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co.ag.2005

macrumors 68020
Jun 17, 2009
2,365
1,810
Fort Worth, TX
You went from the XL to the smaller S9? Just curious, why not the +?

I went from Pixel 2 to the S9+. Wondering if I should be trying the S9.

I like the size of the S9 much better. It (and phones similar in size like the iPhone X) have a much better feel in hand for me. In fact, my my 2 XL feels way too big now! I did have the S9+ but it was just too large for my tastes even though it was similar in size to the 2 XL... I think mainly because it seemed so heavy (and almost felt top heavy IIRC).
[doublepost=1526910919][/doublepost]
The S9 is a joke of a device imo. It's the same thing as the S8, except with a faster processor, brighter screen, slightly improved camera, new FP sensor location, and stereo speakers.

Samsung added all the good hardware improvements to the S9+ with 2gb RAM, dual cameras, and a bigger battery there. If you want battery life and performance to go along with a better camera, go S9+.

LOL. I had the S8 and the S9 feels so much more fluid and quicker in every day tasks. It's on par with 2 XL right now which is saying something!
 
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Wildo6882

macrumors 6502a
Sep 12, 2015
522
561
Illinois
I like the size of the S9 much better. It (and phones similar in size like the iPhone X) have a much better feel in hand for me. In fact, my my 2 XL feels way too big now! I did have the S9+ but it was just too large for my tastes even though it was similar in size to the 2 XL... I think mainly because it seemed so heavy (and almost felt top heavy IIRC).
[doublepost=1526910919][/doublepost]

LOL. I had the S8 and the S9 feels so much more fluid and quicker in every day tasks. It's on par with 2 XL right now which is saying something!

How’s your battery life on the S9? It seems like that’s one of the biggest issues I see and read about the S9.
 

co.ag.2005

macrumors 68020
Jun 17, 2009
2,365
1,810
Fort Worth, TX
How’s your battery life on the S9? It seems like that’s one of the biggest issues I see and read about the S9.

While it can't compare to phones that are much larger (and thus have a larger battery), it does quite well for its size. But I do just have it sitting on a wireless charging stand at work anyway, so I find myself not caring about it too much.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
I like the size of the S9 much better. It (and phones similar in size like the iPhone X) have a much better feel in hand for me. In fact, my my 2 XL feels way too big now! I did have the S9+ but it was just too large for my tastes even though it was similar in size to the 2 XL... I think mainly because it seemed so heavy (and almost felt top heavy IIRC).
[doublepost=1526910919][/doublepost]

LOL. I had the S8 and the S9 feels so much more fluid and quicker in every day tasks. It's on par with 2 XL right now which is saying something!

Had the S8+ and S9+. Both were plenty fluid for me in terms of performance. The S8+ had a usable display, S9+ didn’t. The two extra GB of RAM didn’t impact my performance much, but that’s because I probably don’t use too many apps in the background either. Smartphones are plenty fast it’s harder to discern the difference between an 835 and 845.
 

co.ag.2005

macrumors 68020
Jun 17, 2009
2,365
1,810
Fort Worth, TX
Wait, I can buy the Verizon version from Samsung and use it on TMO?

Generally speaking, yes. By law (or FCC mandate or something), Verizon LTE phones have to come unlocked. Since the S8 (and now S9) all use the same phones regardless of carrier, it would have all the bands needed. Now, I'm not sure if you can walk into a Verizon store and purchase this deal without a Verizon account... or if it needs to be activated on Verizon first. But you theoretically can use a Verizon S8 or S9 on any carrier since they are unlocked out of the box.

