“The society and environment we belong to are constantly changing. With this change, users desire more complex and diverse experiences. In today’s world, there is also a constant influx of innovative products based on advanced technologies that change our everyday lives. In the midst of all this change, One UI will always listen to the voices of customers and continue to evolve so that our users can comfortably and joyfully experience their everyday lives.”

– Yoojin Hong, Head of UX Team for Samsung Electronics Mobile eXperience Business

Samsung Electronics designed the brand identity for One UI 4 as a seamless mobile experience that is able to harmonize with any device or story. The delicate yet flexible elements of the interface help users freely express their individuality while providing the tools to make everyday life more convenient and secure. In any situation, One UI 4 elevates the user’s lifestyle to a new level thanks to its expansive possibilities.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Samsung’s UX design team to learn more about the user-first design process behind One UI 4.

Simple and Streamlined Style

It’s easier to focus on what matters most when unnecessary items are removed from view. One UI 4’s clear visual hierarchy guides your eye to the most important elements on each page at a single glance.

One UI 4 arranges colors and text so users can understand information intuitively. By simplifying the color system and readjusting the font size and thickness, One UI 4 delivers a clearer and more cohesive visual experience.

The new version of Samsung UI also organizes information into a system of streamlined, updated cards to enable instant understanding of facts and figures. By removing visual distractions and categorizing data into layers, users can now effortlessly navigate through their device to find whatever they need, whenever they need it.

Q: What was the reason for the color system re-organization and which part of the task did you focus on?

The key theme behind this color system re-organization was ‘Clean up’. We carried out the task by applying color to the most important information first and keeping less important information more monotone.

Q: Functional colors with similar meanings have also been unified, specifically red and green.

Red is usually associated with the ideas of Stop, Delete, Remove, Reject, or Decrease. Before One UI 4, the colors of features with a similar purpose were all slightly different. We focused on unifying the theme by using only one shade of red so that users could clearly understand the context of each function. Additionally, we slightly increased the brightness and saturation to enhance visibility while combining all the different reds and greens into their single respective colors.

Q: It seems that the font was tidied up all around through letter spacing and boldface type. Please explain how this was implemented.

We focused on making the presentation of information more prominent than before by adjusting the visual contrast based on the priority of information. We created optimal negative space by altering the dynamics of the font size and thickness according to the content’s importance.

Q: The overall Weather app has been upgraded with a clean, stylish look along with a new weather icon.

What people consider to be important information varies from user to user. For instance, the current weather is important to some people, while changes in the weather throughout the day are more important to others. While this information was previously mixed in the upper main card, One UI 4 now displays ‘current weather’ and ‘today’s weather’ separately. The essential data, current temperature, location and weather icons were revamped with stylish visuals and placed at the top to enhance readability.

Q: How has the Calendar app been reorganized to provide the date and calendar events more easily?

Based on our data, most users create between one and three calendar events a day. With that in mind, we designed a screen that looks seamless, even without any events scheduled for the day. We also allowed users to pay better attention to key information such as the month, day and schedule by replacing the previous gray background with a clear white background. The updated UI features centered text for a stable layout, and we added horizontal lines to create a clear view of information sorted by week.

Q: What kind of efforts were made to effectively communicate data in Samsung Health without looking complicated?

Samsung Health expresses information in three main ways. We used a simple bar chart to describe any range, progress, or status information, such as the number of steps, heart rate, stress, or blood sugar level. We used a symbol to communicate information such as food intake, sleep state or water consumption since cumulative data in this category is more important than progress. Lastly, we included a text-only type that displays a number without a graph when it’s important to know the figure on its own.

Q: Delivering concise and accurate information seems crucial for the newly-introduced Samsung Wallet since it contains important user data.

The Quick Access tab, the first screen of Samsung Wallet, is divided into a stacked view and an expanded view. While in the stacked view, 35% of each overlapping card can show information. With this in mind, the design team made the most of the space by efficiently placing the logo in the upper left corner while displaying the card properties in the upper right. Information with similar characteristics on each card was grouped together for an easy search. By contrast, functions and information with different features, such as usage history and running tasks, have been separated visually.

Safe, Comfortable and Secure Usage

As more time is spent on smart devices, there are more things to keep in mind, such as security and health. One UI 4 values the importance of people using smart devices to stay safe and comfortable anytime, anywhere, without worries or inconvenience. It is natural for users to feel anxious about having their personal information leaked through their smart devices. One UI 4 has been implemented with various features to protect users with high standards for security and privacy.

Every detail was carefully examined to help users conveniently use their smart devices in any setting. Dark mode reduces visual fatigue down to even the smallest detail. Additionally, a consistent visual design has been applied to provide comfortable usability even across multiple devices.

Q: Users can check when the camera or microphone is turned on with an icon. Where did you get this idea?

User interest in privacy and security has increased significantly in recent years. We applied the same newly-added function to the Android 12 OS, keeping the users’ best interests in mind.

Q: The Permission Dashboard shows where and how often the camera, microphone and location data have been used. Can you tell us more?

Malicious apps that access and exploit various sensors and data after gaining access to personal information have recently become a problem. The Permission Dashboard can now check and block apps that request unnecessary permission for personal information, even while the app is inactive.

Q: How did the design details come together for Dark mode?

We tried to find an appropriate level of darkness to enhance visual comfort without compromising each app icon’s aesthetics and striking features. As a result, we decided upon the current darkness level that naturally and uniformly tones down the entire app icon color, prevents glare from white space and satisfies the visual balance between home screen elements.

Q: How do you ensure that various Samsung devices can be smoothly and comfortably used together or individually?

One UI 4 applies a single visual language to various Galaxy products, including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and PCs. Devices can be used comfortably through unified elements such as icons, rounded corners, components, menu styles, layouts and more, even when changed.

Self Expression, Centered on You

For today’s users, smart devices have become a tool for expressing one’s emotions and individuality. One UI 4 expands the range of choices and customizable features to match every user’s unique lifestyle and tastes.

From personalizing their devices with different wallpapers to using the Color Palette function to change the visual theme of each device, users can reflect their individuality and taste to the fullest.

Customization and self-expression have never been easier or more enjoyable than in One UI 4. Users now can combine two emojis into one or use AR Emoji to reveal their virtual selves. One UI 4 expands the user experience through new options for users to make the device their own, from smartphones to smartwatches. For instance, users can customize their smartwatch to fit their lifestyle through various unique watch faces, or they can stay up to date with updated widgets. No matter how a user experiences One UI 4, there are limitless opportunities to add their personal touch.

Q: How did the wallpaper’s ‘Particle’ concept come about?

We researched different design elements that can be freely expressed on a variety of products. In the process, we discovered the potential and scalability of a material called ‘Particle’.

Taking the Galaxy Z as an example, we were inspired by the art of paper folding when conceptualizing the message we wanted the product to communicate through its foldable structure. We believed this type of art’s versatility, strength, continuity and expandability represented the Galaxy Z Fold’s characteristics. The Galaxy Z Flip was also designed in a similar context, but we differentiated the two by highlighting a more fashionable and unique product image for the latter.

Q: The Color Palette extracts five colors from the wallpaper and changes the visual theme of the device. How was it implemented?

The color palette is a function that integrates Android 12 Material You – Dynamic Color based on One UI. It uses five colors extracted from different wallpapers to support Google and other apps.

While researching color palettes, we collaborated with designers researching the best method to extract color from an image. Together, we discovered an optimal color extraction method that analyzes the original image, divides it into color groups, and then develops a prototype that recognizes the distribution of extracted color.

Q: Why was the decision made to tone down the colors from the original version?

The design was revised to convey the overall mood of the wallpaper for users to focus on and comfortably view the content. In the final version, the background color saturation was lowered, and the buttons were adjusted for colors to stand out without straining the eyes.

Q: The Emoji Pair, which expresses two different emojis in various animations, is a new and entertaining concept.

Emojis expressing complex emotions such as ‘sad-laugh’ and ‘laughing but not laughing’ have never existed before. The need for these complex emotions was confirmed through user interviews. Thus, the Emoji Pair was born.

Q: The concept has been expanded from ambivalence to complex emotions. What was the reason?

When the first concept was ambivalence, we decided that the situation of combining emojis with similar emotions without opposition should also be considered, since forcing the user to create emoji combinations is an impossible task. This is why the concept’s scope has since expanded from ambivalence to providing more complex emotions.

Q: The sophisticated movements of AR Emojis’ witty gestures are very eye-catching. How are these animations made?

Simple movements and expressions have been carefully worked on by animators one at a time using the keyframe method. They also collaborated with famous artists to create high-quality motion graphics, such as professional dance moves.

Q: How do the preferred AR Emoji stickers differ by country or age?

AR Emoji stickers were produced based on voting in four countries: South Korea, Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom. While there was no significant difference in overall preferences between the countries, there was a slight difference among the age groups. People in their twenties preferred more caricature and exaggerated stickers than those in their thirties. Most users wanted to give off a funny and pleasant impression, rather than being serious when using stickers. For example, ‘I wanted to exaggerate my laughter while laughing and not be too serious when I’m sad.’

Q: Which part of One UI 4 watch face did you focus on?

When the Galaxy Watch 4 was released, we focused on expanding the spectrum of the Expressive face type. We completed a three-dimensional lineup by adding characters of various styles to the watch face, such as a vegetable character for a healthy diet or a bear character for challenges.

Q: What standards or systems do you refer to when designing various watch faces?

The design system was built by referencing the types and designs of Indexes, Hands and Sub Dials of real analog watches to create consistency between the watch faces. The color of the strap and its surroundings was selected as the primary color to blend with the Galaxy Watch strap, and the remaining colors were chosen based on the international color system.

Q: The One UI 4 widget gives off a neat impression overall.

After continuous consultation and effort, changing the widget shape collectively within Android became possible. We applied the One UI visual language to both Samsung and third-party widgets to enhance their appearance.

The widget area is not wide compared to the information provided by the widget. It was designed to provide visual contrast for information to be seen at a glance while focusing more on what needs to be emphasized. By changing the background color to 100% white, we’ve enhanced the minimalist feel and allowed the user to more easily focus their attention on each widget content.

* The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may differ from the actual product. Product specifications may vary by country, region, model and carrier.

The ‘emoji’ originated in 1997 as a simple pictogram used to express emotion. But after years of evolution, the technology has progressed to the point that the Galaxy S10 AR (augmented reality) Emoji can transform your face into an animated version of itself before your eyes. Once you have your avatar, your AR Emoji can mirror a wide range of emotions and body movements with advanced facial and body tracking. You can even impose your AR Emoji on top of a photo of yourself and watch it move just like you!

