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The Galaxy S9 is an evolution rather than a revolution, but Samsung has upgraded it in all the right places.
Samsung’s Galaxy S9 is a strange breed of smartphone. With a Snapdragon 845 processor, great camera, and 18:9 screen, it has all the trappings of a fantastic 2023 handset. Yet, at the same time, it’s remarkably similar to the Galaxy S8 that it replaces. In fact, it’s so much like its predecessor, issues we might normally overlook become all the more obvious this second time around.
A classic (yet upgraded) designLots of Galaxy S9s are going to be mistaken for Galaxy S8s once they start appearing in the wild, given their extremely similar size and shape. However, there are physical differences between the phones—subtle tweaks that change the new model just enough so last year’s cases won’t fit:
DimensionsGalaxy S8: 148.9mm x 68.1mm x 8.0mm Galaxy S9: 147.7mm x 68.7mm x 8.5mm
WeightGalaxy S8: 155g Galaxy S9: 163g
Christopher Hebert/IDG
It might look the same, but the Galaxy S9’s screen is a big improvement over the S8.
You’ll still find the selfie camera and other sensors around the receiver along the top strip of bezel, but they’re not as distracting as they were on the S8. Among the other small changes to the S9 are the look of the speaker grille on the bottom edge, which is now a 1.5mm open slit rather than five small openings. This change brings stereo sound, but could conceivably attract more dust and lint. Otherwise, the buttons and ports are exactly the same, meaning Samsung has once again resisted the trend to remove the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Christopher Hebert/IDG
The Galaxy S9 has both a headphone jack and stereo speakers.
The Galaxy S9 sports the same 5.8-inch, 18.5:9 Infinity Display introduced with the S8. While the resolutions match up (2,960×1,440, 529ppi), the overall viewing experience has improved with the S9.
A fully baked and better version of BixbyWhen you start up your Galaxy S9 for the first time, you’ll immediately be welcomed with a greeting from Bixby, a sure sign that Samsung is all-in on its AI assistant. Bixby is certainly more fleshed-out on the S9 than it was when the S8 launched, but it’s still not worthy of its own dedicated button, especially not one that’s in a position to be accidentally pressed a dozen times a day.
Christopher Hebert/IDG
An apple a day keeps the Google Assistant away.
It’s not just the existence of the button that bothers me, it’s what it does. I don’t have an issue with the long-press-to-summon-Bixby functionality, but pressing it to open Bixby Home is completely useless. It’s essentially a lamer version of the Google Pixel’s personalized feed, and there’s little reason to visit it on a regular basis, let alone have a shortcut dedicated to it.
That Samsung months ago added a toggle to disable the Bixby button on the S8 (and it’s here on the S9 as well) is a testament to how little people use it. I have to wonder why Samsung didn’t offer an option on the S9 to launch Bixby Vision with the button instead (especially because the icon is visible only in Auto mode in the Camera app, and not so easy to find).
Christopher Hebert/IDG
Bixby is much better on the S9, but it still doesn’t need its own button.
Bixby can also do translation without needing to snap a picture or clumsily highlight specific words. When it recognized the words, it worked fast and accurately (thanks to an assist from Google Translate), but like Bixby of old, it struggled with long strings of text.
Expected performance and battery gainsA Galaxy S phone is once again the launching pad for Qualcomm’s latest processor—this time, the Snapdragon 845—and it’s mostly an incremental improvement over the 835. Here are some benchmark scores (higher numbers are better):
GeekBench (Single-core/Multi-core)Galaxy S8: 1848/6193
PCMark Work 2.0Galaxy S8: 6784 Galaxy S9: 7610
3D Mark Sling Shot ExtremeGalaxy S8: 3378 Galaxy S9: 4551
Christopher Hebert/IDG
The S9 has the same battery as its predecessor, but it squeezes more juice out of it.
While we see across-the-board improvements, the 845’s biggest gains are in graphics and power consumption. But even there, they’re not huge increases over the previous generation. Regardless, the S9 married to the Samsung Experience OS provides excellent battery life, with benchmark results consistently at or around 8 hours. That’s not as high as the nine-plus I got with the S8, but real-world use showed the S9 besting most recently released phones with bigger batteries—this despite using the same relatively small 3,000mAh battery that’s in the Galaxy S8. The S9 will almost certainly last you though a full day and maybe even part of a second, depending on use, but if you’re looking for a huge breakthrough in battery life, you’ll have to wait a little longer.
A great camera even without a second lensThe Galaxy S9 doesn’t come with the same camera technology as its S9+ big sibling, and that’s a bummer. Specifically, on the rear of the phone, the S9+ has the 12MP, dual-aperture “wide angle” camera Samsung is making a big deal about, along with a 12MP “telephoto” lens with a f/2.4 fixed aperture. Used in tandem, this dual camera set-up enables the Live Focus feature introduced in the Note 8.
The smaller S9, meanwhile, has only the dual-aperture camera. The results are still great in regular photos, but I miss having a slider to adjust the amount of blur that’s applied to a photo’s background when Live Focus is enabled.
Apple pulls the same shenanigans with the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, essentially punishing people who want a smaller phone instead of an oversized one. Thankfully, though, the new dual-aperture “wide angle” camera is the main attraction, and it’s available on both models.
Christopher Hebert/IDG
Samsung’s camera app lets you switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture on the S9 and S9+.
Michael Simon/IDG
Here you can see the best-case scenario when using the S9’s f/2.4 aperture (bottom). The f/1.5 image at the top is obviously brighter, but the f/2.4 aperture in the bottom image gave greater definition to the ice-color rocks, the bubbles, and the penguin itself.
Because other smartphones always shoot in their widest possible aperture—i.e., their single, fixed aperture—Dual Aperture doesn’t actually offer any low-light benefits (other than what you get from an f/1.5 aperture naturally). But where the f/2.4 aperture should help is in regular lighting conditions: The camera can let in less light to (theoretically) accentuate shadows or gain a bit of clarity.
Michael Simon/IDG
In certain circumstances, switching from f/1.5 (left) to the narrower f/2.4 aperture (right) yields clearer images with finer detail.
In very specific circumstances, you can definitely see the benefits of the higher aperture setting, but it’s probably not a setting you’re going to spend a lot of time using. For example, in the above images, switching to the f/2.4 aperture accentuated the texture of the coral in the penguin exhibit, as well as the edges of the jellyfish. But in most photos I took, it was hard to discern much of a difference. That being said, watching the lens switch between the two apertures is kind of mesmerizing.
Michael Simon/IDG
In extreme low light, the Galaxy S9’s f/1.5 aperture (left) captured images that are brighter and clearer than the S8+ (center) and Pixel 2 XL (right) achieved.
Like Dual Aperture, the S9’s 960-fps Super Slow-mo feature also left me wanting more. Switch to the new recording mode, and you’ll be able to slow down your videos to a ridiculous speed just by tapping the screen. The camera will even begin recording in slow-motion automatically, as soon as it detects motion in your frame. But while it’s a genuinely amazing feature to have on a smartphone (with appropriate credit going to the Sony Xperia XZ Premium for doing it first), there are some technical limitations.
