Which is better: Galaxy A9 Pro vs Non-pro?
It didn’t take too long for Samsung to release a beefier, faster Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro version after it launched the Galaxy A9 premium mid-ranger a couple of months ago. With a Php 3k or $80 price difference between the two Android phablets, is the Pro really better than the non-pro? Let’s answer that in our in-depth review and comparison.
More comparisons and reviews
Design and build quality
The same looks, a little different in size. And that’s how to distinguish the Pro to non-Pro Galaxy A9. It still looks and feels like 100% the same as the non-pro except for the fact that the Pro is a little heavier and thicker due to the larger battery inside. But we’re guessing you would have a hard time distinguishing it at all until you compare the two.
Both are really unwieldy and large for a comfortable one-hand use, though your mileage will still vary.
The rest are completely the same with the fast fingerprint scanner embedded on the home button, dedicated dual SIM slots, SD card expansion, and microUSB port.
Display and viewing experience
We can find both amazing Super AMOLED screens here. The size remains at 6-inches wide with Gorilla Glass 4 up front and on the back. There’s no change in the resolution either. We have a 1080p Full HD producing a pixel density of 367 pixels per inch. Both displays are exceptionally vivid, sharp and feature great viewing angles.
Camera in still, selfie, HD video
Probably, it is because of the camera of A9 Pro on why it gets the Pro label. The Galaxy A9 Pro sports larger main sensor at 16MP compared to the 13MP of A9. There’s little precious improvements here with a warmer, brighter and more natural-looking pictures on A9 Pro. The sharpness is a bit softer on A9 Pro at day, but a little edgy in low light.
See also: Galaxy A8 vs Xperia M5 vs Xperia C5 Ultra vs Zenfone Selfie Camera Comparison
HDR, low light shooting
The front-facing camera is unchanged from 8MP. Portrait photos look bright but very bland and lack plenty of lively colors.
Front-facing selfie portraits
Both shoot 1080p video with the same quality from their still camera.
If for the camera alone, the A9 does the job as much as the A9 Pro overall.
Performance and benchmark
Both are fast as they’re powered by the same octa-core Snapdragon 652 chip. The A9 Pro has an edge here with 4GB RAM compared to its non-pro with 3GB RAM.
See also: Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro vs Lenovo Vibe K4 Note Full Review
Our actual speed test shows that A9 Pro is faster for a fraction of second in opening apps. The benchmark scores show a little higher rating for A9 Pro. Overall, there’s no really big difference in performance.
Antutu Benchmark
Battery and charging
Perhaps the biggest improvement on A9 Pro is the 5000mAh battery, which is 1000mAh more than on A9 with 4000mAh.
This adds several more hours and putting the A9 Pro in top chart with 45 hours endurance and whooping 6 hours screen-on time.
Despite the relatively large battery, the A9 Pro can still be charged for about 2 hours and 30 minutes with its fast adaptive charger.
Battery life and charging time
Speaker and audio
At first, we thought that the mono speaker on the bottom A9 Pro will perform as on the A9, but surprisingly, the speaker on the former is louder in max volume and a bit crisper overall.
Pricing and Verdict
The Galaxy A9 Pro is running on latest Marshmallow OS out the box with several changes on top and under the hood. Meanwhile, the non-pro in this video is still running on Lollipop but is already scheduled to receive the Android 6.0.1 update in the coming weeks.
In summary, the Pro brings a few improvements but these are the ones that make the Pro A9 really worth it if you are considering buying it between the non-pro A9 2016. For the price difference of around Php 3,000 or less than $80. You will be getting a big jump on battery life and overall better package.
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| Specs, PH Price | Samsung Galaxy A9 PRO | Samsung Galaxy A9 |
| Display | 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED, 367 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4 | 6-inch 1080p Super AMOLED, 401 ppi, Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Size | 7.9m thick, 215g weight | 7.4mm thick, 200g weight |
| Design | 2.5D Curved Glass + Metal | 2.5D Curved Glass + Metal |
| Colors | Pink, Gold, White, Black | Gold, White, Black |
| Chipset & CPU | Snapdragon 652 octa-core | Snapdragon 652 octa-core |
| Graphics | Adreno 510 graphics | Adreno 510 graphics |
| Memory | 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD up to 128GB | 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, microSD up to 128GB |
| Camera | 16MP main, f1.9 lens, Optical Stabilization, 1080p video, LED flash | 13MP main, f1.9 lens, Optical Stabilization, 1080p video, LED flash |
| Selfie | 8MP selfie front-facing | 8MP selfie front-facing |
| Connectivity | 4G dual LTE nano SIM (dedicated), WiFi ac, Bt 4.1, GPS, fingerprint scanner, NFC | 4G dual LTE nano SIM (hybrid), WiFi ac, 4G LTE, Bt 4.1, GPS, fingerprint, NFC |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow, up to Android 7.0 | Android 5.1 Lollipop, up to Marshmallow |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 4000mAh |
| Ports, quick charge | microUSB | microUSB |
| Release date | April 2016 | February 2016 |
| Price | Php 23,500k PH Price / $520 available in Widget City | Php 18,000 PH Price / $450 available in Widget City |
Full video review and comparison of Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro
Just curious, where did you get the black A9 Pro?
you can try ordering from
May I know if there is a LED indicator in the A9 and A9 pro Sir Jade?
No LED indicator, only present on C series as of this writing.
which is better. c7 or a9?
The C7 still does the job for a lower price and I like the all-metal design. So yeah, C7 if the price difference is considerable.
Thank you for that. Can I trust the Widget City for the purchase of A9 or C7. I can’t decide yet what to buy.
You can go directly to their store to check the unit.
Hi Sir. Did you try to buy gadgets from widget city? The items were cheaper than the malls.
Yes. But most of their products only have service warranty that’s why they’re more affordable.
What do you mean Service Warranty? Are all the gadgets original like what we buy on Malls?