Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 And S9+ Add Fourth Color For US
Samsung may have the Note 9 on the horizon, but it's biding its time with a new color version of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ being announced today. Sunrise Gold will be headed to the US from June 24, adding a fourth color option to the existing line-up of Lilac Purple, Coral Blue, and Midnight Black.
As you'd expect from the name, the new Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 and S9+ is, well, gold. A fairly warn gold, too: Samsung's photos almost make it look peachy. The phone-maker says it's actually the first time Samsung has used a satin gloss finish; it also goes on to suggest that gives the gold S9 "a tranquil glow" but we'll leave that up to you to decide.
The rest of the S9 is the same as we've seen – and, as our review suggests, enjoyed – before. That means a 5.8-inch display on the Galaxy S9 and a 6.2-inch panel on the Galaxy S9+, both using Super AMOLED and running at 2,960 x 1,440 resolution. No notch here, though Samsung's top and bottom bezels still manage to be relatively slender.
On the back, there's Samsung's Dual Aperture camera. That can mechanically switch between two different lenses – f/1.5 and f/2.4 – depending on lighting conditions and other factors. The Galaxy S9+ throws in a second sensor alongside it, which is used for depth effects like portrait mode along with an optical zoom.
Though they may not be the newest Android phones on the market at this point, the S9 and S9+ actually hold up very well in a few key areas compared to recent devices from rivals. Samsung's persistence with the headphone jack – sticking with a 3.5mm port even as rivals opt to drop it in favor of audio via USB-C or Bluetooth – is a welcome one for a lot of users. We'd thought wireless charging would be table-stakes for Android handsets in 2018, especially after Apple opted to include the technology in its iPhone range last year, but we're still seeing numerous high-profile phones arrive without it. Samsung, happily, didn't make that mistake.
Then there are welcome features like the microSD card slot, IP68 water and dust resistance, and a design that – though the bezels may not be quite as skinny as some out there – still looks good. No pop-out cameras or notch gimmicks here.
Sales will kick off in the US at Best Buy on June 24. The Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9 will be $719.99 for the 64 GB model, $769.99 for the 128 GB model, and finally $839.99 for the 256 GB model. As for the Sunrise Gold Galaxy S9+, that will be $839.99 for 64 GB, $889.99 for the 128 GB version, and finally $959.99 for the 256 GB. It'll be offered on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, as well as unlocked. If you'd rather, Samsung will be selling the unlocked version of all of the phones direct through its website.