During testing, I was most impressed with how the S9 captured objects in motion. Photos shot with the S8 can be soft or even blurry when locking in on movement, but I consistently captured crisp, clear pictures with the S9 whether my subject was still or moving. My S9 photos rivaled those on the Pixel 2 (in all kinds of light), and were noticeably better than the ones I took on the S8 as well.
Apple’s Animoji has a competitor in AR EmojiEver since Apple unveiled Animoji on iPhone X, it was just a matter of time until Samsung developed some kind of a response. Right on cue, the S9 delivers a feature called AR Emoji, which is at the same time better and worse than Apple’s version.
Christopher Hebert/IDG
Creating a new AR Emoji emoji is a bit like Face ID on iPhone X.
While you can’t control actual Unicode-style emoji, Samsung does provide a handful of cartoon characters to control (though not quite as many as Apple), and Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters will be arriving soon to Samsung’s platform. But Samsung’s big innovation with AR Emoji is letting users create their own animated emoji based on their image and likeness. The creation process is somewhat similar to setting up Face ID on iPhone X, except you’ll need to snap a selfie on the S9 before it can work its magic.
IDG
My AR Emoji isn’t exactly a spitting image, but it’s definitely me.
Once you create your AR Emoji, you can share stickers and make videos, and it’s here where the S9 stumbles a bit. Without a 3D camera like Apple’s TrueDepth sensor, tracking facial expressions isn’t nearly as good as it is on iPhone X, and both faces and characters have a flatter overall feel to them. Edges have sharp lines and movements are janky at times, but it’s still just as fun as it is on iPhone X.
Oreo brings some sweet new featuresThe Galaxy S9 brings Oreo to the Samsung Experience, so you’ll be able to enjoy many of the key features Google introduced with Android 8, including notification categories, app icon shortcuts, and better badge handling. However, it’s not as up-to-date as it could be. For example, because it’s not based on the latest 8.1 version, you don’t get the handy battery indicator for Bluetooth devices in Quick Settings. Hopefully that’ll come in a later update.
You will, however, get picture-in-picture here, enhancing a feature that has been on Samsung phones since the S7. While you can still swipe from the top left corner of the screen to create Pop-Up windows for any app, Samsung also utilizes Oreo’s automatic method for things like active Maps windows and videos playing in Chrome. It’s a good combination, making the S9 an even better multitasker than the Pixel 2. Also cool is the ability to use the home screen and app drawer in landscape mode.
IDG
Oreo’s Picture-in-Picture works well with the S9’s Pop-Up View (center). And the S9 tweaks Android 8’s notification dots (right) to make them even more useful.
Samsung has introduced a new unlocking method that combines iris and facial recognition to create a super biometric called Intelligent Scan. It’s much better than either method on its own, but it’s no Face ID. It’s also less secure than iris on its own, and it still struggles somewhat in dark rooms and bright sunlight. I often had to adjust my positioning before it would let me in (though not as dramatically as with the iris scan on the S8). My biggest issue isn’t with the biometric itself, but rather how Samsung implements it. Because you can’t raise-to-wake the display or double-tap outside of the virtual home button, getting to Intelligent Scan isn’t as smooth as getting to Face ID on iPhone X, making the whole thing seem less smart than it ought to.
Should you buy a Galaxy S9?Anyone who’s in the market for a new phone should seriously consider buying an S9. It might be an insignificant upgrade in terms of physical design, but that’s a concern only if you really, really want people to know you have the latest and greatest phone. Plus, the Galaxy S8 has an awesome design, so with the S9 you’re getting more of the same.
Christopher Hebert/IDG
The Galaxy S9 looks a lot like the S8, but you shouldn’t judge this book by its cover.
While you’ll likely find a better deal on a Galaxy S8 (at least until the stock is depleted), you’ll be better served by spending an extra $100 or so on the new S9 model. The processor, camera, and design are all best-in-class, and because the S9 is actually $5 cheaper than the S8 was when it launched ($720 vs $725), you can buy confidently, knowing Samsung isn’t doing any price-gouging.
So don’t let the too-familiar design sway you away from the S9. Even if the S10 flips the script with a folding display, the S9 will be a great phone for years to come, and there’s little reason to fear that it will feel outdated or obsolete in a year’s time. Simply put, there’s a lot to like with the S9 even if doesn’t look as “new” as it could.
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Samsung Galaxy S9 Review: Still The Best?
Our Verdict
The Galaxy S9 remains an excellent smartphone for almost anyone with the high level of design, build, specs and performance we’d expect from Samsung. However, the Galaxy S10 is now here offering a new wave of features including an embedded fingerprint scanner, triple rear camera and reverse wireless charging. That will be tempting but the S9, being the older generation, now represets a better value purchase at its reduced price. Below is our original Galaxy S9 review.
The first new flagship phones of 2023 are here and the Samsung Galaxy S9 is the first to hit the market. The S8 was almost a perfect phone so can Samsung really make it even better? Our review and testing shows that it can, but not by much.
With LG and Huawei failing to launch new flagship smartphones at MWC 2023, more focus is on Samsung and focus is an apt word here as the Galaxy S9 is largely about new and improved camera technology. Also read our Samsung Galaxy S9+ review.
Price and release date
As per rumours ahead of the launch, the price has increased to £739/US$719 which is £50 more than its predecessor. Ok, so it’s a lot of money, but it remains a cheaper than some rivals. The iPhone 8 is cheaper at £699/$699, but is arguably only just about worth that amount and is last year’s model.
We’ll have to wait and see how this price compares to upcoming rivals like the LG G7 and Huawei P20. The Sony Xperia XZ2 isn’t much cheaper at £699.
There will also be a global trade-in program so you can upgrade from an older Galaxy phone. You can find out more here. See the best Samsung Galaxy S9 deals here.
Design and build
It’s immediately clear that the Galaxy S9 is very much a new version of the Galaxy S8, rather than a radically new device. Like a point upgrade in software terms if you like so this is essentially the ‘Galaxy S8.1’ or ‘Galaxy S8s’.
With an almost identical design to its predecessor, you’d be hard pressed to notice which one is the Galaxy S9. The front has had only minor tweaks: the bezels above and below the screen are a fraction smaller. It’s not that obvious, but you’ve got to bear in mind the S8 already had very small bezels.
The Galaxy S9 is a little shorter than the S8 and it’s actually a bit thicker and heavier at 8.5mm and 163g, but neither measurements are things you’ll really notice. (Read about Galaxy S9 mini rumours.)
At the back, the change is more obvious with the fingerprint scanner moving to below the camera. Samsung clearly listened to feedback on this so not only does it look nicer, it’s also much easier to reach and use. You might still smudge the camera up occasionally but it’s bound to happen far less.
There’s actually not much else to say about the Galaxy S9 in terms of design and build since it’s so similar to last year’s model. The overall look and feel is the same with a sleek combination of metal and glass. There’s still a pressure sensitive home button embedded in the screen and a dedicated button on the left side for summoning Bixby.
