14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has started taking pre-orders for a customized version of the Samsung Galaxy S9, the latest flagship Android phone announced by the South Korean firm.
As part of a partnership that also brought the Samsung Galaxy S8 in Microsoft Store, the Redmond-based software giant is offering the Galaxy S9 with more pre-installed software.
As compared to the standard version of the S9, which also comes bundled with Microsoft apps like Skype and OneDrive as part of a partnership between Microsoft and Samsung, the Galaxy S9 “Microsoft Edition” is advertised as “compatible with Microsoft Launcher app,” which is Microsoft’s very own launcher for Android devices.
It’s important, however, to notice the quotes in the “Microsoft Edition” phrase. While Microsoft previously sold the Galaxy S8 as Microsoft Edition, Samsung stated that there’s no such version of the smartphone, and the model that was sold by Microsoft brought nothing different as compared to its own unlocked versions.
Same hardware
This is very likely to be the case with the Galaxy S9, so Microsoft is more of a Samsung retailer right now, though the software giant uses the Microsoft Store listing to highlight its Android apps, including the said launcher.
In terms of specs, the Galaxy S9 sold by Microsoft comes unlocked and with the same hardware as the standard version. The S9 features a 5.8-inch screen, while the S9+ comes with a 6.2-inch panel, both of them Super AMOLED. The smaller model is equipped with a 12MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.5 and f/2.4 1/2.5", and 1.4 µm, while the bigger sibling has been upgraded to a 12MP Dual Pixel camera, f/1.5 and f/2.4, plus a secondary telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom.
Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy S9 in the Microsoft Store is $719.99, while the Galaxy S9+ can be yours for $839.99. Both devices are projected to ship by March 16 and you can also get a discount of up to $350 if you trade in your old phone.
UPDATE: Microsoft explains in a statement offered by a company spokesperson that there is no difference between the Galaxy S9 that it sells and the one offered by Samsung. Therefore, a Galaxy S9 Microsoft Edition does not exist.
"The Samsung Galaxy S9 available at Microsoft Store is the same phone you can purchase elsewhere. Microsoft applications including Office, OneDrive, Cortana and Outlook do not come preinstalled, but when you purchase from a Microsoft Store, our experts can personalize the device with Microsoft’s productivity applications so every customer is able to work, play and connect on their device when they leave," the spokesperson said.