The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung’s brand-new phablet flagship, however the firm has already launched one phablet flagship this yr within the type of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
Not solely that, however a few of the core specs are equivalent, so simply how a lot is totally different? And the way does the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 stand out?
Some points are apparent – it has a stylus for one, which we’ll have a look at extra under, however there are many different variations too, in addition to loads of issues which have stayed the identical. Learn on for an summary of all of them.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus design
The Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 has a glass again, a metallic body and slim bezels above and under the display screen. So, for that matter, does the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus.
The latter handset is probably barely curvier, however they in any other case look very comparable, particularly from the entrance.
The primary distinction on the again is the orientation of the digital camera, as whereas the 2 lenses are facet by facet on the Galaxy Be aware 9, they’re organized vertically on the Galaxy S9 Plus.
The Galaxy Be aware 9 is a barely larger cellphone than the S9 Plus
The size and weight of the 2 handsets differ in fact, with the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 coming in at 161.9 x 76.Four x eight.8mm and 201g and the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus being 158.1 x 73.eight x eight.5mm and 189g.
Which is to say, the S9 Plus is smaller in each dimension, in addition to being barely lighter. In fact it additionally has a smaller display screen, which we’ll get to under.
Earlier than that although it’s value noting that each telephones are IP68 licensed, that means they’re mud proof and waterproof for as much as 30 minutes at a depth of as much as 1.5 meters.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus show
The S9 Plus has a giant display screen, however the Be aware 9’s is even larger
Whereas these are each huge telephones, the Galaxy Be aware 9 is the most important, because of its 6.Four-inch display screen. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus alternatively has a 6.2-inch one.
Nevertheless, each telephones have a curved Tremendous AMOLED show with a decision of 1440 x 2960, resulting in a pixel density of 516 pixels per inch within the case of the Be aware 9 and 529 pixels per inch within the case of the S9 Plus.
That’s not a distinction you’re prone to discover a lot, however the dimension distinction may be barely extra noticeable. Make no mistake although, these are each huge screens.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus OS and energy
Each the Be aware 9 and Galaxy S9 Plus run Android Oreo (particularly model eight.zero within the case of the Galaxy S9 Plus and eight.1 within the case of the Galaxy Be aware 9). They’re additionally prone to be supported with software program updates till roughly the identical level.
The Galaxy Be aware 9 does have some software program highlights that the Galaxy S9 Plus lacks although, as whereas each handsets embody Samsung’s Bixby assistant (and a devoted button to launch it), the Be aware 9 additionally has an S Pen stylus.
This allows you to write and sketch nearly such as you would with a pen on paper, in addition to permitting you to make use of the stylus as a distant for pausing music, taking photographs and the like.
A characteristic supplied by each telephones however doubtlessly simpler to make use of on the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 is DeX. That’s the identify for Samsung’s desktop expertise that turns your cellphone into extra of a PC if you hook it as much as a monitor, however whereas the S9 wants a dock to attain this, the Be aware 9 simply wants an HDMI adaptor.
The S Pen is a method the Be aware 9 stands out from the Galaxy S9 Plus
Transferring from software program to specs, each telephones have both a Snapdragon 845 chipset (when you’re within the US) or an Exynos 9810 (when you’re not). These are probably the most highly effective cellular chipsets from Qualcomm and Samsung respectively, so neither cellphone can have any scarcity of energy.
You may get a bit extra energy with the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 although, because it comes with as much as 8GB of RAM (although a 6GB model can be supplied). The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus in the meantime solely comes with 6GB.
You can too get extra storage within the Be aware 9, with each 128GB and 512GB fashions supplied, whereas the Galaxy S9 Plus comes with both 64GB or 128GB, and the supply of these sizes is region-dependent. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t run in need of house with both cellphone, since each even have a microSD card slot.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus digital camera
From a perspective these telephones have a lot the identical cameras. They each have a dual-lens 12MP digital camera on the again, with one lens being an f/2.Four telephoto one and the opposite being a wide-angle lens with an aperture that may change from f/1.5 to f/2.Four.
Each lenses even have optical picture stabilization (OIS), and the 2 telephones are able to 2x optical zoom utilizing their telephoto lenses. Each telephones even have an 8MP f/1.7 front-facing digital camera.
The 2 telephones have comparable digital camera , however barely totally different software program
It’s a powerful setup, and in our assessment of the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus we discovered that the outcomes have been simply as spectacular, however the Be aware 9 might need a slight edge on the subject of software program, because it actually has some further options.
For one factor, it’s obtained the flexibility to routinely acknowledge components of a photograph, optimizing the settings to seize it at its finest.
We’ve seen this concept on a variety of telephones, however a extra uncommon characteristic is the flexibility for it to warn you to any points with a shot you’ve simply taken. Examples embody blur within the picture, a smudge on the lens or somebody blinking within the shot. By alerting you instantly it provides you the chance to take the picture once more.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus battery
At three,500mAh the battery within the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus is sort of huge, nevertheless it’s dwarfed by the Four,000mAh one within the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9.
Whether or not that can result in higher life from the brand new cellphone stays to be seen, particularly because it has an even bigger display screen to energy, however the S9 Plus already affords all-day life, so if the Be aware 9 can at the very least match that then it is going to be stable.
It’s value noting that each telephones additionally help quick charging and wi-fi charging, so once they do run low on battery they need to be simple to juice up once more.
Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus worth and availability
Within the US you possibly can pre-order the Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 from August 10 and it ought to be with you by August 24, nevertheless it’s not low-cost, coming in at $999.99 (£899, round AU$1,350) for the 128GB model and $1,249.99 (£1,zero99, roughly AU$1,685) for the 512GB mannequin. We don’t have Australian costs but however count on it to be up there with the priciest telephones round.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus isn’t low-cost both, however it’s cheaper. It launched at $840 (£869, AU$1,349), although can now be discovered for a very good $100 (£100) much less in some shops.
Each telephones are very costly, however the Be aware 9 extra so
Takeaway
The Samsung Galaxy Be aware 9 is a good larger, much more feature-packed various to the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, however many of the core specs are comparable, so whether or not it’s value the additional will seemingly come all the way down to how a lot you care about issues like its S Pen.
The battery life might be a giant issue too, if that bigger juice pack interprets into longer life – we’ll reply that query as soon as we’ve put the Be aware 9 via a full assessment.
However in the end if you need Samsung’s newest and best phablet the Be aware 9 might be it, although you possibly can get a largely comparable cellphone for a good bit much less when you go for the S9 Plus as a substitute.