Samsung Newsroom met with the developers of the Galaxy S10 AR Emoji, Yong-Il Kim, HanJun Ryu, MinKyung Lee, Jinho Lim, and MinSheok Choi, to discuss how they are leading the future of AR Emoji, and what’s next for the technology.

Q. What is the current trajectory of AR Emoji development?

The AR Emoji feature is a way to express and represent yourself. As we switched over from the Galaxy S9 to the Galaxy S10, we changed our focus from the representative ‘Avatar’ to the ‘Stylized Avatar’, which portrays users’ individual traits so attractively that they can’t help but show it off! To achieve this, we have created avatars that users feel affectionate toward because they represent their individual traits, but which also maintain a universal aesthetic appeal.

People use AR Emoji to reproduce themselves in the online sphere. Therefore, the feature must be able to portray not only their physical appearance, but also their online personality. We are continually coming up with ways for users to more freely and uniquely personalize their AR Emojis.

Q. What makes AR Emoji special?

The AR Emoji feature’s biggest differentiator is that it starts off by making a complete, detailed figure that best reflects the user’s actual traits. AR Emoji has avatar shapes to suit everyone and features a huge number of ways for users to represent their unique characteristics.

The features available in AR Emoji on the Galaxy S10 line include ‘Mask’ mode, ‘Mini motion’ and ‘Live figure’, all of which can be used in a range of situations. Because the AR Emoji feature is a specialized camera function, it can be used within the default camera app. It has proven to be a popular feature among users.

With ‘Mini motion’, body movements are captured so that the AR Emoji moves just like the user.

Q. What was your process for developing AR Emoji?

During planning it is important to identify the users’ needs. To figure out what these were, we monitored our acquaintances, families and a range of online communities to make sure that we made an AR Emoji that everyone would be satisfied with.

In the design stage, we considered how we could best express users’ emotions through facial expressions and stickers. The most common human emotions were categorized, then we had to establish the various degrees of each emotion. For example, there are many different kinds of sadness. Some make you want to scream, some make you want burst into tears, and some only cause a downturn of the mouth. When we struggled to find specific references for certain emotions, our team stepped in as actors to record their emotions. During this process, having emotive team members was a big help! Our recording sessions were always full of laughter.

Also, as an AR Emoji is a full body avatar, we needed to include a wide range of fashionable clothing items, shoes and accessories to make sure users had enough options to choose from. Research was very important at this stage, and some of our team members scoured shopping malls to ensure that we chose the right clothing options.

The version of AR Emoji that’s available on the Galaxy S10 line has updated editing tools. In developing these, we had to make internal decisions about how we were going to structuralize and define every component of the 3D data. For instance, we had to make decisions like ‘let’s divide the bone structure of the arm into five parts, and cover two of them with the sleeve while the rest are just bare arm.’ This was a useful process though, because as we were defining the details, a number of other potential features occurred to us. For example, we added the shadows on the avatar’s backs during this stage.

For more customization and creativity, users can utilize their own AR Emoji to create stickers.

Q. Do you have any tips for how best to use the AR Emoji feature?

You can use your avatar to make stickers that can be sent via messenger. This feature allows you to send customized emoji stickers with any expression you like. You can also create memes or stickers that include text to give the image more context.

A mask mode that applies your avatar’s face over your own is another useful function. When you need to take a photo but you haven’t had time to get yourself camera-ready, you can cover your face with an emoji. AR Emojis can also be very helpful for the many online creators who like to dress up or disguise themselves while recording their videos.

‘Mini motion’ is a function that both adults and children can enjoy. If you enjoy dancing, it can be fun to have a virtual figure to dance along with, instead of dancing alone.

Users can have more fun with the ‘Mask mode’, which adds the AR Emoji’s face onto users’ faces.

Q. Can you tell us what’s currently being worked on with regards to AR Emoji?

We are thinking about how AR Emojis can be used in new ways, such as users being able to play as their avatars in games. We are also working on incorporating popular characters into AR Emoji, as well as allowing users to custom-add things like make-up and tattoos so they can better express themselves with their emojis.

The global trends are centered around incorporating more and more decorative tools. However, we have also tried to be focus on being inclusive, with features like artificial hands currently available, and artificial legs to become available soon. By continuing to add more customization tools to AR Emoji, we hope to help people better express themselves. But we also want to see AR Emojis become a place where users’ imaginations can be brought to life.

We’re looking for ways to allow users to represent not just their faces, but their bodies too. Another area of focus is finding a way to utilize AR Emojis on other Samsung apps. Users can currently set their phones to display contacts’ emojis when they call, but we are exploring other uses that include a mask mode for video calls too.

As developers, our priority is to improve usability. Currently, in ‘Live figure’ mode, users can tap the figure on the screen to trigger a range of gestures and dances. We want to make these motions more fluid, while also expanding the feature by incorporating further actions and promoting deeper interaction between users and their emojis.

Q. What does the future hold for AR Emoji?

I hope AR Emoji will offer users a chance to familiarize themselves with AR technology and become more comfortable using it. As virtual reality-based services are commercialized and become more common, we expect AR emojis to be the best method for people to represent themselves in the virtual sphere.

Ultimately, our goal is to make AR Emoji a personified visual assistant in the coming age of AI (Artificial Intelligence). For example, currently Bixby can give us updates on the weather, but I believe that information could be delivered more effectively by an AR Emoji holding an umbrella.

(Clockwise from the top left) Samsung developers Yong-Il Kim and HanJun Ryu from Unique Sales Point Strategy Group, MinKyung Lee from Media UX Group, Jinho Lim from Graphic R&D Group and Minsheok Choi from Visual S/W R&D Group

1. Jump to Your Favorite Apps Securely with Lock Screen ‘App Shortcuts’

Security meets convenience in the Galaxy S10 line’s lock screen app shortcuts. With this enhanced feature you can secure the apps pinned to your lock screen with a handy ‘finger scan and swipe’ motion. Simply scan your fingerprint as usual, then swipe up from the fingerprint sensor to an app icon to open it. In situations where you need to access your most-used apps quickly, snap straight to them from the lock screen without compromising on security.

The Galaxy S10’s in-display Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner offers vault-like security with its FIDO Alliance-certified anti-spoofing technology. Now, your fingerprint scanner is not only a top-notch security measure, but a platform to launch your favorite apps quickly and securely.

2. Streamline Your Life with ‘Bixby Routines’

Imagine; as soon as you get into your car in the morning, music fills the space and Bixby turns on voice controls, all without you having to touch a thing. Then, as you arrive at work, vibration mode is activated and Wi-Fi disconnects. As your day goes on, your smart assistant moves seamlessly through various other pre-arranged routines, ensuring that your device is always the perfect complement to where you are and what you’re doing. What’s more, once you’ve set a few routines manually, Bixby learns from your habits and suggests new routines that it thinks will suit you. There’s no need to be constantly taking your phone out to fiddle with settings when you’ve got ‘Bixby Routines’ to take care of the little things.

Setting up manual routines is easy too. If you’re taking a walk, set a routine so that music plays as soon as you connect your headphones, then have your phone activate Wi-Fi and open YouTube as you arrive back home. Playing a game? Set a routine so that you enter ‘Do not disturb’ mode upon opening the game, and notifications don’t distract you.

The list of conditions that can be programmed to trigger settings adjustments and new actions is endless. And with ‘Bixby Routines’, the more routines you set, the easier life becomes.

3. Keep a Hand Free with ‘One-handed Mode’

Have you ever been holding something important in one hand, and trying to use your phone with the other? How many of us have been in the middle of cooking, and when we go to check the recipe on our phones only one of our hands is clean? With the Galaxy S10 line’s edge-to-edge screen, reaching up to pull down the notifications bar or interact with other features near the top of the screen can require regripping the phone or using your other hand. But no more, with the Galaxy S10’s optimized ‘One-handed mode’.

This feature is easily activated with either a quick swipe up from the corner of the screen (with ‘Gesture Controls’ enabled), or a triple-tap of the home key. Once turned on, the feature brings up a miniature version of your screen that puts even the features right at the top of the display well within reach. After using one-handed mode to navigate to the feature you want to use, simply tap the black area next to the downsized screen to snap your display up to full size again.

4. Stretch Your Screen with ‘Gesture Controls’

Want to get the most out of your edge-to-edge AMOLED display? On the Galaxy S10 line, enabling ‘Full-screen gestures’ will remove the navigation bar at the bottom of your screen, and allow you to perform the same actions with simple swipes up from the left, right and center spots at the bottom of your screen. Prefer a different orientation for the swipe spots? Customize the layout and swap the positions for the ‘back’ and ‘recent apps’ swipe positions. The central swipe spot remains the ‘home’ option.

Smooth and intuitive, the Galaxy S10 line’s complete gesture control system allows for the removal of navigation buttons that take up your screen space. Three minimal grey lines are visible at the very bottom of the screen to avoid any confusion over swipe positions. Enabling gesture controls lets you take full advantage of your screen real estate and provides a glimpse into a truly button-less future.

5. Take a Smart Break with ‘Temporary Mute’

In a world where ‘digital detoxes’ are becoming commonplace, more and more users are making use of their devices’ ‘Do not disturb’ function. This feature mutes all calls, alerts and media (unless select exemptions are put into place) until the user chooses to turn it back off again.

But sometimes, users who have entered ‘Do not disturb’ mode when heading into a meeting or going to sleep risk missing important alerts if they forget to turn alerts back on. Enter, Samsung’s new ‘Temporary mute’ feature, which allows users to choose, down to the minute, how long their phone will remain on mute for. After they get out of their meetings or wake up in the morning, users’ devices automatically switch back to previous sound modes so that they don’t miss any important alerts.

6. Make Your Power Use ‘Smart’ with ‘Adaptive Power Saving’

With the Galaxy S10 line’s ‘Adaptive power saving’ mode, your phone will adjust battery settings throughout the day and maximize your battery life without you having to lift a finger. Based on Samsung’s AI technology, ‘Adaptive power saving’ studies your usage patterns and keeps frequently used apps running while preventing unused ones from consuming battery life in the background.

In high-usage periods where users are watching a lot of videos, playing games, or taking sudden trips that require them to use their phones a lot, the device will automatically enter power saving mode to extend power-on time. Users don’t always have time to monitor battery life and change their settings accordingly, but with ‘Adaptive power saving’ your phone has it covered!

7. Let ‘Shot Suggestion’ Guide You to Stunning Pictures

Utilizing machine learning gleaned from the analysis of more than 100 million photos, the Galaxy S10 line’s ‘Shot suggestion’ feature helps you take pictures like a pro. Once you turn the feature on, just follow the visual prompts on the screen and watch your ‘best shot’ fall effortlessly into place.

