Galaxy S9 Guides

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How to use Samsung DeX Station for Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9?

Everything you need to know about Samsung DeX Station.

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use Samsung DeX Station for Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9Samsung DeX Station works with all Samsung DeX-enabled devices: Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9. You can instantly convert your phone as an Android PC (or a Linux PC if you enable Linux on DeX beta) with a DeX Station.

Although Samsung DeX Pad, Dex Station and DeX cable (for Note 9 and Tab S4) share identical DeX features, the design of these DeX accessories is substantially different. You may check this guide on using Samsung DeX Pad, and this guide (coming soon) on using Samsung DeX cable on Galaxy Note 9.  For the comparison of Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad vs Samsung DeX cable, please check this guide.

This Galaxy S9 accessories guide explains everything you need to know about Samsung DeX Station: contents in the package (box), the layout of the DeX Station, step-by-step guide on using the DeX Station. Frequently asked questions on Ethernet port, display resolution, charging and covers are also covered.

What is Samsung DeX Station?

Samsung DeX Station, as shown above,  is the first DeX accessory required by Samsung DeX. It was announced together with Galaxy S8 and S8+ in 2017.

Although it was announced as a companion to Galaxy S8/S8+, Samsung DeX Station works with all DeX-enabled devices: Galaxy S8, S8+, S9, S9+, Note 8, Note 9 and Tab S4.

The design of the Samsung DeX Pad is similar to Samsung’s fast wireless charging stand.  You need to push the top part so that it stands up to support the phone.

You may check this guide on the differences among three Samsung DeX accessories: Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad vs Samsung DeX Cable.

What is included in the Samsung DeX Station package?

In the Samsung DeX Station package, there are only two (maybe one if you find the quick start guide is useless) useful items:

  • Samsung DeX Station (aka multimedia dock).
  • Quick start guide in multiple languages.

Nothing else. No cables. No power adapters.

So, you need to prepare the following items to use Samsung DeX Station:

  • A Samsung fast wall charger (adaptive wall charger). The wall charger included in your Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9 is sufficient.
  • An HDMI cable.
  • (optional) A USB (or wireless)  mouse/keyboard. You can use the phone screen as the trackpad. But unlike Samsung DeX Pad, 
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Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad vs Samsung DeX cable

Which one do you need to use Samsung DeX on Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9?

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Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad vs Samsung DeX cableSamsung DeX is one of the best productivity features offered in Galaxy S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8 and Note 9.  You need either a Samsung DeX Station, or a Samsung DeX Pad, or a Samsung DexX cable to enjoy this feature.

But these 3 accessories may work differently in the supported devices. Please check this guide on how to use Samsung DeX Station and this guide on how to use Samsung DeX Pad.

This Galaxy S9 accessories guide explains the difference among the Samsung DeX accessories: Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad vs Samsung DeX cable, to help you get the correct DeX accessories for your phone.

What are the available Samsung DeX accessories needed to use Samsung DeX?

To use Samsung DeX, you need one of the following official accessories:

Samsung DeX Station was released in 2017 for Galaxy S8 and S8+. So, in addition to Galaxy S8 and S8+,  Samsung DeX station works with all later devices: Galaxy S9, S9+ Note 8 and Note 9.

Samsung DeX Pad was released in 2018 for Galaxy S9 and S9+. So, it officially supports Galaxy S9, S9+ and Note 9. But in Android Oreo update, Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note 8 can also use Samsung DeX  Pad to enjoy Samsung DeX.  So, Samsung DeX Pad supports similar devices as Samsung DeX Station unless you haven’t updated your S8 (or S8+ or Note 8) to Android Oreo.

Samsung DeX cable was released in 2018 for Galaxy Note 9. Currently, it only supports Galaxy Note 9 (and Tab S4)  in DeX mode. For Galaxy S8, S8+, S9, S9+ and Note 8, the cable is identical to other normal USB-C to HDMI cable: you can only use it for screen mirroring without a Chromecast (or Miracast device).

Which phones support Samsung DeX?

