The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ are available for pre-order now at all telcos such as StarHub, selected retail stores like Courts, Gain City, Best Denki, Newstead, Harvey Norman, online stores such as Haachi.Tech and Lazada, and Samsung stores.
Pre-order customers can start collecting their device from 10 March, while official retail units will be offered islandwide on 16 Mar 2018. Three variants will be available: Galaxy S9 (64GB) at S$1198, Galaxy S9+ (64GB) at S$1348 and Galaxy S9+ (256GB) at S$1498.
Benefits of Pre-Ordering
Besides getting the smartphone one week earlier than the public, pre-order customers get access to some cool freebies:
- Free Samsung Concierge Care Pack worth S$128, valid for 12 months. This allows you to enjoy 1-to-1 device exchange within 30 days, half-price for out-of-warranty repairs, one-time personalised service at your doorstep, and 1-to-1 accessories exchange.
- For Galaxy S9+ 256GB owners: A free Wireless Charger Stand (Black) worth S$108.
Samsung Trade Up Programme
Samsung tied up with Brightstar Logistics to offer a hassle-way to trade-in your old devices. Visit the website for the list of eligible handsets and the trade-in values.
Unlike other trade-in programs, Samsung Trade Up allows you to take your time to migrate your data to the new phone at your convenience, instead of having to handover your old device at the point of sale. After purchasing your new phone, just arrange for the old device to be collected at your doorstep on a separate day, and the trade-in value will be sent to you via bank transfer. Talk about convenience!
Comparison with the Galaxy S8+
Physically, the overall shape and form of the Galaxy S9 does not deviate much from the Galaxy S8, except that it’s slightly shorter. The side buttons are also slightly bigger. In a blind test, you certainly won’t be able to tell the difference.
The real major difference is in the rear panel, where the cameras and fingerprint sensors are positioned. The S9 arranges these vertically, so that it’s easier to unlock your phone.
Significant Upgrades
While the Galaxy S9 series is physically quite similar to its predecessor, it boasts some major enhancements that make it a significant upgrade.
- Latest Exynos 9810 Octa-core processor (ARM 2.7GHz quad + Samsung 1.7GHz quad).
- Super Slow-mo: Shooting short bursts of 960fps in a single video clip. This technology was first introduced on the Sony Xperia XZ Premium.
- Dual Aperture: A first on a mobile device, you can adjust aperture values of f/1.5 and f/2.4 to achieve varying depths of field.
- AR Emoji: Create your own cartoon avatars, emojis, as well as videos. This technology was first introduced on the iPhone X.
- Stereo speakers: Enjoy clearer music through both the top and bottom speakers. This technology was first introduced on the Huawei Mate 9.
