Samsung Galaxy S9

[Tsepz]

Less notches, please and thank you - Android users

I think everyone looks at Apple because their success is so unprecedented even if they could lose global traction with phones within certain quarters.

This is the thing though, Apple are success as they went against the grain, you simply cannot replicate what they did by copying them, as all that does is to further shine the spotlight on them.

Remember how the old phone manufacturers competed? You had Nokia making the N95, E71 and E90 Communicator, while Sony Ericsson made the P1i and W960i, Samsung with the Omnia i900 and then you had HTC with the WM PPC devices like the HTC TyTN2. All various forms factors that worked so well, but were very different.

They didn't try too hard to mimick each other, instead they all pretty much put the same features (3G, GPS, Bluetooth, Operating System with apps, large battery, large display for the time etc...) in different form factors. Good times.


Samsung have done a good job of being the anti-Apple, keeping features like a Stylus, Expandable Memory, making larger higher res Displays, keeping the 3.5mm jack etc etc.. We needore Android OEMs to do this.

The problem is that Google are so obsessed with being like Apple they are forcing unnecessary changes in Android to and I guess many OEMs are just simply going with it due to Google.

 

[nviz22]

This is the thing though, Apple are success as they went against the grain, you simply cannot replicate what they did by copying them, as all that does is to further shine the spotlight on them.

Remember how the old phone manufacturers competed? You had Nokia making the N95, E71 and E90 Communicator, while Sony Ericsson made the P1i and W960i, Samsung with the Omnia i900 and then you had HTC with the WM PPC devices like the HTC TyTN2. All various forms factors that worked so well, but were very different.

They didn't try too hard to mimick each other, instead they all pretty much put the same features (3G, GPS, Bluetooth, Operating System with apps, large battery, large display for the time etc...) in different form factors. Good times.


Samsung have done a good job of being the anti-Apple, keeping features like a Stylus, Expandable Memory, making larger higher res Displays, keeping the 3.5mm jack etc etc.. We needore Android OEMs to do this.

The problem is that Google are so obsessed with being like Apple they are forcing unnecessary changes in Android to and I guess many OEMs are just simply going with it due to Google.

The GS3 is my favorite smartphone of all time. I didn't start recognizing Samsung until I saw the GS2 and liked Touchwiz. I remember rooting smartphones to get different ROMs. I was really anti-Apple at the time because I thought it was stupid they were behind on specs, offered smaller screens, and were charging so much Apple Tax. I didn't start liking Apple products until the iPad mini first gen and the iPhone 6+.

Samsung's anti-Apple approach was tremendous. Big screens, OLED tech, stylus, power user phone, quick charging, no proprietary charging standards, always offering a plethora of features, stronger risk taking.

Apple plays catchup on hardware and software. They are no longer "refining standard features to improve them" in every category. You had green strips on OLED screens, phones not working in cold temperatures, iOS 11 bugs, etc. Apple is way too sloppy right now as well.

We are seeing Apple backtracking on software based off rumors. They want to make a Snow Leopard type of iOS 12 with bug fixes rather than something feature laden.

 

[kkh786]

Have taken the plunge and pre-ordered a S9 at £591! Price was too good to resist for a release day S9 although I had my head turned by the camera upgrades!

Wife will have the 8 Plus and Apple Watch S3.

Hopefully it’s a wise decision overall (until the X Plus in September)!

 

[brgjoe]

Former Android user. My iPhone 6 was my first venture into Apple/iOS when it launched. It has been rock solid reliable. So much so, I decided to stay with iOS for awhile.

Now this S9 launch has got me pausing. The phone looks so beautiful (especially the blue and purple versions). And the displays look fantastic. Oh yeah, it has that headphone jack too. It is very tempting to go back to the dark side to Android again.

Think I will still keep the iPhone a little while longer. And wait for more "real world" reviews of the S9 before I make any decisions on getting a new phone. Still...well done, Samsung.

 

[cuzo]

So the s9 is wider than the s8? They trying to correct the narrowness now? Wow, that's my biggest gripe.

 

[atiffarooq]

Have taken the plunge and pre-ordered a S9 at £591! Price was too good to resist for a release day S9 although I had my head turned by the camera upgrades!

Wife will have the 8 Plus and Apple Watch S3.

Hopefully it’s a wise decision overall (until the X Plus in September)!

