Starting 2010, Samsung’s Galaxy line has had a world of improvements done to it. Fast forward to 2018, and we have two new Samsung Galaxy phones. The Galaxy S9 and S9+ have garnered a lot of attention. And for good reason too!

Starting with the S6, Samsung has gotten into the trend of releasing two flagship phones at a go. First it was the Edge, but they graduated to the Plus models soon after.

As with most smartphones, a ‘Plus’ or two flagships released in the same year do have some differences. Price being the obvious one.

However, if you’re a frequent user of Samsung Galaxy phones then you probably already know what to expect in the S9 and S9+. There is going to be a better camera, better battery life, and definitely a better screen. If you’re new to Samsung, then here’s a breakdown of this pair of flagship, and why you should give these Samsung Galaxy phones a go.

What makes the Galaxy series great
Instead of redoing the entire phone from scratch, Samsung decided to make the S8 experience better. There were some functional issues with the S8, those have all been addressed and a better UI has been integrated. But for the most part, what made the S8 great is still there in the S9.

Areas of improvement
One major area of improvement is the camera. You still have the 12-megapixels from the last generation, but the adjustable apertures means a better picture quality than before. The camera switches seamlessly between f/1.5 and f/2.4, and works with a low light sensor that means all your pictures are clearer than ever before.

The S9+ also has a telephoto lens that makes 2x zoom clearer and gives better portrait pictures than the S8. The S9+ also has 2GB added to its RAM, making it faster and more capable.

Both S9 and S9+ have a better placed area for their fingerprint scanners, right under the back camera. This is a huge improvement from the awkward position assigned to the S8 which made it very difficult to handle the phone.

Is the Galaxy S9 worth the upgrade?
If you’re at a Galaxy S8, then you might not find it worth your time and money to opt for an upgrade, since very few things are different. However, if you’re running an S6, or even an S7, then the S9 and S9+ are both fantastic models to switch to.

You will be getting a handset that’s worth the price you pay, and the new Android Oreo update is something all Android users should be switching to. In fact, a more reasonable question you should be asking is if you should opt for S9, or the S9+? The RAM and extra battery life make the S9+ an easy choice.

If you can tweak your budget to fit the S9, then an S9+, should be a feasible purchase.

S9 and S9+ and its competitors
The S9 definitely falls under the umbrella of the smaller phones in the market today, and the S9+ does have an edge with a larger, but not bulky build. However, both these models fare well in terms of battery life and launch. The camera too fares well against many mainstream competitors.

Specifications and processors do affect the phones, but as far as all Galaxy models go, it doesn’t get better than the S9 and S9+.

Prices and availability
Both the flagships are available worldwide, and with multiple carriers. Availability might be subjected to change depending on where you live. As for the price, the Galaxy S9 will cost you anywhere between $720 to $800, and the S9+ is slightly pricier at a range of $870 to $915.

If you look around for deals with carriers and cell service providers in your state, you may stand to get a better deal.