The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) has 4 rear cameras. Sure, you learn that proper, 4. It is a world’s first, and whereas it could appear extreme Samsung believes the extra makes for higher pictures.
Samsung goes so far as to say the Galaxy A9 is ‘optimized for Instagram’, which supplies you a transparent indication at who this handset is geared toward. Younger adults the place digicam expertise is king and social media is a every day ritual.
Unsurprisingly, the principle focus of the Samsung Galaxy A9 is its quad-cam setup around the again, however with a 6.Three-inch Full HD+ show, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage (plus microSD slot) and a Three,800mAh battery it gives up an honest array of specs.
It sits atop Samsung’s mid-range A sequence of gadgets, sliding in slightly below the flagship Galaxy S line – providing some top-end options at a extra enticing value level.
This implies the brand new Samsung Galaxy A9 has the likes of the OnePlus 6 (and shortly the OnePlus 6T) and Honor 10 to take care of in an more and more aggressive “reasonably priced flagship’ section.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) launch date and value
We’re but to get a agency Samsung Galaxy A9 launch date, however Samsung has advised us that the telephone shall be out there from “mid November” – so that you should not have greater than a month to attend to get your arms on it.
We do, nonetheless, know the Samsung Galaxy A9 value shall be £549 (round $720, AU$1,zero20) SIM free, making it dearer than the Honor 10 and OnePlus 6, however comfortably cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy S9.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy A9 has a premium design with a metallic body and a glass entrance and rear, insuring the handset seems and feels the half.
It is out there in three colours, with essentially the most eye-catching choices being lemonade blue and bubblegum pink, which boast enticing two-tone hues that are harking back to the fancier finishes on the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro.
For individuals who need their telephone to be a bit extra understated, the Samsung Galaxy A9 can also be out there in caviar black.
Measuring 162.5 x 77 x 7.8mm, the Samsung Galaxy A9 is a large handsets – thanks partially to the 6.Three-inch show – which makes barely taller and wider than the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
It is lighter than the agency’s supersized phablet although, weighing in at 183g. It implies that whereas there isn’t any getting away from the truth that this can be a massive telephone within the hand, it does not really feel overbearing.
The glass again does not present a lot grip nonetheless, so one handed use feels a bit precarious (a case could also be required for peace of thoughts), plus it is a fingerprint magnet.
We needed to wipe the rear quite a few instances throughout our arms on preview of the Galaxy A9 so get clear footage for you.
The rear mounted fingerprint scanner falls properly beneath forefinger, whereas the ability/lock and quantity keys on the precise will be hit comparatively simply is you’ve got bought bigger arms.
Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) arms on gallery
Flip to the left facet of the Samsung Galaxy A9 and there is one other bodily button – Samsung’s Bixby button.
This key launches the agency’s sensible voice assistant, and whereas it is probably not to everybody’s style, its inclusion in a non-flagship machine is one other instance of Samsung filtering down its top-tier tech.
There’s excellent news for audiophiles on the bottom of the Samsung Galaxy A9, as a headphone jack resides alongside a USB-C port and single, down-firing speaker.
Show
The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) packs a 6.Three-inch Tremendous AMOLED Full HD+ show which is brilliant, clear and colourful.
Whereas the 1080 x 2220 decision is not as spectacular because the QHD panels on the Galaxy S9, S9 Plus and Notice 9, for its value level it is arduous to knock the Full HD+ providing on the Galaxy A9.
You’ll be able to see the design language of Samsung’s flagship infinity show spilling over to the Galaxy A9, nevertheless it’s not fairly as edge-to-edge right here, with barely thicker boarders all the best way across the machine.
That is to be anticipated contemplating the Samsung Galaxy A9’s value level, and there is nonetheless loads of display screen to take pleasure in right here – and no notch, which can please some customers.
Digicam
We have already talked about it, and there’s no denying that that is the principle draw for the Samsung Galaxy A9 – the quad-cam providing on the rear of the handset.
The first digicam is a 24MP providing which is the default possibility in auto mode, and the one which provides you with finest low gentle efficiency.
Subsequent up is an 8MP, 120 diploma vast angle lens permitting you to get extra into every shot, adopted by a 5MP depth-sensing digicam which collects knowledge utilized in Samsung’s Reside Focus background blur mode.
Lastly there is a 10MP telephoto lens offering a 2x optical zoom over the first digicam, permitting you to get nearer to the motion.
Up till now a few of these options have been supplied by software program, however Samsung claims the transfer to will garner higher outcomes. In the meantime, around the entrance there is a 24MP selfie digicam with its personal.
Throughout our transient time with the Samsung Galaxy A9 we discovered the first digicam was typically good, however if you happen to zoom into pictures after taking them the element will get muddy fairly simply.
It is price noting that the Galaxy A9 we bought our arms on wasn’t operating last digicam software program, so picture high quality might enhance earlier than the handset formally goes on sale.
There are many choices within the digicam app too, however Auto mode will seemingly be essentially the most used mode.
You will want to pick the Reside Focus mode to shoot Bokeh, background blurred, pictures on the Galaxy A9, which makes use of the 24MP main and 5MP depth sensing cameras.
Nevertheless, you possibly can swap between the first, zoom and wide-angle cameras simply from auto mode. A small, on-screen immediate seems within the viewfinder space, permitting you to faucet between the three choices, getting you nearer to the motion or increasing the sector of view to suit extra in.
Battery and efficiency
The Samsung Galaxy A9 comes with an octa-core Exynos 7885 chipset and 6GB of RAM which gives an honest slug of energy.
It is in command of operating Android eight Oreo, which is unfortunately not the newest model of Google’s cellular software program. Samsung tells us that it’ll convey the Android 9 Pie replace to the Galaxy A9 as quickly because it’s can, nevertheless it’s nonetheless engaged on adapting the platform with its personal interface.
Whereas not date was given for the Android Pie replace, we do not anticipate it to land on the Galaxy A9 till early subsequent 12 months.
Android does run easily on the Galaxy A9, and we skilled slick efficiency and quick app load instances throughout our time with the handset.
There’s excellent news by way of storage, with the Samsung Galaxy A9 coming with a large 128GB of house built-in. If that is not sufficient house (though for many it is going to be) there’s additionally a microSD slot which helps playing cards as much as 512GB in dimension.
The Samsung Galaxy A9 additionally suits in a Three,800mAh battery which is larger than the ability packs squeezed into the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.
The hope is the Galaxy A9 will supply up some spectacular battery life, however you may have to attend for our full evaluation to search out out simply how effectively it performs.
There is no wi-fi charging included right here, however the Samsung Galaxy A9 does assist quick charging, permitting you to shortly prime up the battery in case you are operating low.
Early verdict
The Samsung Galaxy A9 is an efficient wanting, characteristic packed smartphone with standout digicam spec. Whether or not that digicam spec lives as much as Samsung’s hype stays to be seen – preserve an eye fixed out for our in-depth evaluation – however the early indicators are optimistic.