‘Shot suggestion’ is ideal for when you want to show a single person or place in a lot of different lights, as the AI suggests a varied range of compositional styles. Especially helpful for nature and landscape shots, ‘Shot suggestion’ ensures the horizon is level, while helping you improve your proportions and positioning. With the AI assistant, finding the perfect composition for your photos is a snap!

8. Compose Visual Media like a Pro with ‘Grid Lines’

The key when composing a shot from a ‘bird’s eye’ angle – for instance when taking photos of food –is to ensure the camera is held completely level.

The ‘Grid lines’ feature on the Galaxy S10 line helps you produce well-balanced bird’s eye shots. After the feature is turned on in settings, a levelling guide will appear in the middle of the screen to make sure you’re holding the phone perfectly flat. Simply align the circle in the center of the screen with the guide, and voila! Even a beginner can take well-composed bird’s eye shots every time.

The Galaxy S10 line’s grid mode is a lifesaver for vloggers too, as it helps ensure that videos taken on a selfie stick, or similar peripheral, are steady, with the subject well-centered. Pair the Galaxy S10’s ‘3X3 Grid’ view with the camera’s other smart optimization features and capture media that will make people say ‘wow’!

9. Let AI Touch Up Your Pictures with the Photo Editor’s ‘Style’ Features

Did you know you can now let AI edit your photos for you? First applied on the Galaxy S10 line, the ‘Style’ feature uses GAN deep learning to intelligently analyze your photo and ensure that the subject is distinguished from the background, while employing various effects including ‘Color Pencil’, ‘Comic’, ‘Watercolor’ and ‘Pastel’. These vivid effects are utilized in different ways for every individual picture, and really make the image look as though it was originally created in whichever medium you select.

All of these features are included in the Galaxy S10’s default ‘Gallery’ app, allowing users to easily add effects to their photos and removing the need to install separate apps. Simply select a photo in your gallery, click on the pencil icon at the bottom of the screen and select ‘Style’ from the ‘more options’ menu in the top right of the screen. Distinct from preset filters, now AI deep learning can uniquely apply its effects to best match your picture.

10. Animate Yourself with ‘Mini Motion AR Emoji’

The Galaxy S10 line offers an enhanced ‘AR Emoji’ experience with its new ‘Mini Motion’ feature. The upgraded capability employs advanced motion tracking technology to allow users to capture full-body movements and see them replicated by their avatar in real-time. With enhanced character design and naturalized movements and expressions, now your avatar can do whatever you can!

With streamlined avatar content creation, the Galaxy S10 line’s ‘Mini Motion’ feature makes life easier for content creators, and can even provide a dance partner for the kids to boogie along with. With constantly evolving motion tracking technology and the ability to detect even the smallest facial changes, ‘Mini Motion’ offers an exciting glimpse into a whole new world of personalized motion tracking.

So, if it’s your first foray into vlogging, the Samsung Newsroom has put together five tips to get started with just your Galaxy S10+.

Even Out Shaky Footage with Super Steady Mode

When starting anything new, you may want to minimize equipment cost and outlay before you’re fully committed to the project or hobby. Vloggers, however, often discover that one piece of equipment is crucial to create smooth videos: a stabilizing gimbal. When you hold a camera in your hands, the slightest shake can be reflected in the footage, resulting in lots of time-consuming cuts and edits before your video is ready to be published.

Super Steady mode on the Galaxy S10+ is able to eliminate the effect of shaky hands by calibrating the video, predicting your movements and calculating the range with the smartphone’s Ultra Wide lens. To switch on Super Steady when shooting a video, just tap the icon in the center at the top of the screen.

Create Movie-like Moments with Super Slow-mo

Vloggers are constantly mixing up their content and format to attract new audiences and excite existing fans. Often the difference is in the details, transforming the vlog from digital content into artform.

To ensure that you don’t miss any of the action, capture the moment on your Galaxy S10+ in Super Slow-mo. Taking 960 frames per second, Super Slow-mo plays back 0.4 seconds of footage over 14 seconds, creating breathtaking videos that invite viewers to examine every detail, from a droplet of water falling on a petal, to a critical play in a sports game.

Condense Time with Hyperlapse

Whether it’s slowing down or speeding up, a change of pace can add a fresh perspective on an everyday scene.

Hyperlapse provides the perfect segue from one moment of action to another, allowing you to condense the flow of time and fast-forward between scenes without a dramatic cut. What’s more, because the effect can also be added after capturing the original video footage, creators don’t need to be conscious of the camera or alter their actions while they are filming.

Get Personal with the UHD Front Camera

While there are many different styles of vlog covering countless different topics, they all offer a personal point of view. When a vlogger talks directly to the camera, they want to ensure that they have the best picture quality possible to capture their moods and reactions.

The Galaxy S10+ is optimized for this first-person perspective, equipped with two front cameras, including a 10MP Selfie Camera. This powerful camera can achieve UHD resolution, picking out the contours and fine details of the face to express every nuance of emotion. When they come to edit their film, cuts between footage captured with the front and rear cameras appear fluid, uninterrupted by differences in quality.

Bring Your Own Mini-me to Life with AR Emoji

Creating animated videos once required specialist know-how and a lot of time, limiting the kind of content that vloggers could produce.

Now, with AR Emoji on the Galaxy S10+, you can create your very own avatar and capture its movements on-camera, crafting an instant digital mini-me for the screen. Upgraded for the S10 line, the new AR Emoji accurately follows the movements of your eyes and your body when filming. If you prefer to stay anonymous, you can also replace your head with your AR Emoji’s cartoon-like face by selecting the “Mask” function.

The Galaxy S10 line builds on Samsung’s camera leadership – which includes the company’s game-changing Super Speed Dual Pixel and Dual Aperture technologies – by introducing a slew of exciting enhancements and even more advanced intelligence. Together, these innovations offer users all the tools they need to take truly epic shots and videos.

See More, Snap More

Each Galaxy S10 is like a professional-grade camera that fits in your pocket. The devices’ easy-to-use cameras were designed to allow you to capture any shot and angle. So no matter what you’re shooting, you’ll always have the right lens for the job.

At 123-degrees, the rear camera’s new 16MP Ultra Wide lens features a field of view that’s similar to the human eye. It covers approximately 4.3 times more area¹ than a 77-degree Wide-angle lens, and allows you to capture the world as you see it. Perfect for taking epic landscape shots, big panoramas (both horizontally and vertically), or simply fitting the entire family into a photo, the Ultra Wide lens ensures that you’re always able to capture the full scene.

Pictures taken with Galaxy S10’s Wide-angle (left) and Ultra Wide lens

Each Galaxy S10’s rear camera setup also includes a 12MP Wide-angle, Dual Aperture, Super Speed Dual Pixel lens. It combines an f/1.5-aperture lens with an f/2.4, and automatically adjusts to light just like our eyes to help users snap professional-looking photos, day or night. The Galaxy S10 and S10+’s triple rear camera setup also includes a 12MP Telephoto (zoom) lens. For those times when you need to get a little closer to your subject, the Telephoto lens provides two times optical zoom and ten times digital zoom.

Each Galaxy S10 comes equipped with a 10MP UHD Dual Pixel front-facing camera that’s perfect for taking high-quality selfies. The Galaxy S10+’s dual front camera setup offers improved megapixels and super-fast autofocus,² and includes an RGB depth lens for enhanced quality of bokeh effects.

A Smarter Way to Shoot

The Galaxy S10’s hardware is complemented by a next-generation Neural Processing Unit (NPU) – a layer of intelligence for all your photos – that streamlines image processing and makes already smart features better.

The addition of the advanced NPU makes the camera’s Scene Optimizer function that much more powerful. Now, Scene Optimizer is capable of analyzing even more complex scenes, and can simultaneously process more image recognition data than before. The camera recognizes up to 30 different types of scenes in all (up from 20 with the Galaxy Note9), including “Face,” “Baby,” “Dog,” “Vehicles,” and more. The function will also automatically optimize the color, saturation, white balance and contrast in order to ensure that the image you see on your screen appears as true to life as possible.

Pictures (right) taken with Scene Optimizer

When the camera recognizes specific scenes, it will also suggest other ways to potentially improve your photo. For example, if you’re taking a picture of a sunrise, the camera will automatically ask you if you’d like to switch to the Ultra Wide lens to ensure that you capture the scene in all its glory. If you’re taking a picture in extreme low-light conditions, it will propose that you take a Bright Night Shot for a professional-quality picture.

The camera also offers users instant, automatic recommendations on how to best frame their photo through its Shot Suggestion feature. Utilizing a database of over 100 million pictures, Shot Suggestion’s composition guide offers helpful tips to help you improve your photo’s proportions, positioning and overall composition.

The camera’s upgraded Live Focus mode allows you to customize your photos with artistic effects. The Galaxy S10+ utilizes its dual front cameras to support the feature, which includes options to add new spin bokeh, zoom bokeh, and color point effects, while the Galaxy S10 and S10e’s front-facing camera utilizes the NPU’s intelligence.

(From left) Live Focus’s new spin bokeh, zoom bokeh and color point effects

Silky Smooth Videos

Recorded videos are so much smoother with the Galaxy S10, thanks to groundbreaking innovations that ensure that users’ footage looks fantastic.

The camera’s Super Steady video-recording feature is the first of its kind on a smartphone, and offers users up to three times better video stabilization than conventional technologies. Powered by anti-shake stabilization technology (VDIS), Super Steady evens out shaky footage, allowing you to record fluid video during even your most active moments. So whether you’re dancing at a concert or recording a bumpy bike ride, with the Galaxy S10, the content you capture will be nice and steady.

Both the front and rear cameras are capable of recording pro-grade UHD footage, which allows users to step up their social game with true-to-life video quality. And in another smartphone first, the rear camera offers users the ability to take their recordings to the next level by capturing them in stunning HDR10+.

Utilizing dynamic tone mapping technology that provides 2.1 times broader color range than SDR, the Galaxy S10 allows you to take videos that are brighter and more dynamic than those taken with other smartphone cameras. That’s because the camera uses tone mapping techniques to go frame-by-frame and optimize the color for every scene.

A New AR Emoji Experience

Samsung’s latest flagships offer users a brand new AR Emoji experience, highlighted by a revamped design, greater customization options, and the ability to track not just your face but also your eyes, tongue and body movements, including your arms and legs.

AR Emoji’s new Mask Mode offers a fun way to touch up a less-than-stellar photo. Not satisfied with the expression you made in your last shot? Simply choose an AR Emoji that nails the emotion you want to express, and place its face over yours.

Users can also customize their AR Emojis like never before. In addition to choosing from the dozens of expressive stickers that are created for each AR Emoji, you can create your very own stickers, featuring unique backgrounds, expressions and other personal touches. Users who download AR World from the Galaxy Store app will also be able to access tons of new hairstyles, outfits and accessories that’ll make their AR Emoji even more unique.

