Galaxy S9 Tipped Release Specs: An Early Look At 2 Models

Today we're having a peek at the Galaxy S9, what Samsung phone lovers will likely be considering when it's time to trade in their Galaxy S7 or S8 this Spring. This next smartphone from Samsung will almost certainly come in two sizes, the same sort of release pair that've come from the company over the last few years. The images and specifications you'll be looking at below should not be used as a guide for what to bet on this February, but as guidance for what'll be especially likely.

The first thing we're going to do today is get a fake "leak" out of the way. This image is floating around a whole bunch of publications early today with a suggestion that it's the first Galaxy S9 photograph. In reality, it's a pixelated-border photograph of a Samsung flip phone. This image was picked up by SlashLeaks user Madsimar, spread like wildfire, then deleted once it was clear it was a falsified leak.

Once the post was deleted, Madsimar's score for "legit" leaks went back up to perfect, because SlashLeaks system for said reputation scoring is completely broken. Also unfortunate is the fact that publications continued to cite SlashLeaks for the image because of their watermarking system. They continued to link to SlashLeaks despite no actual URL existing for said exact source.

We're having a peek at a screenshot this morning from a Samsung app which shows a new sort of Samsung device. Unlike any Samsung smartphone that's come before it, the device in the illustration likely shows the Galaxy S9. This device is one of two devices that'll be revealed by Samsung, the other having an ever-so-slightly different backside.

The image above came from a Weibo user called GrownSSPer who's since deleted the post they made with the image at hand. While a similar situation occurred in the "housekeeping" section above and resulted in our distrust, the Weibo nature of this second piece of evidence makes the opposite conclusion seem more realistic. When a Weibo user deletes a post, it's less likely they're hiding their tracks, and far more likely they've had a request to remove said media.

As such, the following set of renders from the folks at Samsungmobile dot News are quite likely fairly accurate. They've also made an interesting pros/cons list which you'll see above. They've got their angles right, the borders all seem in order, and the likelihood that Samsung would continue to use an Infinity Display rings true, too. The SMN folks have created renderings of the Galaxy S9 and its larger sibling, the Galaxy S9 Plus in several colors.

Below you'll find a set of specifications we've gathered over the past several weeks. We'll continue to tweak and update this list in future posts as additional details are revealed. Note that no single detail is yet confirmed by Samsung itself just yet.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S9:

• Display (S9): 5.8-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED (570 PPI)• Processor in USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845)• Processor Internationally: Samsung Exynos 9810• RAM: 4 or 6 GB• Internal Storage: 64GB, 128GB (options)• MicroSD Slot: Yes, 256GB potential• Connectivity: Bluetooth LE, NFC, USB-C, Cat 18 LTE support• Camera (backside): Single lens: 12MP (f/2.4, 52mm, 1/3.6, 1 µm, AF), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, LED flash• Camera (front facing): 8 MP (f/1.7, 25mm, 1/3.6, 1.22 µm), autofocus, 1440p@30fps, dual video call, Auto HDR• Sensors: Iris scanner, 3D sensor, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2• Battery: 3100 mAh, USB-C, Quick Charge 2.0 or higher, wireless charging with Qi standard• Headphone Jack: MAYBE.• Additional Features: Samsung DeX, ANT+ support, Bixby AI personal assistant, AKG stereo speakers

SAMSUNG GALAXY S9 Plus:

• Display (S9+): 6.2-inch QHD+ Super AMOLED (529 PPI)• Processor in USA: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (SDM845)• Processor Internationally: Samsung Exynos 9810• RAM: 4 or 6 GB• Internal Storage: 64GB, 128GB (options)• MicroSD Slot: Yes, 256GB potential• Connectivity: Bluetooth LE, NFC, USB-C, Cat 18 LTE support• Camera (backside): Dual lens: 12 MP (f/1.7, 26mm, 1/2.55, 1.4 µm, Dual Pixel PDAF) AND 12MP (f/2.4, 52mm, 1/3.6, 1 µm, AF), OIS, phase detection autofocus, 2x optical zoom, LED flash• Camera (front facing): 8 MP (f/1.7, 25mm, 1/3.6, 1.22 µm), autofocus, 1440p@30fps, dual video call, Auto HDR• Sensors: Iris scanner, 3D sensor, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2• Battery: 3600 mAh, USB-C, Quick Charge 2.0 or higher, wireless charging with Qi standard• Headphone Jack: MAYBE.• Additional Features: Samsung DeX, ANT+ support, Bixby AI personal assistant, AKG stereo speakers

The release date for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus is not yet confirmed, but rumors point to late March. Earlier reports suggested the Galaxy S9 would not be "previewed" or "teased" at CES 2018, but that it could well appear at Mobile World Congress 2018. In the past, MWC has been the home to some big-time Samsung smartphone releases.

If Samsung does indeed choose MWC 2018 as home for their Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus release, they'll likely schedule for the Sunday or Monday before the main series of events. That means either February 24th or February 25th is the event date for the Galaxy S9 in 2018. Also consider a Barcelona night event on the night of the 25th at 8PM local time. That'd be 1PM Central Time here in the United States – perfect timing for a mid-day USA event in NYC and late morning in California.

Stick around for more information on the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus as data plops down on our desk in the next few weeks. We'll be bringing you all the most magical Galaxy smartphone data until then, and well through the future!