Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) Review

The Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) is a mid-range phone built around its camera system, carrying four separate lenses on the back. Samsung introduced it as the first smartphone with four rear cameras. This review covers the design and build, the display, the performance and software, the four-camera setup, and the battery.

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Design & Build

The Galaxy A9 (2018) comes in three colors: Night Black, Gasoline Blue, and Candy Pink. The unit reviewed here is Gasoline Blue. It measures 7.8 mm thick and weighs 183 grams, and its curved edges make it feel slim in the hand.

A fingerprint scanner sits on the back. The bottom edge holds a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, and the speaker, and a pair of headphones is included in the box. A Bixby button is on the left edge, while the power and volume keys are on the right. The SIM and microSD trays are on the top edge, and the microSD slot supports cards up to 512 GB. There is no Dual-SIM version in the US, so users who need two SIM cards will not find that option here.

Display

The Galaxy A9 (2018) has a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED screen with thin, curved edges and an 80 percent screen-to-body ratio. The resolution is 1080 x 2220 with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio and no notch, giving a pixel density of 393 ppi. The panel is Full HD+ rather than QHD. Brightness reaches 466 nits, which keeps the screen readable in direct sunlight.

Performance & Software

The Galaxy A9 (2018) runs Android 8.0 with Samsung Experience UI 9.0. The Advanced Settings include a one-handed mode and a Game Launcher for games. The chipset is an octa-core design, with four cores at 2.2 GHz and four at 1.8 GHz. Storage is 128 GB, and the phone is offered in 6 GB and 8 GB RAM versions. Connectivity covers 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5, and FM radio.

Camera

The Galaxy A9 (2018) carries four rear cameras and a single 24 MP front camera. The table below lists each sensor and its role.

Camera	Resolution	Role
Main	24 MP, f/1.7	Primary shots
Telephoto	10 MP	2x zoom
Ultra-wide	8 MP	120-degree field of view
Depth	5 MP	Bokeh and depth
Front	24 MP	Selfies

In Auto mode, users can switch quickly between the wide-angle, 1x, and 2x zoom views, and Live Bokeh is available for depth effects. The main camera is the strongest of the set, including in low light; the ultra-wide, telephoto, and depth sensors are lower in resolution and handle their specific roles rather than matching the main sensor.

For video, the Galaxy A9 (2018) records Full HD and 4K at 30 fps. There is no 60 fps option and no optical image stabilization. The camera interface includes Panorama, Professional, Beauty, Fast Motion, and Ultra Slow Motion modes, along with an Image Intelligence mode that adjusts color based on the scene and background.

Battery

The Galaxy A9 (2018) has a 3800 mAh battery. In normal use it lasts about 9.5 hours and holds up across a full day. Recording Full HD video at full brightness runs close to 13 hours. Fast charging brings the battery to full in 1 hour and 40 minutes. There is no wireless charging.

Who Is Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) For?

The Galaxy A9 (2018) suits users who want a flexible multi-camera setup — ultra-wide, telephoto, and depth lenses alongside the main sensor — on a mid-range phone with a large Super AMOLED screen and 128 GB of storage. Users who rely on Dual-SIM should note that the US version is single-SIM, and the phone does not include wireless charging. For users who value the four-camera system and the AMOLED display, it is a strong fit.