Introduction

The Galaxy S9+ represents one of the most concentrated warship smartphones ever released by Samsung. Even years after launch, it still delivers a premium design, an incredible Super AMOLED display, and a capable dual-aperture camera system. In 2026, the S9+ has transitioned from flagship status to a high-value used phone, appealing to investors who seek flagship build quality at a budget-friendly price. While software support has aged, its hardware experience in 2026, especially in terms of display quality, stereo speakers, and everyday performance, remains to hold up surprisingly well.

At-a-glance specs 

Item	Detail
Model / Focus keyphrase	Galaxy S9+
Display	6.2″ Super AMOLED, QHD+ (2960×1440), meander edges
Chipset	Exynos 9810 (global) / Snapdragon 845 (US/China)
RAM / Storage	6GB RAM typical / 64–256GB storage; microSD up to 400GB
Rear cameras	12MP main (dual-aperture f/1.5–f/2.4) + 12MP tele 2x
Front camera	8MP
Battery	~3500 mAh
OS at launch	Android 8.0 (Oreo)  official updates ended years later
Water resistance	IP68
Audio	Stereo speakers regulated by AKG; no 3.5mm jack

Why this guide? 

This guide is designed to help anyone buying, owning, or estimating a Galaxy S9+ in 2026. Instead of repeating launch-era hype, it focuses on what actually matters now: display longevity, camera performance in modern contexts, battery condition, repairability, and safe used-buying practices. The sections below are structured for both readers and publishers: clear takeaways for buyers, actionable test steps for in-person inspections, and original test ideas publishers can use to captivate links and dwell time.

Design & build  

The S9+ is a legacy of Samsung’s premium design era: metal frame, glass front and back, Curved Infinity Display, and tight tolerances. Compared to many low-cost 2026 devices, that physical fit-and-finish still reads as an instalment; the tactile feel, weight distribution, and the small details (speaker grille machining, camera island finishing) matter when a purchaser holds the phone.

A few practical notes for buyers and publishers:

• If the glass is complete and the frame is straight, the device often retains a newer feel. Look for chips, micro-scratches, and bent frames, signs of drops that may cause internal damage.
• AMOLED displays are prone to burn-in after years of static UI use; checking for faint ghosting in areas that show persistent UI elements (navigation keys, status bar) helps perceive past heavy usage.
• Battery health is the biggest unknown on older phones; it’s the variable that most affects daily experience. We cover determined battery tests below.

Photo tip for your article: high-converting hero images: a set of front and back hero shots, a macro on the fingerprint area, close-ups of the speaker grille and edges. Visual resistant of build quality converts readers.

Display deep dive  

The Galaxy S9+ uses a Super AMOLED display that, for its era, had excellent color, contrast, and peak brightness. Measured numbers from third-party reviewers in 2018 showed wide color gamut participation and very low Delta-E in the Cinema mode, meaning colors were impressively accurate when correctly profiled.

What does that mean in practical terms for 2026 users:

• Blacks are unresolved deep, and the panel still offers excellent understanding contrast for video and photo work.
• Color accuracy is still very good in computed modes (Cinema) and remains attractive for general consumers who prefer vibrant output.
• If you plan to edit photos on-device, the S9+ is still a surprisingly good reference for many natural workflows.

Publishable assets and tests

• Side-by-side images differentiate the Adaptive vs Cinema modes.
• A table of measured numbers (nits, Delta-E, sRGB/Display P3 coverage) with linked sources for original measurements.
• A downloadable 1000px comparison image that the buyer can zoom in on.

Quick tips for buyers

• Use Cinema mode for more detailed, neutral colors.
• Choose Full HD+ resolution to save battery in daily use; reserve QHD+ only for when you necessitate the extra pixels.
• Inspect used phones for lopsided brightness, faint vertical bands, and signs of burn-in.

Performance & hardware  

The Exynos 9810 and Snapdragon 845 constitute flagship silicon in 2018. Paired with 6GB of RAM, the S9+ handles typical 2026 daily tasks such as messaging, social media, streaming, and light polytasking with little friction. Heavy, modern games or AR/ML workloads will push older silicon and may show more throttling and slower load times compared to today’s flagship silicon.

What to test when you hold one

1. Open the camera app and shoot a few successive photos to check app responsiveness and write speeds.
2. Play a YouTube video while streaming chat apps in the background to validate multitasking behavior.
3. Running a longer gaming session and feeling for heat and frame drops, thermal throttling can reduce experience performance.