Samsung’s Most Epic Cameras Yet

In addition to placing more fun and convenient features at users’ fingertips, the Galaxy S10 line’s powerful cameras allow you to capture moments in more detail – and with more lenses – than ever before.

The Galaxy S10 5G truly packs the power of a professional-grade camera into your phone by offering a total of six lenses – two on the front and four on the back. In addition to featuring all of the lenses included in the Galaxy S10+, the 5G model introduces Samsung’s next-generation 3D Depth Camera.

This innovative camera allows the device to accurately capture depth by measuring the length of time it takes for an infrared light signal to bounce off the photograph’s subject. The camera uses the resulting depth information to improve the quality of portrait-style images, and to power exciting new features like Video Live focus and Quick Measure. The former allows you to apply cinema-quality bokeh effects to recorded videos, while the latter enables you to use your phone to instantly measure distance, area or volume.

¹ At a distance of approximately one meter.

² Super-fast autofocus is included in the front cameras of the Galaxy S10e, S10, S10+ and S10 5G, as well as in the rear cameras of the Galaxy S10, S10+ and S10 5G.

Since the feature’s introduction with the Galaxy S9, Samsung Electronics and Disney have teamed up to bring a number of Disney characters to life as downloadable AR Emojis. Now, the addition of three beloved characters from Disney’s hit movie Zootopia has made messaging on Galaxy devices even more magical.

Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and Flash join the ever-growing roster of animated Disney characters that are currently available for users to download, including Mickey Mouse and friends as well as characters from The Incredibles and Frozen.

To download the new characters, simply access the camera’s AR Emoji mode, tap the plus icon on the right-hand side, and select the Zootopia AR Emoji pack from the Galaxy Apps store.

Once downloaded, you’ll be able to easily create and share the animated emojis as images, videos or gifs in your favorite messaging app^*. And if you simply can’t get enough of their cuteness, you can also apply an AR Emoji of Judy, Nick, Flash, or any of the other characters listed above as a GIF and pin it on your device’s Always On Display, or apply it as a video on your lock screen’s wallpaper^**.

Head over to the Galaxy Apps store to download Samsung and Disney’s latest AR Emoji characters.

^*Apps that do not support animated GIFs may still send AR Emoji stickers as a still image.

^**Function supports videos up to 15 seconds in length.

Over the years, Samsung has enhanced the smartphones’ trademark tool with innovations that have transformed the way users manage their mobile lives. Here, we’ll show you how to utilize the S Pen’s new Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) connectivity and other convenient enhancements to enjoy a more fun (and efficient) mobile experience.

Tip #1: Customize Clicks for the S Pen’s Remote Control Function

Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > S Pen remote

New BLE technology transforms the S Pen into a handy remote control that allows Galaxy Note9 users to manage a wide variety of functions and apps from within 10 meters of their device.

Users can customize clicks of the S Pen’s button to perform specific actions within specific apps. Single clicks and double clicks can designate different actions, while holding down the pen button can be assigned to opening other apps and the S Pen features. This means that you can open the camera by holding down the S Pen’s button, click once to take a picture and twice to switch cameras, without the need to touch the smartphone’s screen at all.

The S Pen’s single and double press functions are compatible with more than 10 apps and is expected to expand to further apps thanks to the S Pen’s open SDK. You can pick and choose which remote control functions you’d like to enable by accessing the S Pen’s settings.

Tip #2: Flex Your Creative Muscles with Photo Drawing and Live Drawing

Photo Drawing: PENUP > Drawing > Set background image

Good news for those of us who’d like to fine-tune our artistic skills: the Galaxy Note9’s new Photo Drawing and Live Drawing features offer simple tools to add an effortless creative flourish to your images.

Both feature integration with PENUP—a social network for creative types to share S Pen-created artwork. Photo Drawing allows you to use the S Pen to draw over images as you would with a sheet of tracing paper. Once you’re finished, you can delete the original photo or drawing and save your new creation as a separate image.

Live Drawing: PENUP > Live drawings

Live Drawing, meanwhile, allows you to see for yourself how seasoned S Pen artists create impressive works of art. The feature’s wide selection of step-by-step tutorials offer simple instructions for drawing everything from everyday objects to cute characters and scenic landscapes. The videos make it easy to see exactly which colors and brushes the artists used, and you can also trace over the featured objects, scenes and characters to practice drawing them.

Tip #3: Make Your Emojis More Meaningful

Keyboard/Air Command > Live message

Introduced in the Galaxy Note8, Live message allows users to easily send handwritten notes, make animated GIFs, and create the perfect emoticon to capture the emotion they wish to express. The feature was recently enriched for the Galaxy Note9, with three new pen effects bringing the total number to six effects, and various pen colors to choose from. Live message can also be added to users’ AR Emoji Stickers, bringing an even more personal touch to their messages.

Introduced with the Galaxy S9, Samsung’s augmented reality-based emoji feature utilizes machine learning and facial recognition technology to create a 3D model that matches your appearance and facial expressions. From a simple selfie, the function automatically generates a total of 36 sharable stickers that feature your unique AR Emoji expressing a wide range of emotions.

The combination of AR Emojis and Live message creates a unique way to make your messages more personal, and makes messaging friends and family that much more fun.

Tip #4: Take Advantage of User-favorite S Pen Functions

In addition to introducing an array of brand-new functions and innovations, the Galaxy Note9’s S Pen includes the great collection of fan-favorite features that have enabled Galaxy Note users around the world to experience new levels of convenience in their daily lives.

Screen off memo has been a user-favorite feature ever since it was first introduced with the Galaxy Note5. The function gives you the freedom to jot down notes or ideas whenever you need by writing directly on your device’s off screen. The memo can be pinned to AOD (Always On Display) and automatically saved in Samsung Notes.

The Galaxy Note9 has made Screen off memos more dynamic by adding color to the mix. Now, when users compose a note, the S Pen’s markings match the color of the S Pen itself—either yellow, light gray, lavender purple or metallic copper. Users who prefer Screen off memo’s classic gray pen can easily select this option in the function’s settings.

Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Air command

The S Pen’s Air command menu offers users instant access to some of its most convenient functions. The menu can be customized with up to ten of your most frequently used functions with S Pen and shortcuts. Such S Pen functions include Smart select, which allows users to select, clip and collect content in one quick move with the S Pen in a desired shape, and the Translate function which lets users highlight and translate text on the screen, without the need to navigate away to another app. The Air command menu can be accessed simple by taking out the S Pen or by hovering S Pen over the screen then clicking the S Pen’s button.

Settings > Advanced features > S Pen > Air view

Air view is another convenient function that offers instant insight into your phone’s content, simply by hovering the S Pen over the device. With Air view, you can see a short preview of your schedule in the Calendar app, text of webpages, and enlarged thumbnails of your pictures saved in the Gallery.

With innovative features designed to enhance your work and play, the S Pen for the Galaxy Note9 has redefined the mobile lifestyle, as the connected stylus brings even greater convenience and fun to both work and play.

The Galaxy Note9 builds on Samsung Electronics’ legacy of innovative camera technologies with an intelligent camera that takes the work out of capturing the perfect photo.

Brand new functions including Scene Optimizer and Flaw Detection utilize artificial intelligence to help users get the most out of the device’s advanced camera. Together, this powerful combination of smarts and specs makes it easier than ever to snap stunning shots.

Optimal Color Every Time

Picture this: When catching a sunset during your vacation, you snap a pic with your phone only to find that the image on the screen hasn’t quite captured the majesty of the moment. The Galaxy Note9’s new Scene Optimizer function makes it easy to photograph breathtaking moments just like this by automatically optimizing camera settings to capture the full beauty of the scene.

Scene Optimizer utilizes deep-learning technology to analyze objects, scenery and time elements in the camera’s frame in order to identify exactly which type of scene you’re about to photograph. The function is currently capable of recognizing 20 types of scenes—including ‘Food’, ‘Flowers’, ‘Indoor scenes’ and ‘Landscapes’— and automatically adjusts the color tone based on how the scene is classified¹.

The function corrects the saturation, white balance, brightness and contrast in order to provide the best possible image. And because it does not require a network connection, it’s always available to help make your photos look great.

Snap Flawless Photos

Even the best photos can be spoiled by a simple blink, a blur, a smudge on the lens, or by harsh, overpowering light behind the picture’s subject. That’s where the Galaxy Note9’s Flaw Detection function comes in. Once a photo has been snapped, the feature automatically scans it for flaws and notifies you if any are found².

The function helps users capture and save more memorable moments by ensuring that the picture they take is the best possible shot. Say you’re enjoying a special evening with friends and decide to immortalize it with a fun photo. Rather than realizing later that your eyes were closed, with Flaw Detection you’ll be immediately informed of any flaws in your photo so you can capture the memory with an additional shot.

Crisp Images In Any Lighting

Whether we’re at a restaurant, a concert, or simply enjoying a balmy evening under the summer sky, we’re constantly snapping photos in low-light environments. That’s why Samsung outfitted the Galaxy Note9’s camera with an array of innovative technologies that allow it to produce stunning shots day or night.

Combining an F2.4 aperture lens with an F1.5, the brightest currently available on a smartphone, the Dual Aperture lens automatically adjusts to light just like the human eye, letting in more light when it’s dark and less when it’s bright to produce images that are crisp and clear.

The Galaxy Note9’s multi-frame processing technology adds further clarity to photos taken under less-than-ideal lighting conditions. This technology, which combines several photos into one to create an optimal image, allows the camera to provide better HDR at night, and enriches the Live Focus feature with improved brightness and noise when taking pictures in low-light environments.

Capture More Moments In Epic Detail

The Galaxy Note9’s camera also includes support for Samsung’s recently introduced Super Slow-mo function, which ramps the camera’s shutter speed up to 960 frames per second to allow users to record spectacular slow-mo videos.

Four times slower than traditional slow-motion video, Super Slow-mo is powered by the camera’s Super Speed Dual Pixel image sensor, which supports much faster image processing thanks in part to its integrated DRAM memory chip. The feature also includes an automatic Motion Detection function that instantly starts recording as soon as it detects movement.

The Galaxy Note9 allows users to transform 0.4 seconds of footage into approximately 12 seconds of Super Slow-mo video when taken in single shot mode³. Once a video is recorded, the feature automatically adds appropriate background music that makes the recorded moment even more epic.

More Customizable AR Emoji

The Galaxy Note9 is absolutely packed with innovations that empower users’ creativity and self-expression, and the camera’s refined AR Emoji feature is one of the most dynamic examples of this.

Capable of mimicking users’ movements in addition to supporting dozens of pre-set expressions, AR Emoji stickers offer a fun way to express yourself and inject personality into messages. The Galaxy Note9 analyzes your distinct facial features to generate a 3D avatar that matches your appearance.

