Samsung's Galaxy S9 Called 'Worthy Rival' to iPhone X as Reviews Hit

[sconnor99]

You can call it a notch blocking part of the display, or you can call it added ears to the bezel to extend the display (which is what it really is).

Totally nailed it with that comment, that's EXACTLY what the notch is!

 

[fairuz]

They're not comparable though. The iPhone X is more like an iPod with calling capability while the Galaxy S9 is more of a universal all-in-one computer, gaming console, etc. replacement.

The $1K iPhone X can't even maintain a SSH session in the background that even a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero SBC can do.

Why don't you just install FreeBSD on your phone while you're at it?

 

[bozzykid]

Apple makes better-looking phones a whole year before Samsung. I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.

The S8 came out before the iPhone X so I'm not sure what you are saying. The S9 is basically the exact same design except the fingerprint sensor moved.

 

[raqball]

They're not comparable though.

The $1K iPhone X can't even maintain a SSH session in the background that even a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero SBC can do.

Yeah because the average consumer going into a carrier store to buy a phone worries about such things...

 

[TheShadowKnows!]

"But who makes the most profitable smart phone?"

Besides, don't worry, $1000 is only a stepping-stone price. This year we probably see $1200, next $1500. The "payment plan" push makes it easy to make "only $8.XX more" work at a flagship price of $2000 if one tacks on enough time. Think car company advertising where the price to own is no longer acceptable (to many), so the lease deals just squeeze and squeeze the terms to keep a monthly payment in some goldilocks zone. Hmmmm.... iPhone lease deals next?

For car buyers, the terms used to be 36 or 48 months. Now they hang at 72 months and should shift on to 84 and 96 soon... again to fit a payment into a "goldilocks" zone so that prices can keep right on going up and up.

Place your bets: do we see the iPhone 36 and 48-month terms with the next flagship or the one after that?

HobeSoundDarrl, iPhones are already being "leased" under one-year terms. Most in here do not own their phones -- they just lease them from either carrier or Apple, which unsurprisingly has joined the fray with the Upgrade Program, tagging AppleCare+ to boot to its monthlies.

Welcome to credit-only America -- make America customer debt great, again and again.

 

[spacemnspiff]

All jokes aside, pricing on those phones is where it needs to be. Apple can learn a thing or two from that. But of course, margins.

The pricing is too close to the $1000 mark, if Samsung priced the S9 at $500, then the quoted statement would have any validity. S9 is an expensive phone just like the iPhone X, no two ways about it.

Welcome to credit-only America -- make America customer debt great, again and again.

'Empire of Debt', including the government.

 

[Michael Goff]

They're not comparable though. The iPhone X is more like an iPod with calling capability while the Galaxy S9 is more of a universal all-in-one computer, gaming console, etc. replacement.

The $1K iPhone X can't even maintain a SSH session in the background that even a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero SBC can do.

And I’m sure most people are doing SSH on their smartphones.

 

[javanni]

Claiming that the Samsung S9 looks better than the iPhone X means knowing absolutely nothing about industrial design.
Heck, even the iPhone 6 looks better, if a bit “vintage”.

Samsung hasn’t been able to line up the ports and screws at the bottom of the device. And those bezels have different sizes... ugh!

Good design is in the details too.

 

[deanthedev]

They're not comparable though. The iPhone X is more like an iPod with calling capability while the Galaxy S9 is more of a universal all-in-one computer, gaming console, etc. replacement.

The $1K iPhone X can't even maintain a SSH session in the background that even a $5 Raspberry Pi Zero SBC can do.

So funny reading your pathetic attempts to trash the iPhone X. All this proves is how Apple hit it out of the park. Nobody wastes this much energy bashing whoever’s #2 or #3. That kind of energy is only reserved for who’s at #1. Apple.

 

[Zmmyt]

Not sure why so many are uninformed about how much simpler Android is, while having more functionality. Shrugs

I find my Android work phone way less intuitive.

 

[budafied]

The pricing is too close to the $1000 mark, if Samsung priced the S9 at $500, then the quoted statement would have any validity. S9 is an expensive phone just like the iPhone X, no two ways about it.

'Empire of Debt', including the government.

$720 vs $1000 for very similar feature set and specs (yea, I get it, the X has a better processor).

