Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus - Hands-on

The Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus: Samsung's Answer to the iPhone 10

Samsung has finally revealed its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, which are designed to compete with Apple's iPhone 10. These beautiful phones are all about the camera, both of them featuring a 12 megapixel lens that automatically snaps between two settings when it's best for low-light and another setting for all your other shots.

The S9 Plus also has a bonus lens, making it the second Samsung phone to include two cameras on the back. This allows users to take artistic portrait photos, which is one of the main selling points of these phones. On the other hand, the S9 sticks to just one camera, but still manages to impress with its ability to capture video at a rate of 960 frames per second. This means that slow motion videos will stretch time, giving users an immersive experience.

Another notable feature is the 8 megapixel front-facing camera, which not only takes selfies but also scans your face to convert it into an animated emoji called AR Emoji. This is a clear copy of the iPhone's emoji feature and sets the Galaxy S9 apart from its competitors.

Design-wise, both phones look almost identical to last year's Galaxy S8, with very slightly slimmer bezels and enormous screen-to-body ratio. However, they do have one notable change: the placement of the fingerprint reader. Samsung has sensibly moved it to the center of the back panel beneath the camera, making it easier to unlock the phone.

Unfortunately, face unlock is not as secure as expected, with Samsung admitting that it's not recommended to use it alone or as part of Intelligent Scan. Instead, users are advised to stick to the fingerprint reader and iris scanner on the inside. The phones themselves are built using Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip, which promises a heap of speed, battery life, and security improvements.

In terms of storage, there are three options available, varying by region, so users may not have their choice depending on where they live. Storage capacity is also up to 400 gigabytes, making it one of the highest capacities available for a phone. The phones run on top of Android 8.0 Oreo and support external storage via microSD cards.

In terms of display, both phones feature high-resolution screens at 5.8 inches and 6.2 inches respectively. They also have the same water resistance rating as IP68 and come with wireless charging built right in. Additionally, they support gigabit 4G LTE when those networks are ready.

The million-dollar question is how these phones compare to the iPhone 10, Google Pixel 2, and other competitors. While we can't wait to test them out, Samsung's answer to the iPhone 10 is clear: it's all about the camera. With its two-lens setup and advanced features like Intelligent Scan, the Galaxy S9 Plus is set to impress.