Welcome to March 2018, and Samsung has decided to ‘Reimagine’ the camera. The Galaxy S9 is a refined, technically sophisticated evolution of the bezel-less design, fixing the ergonomic gripes of the S8 by moving the fingerprint sensor to a more sensible location below the camera. At 163g, it is a sleek, polished ‘glass sandwich’ that remains one of the most beautiful phones in the UK. While the design is familiar, the technical upgrades inside the camera housing and the stereo speakers make it a significant leap forward.
The technical headline is the world’s first ‘Dual Aperture’ lens. The 12-megapixel camera can physically switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4, much like a human eye. In the dim light of a British winter evening, it opens to f/1.5 to pull in 28% more light; in bright daylight, it switches to f/2.4 for maximum sharpness. It also features a dedicated ‘Super Speed’ image sensor with integrated DRAM, allowing for a staggering 960fps ‘Super Slow-mo’ video that turns a split-second of action into a cinematic event. Under the hood, the UK model features the Exynos 9810 processor and 4GB of RAM, powering a much-improved audio experience with AKG-tuned stereo speakers that support Dolby Atmos.
The screen remains the industry-leading 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display (2960 x 1440), offering deep blacks and incredible vibrancy. It also introduces ‘AR Emoji,’ using the front camera to create a 3D avatar of your face. Connectivity is exhaustive: 1.2Gbps LTE, Wi-Fi ac, and IP68 water resistance. The 3,000 mAh battery supports both fast wired and wireless charging. The Galaxy S9 is a clinical refinement of the flagship formula; it took the best screen and design in the business and added a camera system that was technically years ahead of the competition.