The feature, whose face-tracking function was recently enriched with more landmark detector points, has been enhanced for the Galaxy Note9 with an array of customization options that make it easier for AR Emojis to copy your distinct style. With loads of new outfits and accessories to choose from, as well as the ability to fine-tune details like your hair style, skin tone and facial features, the opportunities for expression are endless.

Galaxy Note9 users will also be able to customize the backgrounds of their stickers with an array of new options, and enjoy access to Samsung and partners like Disney’s ever-growing roster of AR Emojis based on iconic cartoon characters—a roster that’s set to become even more fun and diverse with the feature’s open SDK (software development kit).

¹Accuracy may differ by settings and surrounding conditions.

²Accuracy of Flaw Detection function may differ depending on surrounding conditions or subject. Blink detection works within 1.5 meters and a maximum of 3 people are detectable at the same time. Blur detection feature senses when the camera shakes, and recognizes face blur in the photo.

³Video is initially recorded at 480fps and digitally converted into 960fps footage.

Galaxy S9 and S9+ users can create AR (augmented reality) avatars of Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff. To start animating messages as one of your favorite Disney Frozen characters, just open the Galaxy S9/S9+’s AR Emoji mode, tap the plus icon on the right-hand side to access the Galaxy Apps Store and download the Disney Frozen pack.

AR Emojis are a fun and versatile way to personalize communications with friends, harnessing expressions through facial recognition technology, and are shareable across all platforms. The Disney Frozen AR Emoji pack is now available for download on the Galaxy Apps Store. Be sure to stay tuned for more AR Emoji releases from the collaboration coming soon.

With the update, after users snap a selfie to generate their AR Emoji, they’ll be able to easily make detailed adjustments to their AR Emoji’s hair, ears and facial features. This means that, for instance, when a child creates an AR Emoji, they’ll be able to adjust the shape of their face so that it more closely mirrors their own. And if you feel like your AR Emoji’s eyes, nose, lips, cheeks or other facial features are in need of a touch-up, the new My Emoji Editor function offers simple tools to fine-tune these distinguishing characteristics.

The update also enhances AR Emoji’s face-tracking function with a 65-percent increase in ‘landmark detector’ points. This will ensure that features such as your eyes and mouth are tracked more precisely. And thanks to the update’s frame rate boost, your AR Emoji will be able to mimic your movements in a manner that’s smoother and more natural.

^*Availability may vary depending on market.

The “#LetsGold” collaborative event leverages Samsung’s VR, AR and AI technologies in ways that stimulate the senses and take the dining experience to new heights. An exclusive six-course meal takes guests on a culinary journey that utilizes the smartphone’s innovative features to offer an exciting look at each delectable dish.

Eager guests are escorted to an exclusive room that’s awash in gold and includes a matching Galaxy S9+ at every seat. Once they’re seated, they’re introduced to an AR Emoji avatar of Executive Chef Tse Man, who kicks off the feast by revealing the evening’s appetizers, and offering a peek at his team’s meticulous cooking process through the mixed reality technology.

After the appetizers comes a rich and nutritious porcini, blazed mushrooms and abalone soup, which transforms before diners’ eyes when viewed through a camera lens on the Galaxy S9’s Infinity Display. Once diners snap a shot of the soup, they’ll be able to watch a delightful animation of each locally sourced ingredient leaping into their bowl.

Once they’ve finished, diners are treated to a fun and interactive introduction to their next course: Penghu lobster. Donning Galaxy S9-equipped Gear VRs, guests enjoy an immersive look at lobsters and various other forms of marine life roaming the sea. Once they take off the headset, they’re delighted to find that the fresh and savory lobsters have transformed into a classic Cantonese dish – baked golden brown and absolutely delicious.

Next up on the menu is one of Chef Tse Man’s signature dishes: a succulent U.S. Angus beef fillet served with wine. While they eat, diners are informed of the wine’s vineyard and vintage, courtesy of the smartphone’s ever-insightful Bixby Vision function.

Rounding off an exquisite evening of gastronomical delights are the restaurant’s signature fried rice – which guests are encouraged to capture, in all its tantalizing glory, through the device’s bright, F1.5-aperture lens – and finally, delicious charcoal buns with salted egg custard filling.

If you’re in the area, hurry over to Ya Ge to experience this Galaxy S9-inspired feast for yourself. Your taste buds will thank you later.

The AR Emojis, first launched on the Galaxy S9 and S9+, enable users to create a personalized emoji that can be shared on any platform, providing a fun, unique way to send messages to friends. These messages can be further customized, as the augmented reality-powered, deep learning and facial recognition technology map more than 100 facial features.

AR Emojis for Daisy Duck and Goofy characters are now available for download. To add the avatars of these two characters, Galaxy S9 and S9+ users can simply tap the plus icon on the right-hand corner to access the Galaxy Apps Store under the camera’s AR Emoji mode.

Samsung and Disney will deliver more exciting AR Emoji updates in the coming months. Check back soon for more Samsung and Disney AR Emoji news.

The smartphones’ camera app update, now available in the ‘My apps’ section of the Galaxy Apps store, has expanded AR Emoji’s library of pre-set expressions from 18 to 36. Samsung also plans to add 18 more expressions in the coming months, which will bring the feature’s total number of emotion-capturing sticker options to 54.

Once users have downloaded the update, they’ll be able to access and share the new AR Emoji stickers directly from the keyboard, or copy and paste them from the Gallery app into their favorite messaging platform.

Get a sense of what the new AR Emoji stickers look like in the sample conversation below.

Galaxy S9 and S9+ users may now personalize their messages with augmented-reality avatars of Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack, as well as fellow Super Frozone. To add them, simply access the camera’s AR Emoji mode, tap the plus icon on the right-hand side, and select the Incredibles AR Emoji pack from the Galaxy Apps Store.

The companies’ latest collaboration serves as an incredible example of AR Emoji’s ability to make communicating with friends more personal and fun. Check back soon for info on Samsung and Disney’s next exciting AR Emoji release.

But the Galaxy S9/S9+ is taking it up a notch with an all-new variety of intelligent and personalized emojis, which means you may never want to send plain text messages again. AR Emoji is designed to bring your unique facial expressions and add more fun to the emoji experience. But how did this AR-based feature come to life? Get a look behind Samsung’s lab doors for a close-up view.

01. The Problem

Regular emojis add more color to the conversation and are a fun way to communicate, but we recognized there are a lot of times when the existing set of emojis just don’t cut it. These lack personality – one smile looks no different from another. So we started looking for ways to bring out more character and personality in emojis.

02. The Goal

We thought in an ideal world, you would be able to teleport yourself and share how you feel with others then and there. So we wanted to come up with a way to replicate that experience but with the simplest tools possible, having seen so many people use messaging apps to communicate even with people right next to them and rely heavily on emojis rather than text. The focus quickly became how to create an image of the user and deliver multiple facial expressions and emotions along with that.

03. The Idea

To accomplish this, we decided to leverage the Galaxy S9/S9+’s camera technology. We thought, if users could take a selfie and transform it into a custom avatar and emoji, it would add something unique to the fun of communicating. In addition, we wanted to find a way to track people’s actual expressions so that they would have at their fingertips emojis that actually felt like their own. It was also important that we give users the best tools to express themselves however they want to look.

04. The Solution

The first step toward this was to use augmented reality to generate an avatar. With facial recognition technology, the Galaxy S9/S9+’s camera starts by producing an initial 3D rendering, using a data-based machine learning algorithm. Next, the camera analyzes the 2D image of the user and pulls information from its deep learning database to create the user’s facial features on the final 3D AR Emoji. To bring people’s unique expressions to life, we decided to include Face Tracking Technology, which tracks over 100 facial features and allows us to capture individual emotions on the spot.

In addition to this, Blend Shape technology helps deliver an even greater range of different facial expressions. Based on 75 basic facial expressions, Blend Shape allows us to reflect a wider set of user emotions by blending multiple expressions together. This is also the technology that has made our Disney emoji offerings possible. Another major step we took was to go through numerous sampling tests. From our labs, we conducted at least 100 tests on a weekly basis to make sure the new feature included enough data to appeal to users regardless of their tastes.

05. The Result

The end product of this is AR Emoji, which among other features offers a realistic or cartoon-like option for creating your own personalized My Emoji. These can be transformed into a set of 18 different expressions – gradually to expand to 54 – which were carefully created as universal visual representations of human emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. We wanted to offer emojis that would be able to deliver the same emotions across the world and went through a lot of research to understand how certain emotions are categorized and expressed on a fundamental level. In addition to the variety of emotions, AR Emoji also comes with a lot of versatility, allowing you to create the 3D avatars, either as a GIF, video or PNG file. Through updates and other developments, we’re continually looking for ways to help you simply be you. Check out some of the latest changes we made on April 23* and keep an eye out for additional improvements throughout the year that will include more hairstyles and other options.

06. A Simple How-to Guide

*Software update availability, functionality, features and schedule may differ by each market and its conditions, and are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung Newsroom recently conducted a series of interviews with various members of the team behind the company’s latest flagship. Check out the roundup of quotes below to learn more about the insights that shaped the Galaxy S9.

Providing a Single, Intuitive Experience

“[When designing the Galaxy S9,] we focused on enhancing the end-to-end user experience. For the camera, that involved ensuring easy-to-use Super Slow-mo video functionality, with immediately accessible videos that could be directly uploaded to social media through one intuitive process.”

Encouraging Self-Expression with AR Emoji

“‘Communication’ today has come to mean ‘self-expression’. We wanted [the AR Emoji feature] to provide the most personal emojis possible, which would capture users’ individuality with innovative AR technology. The My Emoji feature, which resembles the user’s own facial features, allows users to communicate their emotions in a way that’s uniquely personalized.”

Utilizing the Camera to the Fullest

“We will continue to strive for perfect, professional-quality images. But more importantly, our aim is to make it easier for users to fully utilize our sophisticated camera technology. Our goal is to develop a camera that always produces the best pictures for all users, without requiring them to tinker with settings.”

Producing an Exclusive Sound Experience

“Samsung partnered with HARMAN and Dolby Atmos to craft speakers that are richly satisfying in both sound quality and volume. Through our extensive research and development process, we found that immersive sound can bring a whole new experience to smartphone users who frequently view premium content on their devices. The Galaxy S9’s speakers are the culmination of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to foster peerless multimedia experiences.”

Refining Design Based on User Feedback

“The Galaxy S8 was applauded for its smooth, continuous design. When developing the Galaxy S9, we listened closely to input from users on ways to make that design even better. We decided to adjust the placement of the fingerprint sensor and the side buttons, and made the barely there bezels even slimmer. To create a more seamless look, we crafted the bezels and screen in a deep black, which allows them to blend together nicely and helps conceal the iris sensor, and we also equipped the device with thicker, more durable glass.”

