What are some of the best Samsung Galaxy S9 alternatives?

The recently launched Samsung Galaxy S9 is an impressive phones with great specs and interesting features. Even so, there are still plenty of reasons you might want to pass on Samsung’s new flagship.

Maybe you want a phone with a bigger screen or you’re not a fan or the whole curved display thingy. Maybe the Galaxy S9 doesn’t even fit your budget. So for this article, we’ve rounded some of the best Galaxy S9 alternatives out there that you might want to consider.

Samsung Galaxy S8

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• The Galaxy S8 is Samsung’s last year’s flagship. Nevertheless, the Galaxy S8 looks almost identical to the Galaxy S9 and even though it does not come with the latest Snapdragon 845 processor or the new camera, it’s still a great phone.
• Now that the Galaxy S9 is out, there’s a big chance you’ll be able to score a great deal on the Galaxy S8. For example, the unlocked Galaxy S8 is currently available with $125 off from Samsung itself or retailers like Best Buy.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• Launched back in August 2017, the Galaxy Note 8 is a more recent flagship than the Galaxy S8.
• While it features more or less the same hardware as the Galaxy Note 8 takes advantage of the S Pen, which turns the phone into a productivity beast.
• Speaking of which, the Galaxy Note 8 comes with a large AMOLED 6.3-inch display, so it’s perfect for those who prefer larger phones.
• The Galaxy Note 8 offers a dual-camera (but no variable aperture), which can’t be said of the Galaxy S9. Only the larger Galaxy S9+ comes equipped with two sensors on the back.

Sony Xperia XZ2

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

Don’t like phones with a curved display? Well, maybe you’d like to consider Sony’s new Xperia XZ2 flagship. It’s the first Sony phone to benefit from the company’s new Ambient Flow design. So this year the Japanese phone marker finally jumped on board with the 18:9 aspect ratio trend.

• The Xperia XZ2 is on par with the Galaxy S9 spec-wise including a Snapdragon 845, 4GB of RAM and Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
• However, the 19-megapixel rear-facing camera is capable of shooting super slow-mo videos at 960fps at 1080p. In contrasts, the Galaxy S9’s camera can capture only slow-motion video at 720p.
• The Sony Xperia XZ2 has a larger 3,180 mAh battery when compared to the 3,000 mAh powerhouse inside the Galaxy S9.

LG V30

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• The V30 is LG’s current flagship which comes with a host of very impressive specs including a 6-inch P-OLED QHD+ display with 18:9 aspect ratio, a Snapdragon 835 processor and dual-cameras (16-megapixel+13-megapixel).
• The LG V30 is a phone aimed at audiophiles. It bundles a new Hi-Fi DAC which brings features such as digital filters and sound presets. LG and B&O Play have also collaborated together to offer a fine-tuned audio experience.
• Video is also a big part of the LG V30 experience. There’s a new feature called Cine Video that lets users apply movie-grade hues to filters and videos.
• Last but not least, the V30 has a 3,300 mAh battery, which is larger than the Galaxy S9’s 3,000 mAh one. The Galaxy S9+ relies on a 3,500 mAh power source.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• The phone ships with a 6-inch bezel-less AMOLED display, powered by an 8-core Kirin 970 chipset. Plus, you get 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
• The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is a phone aimed at photographers who especially love to shoot black-and-white photos. The Leica-branded 20-megapixel + 12-megapixel rear camera is certainly one of the biggest highlights here.
• A big 4,000 mAh battery is another important benefit of getting the Mate 10 Pro.

Google Pixel 2 XL

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• Google’s last year Pixel 2 XL, is a great Galaxy S9 alternative. It comes with the 2017 flagship-level specs including a bezel-display with 18:9 aspect ratio, a Snapdragon 835 and a great (albeit single sensor) camera.
• The Pixel 2 XL should be high on the list of those who want to get be first in line when it comes to getting the newest software updates. We all know it takes ages for Samsung to roll out new updates.
• The Pixel 2 XL packs a 3,520 mAh battery which is even larger than the Galaxy S9+’s juice box.

OnePlus 5T

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• Looking for something more on the affordable side? Well, then you should definitely consider getting the OnePlus 5T, the company’s latest “flagship killer”.
• Packing a modern design, an AMOLED display, powerful Snapdragon 835 and up to 8GB of RAM, the OnePlus 5T can be yours for an affordable $559 (at least compared to the Galaxy S9).
• The package also includes a dual-camera setup (although to be fair, it’s not the best) and a 3,300 mAh battery.

Coming soon

ASUS ZenFone 5Z

Why it’s a great Galaxy S9 alternative:

• Bored of curved displays? Well the ASUS ZenFone 5Z might spice things up for you, as it introduces a design inspired by the iPhone X, complete with the Notch.
• Since it was launched at MWC 2018, the ZenFone 5Z offers similar internal specs as the Galaxy S9 including a Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB or 8GB of RAM variants.
• Price is where the ZenFone 5Z truly amazes. The phone is expected to go on sale for $499 and up. The bad news is that you might have to wait until summer to be able to get it.