BEFORE Samsung Electronics Philippines even finishes taking preorders for the Galaxy S8 and S8+, it will introduce the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro (click for complete specs) to the local market.

First unveiled in China end-October 2016, the Galaxy C9 Pro is priced at P27,990 or roughly $558, which puts it right in the upper-midrange category of smartphones. It will be available starting April 22 at Samsung Experience Stores, official retail partners, and Lazada Philippines. A free Samsung Level U Pro wireless headphones come with each purchase.

SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S8 initial review: A Galaxy had never looked so bright

For the price, you’re getting 6GB of RAM, perfect when you’re fond of running a lot of apps simultaneously on your device — switching between those open Android applications should be faster.

With the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro, you’re getting 6GB of RAM, perfect when you’re fond of running a lot of apps simultaneously on your device — switching between those open Android applications should be faster.

But looking at the rest of the specs is like reading the spec sheet of the OPPO F3 Plus, the P23,990 (about $478) dual-camera smartphone that was launched in the country two weeks ago. 

Consider these:

• The Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro’s full-HD screen also measures 6 inches. However, it has always-on feature and it banks on Super AMOLED — better for watching and gaming — unlike OPPO’s, which uses IPS LCD technology.
• They’re both powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 653 system-on-a-chip.
• The two handsets each have 64GB of internal storage.
• In case you didn’t know, the Galaxy C9 Pro is the first Samsung phone to feature a 16-megapixel front camera. The main sensor of the OPPO F3 Plus’ dual cameras also has a megapixel count of 16.
• Their rear-facing cameras likewise have a 16-megapixel count.
• On their front is a fingerprint sensor.
• A non-removable 4,000mAh battery with support for fast charging can be found on each device.
• They’re both running Android Marshmallow.

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Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro vs OPPO F3 Plus: Resized sample photos taken with the rear camera. The C9 Pro seems to capture better pictures.

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OPPO F3 Plus: Wide-angle selfie vs regular selfie (all resized)

Obviously, the main differences lie in the RAM and front-camera setup departments, with the Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro boasting 6GB of RAM and one 16-megapixel selfie camera and the OPPO F3 Plus featuring 4GB of RAM and two sensors (16 and 8 megapixels) on the front, the secondary one of which is capable of taking wide-angle shots.

READ ALSO: Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017) initial review: Off on a positive note

But of course, what you see on paper may be different from how a phone actually performs, so we still urge you to test a unit first before buying anything — in case you’re undecided. Of course, your choice may depend on your needs, too.

Video you may want to watch: Samsung Galaxy S8 initial review

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