Samsung’s latest addition to the Galaxy A series is the new high mid-ranger Samsung Galaxy A9. We didn’t waste time anymore since we’ve received the unit. We unboxed and put our hands-on to it along with the Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 2016 editions.
More posts and reviews on Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) unboxing, first impressions
- Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) unboxing, first impressions
- Samsung Galaxy A8 Review
Unboxing: What’s in the retail box of the Samsung Galaxy A9?
Just like the 2016 versions of the Galaxy A5 and A7, the Galaxy A9 distinguishes itself from past A-series handsets through the premium retail packaging similar to Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S7.
- Samsung Galaxy A9 white unit with sealed 4000mAh battery
- SIM ejector tool
- Quick-guide manuals
- Adaptive fast charger at 2.0A for 5V, 1.5A for 9V
- Samsung stereo earbuds
- MicroUSB cable
First Impressions: What can the Galaxy A9 offer?
The Samsung Galaxy A9 boasts an identical premium design as to the Galaxy A5 and A7–all were inspired by the Galaxy S6 with their metal and glass built.
From the front view, we’ve thought that the handset looked a little like Sony’s Xperia C5 Ultra white unit due to thin bezel on sides. Nevertheless, thanks to its smooth texture and curved corners, the handset felt really good and easy to handle.
Just like 2016 Galaxy A5 and A7, its menu button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, and its fast and accurate like the sensor on Galaxy S6.
So far, the software experience is rich and fluid. TouchWiz integration is similar to its top tier models with Android 5.1 Lollipop OS on top. The Galaxy A9 is powered by the new octa-core Snapdragon 652 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM.
See also Samsung Galaxy Note 5 full review
The massive 4000mAh battery capacity simply had no trouble in lasting up to a full 2-day with normal usage. Charging time is around 1 hour and 45 minutes, though we will still further test it to get a more accurate results.
The Galaxy A9, despite having a few strengths here and there is still a mid-ranger and there’s a few departments that prove it otherwise. One, in particular, is the camera department. Results are mixed especially when shooting at low light and night scenes.
On the other hand, the camera was able to launch quickly and capture photos in a just a second. Furthermore, Samsung has introduced OIS in all Galaxy A series this 2016 starting from the A5 up to A9. Let’s see on how will the cameras of the trio fare against the other midrange including the Xperia M5 and Xperia C5 Ultra.
Price and Availability
The Samsung Galaxy A9 is currently available through online stores nationwide, with a price tag ranging from Php25-28K pesos SRP. Stay tuned for the Galaxy A9 comprehensive comparisons and full review.
Samsung Galaxy A9 Hands-on, Unboxing Video
Samsung Galaxy A9 specs, PH price, features
- Display: 6-inch 1080p FHD Super AMOLED display, 367ppi
- Chipset: Snapdragon 652 chip, octa-core processor
- RAM: 3GB
- Memory: 32GB internal storage, 128GB microSD card max (dedicated)
- Main camera: 13MP rear shooter, f/1.9 aperture, OIS
- Video: 1080p video recording
- Front camera: 8MP selfie shooter, f/1.9 aperture
- Connectivity: 4G nano LTE, WiFi ac, BT 4.1, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, FM Radio with RDS
- OS: Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, to be upgraded to Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Battery: 4000mAh capacity, fast charging
- Release Date: March – April 2016 Availability
- Official price: Php25-28K estimated SRP in the Philippines
does it have a notification LED?
Hi. I will check, I think there is one on top near the camera 🙂