So, who's gonna get an S9?

[WelshBloke]

Camera is looking pretty damn good in the pre reviews. I don't really like the idea of pre orders but it might be nice to get one on the 9th March.

 

[Zaap]

I agree in public. My phone spends 100% of its time with the silent switch on.

In my house, I'll use the phone speakers quite often. The difference between a 6S and a 7 was pretty large with the addition of stereo sound.

At home though you can connect to a much better actual sound system or even a decent Bluetooth speaker.

Personally I'm glad phone makers don't sacrafice too much of the phones other features to make tiny crap speakers sound like much more than what they are in *any* case... tiny crap speakers.

 

[ZGR]

I love using my crappy phone speakers for audiobooks at home. I do use bluetooth headphones, but when I'm doing house work or gardening, I prefer using the phone speakers; even for tv shows or movies.

 

[WelshBloke]

The only time I use the speakers is watching Netflix in the bath!

 

[Oyeve]

Camera is looking pretty damn good in the pre reviews. I don't really like the idea of pre orders but it might be nice to get one on the 9th March.

Dxo gave the s9+ a 99. Displaymate also gave it #1 display rank.

 

[WelshBloke]

Dxo gave the s9+ a 99. Displaymate also gave it #1 display rank.

Samsung OLEDs have been pretty amazing for a few generations already, I have no worries about the display being the best available.
The camera looks like it's going to be significantly better at low light stuff than the previous generation.

Personally all I need to know is what the battery life is like and if there are any teething problems or bugs with it.

 

[WelshBloke]

Heh. Just put a preorder in for a black S9 plus 128gb with Amazon. Should arrive on the 10th March!

 

[Anubis]

I am genuinely baffled, baffled I say, by anybody that requires or uses speakers in a phone for anything other than ringtones.

sweet im not alone

 

[nOOky]

I want to play with the S9 hands on before I commit the money, especially since it will be for the wife and she's not as tech-savvy as most users. As for speakers, more decibels requires larger drivers, and if the goal is to be slim and light that kind of goes against that goal. To that end one small speaker that lets you hear your phone ringing is all I need, I understand other users might want more volume, but if it's going to be in a specific spot I'd just grab a cheap BT speaker these days.

 

[richaron]

Obviously the biggest thing going for the S9 is the camera. And I actually use my phone camera a lot, not necessarily to capture vacation pics but it's useful instead of taking notes so if the lower aperture can help with lower light shots or if the lower shutter speed can capture a clearer picture then I'd rate it as a positive...

Everything else is meh over a S8. It's still a nice phone. Screen is still awesome. CPU is still way more powerful than necessary (albeit more so). And as far as I'm concerned phone speakers have reached a "good enough" zone for speaker calls and crappy video audio a long time ago. They're never going to reach "good enough" zone for music or normal video, so I think a set of speakers is a much better investment.

 

[dullard]

I am genuinely baffled, baffled I say, by anybody that requires or uses speakers in a phone for anything other than ringtones.

I use my phone's speakers fairly regularly.

• Navigation in cars without bluetooth (rental cars or just when driving a family member's car). It is great to play your own music and then have the map software speak when needed.
• Playing a quick phone game. I'm not carrying around speakers / headphones to the toilet just for three minutes of rest.
• When working at someone else's house. I often help out friends/family with a move, painting, out in their garden, or just grilling some meat. I put my phone on to some music as there often isn't anything else around to play music. I certainly don't want to store speakers in every car that I drive just in case I may be asked to help out.
• Entertaining my nieces/nephew.
• Seeing a quick movie trailer when movie conversations arise. Going to get a player and set of speakers for a 2 minute trailer seems silly.
• Etc.

If I wanted to sit for hours listening to quality music, then no I do not use my phone's speakers. But they come in handy in many situations. Since the cost is negligible, you might as well have quality sound instead of a tin can sound.

 

[WelshBloke]

Since the cost is negligible, you might as well have quality sound instead of a tin can sound.

I think that the point is that even the best phone speakers don't have quality sound, they are just slightly less crappy but still fairly crappy.

 

[Zaap]

If I wanted to sit for hours listening to quality music, then no I do not use my phone's speakers. But they come in handy in many situations. Since the cost is negligible, you might as well have quality sound instead of a tin can sound.

Hey each person's use is their own preference. My only thing is the last part of your post... there's not (IMO) really any such thing as 'quality' sound on tiny phone speakers. Just different varieties of crap. So as much as you wouldn't maybe want a Bluetooth speaker with you for the very few times you may need one (like helping out at a friends house for instance) I wouldn't want the design of my phone compromised to carry around with me supposedly less crappy... crappy sound.

The (negligible) benefit to the 'less crappy' crappy little speakers wouldn't outweigh the amount of awfulness that'd have to bulk up the phone design.

These things will just never be little boomboxes by themselves. For most things like a quick preview of a trailer or something the basic crap sound is passable. Thankfully haven't rented a car awful enough not to have BT or even a direct connection in at least 4 years. (And I'm not at all spendy on rentals. Most of any decent fleet have these things now).

 

[Zaap]

Heh. Just put a preorder in for a black S9 plus 128gb with Amazon. Should arrive on the 10th March!

Sweet!

 

[ibex333]

I am genuinely baffled, baffled I say, by anybody that requires or uses speakers in a phone for anything other than ringtones.

