#MWC2018: Samsung finally unveils much-awaited Galaxy S9, S9+
What's the story
Samsung has finally unveiled the much-awaited Galaxy S9 and S9+ at the MWC 2018 in Barcelona.
Samsung's Mobile Division Chief Koh revealed the new devices and the company's SVP (Product Marketing) Justin Denison took the stage to talk about them, in detail.
As predicted, Samsung has introduced the "Intelligent Scan" feature that combines an iris scanner and facial recognition technology.
Here's more.
Features
Galaxy S9 comes in four beautiful colors
Taking a dig at iPhone X's notch, Denison said Galaxy S9 comes with an uninterrupted display.
He added it will come in four color options: Midnight Black, Grey, Coral Blue, and Lavender Purple.
Next, he talked about its improved camera capabilities, calling Samsung Galaxy S9 "the most groundbreaking camera yet."
The company has been focusing on the improved camera technology on its upcoming devices.
Cameras
Galaxy S9+ to sport dual camera on the back
Galaxy S9's camera adapts to different light situations faster than the human eye. It has a dual aperture camera; users can switch between the f/2.4 and f/1.5 aperture depending on the amount of light. It also comes with the Super Slow Motion feature.
Coming to the bigger Galaxy S9+, the device has a dual rear camera setup with a wide angle and telephoto lens.
The S9 Duo
Send personalized emojis to friends using AR Emoji
Denison said Samsung is retaining the microSD card slot on Galaxy S9 phones. Additionally, S9/S9+ will be water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating.
Next, Erin Willis, Senior Manager of Channel Marketing at Samsung, took the stage to talk about Augmented Reality and Emojis.
Willis said the front/rear cameras of the S9 duo can create personalized AR Emoji by mapping the user's face.
Galaxy S9,S9+
Both phones come with 18.5:9 infinite display
Samsung stated Galaxy S9 sports a 5.8-inch screen while the slightly bigger S9+ has a 6.2-inch display. It's an 18.5:9 display on both the phones.
The S9 duo has AKG stereo speakers and supports Dolby Atmos.
The phones are powered by latest processors; they are said to sport Qualcomm's 2018 flagship Snapdragon 845 SoC. The devices support high-speed LTE networks and wireless charging.
Information
Intelligent Scan security feature
Samsung said security is a "key" element of Galaxy S9 phones. There are some new security features, including the Intelligent Scan that combines the power of iris and face scanning. Also, the fingerprint sensor on both the devices has been moved below the rear camera.
Services
Galaxy S9 transforms into keyboard or trackpad with DeX dock
Samsung's Software Head Eui Suk Chung talked about the software and services they are bringing to S9 duo, including Samsung Pay, Samsung Health, and Bixby.
He discussed about Samsung DeX Docking Station, which can be connected to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse for a desktop-like experience.
He said S9 phones could be laid flat in the dock and used as a keyboard or trackpad.
Bixby
What's new in Samsung's Bixby?
Samsung has also showcased its virtual assistant Bixby's visual language real-time translation feature.
It said there are some key improvements in the smart assistant. For instance, Bixby can now show the nutrition information about a food item when a user points the camera at it.
The company said it would be "sharing much bigger news about Bixby this year" with "Bixby 2.0".
Details
Samsung Galaxy S9 to have blood pressure tracker
Koh also talked about Samsung's history and the progress the company has made. Speaking about smart home appliances, he said Samsung's voice assistant Bixby and their new SmartThings app would be key in connecting all of the company's smart devices.
He also said that the company is partnering with University of San Francisco for including a new blood pressure-tracking sensor on their phones.
Pricing
Finally, how much do these phones cost?
Samsung said Galaxy S9 and S9+ will be available on 16 March, along with the Galaxy S9 Enterprise Edition. However, pre-orders for these latest phones will start on 2 March at the official Samsung.com website and partner retail stores.
The flagship Galaxy S9 is priced at $720 (around Rs. 46,900) while S9+ costs $840 (Rs. 54,300) - $120 (Rs. 7,700) more than S9.