The Samsung Galaxy S9 launch date has been confirmed, and we have everything you need to know.
Update: The Samsung Galaxy S9’s battery probably won’t be getting any bigger, but there’s growing evidence of big improvements to the iris scanner.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 launch is February 25 and will be the biggest of 2018 so far, with the eyes of the world firmly placed on the South Korean firm as it introduces its retort to Apple’s iPhone X, which arrived towards the end of 2017. iPhone X
The invites for the event have gone out, and we know we’ll be seeing the S9 at Samsung’s official launch event at MWC 2018 at the end of February. MWC 2018
There’s no question that this is when we’ll see the refined sequel to last year’s Samsung Galaxy S8, with the invite clearly teasing the number nine, and we already have a good idea of what this Android smartphone looks like. Samsung Galaxy S8
The thing is, the S9 isn’t looking like a phone to redefine the space. All the rumors, leaks and speculation to date point towards an iterative update. For those hoping for a game-changing device in the Galaxy portfolio, you may have to wait until 2019.
It won’t just be the S9 though, with rumors heavily hinting at the larger Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus set to arrive alongside — following the trend of launching dual flagships phones that the firm started back in 2015 with the Galaxy S6. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Galaxy S6 Register your interest in the Galaxy S9 at Carphone Warehouse (UK only) Register your interest in the Galaxy S9 at Carphone Warehouse (UK only) Register your interest in the Galaxy S9 at Mobiles.co.uk (UK only) Register your interest in the Galaxy S9 at Mobiles.co.uk (UK only)
What the Samsung Galaxy S9 could look like (right) (Credit: Evan Blass) Samsung Galaxy Plus size: Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus Everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus
New battery leaks suggest the unit will be exactly the same size as the battery in the Galaxy S8, but the iris scanner could get smarter and better.
We were expecting £639 / $725 / AU$1200 — the same as the Galaxy S8 — to be the price of the new phone, but an industry insider has now told TechRadar the price will be upped to £789 in the UK. That may mean price hikes for other markets too. told TechRadar
The Samsung Galaxy S9 launch date is February 25, according to Samsung’s Unpacked 2018 invite. It’s unclear when it’ll arrive to its first customers, but pre-orders are likely to start on March 1 and the phone may ship in mid-March.
Don’t want to read about the Galaxy S9? Watch our rumor round-up video instead.
Hottest leaks: Galaxy S9 launch date: confirmed for February 25 Galaxy S9 pre-order date: rumored for March 1 Galaxy S9 release date: rumored for mid-March
The Samsung Galaxy S9 launch date is locked down for Sunday, February 25 in Barcelona.
We know that, because Samsung has sent us an invite to its Unpacked event on that date, teasing the number nine in the process.
The Samsung Galaxy S9 invite teases the number nine and an improved camera
This makes the Galaxy S9 launch earlier than 2017’s S8 announcement, which happened after MWC, in March.
The pre-order date is rumored to be March 1, while the Samsung Galaxy S9 release date is tipped to be mid-March according to our sources close to the S9.
TechRadar’s take: The Galaxy S9 launch date is now locked in, and while the pre-order and release dates aren’t confirmed, the rumored timings make sense, but are certainly subject to change.
What we can safely predict is that the Samsung Galaxy S9 price is sure to be steep, as the Galaxy S8 launched at $720, £689, AU$1,199.
The Galaxy S9 price will, at the very least, mirror that launch price of the S8, but there’s always a chance it could cost even more.
One industry insider has told TechRadar the price for the S9 will be starting at £789 in the UK. There’s no word on if the price will be higher than the S8 in other markets, but it would be a bit unfair to charge more just in the UK. has told TechRadar
TechRadar’s take: We expect the Galaxy S9 to inherit the same launch price as its predecessor or it’ll cost quite a bit more.
Hottest leaks: An in-screen scanner A water-repellent coating A 5.8-inch QHD+ screen
The Bell reports unnamed industry sources saying that Samsung has been hard at work on the display panels for the Galaxy S9 since late March 2017. If true, that’s apparently about six months earlier than usual. The Bell
As for the form the screen will take, it’s rumored (and likely) to retain the Galaxy S8’s 18.5:9 aspect ratio. rumored
Based on the rumors so far, this is what the Galaxy S9’s spec sheet looks like. Display resolution: QHD+ (1440 x 2960) Display size: 5.8-inch Display tech: Super AMOLED Chipset: Exynos 9810/Snapdragon 845 RAM: 4GB Storage: 64GB/128GB Rear camera: 12MP Front camera: 8MP Battery: 3,000mAh
Rear fingerprint scanner
Waterproof
Wireless charging
There’s also a good chance the display will be the same size as the Galaxy S8, coming in at 5.8 inches, despite some rumors to the contrary. It’s also sure to be curved and continue Samsung’s trend of using Super AMOLED, which delivers vibrant visuals and good contrast.
