Why You Shouldn’t Buy the Galaxy S9 or Note 8 Right Now

The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy Note 8 are two of the best phones available in 2018, but they’re two phones you shouldn’t buy right now. With beautiful big screens and great cameras, they’re tempting offers, but we recommend holding off for a short while. Let me explain why.

Actually, there are a lot of great Android smartphones available today and even more are on the way. Yes, there is always something bigger or better coming soon, but July and August isn’t a good time to buy a new phone.

That’s because all the popular phones for the second half of the year are coming soon. Basically, even though the Galaxy S9+ is great, wait a month or two if you can. Not just because the Galaxy Note 9 is coming soon either. There are actually a few different reasons we recommend waiting.

It’s a busy time of the year right now. Families around the globe are taking vacations, kids are enjoying summer, and back-to-school shopping is already underway. However, there aren’t any new phones, and you might be tempted to settle and buy something today. Don’t do it, and instead, consider some of the options we’ve detailed below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Release

There are a number of reasons to buy a Note 8 or Galaxy S9, but there are just as many reasons to wait. The biggest and closest reason is the Galaxy Note 9 release date. The next Note is only a few weeks away.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 will have a beautiful 6.3-inch edge-to-edge screen (or bigger) with curved edges, and two powerful cameras on the back to take on the iPhone X or iPhone 11. This year rumors suggest Samsung will add a huge 4,000 mAh battery for all-day usage, add Bluetooth controls to the S-Pen stylus, and offer a 256GB model. Basically a bigger, better, faster, more useful Galaxy Note.

The reason we recommend waiting before you buy an S9 or Galaxy Note 8 is because the Galaxy Note 9 will get announced on August 9th, which is only a few weeks away. Then, we’re expecting a release date around August 24th or so.

Basically, wait until August 9th to see if the changes are enough to warrant waiting. At the very least, if it’s not, you’ll be able to find a solid Galaxy Note 8 deal now that the Note 9 is official. It’s a win-win.

Wait for the Pixel 3 XL

We also don’t think it’s a good time to buy a Pixel 2 XL from Google. Basically, don’t get a Pixel 2, Galaxy S8/S9, or Note 8 right now. Not until all the big phones get announced in the coming months, or we see enough rumors to know what to expect.

Google’s third-generation Pixel 3 is coming sooner than you probably think. And while we don’t know as much about it as we do Samsung’s Note 9, we have a good idea of what to expect. Those being a beautiful big display, stock Android 9.0 P, an excellent camera experience, and a sleek design.

This year the bigger Pixel 3 XL will likely have an even bigger 6.2-inch Quad-HD display. Or you can get a 5.3-inch Pixel 3. Now that Google owns most of the HTC smartphone division and they’ve made a few phones, we have high expectations for the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

The only potential problem is the fact that Google copied Apple and put a notch on the screen. And not just any notch, but a big one. You’ll still get dual front-facing speakers, award-winning photography, smooth software, fast charging, and water-resistance. There’s a lot to like here.

However, we don’t anticipate the Pixel 3 arriving until after October. You’ll have to wait a while for this one, and not everyone is willing to wait.

LG V40 (And its Five Cameras)

Another impressive phone is coming soon this fall, but it’s flying under most buyers radar. We’re talking about the LG V40. The LG G7 ThinQ is decent, but starting in 2018 LG is saving all it’s best display technology and tricks for the LG V-series of phones.

Basically, LG’s new flagship phone is the LG V40, and it’ll give the Galaxy Note 9 and even the Galaxy S10 some strong competition. We’re already hearing rumors of five cameras, a huge screen, and tons of fancy features.

The LG V40 will use LG’s next-generation OLED display in either a 6 or 6.2-inch size, although there’s a chance we could see an even bigger screen to compete with the iPhone 11. Expect a premium all metal and glass design, all-day battery life, a Quad-DAC for excellent audio, and a bunch of cameras.

Rumor has it LG will keep its popular dual 16MP rear cameras, but then add a third lens to the back. Those being a regular lens, a super wide-angle lens, and a third telephoto zoom lens. These will give you the best photo in any situation, or combine for huge 48 Megapixel shots. Then, they’ll add two cameras to the front for improved selfies and portrait-style photos.

I don’t know if we need five cameras, but that’s what we’re getting. Early reports say the Galaxy S10+ will offer five cameras too. We’ll have to wait and see.

iPhone(s) Are Coming

While most Samsung Galaxy or Note users probably stick to Samsung and don’t want an iPhone, it is something to consider. We know new iPhone devices are coming in September and will have plenty to offer.

The latest rumors suggest a new and improved iPhone X (or iPhone 11) with a 5.8-inch screen and tons of new features. We’re also hearing Apple will offer a huge 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Plus (or 9 Plus) with a similar bezel-free display. Then, Apple might even deliver a third 6.1-inch device that’s more affordable than any other Apple phone.

We don’t know what’s coming, what the names will be, but we know they’ll likely be worth waiting for just to see what’s available.

A Few More Phones

In closing, we wanted to throw out names of a few other potential phones we recommend waiting for before you jump on any Samsung phone that’s available. Don’t get me wrong, the Galaxy S9 is a great phone you’ll love for years. However, it’s already about to be replaced by a Galaxy S10 in February. So, you might as well get something brand new, right?

The phone I’m most excited about for the second half of 2018, aside from the Galaxy Note 9, is the OnePlus 6T. We don’t know the company will follow its trend of releasing a second phone in the fall, but if it does, expect something impressive.

We also believe an Essential Phone 2 is in the works, maybe, not to mention another Moto Z3, or even the Galaxy S9 Active. All of these phones will be newer than what’s currently available from Samsung. That doesn’t mean they’ll be better, just keep that in mind.

The Galaxy S9 Active will probably be super rugged and have a huge 4,300 mAh battery that lasts for days. Motorola’s Moto Mods make the Moto Z3 a great choice for anyone invested in those accessories, and we’ve even heard a few rumors that Google will release a budget-friendly Pixel 3 that resembles the old Nexus days.

Basically, the Galaxy S9 and Note 8 are both great phones but they’re not your only options right now. And they’re not your only options throughout the second half of 2018.