As mentioned, currently, you can use Samsung DeX in the following devices:

  • Galaxy S8
  • Galaxy S8+
  • Galaxy Note 8
  • Galaxy S9
  • Galaxy S9+
  • Galaxy Note 9
  • Galaxy Tab S4

To use Samsung DeX Pad, Galaxy S8, S8+, and Note 8 must upgrade to Android Oreo. DeX Station does not have this requirement.

Samsung DeX Station vs Samsung DeX Pad: what are the differences?

If your Galaxy S8, S8+ or Note 8 are still using Android Nougat, then  Samsung DeX … Read the rest

How to use adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+?

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use adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+Galaxy S9 adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+ can significantly improve the sound quality of the phone.

The improvement is achieved through a personalized sound profile tailored to your ears.  Galaxy S9 adapt sound will conduct a hearing test for both of your ears to create that profile and compensate the frequencies you have problems with accordingly so that you can hear the “real” music and sound

This Galaxy  S9 guide explains in detail how the adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+ works, and how to enable, customize and use the Galaxy S9 adapt sound to get the best audio quality on Galaxy S9 and S9+.

Please note, adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+ is almost identical to that on Galaxy S10, S10+, Galaxy S8+, S8, Note 10, Note 10+, Note 9, and Note 8. So, this guide also applies to these and other Samsung phones.

What is adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+? How does adapt sound on Samsung phones works?

Adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+ is NOT new.  Samsung first introduced adapt sound in Galaxy S4 in 2013.

In the recent launches of Galaxy devices, Samsung even forgot to mention this audio feature, although Samsung tuned this feature in each generation of Galaxy devices.

But in my opinion, the adapt sound is one of the most useful Samsung features. And adapt sound on Galaxy S9 and S9+ is probably the most underused feature.

You should be very excited once you start to use the adapt sound on Galaxy S9 or other Samsung Galaxy phones: how excellent the music can be!  You probably will blame yourself: why I didn’t use it before!

In a nutshell, adapt sound on Galaxy S9 creates a personalized sound profile (effects) based on your ear.

Every ear is different. Even your two ears may differ significantly in hearing capabilities.  At different ages, our ears also have different listening capabilities at different frequencies.

So, the question is: did you hear the “real” music or sound?

Galaxy S9 conducts a hearing test for your ears to create your hearing profile.  Then use this profile to compensate the audio output so that you get the “real” music or sound.

For example, if your left ear has problems to hear sounds at around 15KHz, but your right ear does not have any issues for the same frequency range, then normally, you … Read the rest

Meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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Understanding the meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ will help you to use the phone efficiently.

You can get quick system info and new notifications by checking Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons in the status bar.

This Galaxy S9 guide explains the differences between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons, and the meaning of these icons in the status bar in Galaxy S9 and S9+.

What is the difference between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons?

Android uses the top of the screen as the status bar, where Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons are shown.  It applies to Galaxy S9 Home screen, lock screen and all apps.

The following screenshot is an example of the Galaxy S9 status bar with notification icons on the left and status icons on the right.  When you use Galaxy S9 home screen landscape mode or any apps in landscape mode, the status bar is also in the top of the screen.

Galaxy S9 status bar with notification icons on the left and status icons on the right

Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons give you quick info about the system status (e.g., mobile network signal strength) and notifications from apps or the system.

When an app is in the immersive full-screen mode, the status bar will be hidden temporally. In this case, you can swipe down from the top of the screen to bring up Galaxy S9 status bar (and Galaxy S9 navigation bar as well)

The differences between Galaxy S9 status icons and notification icons include:

  • Galaxy S9 status icons are always related to the system; while Galaxy S9 notification icons are always linked to specific apps (including a few system apps and third-party apps).
  • Galaxy S9 status icons are normally shown on the right side of the status bar; while Galaxy S9 notification icons always appear on the left side of the status bar.
  • Galaxy S9 status icons are more or less universal in all regions; while Galaxy S9 notification icons depend on individual apps, whose developers can use whatever they want.

Typically, when you see an icon on the left side of the status bar in Galaxy S9 or S9+, there are usually at least one or more corresponding notifications in Galaxy S9 notification panel.

But if you see a Galaxy S9 status icon, there is seldom a corresponding notification.

Meaning of Galaxy S9 status icons

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