It feels nice to hold but is a slippery phone due to the glass rear cover. The design, particularly the curved edges of the front glass make it more susceptible to cracks than a more traditional shape. Here’s our round up of the best Galaxy S9 cases to keep your S9 smudge free and protected.
Also see: Samsung Galaxy S8 vs Galaxy S9
It’s now, since the S8, standard for both models to have the display with curved edges and Samsung has made sure to retain key features like the IP68 waterproof rating and the headphone jack.
This year there are three colours to choose from: Midnight Black, Coral Blue and a new Lilac Purple. There’s also a Titanium Gray option and this is now available in the UK exclusively from Carphone Warehouse – you can get it for as little as £499.
Specs and features
So Galaxy S9 isn’t very different in design so is it a big jump in specs and new technology? Well not really but Samsung has made improvement to what was already a very impressive smartphone.
Screen
It may be good news to you – it is to us – that Samsung has not gone down the same route as Apple with a notch at the top of the screen. In fact, the display is one area that hasn’t changed since the Galaxy S8, so it’s still 5.8in on the regular model and jumps to 6.2in if you get the Galaxy S9+.
As mentioned earlier both phones have the curved Infinity Display so you only really need to choose which size you want – the S9+ does have different camera technology and a couple of other benefits, though (see below).
Samsung is sticking to its 18.5:9 aspect ratio, Quad HD+ resolution and Super AMOLED technology. It’s still one of the best screens on the market and compared to our Galaxy S8, looks a little brighter, too.
See our list of best Galaxy S9 screen protectors.
There are plenty more smaller features, many of which have been around a long time, hidden away in the settings menu so it’s worth exploring what the S9 can do – especially if this is your first Galaxy device.
Processor, memory and storage
With a new flagship comes a new processor and Samsung has fitted the Galaxy S9 with a new Exynos 9810 chip. It’s still an octa-core chip with four 1.7GHz efficiency cores but the faster four have jumped from 2.4- to 2.7GHz.
Some markets will come with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 instead; something Samsung has done for a while in the US and China.
As you can see from the benchmark results, the Exynos outpaces the Snapdragon 845 a little bit (figures via Qualcomm’s reference design), but neither can match the raw power of the iPhone’s A11. We’ve included the OnePlus 5T so you can get an idea of the performance on offer at a much lower price.
It’s important to note that performance isn’t an issue here and the S9 is clearly capable of handling all you can throw at it.
Like the Galaxy S8, you get 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and although you can find more elsewhere (even in cheaper phones like the OnePlus 5T) it should be enough for most people. If it’s not enough storage then there’s a 256GB option and a microSD card slot which can now take up to 400GB.
If you are more of a power user, then the S9+ has 6GB of RAM and double the amount of storage as standard.
Connectivity and Audio
There’s not much Samsung or other manufacturers can do to improve connectivity on a 2023 flagship smartphone. Like the S8, the Galaxy S9 has all the things you’d expect including 11ac dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, USB-C and a headphone port.
Unlike most, Samsung continues to offer heart rate monitor. The S9 can reach 4G speeds of 1.2Gbps which is impressive, but in real life you’re not going to see that kind of grunt.
There’s no Quad DAC for better headphone audio like the LG V30, but Samsung has improved the speakers on the S9. There are now stereo speakers with the usual down firing one on the bottom and now one where the earpiece is above the screen.
It’s the same setup Apple uses for recent iPhones, and also one Sony has adopted with the XZ2.
It might sound a little odd with both firing in different directions but we’ll take it over a mono speaker any day. There’s still tuning from AKG and this time Samsung has also added Dolby Atmos which you can toggle for a bigger, more spacious soundscape.
There’s a noticable improvement compared to the S8, particularly in the on-board speakers. They’ve got a lot more power but aren’t flawless with the audio quality getting a bit rough at higher volumes. We do like the optional Dolby Atmos mode, which can make content a lot more immersive – especially video.
It’s worth noting that the supplied AKG headphones are once again very good, so most users won’t be rushing out to find a replacement pair.
Samsung’s upgrades in the audio department are welcome, but the S9 isn’t the best phone around for audio – that’s still the LG V30.
Fingerprint and Iris scanners
As mentioned earlier the fingerprint scanner has been moved to a more convenient location below the camera. It’s also easier to register each new finger according to Samsung with only three swipes rather than many more touches needed previously.
We actually managed to register two fingers in just two swipes each. The fingerprint scanner is quick (not the fastest around but plenty fast enough) and accurate and can now be used to pull the notification panel down – just switch it on in the settings.
We’d rather the Galaxy S9 had the fingerprint scanner embedded in the screen as the tech is out there but it seems we’ll have to wait for that.
Samsung hasn’t explicitly said the iris scanner is better than before which is a shame but it keen to point out that it’s embedded in the front of the phone without a notch like the iPhone X. There’s also a new Intelligent Scan option which combines iris and facial scanning.
One thing is for sure, there’s a dramatic improvement over previous iterations. Generally it works quite well, but it’s not as consistent compared to rival phones just doing face unlock. Even switching to just facial scanning it’s not as good as phones like the iPhone X and OnePlus 5T.
CamerasThe biggest change on the Galaxy S9 comes in the camera tech, as teased by Samsung before the launch with its ‘The Camera. Reimagined’ campaign.
Sadly it’s the Galaxy S9 that’s not as impressive as you’ll have to get the S9+ to get a dual-camera setup. We’d like to see dual-cameras as standard on both phones but it’s understandable that Samsung wants more than just size to differentiate the two.
Still, the S9’s camera is improved from before even though it remains at 12Mp with 1.4µm pixels and OIS. The main upgrade is an adjustable aperture that can automatically switch between f/2.4 and f/1.5 depending on the shooting conditions – the fastest of any phone on the market.
Huawei temporarily had the fastest lenses (on the Mate 10 Pro) at f/1.6, but the S9’s lens now lets in 28 percent more light than on the S8.
The iris is mechanical like DSLR camera and should mean better results in both daylight and low light. What Samsung calls the ‘Super Speed Dual Pixel’ package now has DRAM so it can do things faster and more intelligently. The camera now takes 12 shots together instead of 3 to improve noise by 30 percent.
DxO has awarded the Galaxy S9+ a score of 99 for the camera, the highest of a phone to date. The regular model might not have the telephoto lens but it’s still excellent on its own.
Check out out gallery below where you can see how the S9 coped in a range of different conditions. The phone might not be doing the same level of clever software processing that makes images look great on the Pixel 2 phones but it’s still very impressive.
Overall, the S9 has a camera that can achieve excellent results in all conditions partly thanks to that dual aperture. You get crisp shots in decent light – although some can be a little washed out like our shot of St.Pancras -, stunning detail in macro and most noteworthy is how well the S9 copes in low light, without excessive levels of noise.
In the gallery you’ll see an extreme low light shot, which if taken on other phones is essentially a blackout. There’s no doubt that the S9 offers a fantastic all-round photography experience.
We’re still not totally convinced by Bixby but the camera part, Bixby Vision, has been improved and is quickly accessible from the camera app. It can now do live translation, better place recognition and more food features such as calories and recipes. The latter will be market dependent.