Most of my media consumption happens on the phone. Movies, you-tube, reading random internet stuff, social media, all this happens on the phone 90% of the time. The only thing I do on the PC is pretty much just work and video games. So now you can see why quality speakers are extremely important.

Besides, if you gonna start saying how baffled you are by anybody that requires good speakers on a phone, then where exactly do we draw the line on this topic? We can continue by saying we are baffled by anyone that needs a good camera on a phone, or event a descent screen... Lets go back to the stone age, and say that all we need the phone for is to make calls... Nothing else.

See what I did there?

 

[WelshBloke]

Sweet!

I'm a bit gutted that slickwraps aren't doing their natural series skins any more. I really liked the real leather ones.

 

[richaron]

Most of my media consumption happens on the phone. Movies, you-tube, reading random internet stuff, social media, all this happens on the phone 90% of the time. The only thing I do on the PC is pretty much just work and video games. So now you can see why quality speakers are extremely important.

Besides, if you gonna start saying how baffled you are by anybody that requires good speakers on a phone, then where exactly do we draw the line on this topic? We can continue by saying we are baffled by anyone that needs a good camera on a phone, or event a descent screen... Lets go back to the stone age, and say that all we need the phone for is to make calls... Nothing else.

See what I did there?

I think it was some take on reductio ad absurdum... Except you were using strawmen to make a point.

 

[WelshBloke]

Most of my media consumption happens on the phone. Movies, you-tube, reading random internet stuff, social media, all this happens on the phone 90% of the time. The only thing I do on the PC is pretty much just work and video games. So now you can see why quality speakers are extremely important.

Besides, if you gonna start saying how baffled you are by anybody that requires good speakers on a phone, then where exactly do we draw the line on this topic? We can continue by saying we are baffled by anyone that needs a good camera on a phone, or event a descent screen... Lets go back to the stone age, and say that all we need the phone for is to make calls... Nothing else.

See what I did there?

The point being made is that you dont have quality speakers on your phone.

 

[Zaap]

I'm a bit gutted that slickwraps aren't doing their natural series skins any more. I really liked the real leather ones.

I've had DBrand skins on my devices since the Note 7. (Pretty sure it was you that told me about skins in the first place).
Last Black Friday I bought several different DBrand skins on sale for my Note 8 but haven't got to try any yet. Still loving the bamboo skin on the back. I never put on the front.

The slickwrap skins look really nice. Might have to see how they compare to my surplus of DBrands.

You'll likely own the S9 long before I even see one in the wild! Looks like a great device.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've had DBrand skins on my devices since the Note 7. (Pretty sure it was you that told me about skins in the first place).
Last Black Friday I bought several different DBrand skins on sale for my Note 8 but haven't got to try any yet. Still loving the bamboo skin on the back. I never put on the front.

I'm a big fan of skins, I really don't like using cases.
The slickwrap skins look really nice. Might have to see how they compare to my surplus of DBrands.

I don't think that there's a great deal of difference between debrand and slickwraps for most of the skins, they both use laser cut 3M vinyl. I just like the real leather ones that slickwraps do, they age really well plus they are a bit thicker and grippier that the regular ones.

You'll likely own the S9 long before I even see one in the wild! Looks like a great device.

It's supposed to arrive on Saturday but I live in the sticks so I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't turn up until Monday.

 

[Anubis]

Most of my media consumption happens on the phone. Movies, you-tube, reading random internet stuff, social media, all this happens on the phone 90% of the time. The only thing I do on the PC is pretty much just work and video games. So now you can see why quality speakers are extremely important.

Besides, if you gonna start saying how baffled you are by anybody that requires good speakers on a phone, then where exactly do we draw the line on this topic? We can continue by saying we are baffled by anyone that needs a good camera on a phone, or event a descent screen... Lets go back to the stone age, and say that all we need the phone for is to make calls... Nothing else.

See what I did there?

if that were true i would question why you haven't invested in even a crappy pair or headphones. or do you fell that everyone around you needs to listen to your media consumption

 

[ibex333]

if that were true i would question why you haven't invested in even a crappy pair or headphones. or do you fell that everyone around you needs to listen to your media consumption

When I'm at home, I have the right to do whatever I want however I want to do it. There's no one around me. I live alone. So why would I use headphones at home? On the train I use them. Apple AirPods. Best wireless buds I ever used.

 

[WelshBloke]

When I'm at home, I have the right to do whatever I want however I want to do it. There's no one around me. I live alone. So why would I use headphones at home? On the train I use them. Apple AirPods. Best wireless buds I ever used.

So why not use a Bluetooth speaker or an Apple homepod if you're home alone? The sound would be orders of magnitude better even with a cheap speaker.

 

[Oyeve]

So why not use a Bluetooth speaker or an Apple homepod if you're home alone? The sound would be orders of magnitude better even with a cheap speaker.

Don't feed the fruit troll. He will never be convinced. I myself am interested in samsungs implementation of stereo speakers but it definitely was not a driving force for me to order one. On my S8+ and Note 8 I have noticed that the speaker sounds better and a bit louder than my iphone 7 and louder than my Pixel 2.

 

[WelshBloke]

Don't feed the fruit troll. He will never be convinced. I myself am interested in samsungs implementation of stereo speakers but it definitely was not a driving force for me to order one. On my S8+ and Note 8 I have noticed that the speaker sounds better and a bit louder than my iphone 7 and louder than my Pixel 2.

Are you thinking of going from an S8+ to an S9+? You get through a lot of phones then?!