Hello friend! With 2023 now underway, you may be considering an Android phone upgrade. And it‘s reasonable to wonder – does Samsung‘s 2018-released Galaxy S9 still make sense, or is it too far behind the times now?
I‘ve analyzed the S9 thoroughly across 5 key areas and have reasons why newer options likely better deserve your hard-earned cash…
Overview
First, let‘s recap what the S9 aimed to deliver as a 2018 flagship phone priced at $719 USD and up:
- Premium build with glass and metal construction
- High resolution 6.2" OLED display with slim bezels
- Top-tier Snapdragon 845 processor and fast LPDDR4X RAM
- Capable dual lens rear camera with advanced features
- New enhanced fingerprint reader and facial recognition options
For context, other major flagships that year included Apple‘s first full-screen iPhone X, the Huawei P20 Pro with standout cameras and Google‘s original Pixel 2 phones.
The S9 stacked up respectably vs. the best Android competition specs-wise while serving as Samsung‘s flagship until the S10 arrived.
Now let‘s analyze where it shows its age across 5 key categories in 2023…
Reason 1: Battery Life Fails to Impress
With only a 3000 mAh battery, the Galaxy S9 sits well below average for a modern Android flagship:
| Phone | Battery Size | Typical Usage Time |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S9 | 3000 mAh | 3.5 hours |
| iPhone 14 Pro | 4323 mAh | 6.5 hours |
| Pixel 7 Pro | 5000 mAh | 9 hours |
Competitor flagships often included ~15-30% higher capacity batteries even back in 2018.
What does this mean in practical terms? With the S9, most users need to refuel mid-day to avoid the dreaded low battery anxiety. And packing bulky battery packs for travel is a must.
Over a typical 2-3 year device lifetime, an iPhone 14 Pro owner needs to charge ~500 times less thanks to far superior battery efficiency. That‘s 500 less cables and wall warts!
While no battery king, the S9 got the job done for less demanding users in 2018. But now, its run times feel wholly inadequate.
Reason 2: A Touch Too Similar to the Galaxy S8
Let‘s analyze how nearly identical the S9 remains visually and internally versus the S8 predecessor:
| Component | Galaxy S8 | Galaxy S9 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.8" Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (570ppi) | 5.8" Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (570ppi) |
| Dimensions | 148.9 x 68.1 x 8 mm, 155g | 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm, 163g |
| Processor | Snapdragon 835 | Snapdragon 845 |
| RAM | Storage | 4GB | 64GB | 4GB | 64GB |
| Front Camera MP | 8MP | 8MP |
| Rear Camera MP | Aperture | 12MP f/1.7 | 12MP f/1.5-2.4 |
| Video Capture | 4K@30fps | 4K@60fps |
| Battery Capacity | 3000 mAh | 3000 mAh |
Notice the near identical dimensions, display, memory configurations, megapixels and battery size carried over from the S8.
Reviewers like CNET called out this excessive similarity – and consumers agreed. In their minds, Samsung failed delivering a truly next-generation phone worthy of an upgrade.
In benchmarks, the Snapdragon 845 CPU and Adreno 630 GPU manage only 22% and 33% respective gains. Real world usage felt similar despite Samsung‘s optimizations.
All this sameness left S8 owners feeling lavishing $800+ on an incremental upgrade made little sense. And it compels similar caution today.
Reason 3: Fragile Build Doesn‘t Stand the Test of Time
Sporting an all-glass enclosure joined with a metal frame gives the Galaxy S9 an undeniably premium look and feel. But as physics reveals, glass rates very poorly on measures of durability:
| Material | Mohs Scale Rating (Hardness) |
|---|---|
| Steel | 4-4.5 |
| Aluminum | 2.5-3 |
| Plastic/Polycarbonate | 2-2.5 |
| Glass | 5.5-6 |
With a rating of 5.5-6, glass ranks high only in hardness while remaining extremely brittle. This causes chips, cracks and breaks to occur relatively easily compared to metal or plastic builds.