Super slow motionFurthermore, the S9 can now match Sony’s flagship Xperia phones and shoot super slow motion video at a whopping 960fps. That means 0.2 seconds in real life becomes six seconds of video and Samsung has some clever tech to make it easier to make great slow motion videos.
With Sony’s phones we found it hard to press the super slow mo button at the right time while recording a video of something that happens very quickly like a balloon popping. Since 960fps can only be switched on in a short burst, it’s easy to miss the moment.
The S9 has an auto detect function so you can tell the phone where within the shot to watch for movement. As soon as it does, it will kick into the super slow motion. You can then share as a gif, do things like reverse the video and even set it as a moving lockscreen wallpaper.
You can also shoot in manual mode, selecting when you want to do the slow motion shooting which is easier for some situations. In either mode, you can shoot 20 different slow mo sections within one video.
Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 phones might be able to do 960fps in 1080p now but we’d rather have the functionality offered by the S9 to make better content in 720p.
There’s more to talk about with the front camera which remains at 8Mp with an f/1.7 aperture but on the software side Samsung has created AR Emoji to provide users with something similar to Apple’s Animoji feature.
Instead of the phone tracking your face to animate various animals and the like (although there are some to choose from), you take a photo of yourself and the S9 will create an emoji that looks like you.
It’s quick and easy but we’re not exactly blown away with the likeness (and it cannot handle beards at all) – the three men we got to try it were all given very similar characters. You can edit them a bit to help and choose from one that incorporates the selfie you took or a more cartoon option.
Once you’re done 18 animated gifs are automatically generated and you can send them to anyone, not just those who also happen to have an S9. They’re pretty cool and really easy to access via the default keyboard.
However, one of the ideas is that you can animate the character yourself but doing this is extremely glitchy and the emoji of you spends most of the time flinching. The tracking on the iPhone X is leagues ahead.
It might be fun but let’s face it, this is another gimmick feature just like Animoji.
Battery life
It’s a shame the battery remains at 3,000mAh and Samsung has not made any claims on the subject. The Galaxy S9 will offer fast charging via the USB-C port and with wireless charging, though.
With the supplied charger, we managed to charge the S9 from 0 to 36 percent in 30 minutes. That’s pretty good, although the HTC U11+ beats it slightly at 38 percent.
With no change in battery capacity, it’s no surprise that the phone isn’t going to last you any longer than before. The S9 will last a day of average usage and perhaps a little bit longer for light users. Fast wired and wireless charging will help you keep it topped up.
Software and apps
As you would expect, the Galaxy S9 phones come with Android 8 Oreo and Samsung own user interface. There’s not a huge change in the way things work compared to previously but that’s to be expected.
There are still pre-loaded apps from Google and Microsoft, but Samsung has made a few tweaks here and there to tighten up the experience.
For those using various different Samsung apps for other devices, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s now one app to rule them all. SmartThings is now the one place where you can manage all your devices and it will also do useful things like provide your new Samsung TV, for example, with the Wi-Fi details and logins to all your services.
As mentioned already, there are improvements to Bixby (which still has a dedicated button on the side of the phone.
One of the main changes is that you can now use the phone in landscape mode, whether you’re browsing the homescreen panels or your apps. When you are, notifications will pop up at the top but in an unintrusive way.
There’s also a new DeX Pad dock so you can connect the phone to a monitor and use it like a PC. This time it’s flat so you can use the screen as a trackpad or even keyboard.
Related stories for further reading Specs Samsung Galaxy S9: Specs
Android 8.0 Oreo
5.8in Quad HD+ (2960×1440) 18.5:9 SuperAMOLED Infinity Display
Exynos 9810 octa-core processor
4GB RAM
64GB internal storage
microSD card slot (up to 400GB)
12Mp rear-facing camera with OIS and f/1.5
8Mp front camera
Pressure sensitive home button
Fingerprint scanner (rear mounted)
Heart rate monitor
11ac dual-band Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX
GPS
NFC
4G LTE Cat 16
Headphone jack
USB-C
3000mAh non-removable battery
Wireless charging
IP68 dust & waterproof rating
69x148x8.5mm
163g
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ Review
Our Verdict
With more memory and excellent battery life the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a powerful phone and a great choice if you want a large screen. However, it’s expensive, unwieldy and Samsung has dropped the IR blaster and hardly added anything to the edge screen. With the regular S6 available for less than £340 it’s a no brainer.
Samsung made a splash in the smartphone market with the curved screen Galaxy S6 Edge. Well there’s an even bigger model now so here’s our full Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review. Also see: Best new phones 2023 and Samsung Galaxy S7 release date, price and specs rumours.
The S6 Edge+ was announced in August at Samsung’s Unpacked 2023 event along with the Galaxy Note 5. This would normally be launched in September at IFA but it was seemingly brought forward to avoid a clash with the iPhone 6S – and other rivals in Berlin.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review: Price and competitionThe original Galaxy S6 Edge was one of the most expensive phones we’ve ever seen at launch price. Well the Edge+ beat it with Samsung initially selling it at £749.
For a while it was reduced to a cheaper price than the smaller Edge at £599 but it’s now £629 from the official Samsung store. That’s not too bad but it’s still one of the most expensive phones around. However, head over to Amazon and you can pick one up for just £519, a relative bargain.
That’s £100 cheaper than the iPhone 6S which comes with half the storage but you need to consider that the Galaxy S6 can be purchased for under £340 which can only be described as a bargain.
See also: Samsung Galaxy S6+ release date, price and specs.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review: Design and buildThere’s not a great deal to say about the design and build of the Galaxy S6 Edge+ since it is really just a bigger version of the original model. It retains the same look and feel compromising of a rounded metal frame and glass on the front and back.
It’s one of the most stylish phones around but we haven’t found it as comfortable as the regular Galaxy S6 due to the slightly sharp metal running down either side in order to house the curved edges of the screen – this hasn’t changed much on the Edge+. It’s still thin at 6.9mm but the Edge+ model being even larger makes it all the more unwieldy.
Despite increasing the screen size, Samsung has managed to make the Edge+ 0.1mm thinner than the Edge. There’s a larger battery too and yet the phone is only around 20g heavier. This is some impressive engineering from Samsung.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review: Hardware and specsAs alluded to, the Galaxy S6 Edge+ is larger than the original model. If you thought a 5.1in screen was a bit small, the Note range is no longer your only option if you’re a Samsung devotee. The Edge+ features a 5.7in display which matches that of the new Galaxy Note 5 – it’s quickly becoming the standard size for larger phones with the new Nexus 6P also offering this screen size. Also see: 100 funny things to ask S Voice
The display still uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology and uses a Quad HD resolution (1440 x 2560). This does mean a drop in pixel density from 577- to 518ppi but we’re talking seriously high numbers here so it’s still awesomely crisp.
Also see: Best smartphones 2023.
The Galaxy S6 Edge+ is one of a handful of phones announced with 4G of RAM which is plenty of memory – an extra 1GB compared to the Edge which power users may find helpful. On the storage front you might be sad to hear there’s still no Micro-SD card slot and the 128GB model has been dropped from the line-up, leaving just 32- and 64GB choices. As mentioned earlier, getting 32GB as standard is good when compared with devices like the iPhone 6S.
