Samsung Galaxy S9 Release Date, Specs And Price
Although Samsung launched the Galaxy S8 just months ago, smartphone enthusiasts are already clamoring for the next flagship in the popular Galaxy S series, which is expected to hit the store shelves in 2018. Despite the lack of an official confirmation from Samsung, the Galaxy S9, and its larger variant, the Galaxy S9+ has been floating around the rumor mill for some time now. As expected, the internet is already brimming with all sorts of speculations regarding the long-rumored Galaxy S-branded handset.
There are numerous ideas regarding Samsung Galaxy S9 that are currently doing rounds on the internet. In terms of specifications, the upcoming smartphone is expected to surpass its predecessor, the Galaxy S8.
Specs
The Galaxy S9 is likely to sport a 5.8-inch Infinity curved Super AMOLED display, while the Galaxy S9+ will feature a mammoth 6.2-inch display as used in the existing Galaxy S8+. The US version of the device will pack Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 under the hood, while the UK version will be powered by Samsung Exynos.
The Galaxy S9 series will come running on the latest Android 8.0 Oreo, according to a report by The Inquirer. Moreover, it will come with Cat 18 LTE support, offering considerable download speeds of 1.2Gbps. The fingerprint scanner will be embedded into the display.
On the photography front, the Galaxy S9 will sport a dual rear-facing camera. The device will also have a dedicated button for Bixby AI assistant. It will come with USB-C.
The Galaxy S9 vs iPhone X
Before Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S8, some reports predicted that the device will come with display embedded fingerprint scanner, but much to the chagrin of Galaxy fans, the technology was not ready for at the time. There's hearsay that the Galaxy Note 9 might be the first handset to make use of this technology.
Apple ousted Touch ID with the launch of the iPhone X. The Cupertino-based tech giant explained that it never considered fingerprint sensors as an option for an iPhone that has a 3D-sensing Face ID system.
Samsung might be prepping to include 3D facial recognition to some of its upcoming devices. By introducing 3D facial recognition to its new devices, the South Korean tech behemoth will be in a better position to compete with rival handsets including the iPhone X. However, the hotly-anticipated Galaxy S9 might not have this highly-touted feature.
The Galaxy S9 will come with 2D face recognition just like its precursors rather than 3D due to unspecific technological limitations, according to Business Korea. An industry expert told the site that the 3D sensing cameras will be used in numerous areas including mobile banking, unlocking, AR (augmented reality), and VR (virtual reality).
Release Date
Samsung is expected to start making the Galaxy S9 and the S9+ this year. The smartphones are likely to arrive earlier next year. Earlier reports suggest Samsung will unveil the devices at MWC 2018. The SIM-free versions of the devices could sell for £689 (about $912) and £779 (about $1031).