Developing an Efficient UX That Empowers
Users’ Self-Expression

“We designed the Galaxy S9’s UX (user experience) with an emphasis on efficiency, because the easier it is to manage your device, the better your experience will be. And because smartphones are a representation of the user’s personality, we strived to make the UX as customizable as possible in order to foster users’ creativity and self-expression – and that includes the device’s wide spectrum of sound effects.”

Partnering to Make AI More Convenient

“We’ve greatly enhanced Bixby through partnerships that have enabled customized services in different countries, and we’re constantly exploring new Bixby features that can help make people’s everyday lives easier.”

Redefining Smartphone ‘Satisfaction’

“The basic features of smartphones have been refined to the point that consumers are largely satisfied. What matters is not how diverse the features offered are, but whether each feature delivers a high level of satisfaction. At this point, we need to think about the next phase for smartphones, which will involve delivering innovations that really resonate with the new generation of users.”

Staying Ahead of the Game

“[Going forward,] it will be important to stay a step ahead in innovative features, as well as time them to the market appropriately to grab consumers’ attention. We plan to continue exploring dynamic visual features, in addition to working on integrating new technologies like AR (augmented reality) and AI (artificial intelligence) into our devices.”

Samsung has embraced this transformation in Galaxy S9/S9+ with a touch of Disney magic and GIPHY fun. With the roll-out of these all-new AR Emojis – and a range of other new messaging innovations – the Galaxy S9/S9+ makes chatting with friends more fun than ever before. Along with improved hardware, the AR Emojis have turned the camera into a dashboard that makes creating and remixing your shareable moments even easier.

Bring Disney Magic to Life

Have you ever wanted to meet the most famous mouse in the world? Samsung’s latest partnership with Disney is bringing your favorite characters to life with an all-new set of Disney-themed AR Emojis.

Users can now use Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, or Donald Duck AR Emojis by downloading the Disney characters from their camera and hitting record. The new Disney characters add to the variety of AR Emojis already available including your own personal My Emoji avatar and other cartoon characters.

AR Emojis use deep learning and facial recognition technology to map more than 100 facial features to produce a 3D replica, allowing users to create fun, customized messages to send to friends. So, whether you want to make your friends laugh as a silly rabbit, or tell them you love them as Mickey Mouse, there are more options than ever before on the Galaxy S9/S9+. Samsung and Disney plan to continue releasing more classic characters throughout the year, including favorites from The Incredibles, Frozen, and Zootopia.

Share More, Share Easier

Nothing captures a sarcastic quip or reaction like a good emoji or GIF. In fact, they are so good at capturing our emotions we send over 1 billion GIFs every day. With the Galaxy S9/S9+, Samsung has made them more customizable and shareable than ever before. The My Emoji feature automatically generates 18 emotions and saves them as custom stickers that are easily accessible from your Samsung Keyboard, along with other pre-loaded emojis and stickers. For now, there are 18 different custom stickers, but new updates will bring the total to 54. Since they use the AGIF format, you can share them with anyone, no matter what kind of smartphone they have.

Third-party applications also support My Emoji stickers through use of the Samsung Keyboard, so no matter the platform you use, you can send any of your custom emojis to friends and family. Besides the wide variety AR Emoji brings to your chats, Samsung has partnered with GIPHY so that sending your GIFs is even easier. So, if you’re just chatting with friends, or making a sarcastic quip to mom and dad, now you can send GIFs right from your Samsung Keyboard.

The new Samsung Keyboard features 30 categories of GIFs to choose from including happy, fun, thumbs up, and OMG. Whether you’re sassy, silly, or sarcastic, there is a GIF for you.

Choose from More Emojis Than Ever

While the Face with Tears of Joy may have captured the comedic highs and tragic lows of a generation, the time to update our emoji repertoire has come. Samsung has answered that call by adding more than 200 new emojis to the Samsung Keyboard.

In addition to the new emojis, Samsung has also opted for a redesign of the classic icons already available.

Whether you want to cheer up a friend, say “hello” to mom, or reach out to a lost connection, the Galaxy S9/S9+ brings you a plethora of options to express yourself, proving once again that it is built for the way we communicate today.

To learn more about this fun and unique new feature, we sat down with members of the AR Emoji’s design team, Wonhyung Cho and Hye-Bong Kim, from the Global Product Planning Group, and Hoik Hwang and Jiyoun Kim, from the UX Design Group.

Hoik Hwang, Hye-Bong Kim, Wonhyung Cho and Jiyoun Kim (from left)

Q. What was the inspiration behind the Galaxy S9’s AR Emoji feature?

Wonhyung Cho: People are communicating more and more through their smartphones, sending messages to each other throughout the day. Many of us are also looking for new ways to express a range of emotions in the short messages we send each other, and in this context, emoticons and emojis have become one of the most popular ways to express ourselves. As a next step, we wanted to go further and blend the emerging technology of AR with emoticon and emoji tools for a new form of visual communication.

Q. What makes the Galaxy S9’s AR Emoji special?

Cho: We thought for a long time about what the word ‘communication’ means today and it became clear that a large part of communication is ‘self-expression’. As a team, we wanted to make the feature as personal as possible by capturing our unique emotions, using an innovative technology like AR. In creating a My Emoji which captures your own distinct facial features, AR Emojis can provide a truer form of self-expression.

Hye-Bong Kim: The camera uses facial recognition technology to analyze a photo of your face and map more than 100 facial features. Using these data points, a 3D modeling form specialized for the contours of the human face creates a 3D My Emoji and 18 My Emoji stickers which reflect your unique facial features.

Q. How have users reacted to the feature?

Cho: AR Emoji has generated a lot of curiosity – it’s such a fun feature and many people want to see how their My Emoji looks.

Hoik Hwang: For everyone, the question is not ‘does this look like me?’, but rather ‘does this look like I want it to?’ AR Emoji actually creates two types of My Emoji: one that is realistic and one that is more like a cartoon. Some people like the first kind, while others prefer the second.

We want AR Emoji to be the best it can be. A close resemblance to the user isn’t the only thing we considered when developing the feature. Our goal was for creators to be able to use the AR Emoji to express themselves, however they want to look.

We’re currently working to allow users to make their My Emojis better express the mood they want them to.

Q. When it came to UX design, what was your key consideration?

Jiyoun Kim: AR Emoji uses the Galaxy S9’s camera, so we wanted to integrate it with the camera’s UX. From start to finish, the user’s journey while creating their My Emoji and My Emoji stickers has to be simple and engaging.

Then we thought about how people might want to use the feature to express themselves in their daily lives. AR Emoji offers a new way tell our stories and because of that we felt that making it available across many platforms was important.

We created 18 stickers, which each communicate a different emotion. They can be stored in your smartphone Gallery application, can be used freely in your different applications and messaging services and are available as both PNG and GIF files.

Q. How did you go about designing the 18 My Emoji stickers?

Hwang: Our goal was to create emoji stickers that would communicate the same emotions across the world – and would mean the same thing in any country. We read a lot of research as we tried to categorize human emotions and to determine what the visual representations of fundamental human feelings – things like joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure – should be.

In time, the number of stickers will increase to 54 so that even more emotions will be expressed using the emoji stickers.

Q. Did you encounter any difficulties while designing AR Emoji?

Hwang: AR is an innovative technology and the AR field is quite new. We collected data from people around the world, interviewing them to discover their needs and ensure that the feature delivered on those needs.

As a team, we continue to collect this data so that we can make AR Emojis even better. User feedback helps us discover not only what consumers really want, but how we can make adjustments to this new technology.

Q. Can you elaborate on your experiences working with Disney to create the Mickey and Minnie Mouse AR Emojis?

Hwang: Like lots of people, I grew up with Mickey Mouse. I never thought that I would be working on a project like this with Disney when I grew up. When we first started I was really excited and couldn’t stop thinking, “Is this really happening?”

Throughout the project, we engaged in a great deal of knowledge sharing with Disney. For example, there’s a feature known as Blend Shape that allows the feature to recreate 75 basic user facial expressions – for example, if you combine two different facial expressions, you will produce a completely new one – explaining how this feature worked was time-intensive. But by working together, we were able to create these unique Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse AR Emojis.

Q. As AR Emoji designers, can you share some tips for creating an AR Emoji?

Jiyoun Kim: First, you need to be in a place with plenty of light – the brighter the better – like when you want to take a selfie. Make sure your face is not hidden by your hair or any other objects. Position your face fully inside the circular frame on the screen and take a photo. Just relax and be natural. After your My Emoji has been created, you can make manual adjustments to skin tone, hair style and color, clothing and other features, to your liking.

Q. Do you have any advice for making the most of the feature?

Hwang: I have seen videos where people create stories by recording their own voice for the dialogue, and use AR Emojis to act out the parts, which are really fun to watch. It’s a new and innovative way to use My Emoji. You can use them to present something your own behalf and remain almost anonymous at the same time.

Hye-Bong Kim: You don’t have to make just one AR Emoji. You can make several characters, as the mood takes you. Give your My Emoji a hairstyle you want try or a funky outfit you would never normally wear. Create AR Emojis of family or friends and share them with each other.

We like to make a game out of changing the hair styles and other features of the My Emojis, then guessing which one belongs to which team member, which is quite amusing.

Q. Can you suggest how users can get the most out characters like Mickey Mouse?

Cho: They are perfect for creating your own cartoon or animation. Since they are designed to mirror human facial expressions, you can make your characters express a range of emotions and make up a whole story using them.

Samsung Newsroom recently sat down with members of Samsung’s Global Product Planning Group – Nayoung Kim, Taihoon Kim, Joohyun Kim and Jonathan Min – who discussed the process of developing a device that’s more powerful, personal and in tune with how we use our smartphones today.

(From left) Taihoon Kim, Jonathan Min, Nayoung Kim and Joohyun Kim, of Samsung’s Global Product Planning Group, helped shape the Galaxy S9’s design.

Q. What inspired you to develop the Galaxy S9’s ‘visual communication’ features?

Nayoung Kim: Current mobile trends are being dictated by Generation Z, but they are very selective. In our research, we took a close look at how Generation Z are communicating, as well as what kind of apps and functionality they most enjoy. We eventually uncovered an increase in the use of visual forms of communication. For example, members of the social media generation will often use emoticons rather than texts, and they enjoy sharing fun images. So, to cater to this preference, we focused on adding new functionalities to the camera.