What’s even more impressive than the above numbers is the battery life on offer here. In our test the Galaxy S6 Edge+ lastest a whopping eight hours and 39 minutes with a score of 5192. The nearest contenter to date is the Honor 7 which managed just over seven hours.
The larger physical size means there’s room for a 3000mAh battery inside and the Edge+ also offers wireless charging which is something we always want to see from a high-end handset.
We didn’t think Samsung would drop any of its usual extra features so while the Galaxy S6 Edge+ has a fingerprint scanner in the home button and a heart rate monitor, the IR blaster has been dropped with the firm promoting new features such as ‘Live Broadcast’ although we don’t really see the need for this with apps like Periscope. There’s also 11ac Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1 with aptX, GPS and 4G LTE support.
With such high-end specs on the existing Galaxy S6 models, it’s not really a shock that things haven’t changed for the Edge+. This means there are still top-notch cameras at 16Mp at the rear with optical image stabilisation (it still sticks out a few millimetres but is one of the best on any smartphone), a single LED flash and support for 4K video at 30fps. There’s also still a decent 5Mp camera at the front.
With so many specs remaining the same, the key difference is the screen size and battery life (although more memory is welcome and it’s a shame to see the IR blaster gone) here so Samsung is delivering for all of you out there with a craving for an S6 Edge in a larger model.
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ review: SoftwareThe Galaxy S6 Edge+ comes pre-loaded with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and Samsung’s own TouchWiz interface – as you would expect.
Unfortunately, not much has changed but you can position the tab with with to access the People Edge where is most comfortable on the edge. There’s also the added feature of accessing your most used apps with via the People Edge on top of contacts.
We were hoping for more.
There’s little in TouchWiz that’s stock Android, it’s really just the recent apps menu. Otherwise Samsung has opted for its own way of doing things. That’s fine for fans of the UI but others may be put off.
Bloatware is much less of an issue these days but the Edge+ comes with a number of apps which can’t be uninstalled. This includes a folder full of Microsoft apps and Samsung’s own such as S Health and S Voice.
Specs Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+: Specs
Android 5.1 Lollipop
5.7in Super AMOLED dual edge screen Quad HD (1440 x2560)
Exynos 7420 Octa-core processor
32/64GB storage
4GB RAM
16Mp rear camera with OIS
5Mp front camera
Heart rate monitor
Fingerprint scanner
NFC
GPS
11ac Wi-Fi
Bluetooth with atpX
3000mAh battery
6.9 mm
153g
Samsung Galaxy C5, C7 Unveiled In All Their Metal Glory
Samsung Galaxy C5, C7 unveiled in all their metal glory
After a few rounds of rumors and leaks, Samsung has finally formally announced the Galaxy C5 and, somewhat more invisibly, the Galaxy C7, the first two members of the OEM’s “C” series. While still pretty much China-only, like the Galaxy A line, there is a chance the two will find their way to other markets. If so, Samsung will be bringing its new all-metal design down to a more budget-friendly level, and hopefully signaling the end of its love affair with plastic.
Like the Galaxy A family, the Galaxy C5 and C7 are birds of the same feather, sporting exactly the same design and differing only in hardware specs. Unlike the Galaxy A, which has seemingly moved on to a metal and glass combination like the Galaxy S7, the Galaxy C is all metal. Parallels between it and the iPhone 6 are going to be common, but Samsung has seemingly “borrowed” a few details from HTC as well. In particular, the plastic lines that cross the width of the back are more reminiscent of the HTC One flagships, especially the strip that runs down to the camera. The rounded edges, however, are more indicative of Apple’s design. The colors, too, are likely going to be compared.
Moving beyond the external design, the Galaxy C5 and C7 are no underdogs. They practically occupy the higher run of the mid-range ladder, with a few interesting high-end specs. For example, the processors are from the Snapdragon 600 series, but both have a generous 4 GB of RAM. Cameras are also quite high at 16 and 8 megapixels, back and front respectively. The display isn’t even some LCD but a Super AMOLED one usually reserved for Samsung’s higher end devices.
Here are the core specs for the Galaxy C5:
• Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, 1.5 GHz octa-core• RAM: 4 GB• Storage: 32/64 GB, microSD up to 128 GB• Display: 5.2-inch 1920×1080 Super AMOLED• Main Camera: 16 megapixel, f/1.9 aperture, dual-tone LED• Secondary Camera: 8 megapixel, f/1.9 aperture• Battery: 2,600 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
The Galaxy C7 varies little, bumping up only the size, processor, and battery:
• Operating System: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 2 GHz octa-core• RAM: 4 GB• Storage: 32/64 GB, microSD up to 128 GB• Display: 5.7-inch 1920×1080 Super AMOLED• Main Camera: 16 megapixel, f/1.9 aperture, dual-tone LED• Secondary Camera: 8 megapixel, f/1.9 aperture• Battery: 3,300 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0
Both have fingerprint sensors tucked underneath the home button. They also support Samsung Pay but only via NFC, as they don’t have the hardware for MST support.
The Samsung Galaxy C5 goes for 2,199 RMB ($335) with 32 GB and 2,399 RMB ($366) for 64 GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy C7, on the other hand, naturally starts higher at 2,599 RMB ($396) for 32 GB and 2,799 RMB ($427) for 64 GB. Both offer colors in Silver, Grey, Gold, and Pink.
SOURCE: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S10: All You Need To Know
At a packed Galaxy Unpacked 2023 event on February 20th, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S10, the device to mark the tenth anniversary in the Galaxy S series. Thanks to the plenty of rumors and leaks, we already knew the 2023 S10 has at least three variants – the standard S10, the Plus variant, and a smaller S10e model, but as you may have heard, there is also a 5G variant.
On this page, we have everything you need to know about the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+, and Galaxy S10 5G, be it their specs, features, software updates, problems and their solutions, tips and tricks of getting the most out of them, the best accessories, deals, firmware download, and so on.
Related:
Latest news
June 1, 2023: Samsung has a new software update for the international variants of the Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+. The three, as part of the May 2023 security patch, are receiving the support for Night mode on the ultra-wide angle lens.
The dedicated Night mode feature was included in the update to April 2023 security patch, but the latest version is here to improve it. The same update also adds Live Focus to the telephoto lens, allowing users to capture closeup bokeh photos without moving physically. Of course, this update is limited to the S10 and S10+ since the S10e doesn’t have a third, telephoto lens.
You can catch more on this story here.
May 21, 2023: Reports coming in suggest Samsung is lining up a new Cardinal Red color variant for the Galaxy S10 and S10+ phones. Yes, this is just a new paint job and nothing else about the phones changes.
May 18, 2023: Samsung will be at the 2023 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan to shine on with the Galaxy S10+ Olympic Games Edition, more than a year since the original phone launched. It’s strange why Samsung would want to launch a dated phone in conjunction with such a huge sporting event, but hey, we don’t make the rules.