Where did you get it from for that price?

 

[DiamonDecoden]

My s7 edge with nothing installed lags out of the box at the 2 year mark. It's so bad that I can't wait to ditch it. The note 8 never lagged and was a great device. I am sure the s9+ will be just as good as I believe that memory will help.
[doublepost=1520037116][/doublepost]

It's the other way around. imessage was out before fb messenger.

Wrong.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Messenger
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMessage

Please do not spread false info. I used both when it first came out and iMessage did not have all the features like now when messenger had feature like play games, mobile payment way before. Now it have group video chat which iMessage do not have.

Please do your research. I used both extensionfully. I'm not new to iOS. Before it was messenger it was Facebook messages which had the features at least 1 year prior. Still it launched the separate app before iMessage. Please do more research.
[doublepost=1520188846][/doublepost]Although I have to say not many people know about messenger especially if they do not have a Facebook account. A lot of my friends do not know all the robust features of messenger even when they are on Android. People try to avoid it because it's connected to Facebook. I love technology so I try to keep an open mind.

 

[4RunnerHeaven]

Wrong.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Messenger
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMessage

Please do not spread false info. I used both when it first came out and iMessage did not have all the features like now when messenger had feature like play games, mobile payment way before. Now it have group video chat which iMessage do not have.

Please do your research. I used both extensionfully. I'm not new to iOS. Before it was messenger it was Facebook messages which had the features at least 1 year prior. Still it launched the separate app before iMessage. Please do more research.
[doublepost=1520188846][/doublepost]Although I have to say not many people know about messenger especially if they do not have a Facebook account. A lot of my friends do not know all the robust features of messenger even when they are on Android. People try to avoid it because it's connected to Facebook. I love technology so I try to keep an open mind.

From your actual links. You need to read into it more before trying to correct someone. LOL . It didn't get put into iOS until October, but it was announced before then and guess who copied them? Facebook. I've used more than you can care about, and I did my research, you didn't.

iMessage was announced by Scott Forstall at the WWDC 2011 keynote on June 6, 2011
Facebook Messenger Initial release August 9, 2011

 

[5105973]

I was exploring my options and saw that Samsung seems to now have a way of initiating returns online that don’t involve sitting on the phone for hours waiting to get an RMA like I ran into last year.

I saw that Amazon now sells preorders for the unlocked models. It’s not entirely clear to me what the return policy would be for these cell phones. I think it’s 30 days but applies only to unopened or unused phones. It’s a busy weekend day so I had too many distractions trying to make sense of it all.

I see conflicting reports over what features I can get unlocked. And how I can get the updates and how fast I’d get them. I suppose it would be more clear if I were less exhausted and stressed.

 

[kkh786]

Where did you get it from for that price?

I got a 20% off code from very.co.uk through email (being a regular customer) and it applied through perfectly with the S9 at £591 when I pre-ordered.

I believe the code is account specific, unfortunately.

 

[Ralfi]

Now this S9 launch has got me pausing. The phone looks so beautiful (especially the blue and purple versions). And the displays look fantastic.

The design is really nice. Infinity screen is a cool design that Samsung could hold onto for their next couple of Galaxy iterations.

What I don't appreciate (& this is for both Samsung/Apple) are the gloss backs....I detest fingerprints/oil residue constantly building up on the phone. It seems so many of the less known manufacturers are going matt finishes on the backs, which is my preference. I don't think it looks cheaper...the less 'bling/gloss' the better imo.

 

[widgeteer]

Played with a lilac S9 Plus at BB today. Definitely a refined design over the S8. I like that they’ve reduced the edges just a bit. Otherwise it really is the same phone. 6gb of RAM made a huge difference on the Note 8, so I’m expecting likewise here.

Lilac color has me second guessing coral blue. It looks like Mgneto’s costume from the X-Men movies. I may need that in my life.
[doublepost=1520213902][/doublepost]

The design is really nice. Infinity screen is a cool design that Samsung could hold onto for their next couple of Galaxy iterations.

What I don't appreciate (& this is for both Samsung/Apple) are the gloss backs....I detest fingerprints/oil residue constantly building up on the phone. It seems so many of the less known manufacturers are going matt finishes on the backs, which is my preference. I don't think it looks cheaper...the less 'bling/gloss' the better imo.

I agree to an extent. You can’t see fingerprints on the silver iPhone X. Black is gross.

