A Samsung-made handset identified by the model number SM-G965 that’s widely believed to belong to the Galaxy S9 Plus has been listed in the device database of a Korean authority for lost and found smartphones, with the agency specifically mentioning a 256GB storage variant of the phablet. The development suggests Samsung will be offering at least two versions of its next Android flagship, with the base model still being expected to debut with 64GB of internal flash memory. The Seoul-based tech giant recently even started mass-producing its first 512GB chips, vowing to commercialize them inside at least one of its own products at some point this year, and while early reports suggested the ultra-premium model of the Galaxy S9 Plus will be the one to take advantage of such a module, that isn’t believed to be the case anymore.
Both the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are rumored to succeed the microSD card slot of their predecessors and support at least 256GB of expandable storage. A number of Android handsets released over the course of 2017 can already read microSD cards with capacities up to 2TB but with such solutions still not being widely available to consumers, Samsung likely hasn’t invested in an upgraded card reader for its next-generation devices. The two smartphones are said to be much more distinguishable from each other than the Galaxy S8-series products were, with the larger Galaxy S9 Plus being expected to feature a 6.2-inch screen, dual-camera setup, and 6GB of RAM. Its smaller counterpart is said to be shipping with a 5.8-inch display panel, single rear camera, and 4GB of RAM. The main sensors of both devices are believed to be of the 12-megapixel variety, mounted behind lenses with a variable aperture.
Samsung is understood to be focusing on mobile photography with the Galaxy S9 lineup and has supposedly managed to significantly improve low-light performance of its upcoming Android flagships compared to the Galaxy S8 series. The next high-end mobile offerings from the company are scheduled to be officially announced on Sunday and should start retailing in the second half of March, with their latest rumored global release date being March 16.