The phone has been launched in partnership with local carrier Docomo and will be sold in Prism White with a Tokyo 2023 Olympic Games logo on the back. Only 10,000 units will be produced and apparently, a pair of special Galaxy Buds featuring Galaxy Buds with the Tokyo 2023 logo on the case will be included.
April 19, 2023: It has been rumored before that Samsung was working on a dedicated Night mode for the camera with an end-of-April release date. Well, it appears that the update that started rolling out yesterday in Europe with April 2023 security patches also tags along the new dedicated Night mode feature.
With the update now rolling out in more markets across Europe and Asia where models SM-G970F, SM-G973F, and SM-G975F of the S10e, S10, and S10+ are sold, respectively, more people are now able to see the Night mode in their camera apps.
See the image below for an idea of how the new addition looks like.
April 18, 2023: Plenty of Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ users on Sprint have reported LTE connectivity issues with their units. Sprint has since rolled out two software updates, but the carrier says none of them was meant to fix these issues. Instead, they were meant to protect unaffected units from getting the same LTE issues.
Now, to cool things off, Sprint has confirmed that it will be replacing Galaxy S10e, S10, and S10+ units affected by these LTE issues, but there is a catch or perhaps two. Find out more about these catches and everything else about this program here.
Elsewhere in Europe, the Galaxy S10 series is receiving an update that introduces a dedicated Night mode in the camera app for taking better shots at night. This feature has been in the rumor mills for a while, but it now arrives as part of April 2023 security patches. More to this here.
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy S smartphones never skimp on matters specs. With the S10, you are getting powerful hardware to match 2023 standards in just about every aspect, as seen below.
6.1-inch 19:9 QHD+ (3040×1440) Curved Dynamic AMOLED display
Qualcomm Snapdragon 855/Exynos 9820 processor
8GB RAM
128GB or 512GB expandable storage, up to 512GB
Tri-lens main camera: 12MP (OIS, Dual Pixel AF, f/1.5-f/2.4 aperture) + 12MP (telephoto, f/2.4 aperture, OIS, Dual Pixel AF) + 16MP (super wide-angle, f/2.2 aperture)
10MP (f/1.9, Dual Pixel AF) front camera
3400mAh battery
Android 9 Pie with One UI
Extras: Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack, fast wired and wireless charging, reverse wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6, IP68 dust and water resistance, AR Emoji, in-display fingerprint scanner, face recognition, heart rate sensor, etc.
For a quick rundown of the specs of the other three variants of the Galaxy S10, check out their respective pages below.
Also, check out this page: What is the difference between Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10 Plus and Galaxy S10e?
Galaxy S10 features
As pointed out earlier, Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e, and S10+ are feature-packed smartphones whose features are hardly put to the full test by most people. Usually, this is because some of them are hidden or are simply not common to every smartphone user.
Check out: Best Galaxy S10 features to know
To help you around, we’ve rounded up some of the features of the Galaxy S10 handsets, be it bad or good, and shared them via the links below:
Price
The Galaxy S10 series is the current premium offering from Samsung and obviously commands equally premium price tags. But given their differences, their prices are also different, with the S10e coming in as the budget model whereas the S10 5G is the most premium model.
Without further ado, below are the prices of the Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+, and S10 5G. Note that for the latter, it’s based on Korean pricing, but we should get U.S. pricing pretty soon.
Deals and offers
Looking for the best bang for your buck? Well, several outlets have quite a number of good deals on the Galaxy S10 handsets and while these offers are not permanent, your timing might just be perfect.
That said, here are the latest deals on Samsung Galaxy S10 handsets and accessories:
Tips and tricks
Most people hardly use even half of the features they have at their disposal. It gets even more interesting when talking about a flagship phone like Samsung Galaxy S10, S10e, or S10+. For their prices, these phones not only pack in great hardware but also a ton of features that you might never know about.
To help you get the best out of either Galaxy S10 handset, check out the below tips and tricks:
The Galaxy S10 comes with Android 9 Pie preinstalled. There is Samsung’s One UI skin on top to add customized features over what AOSP offers, but to keep everything in check, regular software updates are inevitable.
Samsung has rolled out an update to improve the performance of fingerprint sensor and camera on its S10 devices. The update comes as ASD3 build, so be sure to check for the update on your S10.
To keep an eye on all the software updates that each of these phones receives alongside the changes they come with, check out their respective software update pages below:
Firmware download
You may run into software issues on your Galaxy S10, S10e or S10+. Whether that be because of a bad app, or any customization you may have tried, fixing the software issues can be done by simply installing an older firmware file that worked fine before the upgrade. To do this, you need the stock ROM in question alongside a tutorial on how to go about it, if you don’t know already.
Below are links to each of the phones stock firmware download pages, where you also find guidelines of how to install the software.
Best Accessories
Check out some of the best accessories that are available for the Galaxy S10 handsets below.
Also, check out our coverage on some of the coolest gadgets you can buy for the Galaxy S10 here → Best accessories for Android.
Best screen protectors
With that expensive cutout display on top of your Galaxy S10 handset, you definitely need to protect while also making sure that the in-display fingerprint sensor works alright to.
Here are some suggestions that will help you buy a solid screen protector that protects your screen well.
Best Cases
Samsung Galaxy S10 devices are some of the most beautiful ones you can find out there. They are built from premium glass that is protected by Gorilla Glass, but this doesn’t make them unbreakable. For this, you need a great case that won’t take away their elegance, but if you need something different, say rugged, we got you covered, too.
To that end, below are all the cases and accessories you’ll need to get the most out of your Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+.
Galaxy S10e cases
Galaxy S10 cases
Galaxy S10+ cases
Problems and solutions
Like every other phone, the Galaxy S10 family isn’t perfect. From time to time, users face problems here and there – problems that can be fixed via software updates or by applying certain tips and tricks shared in the links below.
Are you buying the Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10+ or holding out for the Galaxy S10 5G?
Review Del Móvil Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Pros
Diseño elegante
Buena pantalla
Cámaras impresionantes
Excelente soporte de software
Contras
Rendimiento extremadamente lento
Carga lenta
No incluye cargador
Nuestro veredictoEl Galaxy A53 es un smarphone de gama media, con una muy buena pantalla, una configuración de cámaras de primera y un soporte de software al que solo supera Apple. Pero tiene un gran defecto: su rendimiento. Por el precio que cuesta, esperábamos un móvil menos lento y con un rendimiento más potente, motivo por el que, aunque nos duela, nos cuesta recomendar el A53.
Mejores precios hoy: Samsung Galaxy A53 5GTienda
Precio
$359.00
Ver oferta
Si hablamos de gama media podemos decir que Samsung no lo sabe hacer tan bien como lo hacen otras marcas. Google, Xiaomi o Realme son algunos ejemplos de empresas que saben fabricar dispositivos móviles de gama media con una relación calidad-precio excelente.
Cuando vi por primera vez el Galaxy A53, tenía la esperanza de que Samsung hubiera dado un giro, ofreciendo un buen móvil de gama media con un equilibrio de sus especificaciones, características y diseño. Pensé que este móvil tan elegante podría convertirse tal vez en una competencia para el iPhone SE de Apple u otros modelos de Oppo, Honor o Xiaomi.