 

[LukinLedbetter]

Went ahead and pre ordered the S9+ unlocked from Best buy. I almost pulled the trigger on one last year. Hoping the new dial cameras are as advertised. My pixel 2xl camera will be tough to top

 

[5105973]

I’m having trouble committing to a preorder. I don’t want to lose out on the trade-in offer but I would prefer to wait awhile longer and keep taking in information.

 

[DiamonDecoden]

From your actual links. You need to read into it more before trying to correct someone. LOL . It didn't get put into iOS until October, but it was announced before then and guess who copied them? Facebook. I've used more than you can care about, and I did my research, you didn't.

iMessage was announced by Scott Forstall at the WWDC 2011 keynote on June 6, 2011
Facebook Messenger Initial release August 9, 2011

You know full well that the link says when it was actually launched. Being announced and getting it launched are 2 completely different things. Like I said, before it was a separate app called messenger, it was called Facebook messages which have iMessage feature. It was part of Facebook. Facebook messages existed way earlier. They later decided to launch messenger separate from Facebook. So let's get that straight.

 

[Dave.UK]

Went ahead and ordered the S9+ - After trading in my S8, will come to £365, so pretty good price!

 

[widgeteer]

I’m having trouble committing to a preorder. I don’t want to lose out on the trade-in offer but I would prefer to wait awhile longer and keep taking in information.

I doubt you'll lose anything by waiting. Deals on Samsung flagships only get better a few weeks/months in.

 

[jamezr]

If i remember right...the Note 8 shipped almost a week early. So hoping we start getting notifications that labels have been created later this week!

 

[LukinLedbetter]

If i remember right...the Note 8 shipped almost a week early. So hoping we start getting notifications that labels have been created later this week!

Where'd you preorder yours from? I ended up cancelling my best buy order and replaced it with directly from Samsung.

 

[jamezr]

Where'd you preorder yours from? I ended up cancelling my best buy order and replaced it with directly from Samsung.

I ordered mine from TMO on JOD. TMO always ships early...last year I think I got the Note almost a week early.

 

[widgeteer]

If i remember right...the Note 8 shipped almost a week early. So hoping we start getting notifications that labels have been created later this week!

You remember correctly. Mine came from VZW.

I'm looking forward to having a Sammy device again. S9 Plus looks like a better version of the S8 Plus, which I liked a lot.

 

[Vegastouch]

I ordered mine from TMO on JOD. TMO always ships early...last year I think I got the Note almost a week early.

Hope so. This is my first pre order from them and they said between the 13th and 15. Earlier would be nice.

 

[5105973]

I doubt you'll lose anything by waiting. Deals on Samsung flagships only get better a few weeks/months in.

My husband says he’s going to order from Samsung and do their trade in deal but he hasn’t yet. We were supposed to do this together but we both have had too busy of a week and weekend to sit down together and figure this out.

I’ve been trying to find out if all of the AT&T features I will want activated will work with an unlocked model and how updates will work out. It was wretched on my unlocked S7 though I’m glad some here have said it was more solid for the S8. That poor S7 was a great phone hampered by being consigned to limbo by Samsung. I’ve not had my sim back in it for ages to see what, if any updates have come to it since I took the sim out to put it in the S8+. It’s only runs VR.

I might get an AT&T version if they offer a messaging system that means I can participate in group chats in which pictures and videos are able to be exchanged without my causing everyone on iMessage to receive degraded versions. I have some things to test with my Pixel 2. My Android phone number recently leaked out among many of my contacts due to me running out so often and forgetting my iPhone at home and texting friends from my Pixel 2. Oops!
[doublepost=1520274393][/doublepost]

You remember correctly. Mine came from VZW.

I'm looking forward to having a Sammy device again. S9 Plus looks like a better version of the S8 Plus, which I liked a lot.

Handling the one at the store, I do think S9+ is much nicer. I just hope this time I get a perfect one and escape the curse of the pink! The one at the store had the most perfect display I have ever seen on a phone.

So far, I got pink edged displays on my iPhone X, my Pixel 2 and of course, my S8+. Samsung is trolling me with their pink stained displays no matter what brand phone I buy.

The one on my S8+ was the hardest to ignore because the curved edges drew attention to it. I don’t notice it too badly on my Pixel 2. I can tune it out. It was tolerable on the X as well. But I’d rather not deal with it at all.