Q. Could you elaborate on the camera’s development process?

Nayoung Kim: When designing the camera, our team focused on three key points. It needed to be capable of recording dynamic video – the type of content that the younger generation loves to consume; it needed to be able to capture low-light photos, which should be a fundamental feature of any camera; and it needed to be easy to use and offer fun new features, like AR Emoji.

Taihoon Kim: The product development process for the Galaxy S9 was quite different from that of the previous years, as team members with different expertise strived to discover the visual experiences of everyday life through their own eyes, and how that might translate to camera functionality. These diverse insights enabled us to develop a camera catering to wide needs.

Q. How did you refine the Galaxy S9’s user experience?

Taihoon Kim: We focused on enhancing the End-to-End scenario of the user experience. For the camera, that involved ensuring easy-to-use Super Slow-mo video functionality, with immediately accessible videos that could be directly uploaded to social media through one intuitive process.

You see this sort of seamlessness with AR Emoji as well. Once you scan your face, you’re instantly given the option to customize your 3D avatar to your liking, and presented with 18 shareable GIFs encompassing a wide range of expressions.

Nayoung Kim: We tested the device’s usability extensively, and in various contexts, to ensure the processes were intuitive and organic, and could work across all aspects of daily life. As example, I brought a prototype of the phone with me when I went sledding with my children. The first-hand experience of recording a Super Slow-mo video of my children rocketing down the hill gave birth to the idea of an auto motion-detect function able to capture those sorts of fleeting moments.

Q. Which Galaxy S9 feature has received the biggest response from consumers?

Jonathan Min: We’ve found that users are very interested in the AR Emoji feature, which we first started working on in 2016. People are used to expressing themselves with emojis and stickers, but this feature allows them to create and express themselves through emojis that resemble their own faces, in a way that’s much more personal.

When we started it was new, so everything had to be built from the ground up, and it was difficult to predict consumers’ feedback. It was also our development team’s first time working on something like this, so it took a lot of trial and error to bring the function to life.

Nayoung Kim: Our most important goal is to provide users with new experiences by launching the product, enhancing it based on the market’s reactions, and continuing to develop innovative features. AR Emoji will continue to be enhanced in ways that reflect consumers’ needs.

Q. Do you have a favorite feature?

Jonathan Min: I personally use AR Emoji stickers the most, whenever I message my friends and family.

Taihoon Kim: I like the Super Slow-mo function the most. It’s not only great for capturing dynamic actions, but life’s little moments as well, such as the signature facial expression of your loved ones. And the Galaxy S9’s ability to display Super Slow-mo clips on the lock screen creates a touching way to enjoy videos of them.

Joohyun Kim: We redefined the design of the Infinity Display to make it even more beautiful and to minimize any ‘distracting’ elements. Subtle adjustments, such as ensuring that the iris scanner is hidden, and that the bezel and display are the same color, helped us deliver a display that makes it easy for viewers to immerse themselves in their favorite content.

Q. Going forward, how does Samsung plan to ensure that Galaxy smartphones remain among the most innovative in the market?

Taihoon Kim: It will be important to stay a step ahead in innovative features, as well as time them to the market appropriately to grab consumer attention. Consumers can experience visual communications features directly themselves, without an explanation. We plan to continue exploring dynamic visual features, given their unique appeal to the young generation of consumers, as well as integrate new technologies like AR (augmented reality) and AI (artificial intelligence) into our devices.

Nayoung Kim: The basic features of smartphones have been refined to the point that consumers are largely satisfied. What matters is not how diverse the offered features are, but whether the features offered to deliver a high level of satisfaction. At this point, we need to think about the next phase for smartphones, which will involve delivering innovations that really resonate with the new generation of users.

Joohyun Kim: Smartphones have become essential to daily life. As product planners, it’s our duty to constantly look for ways to improve on ‘basic’ features – those that we use every day – while also identifying brand new functions.

Samsung Electronics and Disney are bringing beloved Disney characters to life as new AR Emojis for the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+. Starting today, Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ users will be able to access classic Disney characters – Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse– directly from their phone to create personalized messages. For the first time ever, these Disney characters are coming to life in an augmented reality setting for communications and messaging. Characters from favorite Disney films including The Incredibles, Zootopia, and Frozen will roll out throughout the year.

“By extending our characters and stories to new digital platforms, we are creating daily Disney experiences everywhere our audience goes, and we are able to draw in new generations of fans,” said John Love, Vice President, Apps at Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “The Disney AR Emojis offer an innovative approach to content for the Galaxy S9 and S9+ and a fun way to bring magic to messages.”

“With more than 6 billion emojis sent daily, our goal with developing AR Emoji was to provide a fun, exciting way to communicate and a new way to bring animated images to life,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics. “We knew there was no one better to partner with than Disney – creator of some of the most beloved characters in history – to make our AR Emojis the happiest faces on earth and give our users access to the most popular characters to share with friends across platforms.”

Beginning on March 16, users with Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones can download Disney characters from the AR Emoji mode on their camera.

Launching alongside the Galaxy S9 and S9+, AR Emojis allow users to create fun customized messages to send to friends. The AR Emojis use deep learning and facial recognition technology to map more than 100 facial features to produce a 3D replica, allowing users to create fun, customized messages to send to friends. AR Emojis offer eighteen pre-set stickers using standard AGIF file format, so they can be easily shared with anyone, no matter what kind of smartphone they have.¹ When users find an AR Emoji they love, they can pin it to their Always On Display, so they can enjoy it whenever they look at their phone.

¹ Availability of eighteen pre-set stickers varies by emoji and does not include Disney characters at this time.

At a series of booths set up near the iconic Burj Khalifa, tourists and spectators who came to watch the light show were able to experience the latest flagship devices up close and personal, while taking photos and creating special emojis on site.

Both the Burj Khalifa event and the Galaxy S9 and S9+ reflect Samsung’s commitment to its brand philosophy. By reimagining the entire camera experience, the new flagship devices speak to consumer needs, giving them a more creative and fun way to express themselves through visuals and audio. To match this spirit of defying barriers, the spectacular Burj Khalifa featured a first-of-its-kind LED light show to highlight how Samsung is evolving with the way people communicate with one another.

The iconic Burj Khalifa lights up with a spectacular LED light show to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S9/S9+

At each immersive experience booth at the event, Samsung gave visitors a chance to discover the hidden moments in their lives and find creative new ways to communicate and express their thoughts and feelings. From creating their own personalized AR Emoji, to taking a picture among the stars in a dark room, the Burj Khalifa event was full of multi-sensory experiences that demonstrated the company’s philosophy of “turning can’t into can.”

Following the Dubai showcase, Samsung will hold events in other cities and at landmarks yet to be announced. So, if you missed the fun, check out the photos from the event and stay tuned for more chances to experience the action firsthand.

Coloring with Sound

Painting with music might sound impossible, but a splash of paint brought color to the beat at the Paint Beat Box experience station – the perfect place to test drive the Galaxy S9 and S9+’s Super Slow-mo feature.

Visitors capture liquid paint bouncing up and down on speakers with the Galaxy S9/S9+’s Super Slow-mo

Visitors watch liquid paint jumping from speakers in a Super Slow-mo video captured on the Galaxy S9/S9+

Slowing Down for Science

Ever wonder what a water balloon looks like when it pops? Conjuring the whimsical nature of 8th-grade science experiments, the Water Balloon Wall gave people a chance to experience the Super Slow-mo feature’s automatic Motion Detection. Visitors could capture the exact moment their balloon burst, then watch the action in mind-blowingly smooth slow motion.

The Galaxy S9/S9+’s automatic Motion Detection knows exactly when to start recording in Super Slow-mo so that people don’t miss a single moment

Visitors try to pop water balloons at the Water Balloon Wall to experience the Galaxy S9/S9+’s Super Slow-mo

Creating a New, Digital You

Samsung made the virtually impossible a virtual reality with the Galaxy S9 and S9+’s AR Emoji. Visitors could be transformed into an animated character and play with the emoji versions of themselves at the My Avatar experience.

At My Avatar, visitors create an emoji that looks just like them with the Galaxy S9/S9+’s AR Emoji

Visitors create emojis with the Galaxy S9/S9+’s intelligent AR Emoji, which uses facial recognition technology

Floating with the Stars

Reaching the stars was almost possible at the Seeing Through the Lights experience, where visitors entered a mirrored room full of low illuminate lights to test out the Galaxy S9 and S9+’s low-light photography capability. With the all-new Dual Aperture feature and fast readout image sensor, the new devices can take tack-sharp photos even in poor lighting conditions.

Visitors enter a dark mirrored room with low illuminate lights to get a look at the Galaxy S9/S9+’s all-new low light camera

The Burj Khalifa, a global icon, garners attention as a popular gathering place and for its amazing LED display, which has been the center of attraction of the ‘Light Up 2018’ spectacle. Samsung will project its Galaxy S9 and S9+ campaign, The Camera.Reimagined on the iconic landmark five times from March 2-3. The company will also host an on-the-ground consumer event with Product Experience Zones that allow consumers to explore new advanced visual and audio capabilities of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ first-hand. At activation stands, consumers can create their own personalized AR Emoji, test out the low-light functionality of the Galaxy’s reimagined camera in a mirrored room and capture the celebration with Super Slow-mo video capabilities at Samsung’s confetti booth.

The campaign embraces the spirit of Samsung’s brand manifesto, “Do What You Can’t” (DWYC)—a call to defy barriers and do what can’t be done – and introduces consumers to the Galaxy S9 and S9+ through immersive experiences, media, TV commercials and digital content. Samsung is creating products, services and experiences that are made for the way consumers express themselves and discover hidden moments.

“Staying true to our heritage of relentless innovation, this campaign is another example of how Samsung is continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – just like we do with our products and services,” said YH Lee, Global Chief Marketing Officer of Samsung Electronics. “Through the spectacular Burj Khalifa ‘Light Up’ show, multi-sensory engagement experiences, and the new Galaxy S9 and S9+, we are tapping in to the way consumers communicate, engage and experience the world today.”

In addition to the takeover in Dubai, Samsung will launch OOH activations at landmarks and high-traffic areas in major global markets, where consumers can experience the Galaxy S9 and S9+, including the advanced camera features that can catch a fleeting moment, high-quality audio and intelligent connectivity that allows users to seamlessly manage all facets of their social lifestyle.

Spectacular Showcase Schedule

Samsung will project its Galaxy S9 and S9+ campaign on the iconic landmark five times from 19:57 GST on March 2 through 20:27 GST on March 3.

The Burj Khalifa lights up with a spectacular LED lightshow to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S9/S9+

Visitors check out the Galaxy S9/S9+’s Super Slow-mo feature at a designated booth in Dubai

People take turns creating their own AR Emoji that just looks like them

Visitors stop by various consumer experience booths showcasing the new Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ devices

For more information about the Galaxy S9 and the OOH campaign, visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com, news.samsung.com/galaxy or www.samsung.com/galaxy.