Sin embargo, esto no fue así. Al menos, en parte. Pienso que el Galaxy A53 es un smartphone mejor que el SE de Apple. Cuenta con un montón de características que me han encantado, como su diseño, su excelente soporte de software, el hecho de que sea resistente al agua o la buena calidad de sus cámaras.
Sin embargo, el rendimiento defrauda. De hecho, es peor que el de su predecesor, el Galaxy A52s, por lo que probablemente, este sea un móvil que no debas comprar.
Diseño y calidad de construcción
Diseño sencillo pero atractivo
Gama de colores
Resistencia al polvo y al agua IP67
Una de las mejores características del Galaxy A53 es su diseño. La mayoría de los móviles de gama media ofrecen un diseño demasiado sencillo o incluso poco atractivo, pero Samsung se ha esforzado por hacer que este modelo tenga un aspecto que convenzca.
Disponible en negro, blanco, melocotón o azul, está construido en plástico, algo que Samsung no ha tratado de ocultar. En su lugar, ha adoptado el material, dándole un suave acabado mate que se curva hasta encontrarse con el módulo de la cámara trasera, un estilo de diseño que ya se había visto en el Oppo Find X5 Pro, bastante más caro.
En la parte delantera, la gran pantalla de 6,5 pulgadas está rodeada por un bisel negro bastante fino, aunque no es el bisel más fino que hemos visto. Solo se ve interrumpido por una pequeña cámara selfie central en forma de muesca.
Uno de los elementos más singulares del A53 -dado su precio- es la clasificación de resistencia al polvo y al agua IP67. Se trata de un nivel de protección que ni siquiera todos los teléfonos de gama alta garantizan.
Si quieres esa tranquilidad cuando estés con tu teléfono en el baño, este es uno de los pocos teléfonos Android que la ofrece.
Y aunque la parte trasera del teléfono es de plástico, la pantalla está protegida por Gorilla Glass 5, lo que debería añadir un nivel de seguridad frente a caídas y arañazos.
En general, el diseño es sencillo, pero nunca simple. Es discreto y atractivo, y se ha tenido cuidado de que parezca un dispositivo bastante premium, aunque en sus propios términos.
Pantalla y audio
Pantalla AMOLED de 6,5 pulgadas
Tasa de refresco de 120 Hz
Altavoces estéreo
En cuanto a la pantalla del teléfono, todo son buenas noticias. Este panel de 6,5 pulgadas Full HD+ puede ser un poco grande para algunos gustos, aunque realmente es lo típico en tamaño para Android en estos días.
Lo que no es típico es el uso de un panel AMOLED de 120Hz. Al igual que la clasificación IP, esto no es inaudito para el precio, pero es definitivamente inusual, y coloca la pantalla del A53 en el escalón superior de los gama media.
Se trata de una pantalla brillante y atractiva, capaz de ofrecer una excelente gama de colores y un desplazamiento suave. Gracias a la tecnología AMOLED utilizada, también incorpora un escáner de huellas dactilares bajo la pantalla, que funciona bastante bien, aunque con cierta lentitud.
El audio también es impresionante, con un sonido estéreo que ofrecen los altavoces incluidos. Esta es otra rareza en el precio, y junto con la pantalla esto hará que el A53 sea una opción tentadora para cualquier persona que se sienta en su teléfono viendo películas o jugando.
Por supuesto, no hay conector de auriculares, pero tanto el USB-C como los auriculares inalámbricos son compatibles.
Especificaciones y rendimiento
Chip Exynos 1280 propio de Samsung
Lento, con lag y se congela con frecuencia
Soporte 5G
Este es el quid de la cuestión: no hay muchas cosas buenas que se puedan decir sobre el rendimiento del Galaxy A53.
Mientras que los modelos A52 y A52 del año pasado utilizaban chips de gama media de la serie Snapdragon 7 de Qualcomm, para el A53 Samsung se ha optado por utilizar su propio y nuevo chipset Exynos 1280.
Esto no ha sido una buena idea.
Los benchmarks son poco impresionantes: aunque el A53 supera ligeramente al A52, especialmente en los benchmarks de juegos, queda muy por detrás del A52s, lanzado hace apenas seis meses.
Si miramos fuera de Samsung, el rendimiento está a la altura del Poco X4 Pro y del OnePlus Nord CE 2 -ambos teléfonos sustancialmente más baratos-, pero se queda cómodamente por detrás del OnePlus Nord 2 del año pasado, que le supera en precio. Ni siquiera sería justo compararlo con el iPhone SE, que utiliza el mismo chip que el actual buque insignia de la gama iPhone 13 de Apple.
Sin embargo, las puntuaciones artificiales de los benchmarks no cuentan toda la historia. Yo mismo analicé el Nord CE 2 y, aunque sus puntos de referencia están a la par con los del A53, el OnePlus no presentaba ni la mitad de tartamudeo, retraso o ralentización que he sufrido con el A53.
Este teléfono es lento, tanto si usas una sola aplicación como si intentas hacer multitarea. La memoria RAM parece ser el principal problema: a pesar de que mi modelo de prueba cuenta con 6 GB de memoria, el teléfono tiene dificultades para mantener varias aplicaciones en funcionamiento a la vez, y a veces se congela incluso cuando sólo estoy usando Chrome.
Esto hace que el teléfono sea frustrante de usar, con el tipo de experiencia que me molestaría en un teléfono de la mitad de este precio.
El rendimiento puede variar según el mercado. Mientras que en chúng tôi y el Reino Unido el teléfono se envía con 6 GB de RAM de serie, en otros lugares se puede comprar con 4 GB (no lo hagas) u 8 GB. Del mismo modo, el almacenamiento es de 128 GB en mi modelo, pero 256 GB puede ser una opción donde usted vive. En cualquier caso, el almacenamiento se puede ampliar hasta 1TB mediante tarjeta microSD.
No todo es malo. El 5G es compatible, así como el NFC para pagos con tarjeta y el Bluetooth 5.1. El soporte de wifi 6 en su predecesor ha sido eliminado para la versión de la generación anterior, aunque es poco probable que tengas un router Wi-Fi 6 para aprovecharlo de todos modos.
Cámara
Impresionante cámara principal de 64 MP
Buena calidad en ultra gran angular y macro
Gran cámara selfie de 32 MP
Samsung no ha modificado la configuración de la cámara del A52 y del A52s, aunque, dado que gran parte de la fotografía de los smartphones modernos se gestiona de forma computacional, el cambio de chipset podría repercutir en la calidad de las fotos.
Sin embargo, no hay ningún motivo de preocupación. La cámara principal de 64 MP es capaz de hacer fotos realmente brillantes y contundentes con buena luz, y gracias a una amplia apertura de f/1.8 y a la estabilización óptica de la imagen, también se defiende en condiciones de poca luz, conservando muy bien los detalles y el contraste.
La calidad disminuye, sin duda, cuando oscurece mucho, y aquí es donde los teléfonos insignia se desmarcan del resto. Pero me sorprendería ver que muchos teléfonos de este precio lo hicieran mucho mejor que el A53.
