I think it's a pretty safe bet that I'll be returning to Samsung this year from my current Nexus 6P. I tried "The Stock Experiment" after using an international variant S3 before it, and found that I'm bored by stock Android. Despite its speed (which is starting to slow a bit on the 6P), there's nothing to stock. What cemented it for me was my disappointment with Google, in having the gall to ask consumers to pay $1000+ when all is said and done, for IMHO, the inferior hardware of the Pixel 2 XL as a showcase for their software. No thanks.
The question now is, do I go with the S9+, or the Note 9? I'm leaving out the Note 8 because, as a female, I have smaller hands and hate the placement of the fingerprint sensor. Now, if you're one who has no use for the S Pen, this won't apply to you, but here is my thinking. The way I see it, the release of the S line of phones is like a beta test. Those that buy it are basically getting a template of a device with features on it that are set to be on the next Note as well, along with anything else Samsung decides to add to sweeten the package. When you think about it, it makes sense, given that the Note line is Samsung's premiere flagship. No other company has even dared to bring a comparable device to the table (no, not even the LG Stylo
).
So, the "First World Problems" question I ask is, do I go for the S9+ when it undoubtedly drops in price this summer, or do I wait for the Note 9 to be released in August/September? I've never had a Note, so I don't know how important the S Pen would be to me, but if I'm going to spend $1000+ when all is said and done, including applicable taxes, accessories and protection plan, I may as well get the most bang for my buck, no? Whether I need it or not, it is a comfort to know that the S Pen is there, should I need to use it. And I certainly don't take spending $1000+ lightly.
This is definitely a tough call, considering I'm really liking the Lilac Purple and Coral Blue colors, and Samsung made the adjustments they needed to make with the fingerprint sensor placement and the addition of the stereo speakers. I'm hoping that the audio through a good pair of ear buds will at least be comparable to the audio from the LG V30 quad DAC, or HTC BoomSound. I also hope the battery life and standby time is good. Those two things will be the deciding factors for me. One thing's certain, that whichever I go with, I'll be getting an unlocked Exynos variant to use on T-Mobile.