That’s why I’m so obsessed about checking return policies. I’d rather order from Amazon but then I don’t have a trade in option.
[doublepost=1520276050][/doublepost]Blech. The AT&T messaging features I am interested in only work if all the participants have the same kind of AT&T accounts. Apple was so smart to make iMessage so independent of carrier capabilities and restrictions. So I may as well get unlocked. Go cheap or go home!

WiFi calling and HD voice are similarly fragment-y. Pffft.

 

[widgeteer]

My husband says he’s going to order from Samsung and do their trade in deal but he hasn’t yet. We were supposed to do this together but we both have had too busy of a week and weekend to sit down together and figure this out.

I’ve been trying to find out if all of the AT&T features I will want activated will work with an unlocked model and how updates will work out. It was wretched on my unlocked S7 though I’m glad some here have said it was more solid for the S8. That poor S7 was a great phone hampered by being consigned to limbo by Samsung. I’ve not had my sim back in it for ages to see what, if any updates have come to it since I took the sim out to put it in the S8+. It’s only runs VR.

I might get an AT&T version if they offer a messaging system that means I can participate in group chats in which pictures and videos are able to be exchanged without my causing everyone on iMessage to receive degraded versions. I have some things to test with my Pixel 2. My Android phone number recently leaked out among many of my contacts due to me running out so often and forgetting my iPhone at home and texting friends from my Pixel 2. Oops!
[doublepost=1520274393][/doublepost]
Handling the one at the store, I do think S9+ is much nicer. I just hope this time I get a perfect one and escape the curse of the pink! The one at the store had the most perfect display I have ever seen on a phone.

So far, I got pink edged displays on my iPhone X, my Pixel 2 and of course, my S8+. Samsung is trolling me with their pink stained displays no matter what brand phone I buy.

The one on my S8+ was the hardest to ignore because the curved edges drew attention to it. I don’t notice it too badly on my Pixel 2. I can tune it out. It was tolerable on the X as well. But I’d rather not deal with it at all.

That’s why I’m so obsessed about checking return policies. I’d rather order from Amazon but then I don’t have a trade in option.
[doublepost=1520276050][/doublepost]Blech. The AT&T messaging features I am interested in only work if all the participants have the same kind of AT&T accounts. Apple was so smart to make iMessage so independent of carrier capabilities and restrictions. So I may as well get unlocked. Go cheap or go home!

WiFi calling and HD voice are similarly fragment-y. Pffft.

I'm usually very lucky when it comes to tech. I didn't get any pink display issues with Sammy. My Pixel 2 XL changed all that. It did suffer from some of the burn in/retention issues. Took a few units to get it right.

I went with the VZW variant of the S9 Plus. I know all the features will work, returning it is super easy if there are any issues, and there wasn't really any unlocked specific Sammy services that interested me enough to bite on an order through Sammy or BB.

 

[5105973]

I'm usually very lucky when it comes to tech. I didn't get any pink display issues with Sammy. My Pixel 2 XL changed all that. It did suffer from some of the burn in/retention issues. Took a few units to get it right.

I went with the VZW variant of the S9 Plus. I know all the features will work, returning it is super easy if there are any issues, and there wasn't really any unlocked specific Sammy services that interested me enough to bite on an order through Sammy or BB.

Did they let you trade in any other phones for it? That’s what’s got us tied to Samsung as a source. We want to bring down the cost of the phones by trading in the very good condition ones we have that don’t get used much anymore except in VR. The trade in value Samsung is offering looks fair assuming they stick to it and don’t try to claim our phones are broken when they get them. We are taking pictures and video documenting the condition of the phones as we send them back. Not that that’s really going to help anything dealing with Samsung but maybe mentioning our attorneys would. That’s what one hapless victim of their attempts to scam him on his trade in did.

I’ve heard and read very mixed things about how last year’s trade in was conducted.

I do like to make use of any discount options I can. I know this sounds weird from someone who has three phones but I don’t want to pay more than $750-800 for any single one of them going forward.

And I’m not planning on trading up the Pixel 2 if I can help it. I’m getting a bit of big doe eyes from a daughter who likes the AR stickers and wants the phone when I’m done with it, but she will realistically have to content herself with the fact I’m willing to lend her the phone anytime she wants to play with the camera.