Overview Galaxy A9 - the new smartphone from Samsung with four cameras

A9 - range smartphone Galaxy A and the elder brother of the new Galaxy A7, overview which we published recently. This article will often compare the two models.

Table of contents

1. Specifications
2. Equipment
3. Design
4. Display and Audio
5. Camera
6. Protection
7. Performance and software
8. autonomy
9. Differences from the A7 and the results

Specifications

Equipment

Included: a smartphone headphones plug for fast charging, USB Type-C cable and documentation.

Design

A9 is sold in three colors: black, blue and pink. We got a blue smartphone.

The rear panel is made of glass with a sparkling glossy surface. Looks nice, but expected zalyapyvaetsya fingerprints from the first minutes of using a smartphone. On the back panel there is the Samsung logo, fingerprinting and unprecedented long unit with a flash camera.

On a metal frame: top - a slot for microSD and two nanoSIM, right - the power button and the twin volume button, left - button call assistant Bixby, bottom - speaker hole, Type-C input and mini-jack.

In size A9 almost coincides with the precursor. A small difference in height can be seen only in a direct comparison. The smartphone is really big, it can be a problem for not accustomed to such devices.

In general A9 looks as good expensive device. Especially black version.

Display and Audio

Frames on the sides of the thin, top and bottom - tangible. No hint of frameless or solutions like "bang" or traveling camera.

Here installed proprietary Super AMOLED - a bright, high contrast and with the correct colors. On the screens of the latest Samsung say nothing special, if not the best, that is exactly one of those.

Display Settings "out of the box" seem to me optimal, but the parameters of the color temperature or the balance can be changed.

At the site of Always On Display - mode in which the screen always displays the widget with the time and date information. On the level of charge is affected slightly.

Aspect ratio is about 2: 1 - a plus for those who like to use the split screen function for simultaneous operation of two applications.

With the sound of things it is worse. The speaker is one and rather mediocre - listen to podcasts and watch videos on YouTube, you can, but music playback standard audio system handles not. Headphones included are the same as in the A7, from Samsung. More serious AKG headset still remains to complete the flagships.

Camera

The main feature of Galaxy A9 - four cameras. This main diaphragm chamber with high aperture ƒ / 2,4, auxiliary for portraits, wide-angle viewing and 120º telephoto doubling.

The main camera you probably will use the most. This standard lens, which is in every smartphone. Secondary camera operates on a "Live Focus" and helps to take pictures with bokeh.

Wide-angle lens is useful in cases when the frame does not fit all people, or point of interest completely. Due to the viewing angle of 120º panorama you can do for a fraction of a second, and without moving the phone with trembling hands.

The fourth camera - for distant subjects. Software Zoom here too there are - depending on the shooting script AI chooses whether to use a special lens. By this mechanism, a lot of questions. For example, it is unclear why the telephoto selected special mode. It seems that it would be easier with a single slider to increase. But optical zoom works, and it can be used.

As soon as I get out of the office for a camera test, both the smartphone received a notification about the update. Home Improvement - camera work. Therefore, the images in the previously published reviews of other publications may differ from those that do A9 camera right now.

When good light all cameras give a good result. Otherwise, high-quality images out except the main.

But such portraits are obtained when the primary and secondary chambers:

Photos obtained nice, but the contours of the camera still a little moonlight.

When you create a front-facing camera manufacturer did without frills - here one lens 24 megapixel. Selfies are not bad, nothing to complain about.

Verdict: A9 knows how to make great shots, but the number of lenses - a dubious advantage. Most likely, over time, you will still have to use only the main camera. This solution is suitable if you like to experiment and do not want to wear a set of lenses for overhead smartphone.

Protection

Supports unlock the face, fingerprint or a PIN code. Each option works quickly and correctly.

Location fingerprinting at this time remains within the Samsung tradition: the sensor is located in the central part of the rear panel. Fingerprinting in the power button remains Galaxy A7 chip.

With "Protected Folder" can hide files and accounts on messengers and social networks under a single password.

Performance and software

This time, Samsung did not set different processors for individual markets, all equipped with A9 chip Snapdragon 660 with eight cores with a frequency of 2.2 and 1.8 GHz. GPU - Adreno 512. Amount of RAM - 6 GB.

With ordinary tasks of a smartphone copes flawlessly. Nothing lag even with a pile of open applications. But the configuration is not the best: there is a limit to the power demanding games synthetic tests also give out a compromise result.

The test results Geekbench 4:

And AnTuTu:

Program cover - the usual Samsung Experience. Not too overloaded with additional services, a logical and intuitive.

The main disadvantage - the annoying and useless assistant Bixby, for which the call is even a separate button on the body.

autonomy

Here, the battery is installed with impressive 3800 mAh. Autonomy is excellent: A9 confidently holds a charge a day or even a half, always living to the outlet at the nightstand.

Differences from the A7 and the results

Here is a list of differences from A9 A7:

• CPU. In older models installed Snapdragon 660 in the A7 - less powerful Exynos 7885.
• RAM. 6 GB A9 to 4 GB in A7.
• Built-in memory. We A9 - 128 GB, at A7 - half.
• The presence of a telephoto lens. The A7 all three lenses, zoom software.
• Location fingerprinting. In A7 is built into the power button. A9 In the sensor is located on the rear panel.
• Battery. 3800 mAh in A9 vs. 3300 mAh in A7.
• Support wireless charging. The A7 do not, despite the fact that there is a glass case.
• Connector. The A9 - Type-C, in the A7 - microUSB.
• Price. A9 at 13 thousand rubles more expensive (39,990 rubles to 26,990 rubles).

I managed popolzovavshis as the A7, and A9. Appreciable differences of any functions or in some user experience I had not noticed. But if A7 seemed ambitious attempt to create a smart phone with a twist that works great and looks more expensive than the cost, the A9 is the impression of a little more pumped version of his younger brother.

Performance in both models is clearly not a top, although with all who came to my mind the two goals smartphone coped fine. The fact that for a bonus in the form of a telephoto lens should pay 13 thousand rubles, I'm not sure.

Verdict: A9 - good smartphone, but it seems that Samsung recently showed something of the same quality at a significantly lower amount.

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