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Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Samsung Galaxy S8

How much of an upgrade would you get if you switched from the Galaxy S8 to the brand-spanking-new Galaxy S9?

Alex Kidman
Alex Kidman

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Samsung's just taken the wraps off the brand new Samsung Galaxy S9 and Samsung Galaxy S9+.

They're the successors to 2017's Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8+, and as you'd expect, they're an improvement internally, even if the external style hasn't changed all that much. How do the new flagships compare to the existing models?

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S8
Product Name Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung Galaxy S8
Display size 5.8 5.8
Operating system Android 8 Android 7
Height (mm) 147.7 148.9
Width (mm) 68.7 68.1
Depth (mm) 8.5 8
Weight (g) 163 155
Battery size (mAh) 3,000 3,000
Front camera (1) megapixels 8 8
Rear camera (1) megapixels 12 12
Rear camera (2) megapixels
Water Resistance IP68 IP68
Wi-Fi connectivity 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Network Category Speed Category 18 Category 16

Should I upgrade from the Galaxy S8 to the Galaxy S9?

That's obviously a personal circumstances kind of question that depends on any existing mobile contracts and your own financial circumstances.

There's little doubting that the camera upgrades on the Galaxy S9 will step up markedly from the Galaxy S8 because that handset really only tweaked the design of the Galaxy S7's camera a little. Performance should likewise be up, but in general, unless you're super-keen on a particular maker, it's usually better to wait at least two years between upgrade cycles.

You can check out our full analysis of the Samsung Galaxy S9 in our review. You can also snag yourself a deal by comparing pricing on the Galaxy S9 from Australian retailers.

If you'd like to know more about the Galaxy S8 you can read our full review here.

If you like your handsets a little larger, our comprehensive Galaxy S8+ review is here.

For all the latest news from MWC 2018, click here.

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