Just make sure to do more searching on Google and definitely on XDA to verify everything but I do know Verizon phones are unlocked by law and the S9 phones are all the same regardless of carrier, they just boot up different usable frequencies, etc. depending on what sim is inserted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7rzssz/verizon_s8_on_tmobile_service_and_performance/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7jdcno/psa_with_the_latest_us_carrier_updates_your_phone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7v1tw0/verizon_galaxy_s8/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/8hcwik/can_i_move_a_verizon_galaxy_s9_to_tmobile/

https://www.t-mobile.com/bring-your-own-phone.html

upload_2018-5-21_10-40-1.png



But, it does sound like Verizon may be locking them again soon? So make sure to do your homework:
https://gizmodo.com/verizon-has-a-bad-excuse-for-why-it-s-locking-phones-ag-1822940604
 
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Six8

macrumors 65816
Feb 1, 2012
1,140
142
Earth
Generally speaking, yes. By law (or FCC mandate or something), Verizon LTE phones have to come unlocked. Since the S8 (and now S9) all use the same phones regardless of carrier, it would have all the bands needed. Now, I'm not sure if you can walk into a Verizon store and purchase this deal without a Verizon account... or if it needs to be activated on Verizon first. But you theoretically can use a Verizon S8 or S9 on any carrier since they are unlocked out of the box.

Just make sure to do more searching on Google and definitely on XDA to verify everything but I do know Verizon phones are unlocked by law and the S9 phones are all the same regardless of carrier, they just boot up different usable frequencies, etc. depending on what sim is inserted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7rzssz/verizon_s8_on_tmobile_service_and_performance/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7jdcno/psa_with_the_latest_us_carrier_updates_your_phone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7v1tw0/verizon_galaxy_s8/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/8hcwik/can_i_move_a_verizon_galaxy_s9_to_tmobile/

https://www.t-mobile.com/bring-your-own-phone.html

View attachment 762424


But, it does sound like Verizon may be locking them again soon? So make sure to do your homework:
https://gizmodo.com/verizon-has-a-bad-excuse-for-why-it-s-locking-phones-ag-1822940604

Thanks for the info!!
 
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DaveOP

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2011
1,601
2,412
Portland, OR
Your carrier is more likely to be holding you back than whatever chip is in whatever phone you have.
It is somewhat noticeable in a speed test, but real world usage of loading webpages feels the same on both. I will note, both devices fluctuated +/- 5MBPS from test to test.
 

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Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
It is somewhat noticeable in a speed test, but real world usage of loading webpages feels the same on both. I will note, both devices fluctuated +/- 5MBPS from test to test.

I’m not saying there won’t be any differences. I’m saying you’re getting slowed down more by your carrier than what phone you use. Remember how LTE was going to provide multi hundred mb download speeds?

45788823-3D27-45D1-A4FD-37A4CEC808E9.jpeg

Now that’s what I call LTE.
 

DaveOP

macrumors 68000
May 29, 2011
1,601
2,412
Portland, OR
I’m not saying there won’t be any differences. I’m saying you’re getting slowed down more by your carrier than what phone you use. Remember how LTE was going to provide multi hundred mb download speeds?

View attachment 762466

Now that’s what I call LTE.
100% agree, I was mostly trying to agree with you. I get anywhere from 25-40 on the iPhone, and 35-50 on the S9. With so many environmental factors in place, it just really doesn't matter. I always smile when people get excited for "Gigabit LTE" on new models, as a selling point.
 

Michael Goff

Suspended
Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
100% agree, I was mostly trying to agree with you. I get anywhere from 25-40 on the iPhone, and 35-50 on the S9. With so many environmental factors in place, it just really doesn't matter. I always smile when people get excited for "Gigabit LTE" on new models, as a selling point.

The weird thing is that I used to get better service... back in 2015 when I was using the Lumia 1520
 

Vegastouch

macrumors 603
Jul 12, 2008
6,185
992
Las Vegas, NV
The S9 is a joke of a device imo. It's the same thing as the S8, except with a faster processor, brighter screen, slightly improved camera, new FP sensor location, and stereo speakers.

Samsung added all the good hardware improvements to the S9+ with 2gb RAM, dual cameras, and a bigger battery there. If you want battery life and performance to go along with a better camera, go S9+.
Well coming from the S7, those are pretty good improvements, and I haven't had any issues with it. Not to mention the edges are better on the S9 than the S8. Love the stereo speakers as well which are much louder than my S7.
I still would prefer a flat screen instead of the edge.
 

oldhifi

macrumors 65816
Jan 12, 2013
1,494
748
USA
What I really like is my S9 will start playing my bluetooth Pandora app when I return to my truck, my IPhone would NOT, you had to reconnect every time..
 