An image seemingly showing the Galaxy S9’s retail box has also leaked, listing a 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED screen. image
Rumors of an in-screen fingerprint scanner abound, like the new Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensor can sit below quite thick displays, but we don’t anticipate this coming to the S9. new Qualcomm Fingerprint Sensor
Synaptics has announced an in-screen scanner and mentioned not just OLED but also «infinity display» (which is what Samsung calls the S8’s screen) and that it’s being used on a phone made by a top five manufacturer — but we don’t see it being Samsung. announced an in-screen scanner
That’s backed up by one tipster who claims an in-screen scanner isn’t in the cards, as does another recent report, so don’t count on that feature just yet. isn’t in the cards as does another recent report
Aside from that, in late 2016 Samsung licensed a new glass coating technology that makes water bounce off your smartphone screen. Samsung plans to include this tech in an upcoming phone, so it may mean the Galaxy S9 is much easier to use in the rain. Samsung licensed a new glass coating
Watch the video below to see how the new glass coating technology works
TechRadar’s take: The screen is likely to be a similar size to the S8’s and will probably retain that phone’s 18.5:9 aspect ratio, since that’s the new popular form. Don’t count on an in-screen scanner though.
Hottest leaks: Smaller bezels A repositioned fingerprint scanner
One of the most recent design leaks comes in the form of a render found on a skin-maker’s site, showing both the front and the back of the Samsung Galaxy S9. design leaks
You can make out details such as a single-lens camera with a fingerprint scanner below and an almost bezel-free screen, along with ‘Samsung’ and ‘Galaxy S9’ branding on the back.
This matches other renders aside from the S9 branding on the back. Credit: dbrand
We’ve also seen a short video, seemingly showing the Samsung Galaxy S9 from the front and back, albeit with the screen off. a short video
This all matches up with an earlier render video and rendered images supposedly showing the Samsung Galaxy S9, which show a device that looks very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8, albeit with the fingerprint scanner moved beneath the camera lens (but not in-screen as some rumors have suggested). render video rendered images
Trusted leaker Evleaks has previously shared renders of the phone showing off the design we’ve seen above, and you can see those below. Evleaks has previously shared
The front and back both look to use curved glass, the bezels are small and there’s both a 3.5mm headphone port and what’s presumably a Bixby button. We’ve also seen another leak that suggests the phone will keep its 3.5mm headphone jack, unlike the iPhone range. seen another leak
While you can’t tell from these images, the bezels might actually be smaller than on the Galaxy S8, as a source claims the S9 will have around a 90% screen-to-body ratio, up from roughly 84% on the Galaxy S8. a 90% screen-to-body ratio
In fact, a leaked image complete with dimensions backs that up, as it suggests that the Galaxy S9 will be marginally shorter than the S8, but will otherwise look similar, albeit with the scanner moved beneath the camera lens, just like in the images above. leaked image
This could be what the Samsung Galaxy S9 will look like. Credit: Weibo
Elsewhere, Samsung has trademarked a new material called ‘ Metal 12 ‘ which is light and strong, so there’s a chance this could be used in the S9, but it probably needs more development, so we doubt it. Metal 12
We’ve also heard that the Galaxy S9 could have a modular design, with magnets on the back letting you attach hardware accessories (which could take the form of battery packs, zoom lenses or any number of other things), a bit like Motorola’s Moto Mods. Why the Samsung Galaxy S9 desperately needs an in-screen fingerprint scanner Why the Samsung Galaxy S9 desperately needs an in-screen fingerprint scanner
Only one source has mentioned this possibility so far, so we’d take it with a huge pinch of salt as we’ve not seen it in any renders or pictures so dar. one source
And a minor design tweak could come in the form of a new color for the Galaxy S9, with the phone supposedly landing in purple. We also know the S9 Plus is set to launch in Coral Blue, so we’ll probably see the same for the Galaxy S9. new color for the Galaxy S9 launch in Coral Blue
Recently, we’ve seen yet another leak of renders claiming to show the phone, which seem believable given what we’ve heard this far. renders
TechRadar’s take: We’d expect a similar design to the S8, but likely with smaller bezels and a repositioned fingerprint scanner. In other words, exactly what we’re seeing in most leaked images.
Hottest leaks: Samsung: «The Camera. Reimagined» A single-lens camera with variable aperture Super slow motion video Mobile HDR video recording
The Galaxy S9 camera is going to be a key feature of Samsung’s phone this year, and not because of a dual-lens camera or higher megapixels.
