If you’re looking to buy a new phone in 2018, you have plenty of options and more are coming soon. That said, Samsung should be near the top of your list. So, here’s why you should buy the Galaxy S9 Plus and not the Galaxy S9.
Millions of potential buyers are weighing their Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ decision. However, this year the choice is easier than ever to be for many different reasons.
This year the Galaxy S9+ is much more than just a bigger screen. In fact, the Galaxy S9+ has many exciting features and options that you can’t get from the smaller version. And when you consider the small increase in price, it’s totally worth it. Here’s everything that’s different, what’s the same, and why you should buy the Galaxy S9+ over the Galaxy S9.
For years, Samsung has released two different flagship smartphones in the first half of the year. Like Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge or Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Either way, the larger phone had a larger screen and slightly more battery life. And those are the two major reasons one would choose one phone over the other.
The regular Galaxy S9 is $719 from Samsung, while the larger Galaxy S9+ is just $839. So potential buyers can get a better phone for just $120 more. This year, that $120 gets you a whole lot more.
Galaxy S9+ Has a Bigger Screen
First of all, and just like last year, the Galaxy S9+ comes with a bigger screen. That’s why it’s the “Plus” model after all. Samsung phones have big beautiful screens but small bezels and no physical home button. This means they are not as big as you think.
This year, you can choose between a 5.8-inch display on the Galaxy S9 or a larger 6.2-inch display on the Galaxy S9+. What’s impressive is that the massive 6.2-inch phone is still smaller than a model like the Galaxy Note 5 with a mere 5.7-inch display.
So if you’re upgrading, you’ll love the bigger screen without a physically large device. Anyone coming from an older 5.5 or 5.7 inch Samsung Galaxy will love the Galaxy S9+. It will be about the same size, only you will enjoy the huge 6.2 inch screen. Samsung has managed to make this large phablet as small, portable and easy to use as possible.
Dual Rear Cameras
This year the Galaxy S9+ is not just a bigger screen, it has different or better features. And one of them is extremely important to many potential customers. If you’re into photography, you’ll want the Galaxy S9+ because it has TWO cameras on the back, not just one.
Just like the Galaxy Note 8 at the end of 2017, Samsung has added a second 2x telephoto zoom lens to the back of the Galaxy S9+. That means you actually get more features when you buy the bigger phone. You’ll enjoy two 12 DualPixel cameras, both with optical image stabilization (even when you zoom in) and the same variable aperture camera controls.
In case you didn’t know, Samsung’s camera is doing amazing things this year. The camera physically moves and changes apertures depending on how much light it needs for the best photo. Just like how the human eye adapts to help you see at night, Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S9+ lens can adapt and change to help it see.
Longer Battery Life
Another extremely important aspect of the Galaxy S9+ is its battery life. Honestly, how long a phone lasts is one of the biggest determining factors when I buy a phone. Unless the battery lasts very long, you won’t be able to use any of the fancy features a device has.
Galaxy S9 comes with a 3,000mAh battery. It’s pretty good and I hope it helps you get through the tough days. This is the same size battery as the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S8 for the price.
If you buy the Galaxy S9+, you get a much larger 3,600mAh battery that lasts even longer. Yes, the screen is slightly larger which consumes more juice, but the larger internal battery is quite substantial. At least we think so.
Basically, if battery life is a concern, you’ll want to spend $120 more and get the Galaxy S9+. Or buy from a carrier and spend a few extra dollars a month. This is not brainstorming.
Better Performance with 6GB of RAM
Another change this year comes to the internal features of these phones. It’s not a huge deal, but the Samsung Galaxy S9+ comes with 6GB of RAM. As a comparison, the smaller S9 only has 4GB like its predecessors.
Having more RAM is important for everyday use, it can improve performance and help with things like multitasking or virtual reality. The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 also comes with 6GB of RAM, so it has some of the best performance of any Android smartphone.
Considering that the Galaxy S9+ runs Android 8.0 Oreo and has features like split-screen multitasking and picture-in-picture mode, you’ll want the extra RAM to run as many apps as possible. And run it smoothly.
Extra Features and Better for VR or Gaming
In closing, we wanted to touch on a few more features and thoughts about these two phones. Samsung doesn’t say it too loudly but Galaxy S9+ camera has extra features that is not small.
Alongside the two lenses, the Galaxy S9+ features an all-new Portrait photography mode. Similar to what we saw on the iPhone 8/X and Galaxy Note 8, but even better. This portrait mode comes with live focus controls and unique bokeh filters that you can add photos to in real time. This is only available on the Galaxy S9+.
Additionally, if you’re going to watch a lot of movies, play games, or enjoy VR content with your phone, we recommend getting the larger Galaxy S9+. All this will be bigger and better if you get the right phone. And now you can Galaxy S9+ with 128GB or even 256GB storage, the choice is not a wise one.
Basically, the big 6.2-inch screen and all-day battery life are two key considerations. Then add the extra secondary rear camera for enhanced performance, new camera features and more RAM and you’ll quickly see why we’re recommending the Galaxy S9+ first. If you’re a hardcore user or want the most out of the best phone on the market – look no further than the Galaxy S9+.
If you decide to buy one, you’ll want to review our Galaxy S9 setup guide. Then, check out these 35 Galaxy S9 tips and tricks. And when it does, grab a screensaver from our roundup below.
