The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ feature top-of-the-line specs, beautiful designs, and an improvement on the successful Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. While both of Samsung’s latest flagship devices have a lot in common, there are some differences in using them with Gear VR. Each has its pros and cons, so you’ll have to weigh them yourself before deciding which phone is best for you.
Samsung Galaxy S9 vs Galaxy S9+: Which Should You Buy?
Pixel Power
Samsung flagships are known for their beautiful displays, and the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are no exception. Both are 2960×1440 pixels. But because phones are different sizes, the pixel density is different. The Galaxy S9 has a pixel density of 570 ppi while the Galaxy S9+ has a pixel density of 529 ppi. It’s not as noticeable when you’re using your phone in your hand, but it’s much more difficult when using your phone in Gear VR.
When using your phone with the Gear VR, you may see what’s called a «screen door effect» where you see grid lines on your phone’s display. Although Oculus has made efforts to reduce this effect, it is more pronounced on devices with lower pixel densities. If you want the absolute best image quality in Gear VR, you should take a look at the Galaxy S9.
Battery Life
Some of the factors that affect the battery life of phones when transferring phones do not affect phones in VR mode. When you put your phone into the Gear VR, most of the screen goes black as the VR experience only depends on the two circles on your screen. Because the Galaxy S9 and S9+ have AMOLED displays, those black pixels don’t drain your battery, which means the Galaxy S9+’s big screen doesn’t drain your battery in VR. These phones don’t have exactly the same amount of screen that VR uses, but it’s close enough that VR’s battery drain is about the same for every device.
This means that the biggest factor affecting battery life when using the Gear VR is the size of your phone’s battery. The Galaxy S9 has a 3000mAh battery while the Galaxy S9+ has a 3500mAh battery. This means your VR sessions will last longer on the Galaxy S9+ unless you choose to connect the Gear VR while using it.
Everything you can do with the USB port on the Samsung Gear VR