That's over 33% more expensive. They are not in the same price range.

It's literally closer to $500 than $1000.

 

[raqball]

The pricing is too close to the $1000 mark, if Samsung priced the S9 at $500, then the quoted statement would have any validity. S9 is an expensive phone just like the iPhone X, no two ways about it.

Agree.

Another thing to consider is that people are using the price if you order from Samsung direct. Most people / average customers will buy from direct from their carrier. Those carrier prices are about to $80-$100 more than if ordering direct from Samsung.

The Galaxy S9 will cost $720 at T-Mobile, $790.20 at AT&T, $792 at Sprint, and $799.99 at Verizon.

The Galaxy S9+ will cost $840 at T-Mobile, $912 at Sprint, $915 at AT&T, and $929.99 at Verizon

 

[kingneptune117]

I tried out a Galaxy S9 Plus at Best Buy yesterday. I picked it up and tried swiping through the home screen. The first thing I noticed is the ever-existent lag when first swiping through home screens and menus. How as Samsung not fixed this yet?

 

[polterbyte]

What bugs me is the doble standard:

- iPhone repeats design: LAME! SHAME ON YOU, APPLE! BURN IN HELL, JONY, YOU SLACKER SHACK OF SIT!
- Galaxy repeats design: Oh, that's OK.

 

[Sevanw]

The Verge review is spot on, I just couldn’t stop laughing .

Right, because a bunch of Apple bought shills matter. Lol

 

[Andres Cantu]

The pricing is too close to the $1000 mark, if Samsung priced the S9 at $500, then the quoted statement would have any validity. S9 is an expensive phone just like the iPhone X, no two ways about it.

'Empire of Debt', including the government.

You think $720 is the same as $1,000?

The S9 basically competes with the regular 8, and all things considered, there’s no comparison. That’s not to say I would by an S9 over the iPhone 8, but things will change with the “low-cost” X later this year.

 

[grkm3]

These phones are perfect match for those people who buy a car just because "it looks good and has a good stereo", when the parts that make it be a car are junk.
Samsung phones are just a cheaper alternative to the iPhone. Just like buying gold plated jewelry instead of solid gold jewelery.

This makes zero sense as the screen,camera,ram,and process node are the best you can use right now.

The gs9 just got the longest lasting battery review also and is on a first firmware without any apps optimized yet.

 

[csurfr]

iOS is like a golf cart compared to Android which is like a Tesla in comparison. iOS has fewer features but isn't easier while Android has more smarter features while being more intuitive. For example, the retirees next door come to me for help with updating iOS on their iPhone since the option is burried unintuitively deep compared to Android which is like 3 easy taps.

You’ve lost the plot. Settings -> General -> Software Update.

How many steps is that?

 

[grkm3]

Claiming that the Samsung S9 looks better than the iPhone X means knowing absolutely nothing about industrial design.
Heck, even the iPhone 6 looks better, if a bit “vintage”.

Samsung hasn’t been able to line up the ports and screws at the bottom of the device. And those bezels have different sizes... ugh!

Good design is in the details too.

Like the notch,bendgate and attenagate?

 

[Piggie]

Any site with a good camera review?

Here's a good video review of both phones.


Showing both cameras, static and video and in different test conditions.
He always does good comparisons with both phones running at the exact same time, side by side:

 

[Cesar Battistini]

I can never think of these phones as anything more than counterfeits that cost the same as the original. It is mystifying to me why anybody would buy one.

YESSSSSSS I always thought that!

 

[Michael Goff]

Right, because a bunch of Apple bought shills matter. Lol

Have you even been paying attention to the Verge lately?

 

[raqball]

Like the notch,bendgate and attenagate?

Or having to recall millions of phones, twice and then stop production because they blow up?

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

Agreed. I just cant stand the touchwiz UI.. I hate that so much - even if someone gives me a samsung for free, I won't take it..If I want an android phone, i'll get a pixel 2 for sure. So how good their hardware is, it doesn't matter to me.

My thoughts exactly. If I were on the market for an Android phone, I wouldn't consider anything other than a Pixel device.

 

[raqball]

My thoughts exactly. If I were on the market for an Android phone, I wouldn't consider anything other than a Pixel device.

Same here... The only Android I'd currently buy is a Pixel..