing the new S9 camera. Technically, it is a 12-megapixel dual-lens camera – wide-angle and telephoto sensor – used in the S9+ while the S9 makes do with a single 12-megapixel sensor.

Samsung also said the new camera comes with its own integrated processor, which endows it with the ability to process images faster than ever. Also, slow-motion recording happens to be the other unique aspect of the new S9, with the ability to capture an incredible 960 frame per second. What’s more, slow-motion video can be saved as a GIF and used as animated wallpaper as well.

Then there is the AR Emoji as well, which can be considered as Samsung’s answer to Apple’s Animoji. The same can also be seen as another brilliant and fun application of the new camera technology being used in the S9 range.

As revealed during the launch event, the AR Emoji will let users click a 3D picture of the user, which can then be turned into an emoji. There are various customization options available as well with at least 18 different expressions available right away. The same can then be shared using the standard S9 and S9+ keyboard just as any other emoji and can be shared with just about any user no matter what phone they are using.

Another unique aspect of the new S9 range includes improved abilities of the Bixby AI voice assistant. Named Bixby Vision, it includes the ability of the assistant to translate any text written in any language that the camera is aimed at. This no doubt will be of immense help in say a foreign country where the user might not be familiar with the local dialect.

Similarly, the Bixby will also be able to point out information about food items the camera is aimed at. Those will include stuff like the number of calories contained in the food and such. Bixby Vision will also help in shopping along with a few other cool stuff as well, like virtual makeup and such. However, the above features are region specific and it could be sometime before it is rolled out in more regions of the world.

The rest of the specifications include 5.8/6.0-inch QHD+ Curved Super AMOLED 18.5:9 display, 4 GB/6 GB of RAM, 32 GB storage along with 3000mAh and 3500mAh battery for the S9 and S9+ respectively.

Price starts at $719.99 for the S9 and $839.99 for the S9+ in the US. Both the devices come with a 2-year finance option which entails monthly payment of $30 and $35 for the S9 and S9+ respectively for the said period. Pre-orders start March 2 while shipping begins March 16.

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