My Plan for the Samsung Galaxy S9+ (Premium)

As has been the case for several years now, Samsung’s flagship phones cannot be ignored. The firm, together with Apple, looms large over the industry. And while Samsung was originally nipping at Apple’s heels from innovation and design perspectives, those roles have reversed in recent years. Now, it is Samsung on the leading edge of both innovation and design. And Apple is the one playing catch-up.

Last year, I almost pulled the trigger on Samsung with the Galaxy S8+.

As you may recall, I ordered the device immediately, excited by its leading-edge design and high-end specifications. And I was blown away by the sheer quality of the device. It was, still is, an impressive if overwhelming handset.

But 2017 was a transition year for the Thurrotts. After having lived in Dedham, Massachusetts for most of my life, and having raised both of my kids there, my wife, daughter, and I abruptly and unexpectedly decided to move. (Our son is in college.) Eventually, that decision landed us at a family home in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. But before that happened, there was some uncertainty. And one of the things that got caught up in that sudden uncertainty was the Galaxy S8+.

I was still testing the Galaxy S8+ on the road trip—to Montreal; Stowe, Vermont; and then Pennsylvania—during which the decision to move was made. And once this life-altering change was decided on, it was pretty clear that spending about $900 on a new phone was, perhaps, not the best choice at that time. And so I returned the S8+ to Samsung.

Now, almost a year later, we just passed the six-month mark here in Pennsylvania—we finally moved in August 2017—and Samsung is back with a major update to the S8+. Creatively called the Galaxy S9+, this new handset fixes the biggest design issue I had with the S8+—the awkward fingerprint reader location—and offers a dramatically improved camera. So I’ve pre-ordered one. And for two reasons. One professional, one personal.

To the first point, I will review the device, of course. And two, I’m eager to see if I can replace my Google Pixel 2 XL. Which, despite its excellent camera, infuriates me on almost all other points. I’ve been plotting its demise almost since the moment I got it.

When I purchased the Galaxy S8+ last year, I had no intention of returning it. Some probably still don’t believe that, and I’ve received feedback from some readers that indicates they think I do that kind of thing all the time: Buy a device, review it, and then return it. That is simply not true. But it is true that about a year ago, I did do this because of unforeseen circumstances. (My move.)

It is also true that doing so is a perfectly viable alternative when a hardware maker, in this case, Samsung, refuses to provide me with a review unit. And so, having tried and failed to convince Samsung that I should be reviewing their products—their PR firm told me I’d be getting a Note8 in late 2017 and then dropped off the face of the earth—I’m going to plan B.

And plan B works like this: I’m buying this thing with my own money. And I’m going to review it. And then I’m going to return it, guilt-free. Because, seriously.

But with this particular device, there’s also a Plan C. And it kind of turns last year’s events on their head. If this phone works out as well it I think it might, I’m going to keep it. And then I’m going to rid myself of the Pixel 2 XL. That’s going to be a good day, whenever it happens.

So we’ll see. This process of switching phones, which would be a seamless non-event for most people, is complicated by the fact that I’m also using Google’s Project Fi cellular service. I love Project Fi for many reasons, but the big downside here is that the service is limited to only a very short list of phones. And the Galaxy S9+ is not on that list.

For me to switch to the Samsung, then, I will need to switch carriers, too, and move my phone number to a new service. And I will need to figure out international data access, since one of Project Fi’s biggest benefits is that using the service internationally does not cost extra. Put simply, this isn’t as easy as switching phones. At least not for me.

Regardless of my personal needs, I feel that Samsung’s new flagships will prove to be excellent choices for many, and viable alternatives to Apple’s best. There are going to be Samsung weirdisms, from their kooky UI and UX peculiarities to outright terriblenesses such as Bixby and its dedicated hardware button. I’m going to figure it all out.

That’s the plan, anyway. I’ve got a Samsung Galaxy S9+ coming to my home next week, about ten days later than I would like, given that the formal first impressions articles from other, better-connected bloggers and journalists are now appearing online. I’ll need to scramble to catch-up. But I’ll also want to give this one the attention. Because this time, it really is personal.