Great device for a holiday
With a good camera and battery power built to last, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 wins Loong Wai Ting over
ON my recent trip to Langkawi, I decided to travel light and traded my bulky dSLR camera for a lighter option. Smartphone manufacturers, like Samsung, have improved their camera phones through the years. Whether its lens or sensor quality, smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 give professional cameras a run for their money.
PHOTOGRAPHY
The Note 9 is able to do almost everything that my 9-year-old camera can do. Although the phone feels heavy and a little bulky in its clear protective case, the Note 9 is a great device to bring along for a holiday and a short hike.
Besides taking travel photos, I also love street photography as it offers unusual shots. With the Note 9 in hand, I am able to take photos of people on the streets in the most natural manner, without intimidating them with the sight of a bulky dSLR camera. For example, I can take photos of locals having their breakfast without them giving me a quizzical looks. People usually shy away whenever I point my camera at them. But with the phone, it helps me blend in for better candid photos.
I love the 2x zoom lens on the Note 9. The AI multi-aperture and 12-megapixel dual lens at the back of the phone adapt to the environment where I shoot my photos. Be it during sunrise or sunset or even in low-light environment, the camera automatically adjusts the tones of the photos.
With the Note 9, I can forget about settings and focus on composing my photos instead. This is especially handy for street photography as I don’t have to worry about lighting and exposure.
Of course, there are some shots that require a bit of adjustments like light painting. There is also a “pro” setting within the camera which allows you to tweak the aperture or ISO that controls the sensitivity of the image sensor.
When it comes to editing photos, I use the phone’s built-in photo editor for a quick touch-up. However, most of the time, the photos turn out great without much editing.
COOL FEATURES
The Note 9 battery is built to last. With 4000mAh power, the phone can last the entire day without running out of battery. It also does not overheat quickly.
Langkawi was sunny and hot all day during a recent trip. Despite taking lots of photos near the beach under the hot afternoon sun, my phone remained cool and didn’t require any recharging until I got back to my hotel at night.
Not only that, I could download a couple of movies in my phone while waiting for my flight home. Even after watching a movie, I still had half of the power to last me until the next charging.
Another cool feature is the S-Pen, which sits at the bottom of the Note 9. The S-Pen is especially useful when taking group photos without leaving anyone out. With it, I don’t have to set the 10-second timer and run back to my group for a wefie.
All I have to do now is get everyone ready for a pose, and with a click on the flat button on the S-Pen, the picture is taken. To charge the S-Pen, slide it back into the phone and it will be charged. A 40-second charging allows up to 30 minutes of power.
The 6.4-inch infinity display and HD+Super Amoled screen work great when watching movies or playing games on the phone. Despite its relatively big screen, I can operate it comfortably with one hand.
The phone comes with a 128GB default memory, plus an external microSD slot for more storage space.
Get the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 from as low as RM2,475. It is available in Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Lavender Purple and Metallic Copper. Details at shopee.com.my/