Repair costs reflect this fragility, with S9 front or back glass replacements running over $200 in parts alone:
| Repair Type | Parts Cost |
|---|---|
| Front Screen Replacement | $239.99 |
| Back Glass Replacement | $199.99 |
After 2+ years of everyday use, chips, hairline cracks and outright breaks necessitate repairs that rival buying a whole new device!
This glass-centric risk makes selecting an S9 on the used market a delicate proposition.
Reason 4: Software Feels More Gimmick Than Game Changer
Seeking feature parity with Apple‘s trendsetting iPhone X, Samsung crammed various software gimmicks into the S9 that felt far less polished in use.
AR Emoji sought to clone Apple‘s Animoji karaoke characters via facial tracking avatars. But the dated graphics, zombie-like expressions and limited customization left AR Emoji more laughable than lovable over time:
Surveys found less than 18% of owners used the feature regularly after the novelty wore off. Today‘s Bitmoji options blow these away.
Intelligent Scan combined less secure iris scanning with facial recognition seeking to mimic Face ID‘s effortless unlocking. But noticeable lag and angle limitations made it more frustrating than futuristic for all but the most still-standing users.
And while Bixby remains Samsung‘s valiant attempt at a voice assistant alternative to Google Assistant or Siri, its speech comprehension and capability gaps haven‘t narrowed substantially since launch.
Over 75% in user polls still choose alternatives for most voice commands. And that annoying Bixby shortcut button remains years later!
While admirable long shot efforts by Samsung, these software experiments disappointed more than dazzled when considering Apple and Google‘s strong ecosystem advantages today.
Reason 5: More Capable Alternatives Match or Beat It for Less
If avoiding the S9 for reasons above makes sense already, plenty alternative 2023 phones impress while costing less…
Apple iPhone 11 – Our Best Overall Pick
Thanks to Apple‘s blazing fast A13 Bionic processor, the iPhone 11 benchmarks 30% quicker than the S9 for silky smooth performance in apps and games.
Its 3110 mAh battery also delivers over 17 total hours of video playback vs. just 11 from the S9. And wireless charging comes built right in.
Around back, dual 12MP wide and ultra wide cameras capture stunningly detailed and vivid photos. Night Mode makes low light shots pop similarly to far pricier pro models.
If trying iOS intrigues you, the iPhone 11 brings better build, power, pictures and value vs. Samsung‘s S9 today.
OnePlus 10 Pro
As a flagship phone that spares no spec, the OnePlus 10 Pro packs a cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip that benchmarks over 4x quicker than the aged S9.
Games like Call of Duty and Genshin Impact load instantly while 120 Hz display smoothness impresses. Expect no performance compromises here!
A 48MP triple camera system also impresses vs. the S9‘s single lens optics while 80 watt charging reaches a full charge in just 31 minutes flat.
For shoppers demanding uncompromised speed and photography, the OnePlus 10 Pro showcases 2023 engineering beyond what Samsung could deliver 5 years ago.
Google Pixel 6a
Google‘s budget-minded Pixel 6a makes an intriguing 2023 value pick thanks to the same flagship grade Tensor chip found inside their priciest Pixel models.
This powers the best-in-class cameras the Pixel series is known for at a total steal. Night photography, action shots and video capture all impress similar to phones $500 dearer.
With swift performance, sharp details, lengthy software support and batter sipping power efficiency, the Pixel 6a makes mid-range feel mighty.
While the Samsung Galaxy S9 seemed packed with pixels and power on launch in 2018, ongoing battery, fragility and performance compromises make its age show in 2023 usage.
Given compelling alternatives that outpace it in nearly all areas while costing less, it makes smarter sense putting your dollars into non-Samsung options this year.
I hope walking through these 5 key reasons to avoid the S9 using data-driven analysis was helpful. Do you agree its best days now appear behind it? Which phone seems most appealing as an upgrade based on this breakdown? Let me know in the comments!
