Samsung's current flagship smartphones are tough to choose from, so compare them side by side.
Note9 vs S9 vs S9+: What to look for
With the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ only a couple of months old at this point, they represent some of the strongest competition the recently unveiled Galaxy Note9 faces.
While the smartphone industry moves fast, it's not so fast that the Note9 eclipses its slightly older predecessors. In fact, the Note9 is more of an offshoot of the Galaxy S9, offering similar performance and capabilities with just a few tweaks that better suit it to a specific audience. Prime among these tweaks is the increased screen size, up from 5.8 inches on the S9 and 6.2 inches on the S9+ to a hefty 6.4 inches. This goes hand in hand with the included S-Pen, a stylus designed not just for taking handwritten notes and sketching directly onto the Note9's screen but also for using as a remote when watching videos or conducting slideshow presentations. If you're an on-the-go artist or you conduct a lot of impromptu presentations, this could be a compelling reason to pick the Note9 over either the S9 or the S9+.
On the specs front, you'll find the Note9 rocking almost identical hardware to its smaller siblings. All three sport the same Exynos 9810 processor here in Australia, and basic features like the camera, network speed and water-resistance are all consistent across the board. The Note9 is available with more RAM and storage if you're willing to pay for it, but the average smartphone user probably won't notice much practical difference in performance even then.
The one significant change from the S9 and S9+ to the Note9 is the battery. Samsung has crammed in a 4,000mAh battery this time around, a considerable step up from the 3,000mAh battery in the S9 and the 3,500mAh battery in the S9+. Even with the Note9's larger screen, this should give it a noticeable edge on battery life. We haven't had a chance to test this ourselves yet, though, so bear that in mind.
Of course, smartphone upgrades rarely come cheap, and the Galaxy Note9 is no exception. Where the Galaxy S9 and S9+ retail for $1,199 and $1,349 respectively, the Note9 is launching at a cool $1,499. The difference is even greater if you shop around, as you can find the S9 and S9+ selling for even less than RRP at certain retailers. Is the Note9 worth spending hundreds of dollars extra on? Well, that's up to you to decide.
