Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S9 and S9+ ahead of MWC 2018, boasting advanced camera features(Source: Samsung)
Samsung on Sunday introduced the Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones by touting an advanced camera and features that fit with “the connected lifestyle.”
The Korean electronics giant unveiled the latest editions of its flagship devices on the eve of the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The company said the devices are the first to support a new SmartThings app, which will be introduced alongside the phones to allow connections to other devices from both Samsung and from other companies.
The S9 and S9+ also offer three different options for users to utilize biometric authentication — either by scanning the iris, fingerprints or using facial recognition technology. A new Dedicated Fingerprint system, meanwhile, allows users to require a different fingerprint in order to access the device’s secure folder.
The phones’ most prominent new feature, however, is a camera that Samsung officials said automatically adjusts the amount of light depending on whether photos are taken in bright or low-light conditions.
The camera can also record at a rate of 960 frames per second — enabling super slow-motion videos — and incorporates motion detection technology to begin recording automatically. A machine learning algorithm also allows users to create a personalized augmented reality emoji, while Samsung’s Bixby intelligence platform provides instant information about a user’s surrounding when using the camera.
“Not only do the Galaxy S9 and S9+ enable consumers to shoot great photos and videos anywhere, it’s a smartphone that’s designed to help them connect to others and express themselves in a way that’s unique and personal to them,” DJ Koh, Head of IT & Mobile Communications, said in a statement.
The company also touted an edge-to-edge display, powerful speakers and health measurement capabilities.
The S9 and S9+ will be sold beginning next month in four finishes, but at higher prices than previous Galaxy incarnations. The Associated Press reports that Verizon, AT&T and Sprint are set to sell the devices for nearly $800 and nearly $900, respectively.