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
How are the edges better on the S9 compared to the S8?

Apparently they're less edgy. Samsung has been scaling back the edge with almost every iteration, including the Note line.

I have no issues with false palm presses even on the S9+. Really impressive. I think the S9 models get the edges just right. Any less and it'll become kind of pointless.
 
Last edited:

Zaft

macrumors 601
Jun 16, 2009
4,570
4,049
Brooklyn, NY
Apparently they're less edgy. Samsung has been scaling back the edge with almost every iteration, including the Note line.

I have no issues with false palm presses even on the S9+. Really impressive. I think the S9 models get the edges just right. Any less and it'll become kind of pointless.
Yea Samsung reduced the edge a bit on the S9. When I tried the S8+ I had palm detection issues which were annoying. I even have them sometimes on my X as well.
 
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4RunnerHeaven

Suspended
Nov 24, 2017
400
203
Has anyone had issues when you open the Camera app it crashes the phone where it reboots sometimes? Mine is doing that. S9+
 

Lobwedgephil

macrumors 603
Apr 7, 2012
5,792
4,757
Generally speaking, yes. By law (or FCC mandate or something), Verizon LTE phones have to come unlocked. Since the S8 (and now S9) all use the same phones regardless of carrier, it would have all the bands needed. Now, I'm not sure if you can walk into a Verizon store and purchase this deal without a Verizon account... or if it needs to be activated on Verizon first. But you theoretically can use a Verizon S8 or S9 on any carrier since they are unlocked out of the box.

Just make sure to do more searching on Google and definitely on XDA to verify everything but I do know Verizon phones are unlocked by law and the S9 phones are all the same regardless of carrier, they just boot up different usable frequencies, etc. depending on what sim is inserted.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7rzssz/verizon_s8_on_tmobile_service_and_performance/
https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS8/comments/7jdcno/psa_with_the_latest_us_carrier_updates_your_phone/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/7v1tw0/verizon_galaxy_s8/
https://www.reddit.com/r/tmobile/comments/8hcwik/can_i_move_a_verizon_galaxy_s9_to_tmobile/

https://www.t-mobile.com/bring-your-own-phone.html

View attachment 762424


But, it does sound like Verizon may be locking them again soon? So make sure to do your homework:
https://gizmodo.com/verizon-has-a-bad-excuse-for-why-it-s-locking-phones-ag-1822940604

NM.
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::(:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

I just read over on Android Central that on May 1 only on Samsung’s online store they are going to offer 128 GB and 256 GB models. I wanted those! :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

It’s only $50 per bump up to the next level. I totally would have gone 128 had it been available when I ordered mine. That’s what I get for being an early adopter. :rolleyes: I don’t know if they give as good of a trade in allowance as they did with my preorder, though. That was what got me to preorder.

In other news, I think two cups of coffee is probably too much for a small person like me. That’s a lot of emojis for one post. o_O
Why would they shaft customers like this? Harsh by Samsung imo...
 

sunking101

macrumors 604
Sep 19, 2013
7,423
2,659
What I really like is my S9 will start playing my bluetooth Pandora app when I return to my truck, my IPhone would NOT, you had to reconnect every time..
Yeah. My Note 8 prioritises my car bluetooth over my smartwatch and does it every time I get into the car. I had to use an app with my last phone as it would always prioritise the watch unless I got into my car before pairing the watch. These little things really help.
[doublepost=1527348256][/doublepost]
Yea Samsung reduced the edge a bit on the S9. When I tried the S8+ I had palm detection issues which were annoying. I even have them sometimes on my X as well.
The edge isn't all that pronounced on the Note 8 either. Some of the edge features are worthless as a result but overall I would prefer a flat screen anyway.
 

Breaking Good

macrumors 65816
Sep 28, 2012
1,451
1,225
Why would they shaft customers like this? Harsh by Samsung imo...

I called Samsung and complained about this the other day. I don’t expect it to do any good. But maybe if enough people do this it might get them to think things through more.

My guess is that they realized all the other Android OEM’s were moving to 128 GB as base tier for storage for thier 2018 flagships and they needed to maintain parity.
 
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