Ese sensor principal de 64 MP está flanqueado por otros tres: un sensor ultra ancho de 8 MP, un macro de 5 MP y un sensor de profundidad de 5 MP. Este último simplemente ayuda en las tomas de retratos, mientras que los dos primeros son inevitablemente situacionales, pero no lo hacen mal.
El gran angular, en particular, hace fotos más vibrantes y coloridas de lo que esperaba de sus rivales, aunque hay un claro descenso de detalle en comparación con la cámara principal.
En la parte delantera, la cámara para selfies de 32 MP es una sorpresa. Los selfies son muy detallados y tienen una gran gama de colores, incluso en condiciones de luz difíciles. He tomado selfies peores en teléfonos del doble de su precio, y esta cámara es un verdadero punto fuerte para el teléfono.
En cuanto al vídeo, puedes grabar hasta 4K@30fps desde la cámara frontal o la trasera, y el OIS de la lente trasera mantiene las cosas bien y estables cuando se graba desde la cámara principal.
Batería y carga
Más de un día de batería
Carga lenta de 25W por cable
No incluye cargador
El A53 impresiona por la duración de la batería, con una generosa célula de 5000mAh. He encontrado que el teléfono dura cómodamente un día completo, y los usuarios ligeros probablemente encontrarán que puede estirarse hasta dos.
En mi caso, he comprobado que el teléfono está a menudo por encima del 50 % de la batería cuando me voy a la cama, y está contento de ofrecer varias horas de pantalla durante el día.
La carga es menos emocionante, pero eso es tan cierto para los teléfonos más caros de Samsung como para este realmente.
La carga por cable está limitada a una velocidad de 25W, muy lenta para los estándares modernos de Android, incluso entre los teléfonos baratos. Samsung tampoco incluye un cargador con el teléfono, así que tendrás que comprar el tuyo propio.
Usando un cargador de 65W de terceros (más rápido que el máximo del teléfono) sólo alcancé el 26 % de carga después de treinta minutos conectado, lo que significa que tendrá que rellenarse durante la noche la mayor parte del tiempo.
No hay ningún tipo de soporte para la carga inalámbrica. Es algo típico para su precio, pero merece la pena mencionarlo porque es un área en la que el iPhone SE destaca.
Software y actualizaciones
Android 12 con One UI 4.1
Cuatro años de actualizaciones de Android prometidas
Terminemos con una nota alta – y la principal razón real para optar por este teléfono sobre los anteriores A52.
El Galaxy A53 viene con Android 12, la última versión del sistema operativo de Google, con la interfaz One UI 4.1 de Samsung.
Tendrás los controles de privacidad actualizados de Google -incluidos los iconos y las alertas cuando se encienden el micrófono y la cámara- junto con la implementación de Samsung de la herramienta Material You, que dibuja las paletas de colores de la interfaz de usuario a partir del fondo de pantalla.
Por supuesto, me preocupa que el software sea realmente el culpable del rendimiento medio del teléfono. La pesada interfaz de Samsung a veces puede ser lenta incluso en los dispositivos de gama alta, y la lentitud al moverse por el teléfono y al abrir las aplicaciones puede explicarse en parte por la capa de software One UI.
Al menos eso significa que las cosas podrían mejorar. Samsung ha prometido que el A53 recibirá cuatro actualizaciones de la versión de Android -desde la 13 (con One UI 5) hasta la 16- junto con un quinto año de parches de seguridad. Esta es la misma promesa de actualización que ofrece para sus teléfonos más caros, y es algo inédito en este precio para Android. De hecho, se trata de una garantía de soporte de software mejor que la que ofrece cualquiera, excepto Apple.
Eso hace que el A53 sea una excelente opción si buscas un teléfono asequible que tenga soporte a largo plazo. El único riesgo es que algunas de esas actualizaciones acaben empeorando el ya de por sí dudoso rendimiento -aunque esto es una apuesta, ya que Samsung podría igualmente utilizar parches para optimizar el teléfono y mejorar su funcionamiento.
Precio y disponibilidadCon un precio de 327,99 €, el Galaxy A53 se sitúa en la gama media. Puedes comprarlo en en Amazon o en la mayoría de las tiendas de tecnología.
Sus claros rivales en Europa son el excelente OnePlus Nord 2, el más barato Poco X4 Pro y el ligeramente más caro Realme GT 2. El Pixel 6a también será una alternativa atractiva cuando se lance en julio, y el iPhone SE de Apple tiene un precio comparable en todo el mundo.
Con características propias de un buque insignia, como la certificación IP67 y el sistema OIS en la cámara principal, el Galaxy A53 ofrece muchas cosas que sus rivales más cercanos de Android no ofrecen, y el diseño moderno y la excelente pantalla le dan una clara ventaja sobre el anticuado y tosco iPhone SE. Por desgracia, todos esos teléfonos ofrecen un rendimiento más fluido que el de Samsung.
VeredictoEl Galaxy A53 sólo tiene un defecto, pero es tan grande que hace que sea difícil recomendar el teléfono de todo corazón.
El rendimiento es lento, con tartamudeos y congelaciones comunes incluso durante un uso ligero. Por este precio, un teléfono debería funcionar mejor.
Es una pena, porque Samsung lo ha clavado en otros aspectos. El A53 tiene un aspecto estupendo, está bien construido, la cámara y la pantalla están entre las mejores de este precio y el soporte de software sólo es superado por Apple.
Con un procesador más potente y un software más fluido, el A53 sería una maravilla. Pero tal y como está, sólo será una opción para los pacientes.
Especificaciones
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: Especificaciones
Android 12 con One UI 4.1
AMOLED de 6,5 pulgadas, 2400 x 1080, 120 Hz, relación 20:9
Chipset Exynos 1280
4/6/8GB DE RAM
128/256GB de almacenamiento (ampliable mediante microSD)
Cámara principal de 64Mp f/1.8 OIS
12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
Macro de 5Mp f/2.4
Sensor de profundidad de 5Mp f/2.4
Cámara selfie de 32Mp f/2.2
Dual-SIM/microSD
Altavoces estéreo
NFC
GPS
Bluetooth 5.1
Wi-Fi 5
Sensor de huellas dactilares bajo la pantalla
Batería de 5000mAh
Carga por cable de 25W
Puerto de carga USB-C
159,6 x 74,8 x 8,1mm
189 gramos
Especificaciones Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: Especificaciones
Android 12 with One UI 4.1
6.5in AMOLED, 2400 x 1080, 120Hz, 20:9 ratio
Exynos 1280 chipset
4/6/8GB RAM
128/256GB of storage (expandable via microSD)
64Mp f/1.8 OIS main camera
12Mp f/2.2 ultrawide
5Mp f/2.4 macro
5Mp f/2.4 depth sensor
32Mp f/2.2 selfie camera
Dual-SIM/microSD
Stereo speakers
NFC
GPS
Bluetooth 5.1
Wi-Fi 5
Under-display fingerprint sensor
5000mAh battery
25W wired charging
USB-C charging port
159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1mm
189g
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