Camera deep dive  

Samsung fitted the S9+ main camera with a variable aperture that switches between f/1.5 (wider, better for low-light) and f/2.4 (narrower, better in bright scenes). The intended effect is better low-light capture without permanently acquired sharpness or depth of field in bright daylight.

How it behaves in 2026

• For relaxed snapshots and social sharing, the S9+ still produces pleasing images, often leaning toward brighter exposure and increased sharpening compared to conservative modern tuning.
• The dual-aperture is a tangible convenience in single-frame low-light captures, but it can’t match modern multi-frame, neural HDR that uses dozens of frames and deep-learning denoising.
• The 2x tele lens is useful for tighter framing and portraits, but lacks the advanced multi-frame control modern tele systems provide.

Publishable tests (unique assets)

• Controlled RAW low-light tests were conducted at both aperture settings on a tripod (publish RAWs for download).
• Pixel-level crops from low-light, backlit, and 2x tele tests.
• A detailed methodology section listing ISO, shutter priority choices, capture RAW + JPG, and editing steps. Offering original RAWs is a high-value advantage that attracts backlinks and increases reader engagement.

Super slow-mo & tele

The S9+ popularized quick-hit features like super slow-motion. It’s still an engaging feature to showcase in hands-on video content, but it has practical limitations: short capture windows and heavy lighting requirements. For editorial content, incorporate annotated frames, sample clips, and step-by-step tips for capturing good slow-mo. The 2x tele lens remains useful for portraits, but does not have modern computational portrait retouching. It’s best used in well-lit conditions or as a compositional tool rather than a low-light hero.

Battery life & charging  

At launch, the S9+ registered solid executions in contemporary benchmarks, but by 2026, a used battery often delivers far less. Battery degradation is the dominant factor that changes day-to-day usability on older phones.

Practical battery thresholds for buyers

• >85% health: Good, treat as normal.
• 70–85%: Acceptable if the price is adjusted; anticipate partial-day heavier use.
• <70%: Consider replacement unless the price reflects the repair cost.

How to check battery health

• Android lacks a built-in cycle counter like iOS; use diagnostic apps or service menus when possible.
• Ask the retailer for screenshots from battery-health apps or run the checks yourself before purchase.
• Watch for unusual heating while charging or dramatic drops in battery percentage after short use.

Tips to extend battery life

• Avoid leaving the phone on fast charge overnight frequently.
• Keep the battery between severely 20–80% for a longer lifespan when possible.
• Limit background refresh and use adaptive brightness.

Cost note

Battery replacement costs vary generally by region and vendor. When publishing, include local bands for replacement pricing to aid buyer decision-making and affiliate conversions.

Software

Samsung’s official major OS and security update cadence for the S9 series ended several years after launch. Buyers in 2026 should presume that regular security patches are no longer provided, unless Samsung issues a rare out-of-cycle update.

What to do if you buy an S9+ in 2026

• Practice conservative app hygiene: avoid unknown APKs, keep installed apps updated, and use respected app sources.
• Consider community ROMs (e.g., LineageOS) only if you are technically comfortable. Custom ROMs can reintroduce security updates, but come with tradeoffs: unlocking and flashing can decrease some device security guarantees and may affect proprietary features.
• For general users, keeping stock firmware and applying good security execution (strong screen lock, two-factor Authentication, restricted app permissions) is the safer path.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent Super AMOLED display with deep blacks and elevated contrast.
• Dual-aperture main camera with very capable low-light results for its generation.
• Premium build and stereophonic audio tuned by AKG.
• microSD expansion is rare in many modern flagships and still very useful in 2026.
• Good value on used markets when battery health is good.

Cons

• Official software and security updates have substantially ended this matter for risk-averse users.
• Camera processing sometimes over-sharpens or overexposes compared to more modern, conservative tuning.
• Battery wear is the biggest inconstant and often requires replacement to restore full usability.
• Not future-proof for heavy gaming or modern AR workloads.

FAQs 

Conclusion

The Galaxy S9+ remains a strangely Capable Smartphone for budget-focused buyers in 2026. Its display quality, premium build, and reliable cameras still outperform many newer entry-level devices. However, buyers must understand the trade-offs in 2026, mainly aging software support and undeveloped battery wear. If you find a well-maintained unit and are willing to replace the battery if needed, the S9+ can still deliver a flagship-like experience at a fraction of the original price. For users who prioritize long-term updates and modern computational photography, a newer replacement may be the better investment.