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The new Samsung Galaxy: 10 very cool things you need to know

28 February 2018

 

The new Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ come with a feast of features that make them just about the most exciting smartphones around right now. Here’s a taste. 

1. Capture the moment within the moment with the camera that slows down time

The quick-launch, dual 12 megapixel cameras include Super Slo-mo so you can capture the action in stunning detail. Scary bungee jump, birthday surprise, cute kitten on the prowl? Just start filming, and you can play back the key moments in breath-taking, slow-motion detail, with 960-frames-a-second clarity. You can even add music to highlight the drama.

If you share it, the video compresses so you don’t use too much data. You can even use a magic slo-mo moment as your animated wallpaper.

 

2. Dual aperture cameras are brilliant in the dark – and the light

Daylight or moonlight, the S9 and S9+ have you covered. That’s because both phones have dual aperture lenses (F2.4/F1.5 – a first for camera phones) to make sure you take the best photos whether you’re on the beach or in the club. The S9 automatically adjusts for the conditions, just like your eye does, reducing image noise by up to 30% for clearer, sharper pics in low light – and they’re 2.5 times brighter than the S8!

The S9+ does the same, but with even more control. Pro mode allows you to choose the aperture to get better focus over distance, achieve artistic effects and set up your high-quality pics just like a professional camera. 

 

New Samsung Galaxy S9 camera

3. Bokeh-style blur control

The Samsung Galaxy S9’s advanced optical image stabiliser (OIS) makes sure you’ll get pin-sharp images in focus at the front of your photos. But you can also add artfully placed blur to backgrounds to make the foreground really pop out, bokeh-style. That goes for the 8 megapixel selfie camera too, so you’ll always stand out from the crowd.

4. AR Emoji – the emoji that’s actually you!

Personalise your messages with the emoji that’s actually you! Take a selfie and create your personalised AR emoji by styling it with hair, accessories and clothes. Then you’re ready to share up to 18 different expressions that are so you. You can even turn yourself into Disney characters.

Share your 3D AR Emoji as an animated GIF on social media or send direct to your friends – however you do it, you won’t be the ‘you’ everyone else is.

New Samsung Galaxy S9 MyEmoji

 

5. Improved Infinity Display

See more, hold less, with the screen that wraps around the edges of the phone. With even deeper blacks and up to 41% brighter than the S8, the Samsung Galaxy S9’s Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display is Samsung’s best yet. On the S9’s 5.8-inch, or the S9+’s 6.2-inch screen, whether you’re watching YouTube or Netflix, you’ll see everything with crystal clarity, even in direct sunlight.

6. Dual stereo speakers

Videos on the Samsung Galaxy S9 don’t just look great, they sound great too, thanks to dual stereo speakers. There’s one at each end for the broadest possible sound stage (and 1.4 times louder than the S8). And you can treat your ears to an upgrade because those speakers (plus the headphones) have been specially tuned by the hi-fi experts at AKG, giving superb sound quality.

7. Bixby

Your very own personal assistant just got a whole lot smarter. With Bixby Vision 2.0 you only have to take a pic to get all the info you need – just point it at a place or product, and you can get alternative prices, the low-down on that cheeky little wine, and much more.

And Bixby’s new live translation feature means you just have to point to get instant translation of menus, signs or books in up to 78 languages – it can read what your eyes can’t.

New Samsung Galaxy S9 Bixby translate

8. Built to last

The Samsung Galaxy S9 won’t let you down when you need it most. Tough Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects both the front and back against cracks. And it’s rated IP68 for dust and water resistance too. It can survive for up to 30 minutes to a depth of 1.5m in fresh water – more than enough to survive a misplaced cup of coffee or a dunk in the toilet. 

9. Combined security

Face recognition and iris scanner combine to make unlocking your Samsung Galaxy S9 fast, convenient and very, very secure – 200 times more secure than fingerprint recognition alone (though it’s got that too, in an easy-to-reach spot on the back).

The improved iris scanner even works in bright light and there’s anti-spoofing technology so no-one can try to fake your face with a photo (even one taken with the S9’s stunning camera).

10. Do more, faster

With the latest Android Oreo OS and a super-fast Exynos octa-core processor, the latest Samsung Galaxy S9 processes data 20% quicker than the S8. It’s got some clever ‘quick tricks’ too, like swiping down to quickly reply to message alerts, and app pairing so you can open two apps on a split screen in a jiffy. And with better battery life and fast wireless charging, you can do more, faster, whether you’re gaming or multitasking.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage – that’s enough for 232 movies, 232,000 images or 116,000 songs. Go for the S9+ and you’ll feel the power of 6GB RAM, with 128GB storage (464 movies, 464,000 images or 232,000 songs). And if that’s not enough, both phones can take a massive 400GB memory card.

Buy the Samsung Galaxy S9 now >

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