And now DxOMark—the trusted industry standard for camera and lens image quality measurements and ratings—has just announced that the Galaxy S9+ has earned the top spot in their mobile camera rankings. With a score of 99 points, we’ve earned DxOMark’s highest-ever combined photo and video rating for a smartphone camera. The Galaxy S9+ photo score from DxOMark is 104 points – the highest ever photo score from the organization.

Among all the exciting innovations, two technical innovations did more than any others to push the Galaxy S9+ to the top of the DxOMark rankings:  the Dual Aperture¹ and the Super Speed Dual Pixel Sensor. They work together to help you take amazing photos in any lighting condition and capture everyday epic moments.

If you’ve ever taken a grainy photo at a dimly lit birthday dinner or frowned as your friend’s smile got washed out by bright sunlight, then you know that most of the time we take photos in imperfect light. The Dual Aperture lens automatically adapts like the human eye, and with an F stop of 1.5 it’s the widest lens of any smartphone—delivering the brightest possible pictures in extreme low-light environments. Meanwhile, the Super Speed Dual Pixel sensor goes to work, using its dedicated processing power and memory to combine up to 12 distinct images into one amazing, high-quality photo.

DxOMark’s ranking affirmed the value of these camera innovations with every photo we take—from midnight to high noon. But they’re not the only reasons you’ll want to experience for yourself what the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ camera does to reimagine the way you communicate, share and experience the world.

In Super Slow-mo mode, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ lets you capture 960 frames per second—four times more than the Galaxy S8. While manual capture gives you complete control of the shot, the new Automatic Motion Detection mode will start recording as soon as it senses movement in the frame,. After capturing the shot, music is added automatically and instantly creates three shareable GIFs  to easily share with friends and family.

There are even more ways to personalize what you create and share with the new camera with augmented reality (AR) technology. Using advanced AR technology, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ analyze a 2D image of you and creates a 3D animated AR Emoji, a personalized emoji that’s uniquely you.

AR Emoji messages are saved in a standard AGIF file format, so you can send them to anyone using your favorite messaging app. To create one, it’s as easy as taking a selfie.

The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ AR technology also reimagines the way you interact with the world around you. Bixby, Samsung’s intelligence platform, is integrated into the camera and automatically overlays information directly on top of the image the camera is pointing at. With new Bixby features² built right within the camera, you don’t have to go through several steps or applications to get information about local landmarks, read a foreign menu or street sign in 54 different languages with Live Translation³, or shop⁴. If you see a cool product, Bixby will show you shopping options from retailers such as Walmart and Sam’s Club. The new Makeup feature lets you try on different looks and shop for your favorites. You can even point the camera at the meal in front of you, and in conjunction with AI, Bixby can estimate the calories and track them in Samsung Health.

As I hope you can see, we did more than design a new smartphone camera. We reimagined it so you can capture the perfect image in almost any light, capture moments and tell stories in new, creative ways.

¹ Rear camera F1.5 lens. Dual aperture (F2.4/F1.5) on rear wide-angle lens only. Light comparison based on the Galaxy S8.

² Voice command works with a select, growing number of third-party apps; see Apps with Voice in Bixby for a list of compatible apps. Service ability may vary by country. Instant access to Bixby not available while in: video and voice recording, call, Ultra Power Saving Mode, Emergency Mode, Kids Mode, DeX, DeX Station, and Car Mode.

³ Samsung Account log-in and data network (wifi or internet connection) required. Translation speed may vary depending on internet connection and word count. This function is limited to selected languages. For the full list of languages please visit www.samsung.com/galaxy

⁴ Feature limited to select retail partners.

These include features such as Super Slow-mo and Dual Aperture, which allow users to capture amazing moments in impeccable detail, as well as exciting innovations like AR Emoji, which offer users a fun and unique way to express themselves. Let’s explore some of the innovative features that make these cameras such a pleasure to use.

Capture Small Moments in Incredible Detail

Our daily lives are full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments that, when captured on camera, are breathtaking to behold. By increasing the camera’s shutter speed to a blistering 960 frames per second (fps), the Galaxy S9’s new Super Slow-mo function makes it easy for users to record special moments that pass too quickly to be seen by the naked eye – such as the instant a water balloon bursts, or the moment your child scores a big goal.

In order to incorporate the function, Samsung outfitted the Galaxy S9 with a Super Speed Dual Pixel image sensor that supports faster image processing. Composed of an image sensor, a fast readout circuit, and a smart dedicated DRAM memory chip, this sensor allows Super Slow-mo to record content that’s 32 times slower than normal video, and four times slower than any other slow-motion mobile technology. That means that just 0.2 seconds of normal video can be transformed into approximately 6 seconds of stunning footage.

When activated on the Galaxy S9, the function is not just fast; it’s also smart. To make capturing slow-motion footage even simpler, Samsung enhanced the function with an intelligent feature called Automatic Motion Detection, which allows users to capture any fleeting moment.

This allows users to automatically record moments that could pass them by in the time it would take to manually activate the function. Users can easily adjust the size of the motion-detection area on the camera screen, and have the option to capture either a ‘Single-take’ or ‘Multi-take’ Super Slow-mo video, with the latter allowing them to record up to 20 slow-motion clips.

The camera also makes customizing and sharing Super Slow-mo videos simple. Users have the option to create a GIF of their clip that they may save and share with three playback options: on loop, in reverse, or in swing mode. They can also add a soundtrack to their video, utilizing a song from their library or any of Super Slow-mo’s 35 built-in options, and choose to display their Super Slow-mo clip on Galaxy S9’s home screen or lock screen.

Crisp Images in Low-Light Conditions

The Galaxy S9’s cutting-edge Dual Aperture camera is designed to adapt to various lighting conditions just as the human eye would, automatically letting in more light when it’s dark and less when it’s too bright to ensure that photos are crisp and clear anytime, anywhere.

This level of clarity is possible thanks to Samsung’s pairing of a new F1.5 aperture lens, which is the brightest currently available on a smartphone, with an F2.4 lens.

The lenses automatically adjust their apertures to reduce visual distortion and deliver the best possible picture, and help the camera provide 28 percent better reception to light¹. Users may also adjust the apertures manually by utilizing the camera’s Pro Mode.

The Galaxy S9’s upgraded Multi-Frame Noise Reduction technology enhances low-light image quality even further by capturing and combining 12 pictures in quick succession to eliminate up to 30 percent¹ more noise and create a stunning shot.

Express Yourself with AR Emoji

Expressing yourself with animal emoji and cartoon characters can be fun, but as cute as they may be, they lack your distinct personality. That’s why Samsung developed the Galaxy S9’s AR Emoji feature – to offer users a visual communication tool that allows them to express themselves in a way that’s unique to them.

From a single selfie, the Galaxy S9’s machine-learning algorithm analyzes more than 100 distinct facial features, including your eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks and forehead, and uses that data to generate a personalized 3D avatar, or ‘my emoji,’ that looks just like you. Each is capable of mimicking the user’s own movements, in addition to supporting 18 pre-set expressions at launch, which makes it easy to punctuate any point with a dynamic visual.

Users can choose to create their own avatar, or pick one from a built-in selection of unique characters. Each is fully customizable, so users may edit their avatar’s facial features, hairstyle, accessories (such as glasses) and clothing to their liking. Samsung is also collaborating with various partners to add more fun and iconic characters to the AR Emoji roster very soon.

AR Emoji are compatible with messaging apps that utilizes the Samsung keyboard, and can easily be shared as GIFs or PNG files with anyone, no matter what kind of smartphone they have. To apply an extra layer of personalization to their device, users may also choose to use it as a wallpaper on their lock screen and home screen.

Deeper Bixby Integration²

Samsung’s intelligence platform, Bixby, is deeply integrated into the Galaxy S9’s camera, and utilizes augmented reality and deep learning technologies to provide users with a wide range of helpful, real-time information about the world around them.

When the user points their camera at an object, Bixby recognizes what it’s looking at and instantly presents information related to that object overlaid on top of the image. Bixby currently features nine different camera modes, including Text, Food, Makeup, Wine, Shopping, Image, QR Code and more, which allow users to receive instant insight into their surroundings.

This means that, for instance, a user on a business trip abroad may utilize the Live Translation function under Bixby’s Text mode to instantly translate a menu or sign written in a foreign language, or even foreign currency, in real-time. Bixby is currently capable of detecting 54 languages and translating them into a total of 104, which means no more accidentally ordering the wrong dish when overseas!³

Speaking of food, Bixby Vision’s Food mode allows the Galaxy S9’s camera to provide comprehensive information on the food you’re eating, including the calorie count and recipes.⁴ Makeup mode delivers similar levels of analysis and convenience, allowing the Galaxy S9 to recognize the kinds of makeup that the person in the camera is wearing, and providing direct links to websites that sell them.⁵

A Dual Camera Is Twice As Fun

The best-in-class Dual Camera featured on the Galaxy S9+ is composed of a pair of 12MP cameras – an F1.5 wide-angle lens with Super Speed Dual Pixel image sensor, and an F2.4 telephoto lens – that seamlessly combine their respective images into one.

The telephoto lens offers 2X optical and up to 10X digital zooming capabilities, while the camera’s dual optical image stabilization (OIS) technology ensures that both lenses provide crisp, clear shots even when the user has a shaky hand.

The camera’s Live Focus feature makes snapping selfies more fun, and allows you to easily capture a perfect portrait shot and adjust the depth of field before the picture is taken, or afterward, in the Gallery app. The Background Blur function offers users even more creative control over their pictures, allowing them to adjust their photo’s focus by applying a variety of shapes, including a heart or star to the background.

The Dual Capture feature was specifically designed to capture beauty in the background – or views that could be missed when taking a Live Focus shot. This function allows you to snap a close-up Live Focus portrait while also capturing the surrounding scenery, so the final photo will encapsulate the beauty of the moment in its entirety.

In addition, the cameras of both the Galaxy S9 and S9+ utilize machine learning technology to ensure that captured images are as clear as can be. The cameras’ Selfie Focus feature, for instance, automatically distinguishes the user’s face from their surroundings when taking a selfie, while Image Classification Solution automatically categorizes images and recognizes subjects’ surroundings to apply filters that make the photos looks like they were taken by a professional photographer.

^*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation. 

¹Compared to the Galaxy Note8.

²Bixby service availabilities and features may vary by country or carrier.

³Of these 54 recognizable languages, 33 may be detected automatically, and 21 should be selected manually.

⁴Food mode is available in Korea, the U.S., France, Germany, the U.K., Italy, Spain and India.

⁵Makeup mode is available in Korea, the U.S., Canada and China.