BLU View 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9: A Clash of Titans

The smartphone market offers a vast range of options, from ultra-budget devices to premium flagships. Today, we're pitting two very different contenders against each other: the BLU View 2, a budget-friendly option, and the Samsung Galaxy S9, a former flagship known for its premium features. Let's see how they stack up.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S9 unequivocally wins this comparison. While the BLU View 2 offers affordability, the S9's superior performance, camera, display, and overall build quality make it the clear victor. It's a significant upgrade in almost every aspect, justifying its higher price point.

PHONES
Phone Names BLU View 2 Samsung Galaxy S9
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 1700(AWS) / 1900HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - Global, USA
4G bands2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 25, 26, 41, 66, 711, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - Global
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66, 71 - USA
Launch
Announced2020, November. Released 2020, November2018, February 25. Released 2018, March 09
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions153.7 x 71 x 9.5 mm (6.05 x 2.80 x 0.37 in)147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight162 g (5.71 oz)163 g (5.75 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution720 x 1440 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~293 ppi density)1440 x 2960 pixels, 18.5:9 ratio (~570 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 78.1 cm2 (~71.5% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 84.8 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDSuper AMOLED, HDR10
 -3D Touch (home button only) Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) - EMEAOcta-core (4x2.8 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) - USA/LATAM, China
ChipsetMediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm)Exynos 9810 (10 nm) - EMEAQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) - USA/LATAM, China
GPUPowerVR GE8320Mali-G72 MP18 - EMEAAdreno 630 - USA/LATAM, China
OSAndroid 10Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.5
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXCmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal32GB 2GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flashLED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Single13 MP12 MP, f/1.5-2.4, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@960fps, HDR, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS & OIS (30fps)
Selfie camera
Dual-8 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm, AF 2 MP (dedicated iris scanner camera)
Features-HDR
Single8 MP-
Video720p@30fps1440p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth4.1, A2DP, LE5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioFM radioFM radio (USA & Canada only)
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, proximityIris scanner, fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2
 -ANT+ Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Battery
Charging-15W wired, QC2 Wireless (Qi) (market dependent)
TypeLi-Po 3000 mAh, removableLi-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable (11.55 Wh)
Misc
ColorsBlackMidnight Black, Coral Blue, Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Burgundy Red, Sunrise Gold, Ice Blue
ModelsB130DL, B131DLSM-G960F, SM-G960, SM-G960F, SM-G960U, SM-G960W, SM-G9600, SM-G960U1, SM-G960N, SCV38, SM-G960X, SC-02K
Price-About 110 EUR
SAR-0.63 W/kg (head)     0.96 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.36 W/kg (head)     1.18 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -93.9dB
Battery life- Endurance rating 78h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.630 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker- Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 81dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 250156 (v7) GeekBench: 8830 (v4.4) GFXBench: 14fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

BLU View 2

  • Extremely Affordable
  • Decent Battery Life (reported)
  • Lightweight

  • Weak Performance
  • Low-Resolution Display
  • Basic Camera
  • Plastic Build Quality

Samsung Galaxy S9

  • Excellent Performance
  • Stunning Display
  • Great Camera
  • Premium Build Quality
  • Wireless Charging (market dependent)

  • Older Model
  • Battery Degradation Possible (due to age)
  • Higher Price (even used)

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S9 boasts a stunning Super AMOLED display with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent viewing angles. Its contrast ratio of 4.630 in sunlight is exceptional. The BLU View 2's display is likely a standard IPS LCD, offering acceptable but noticeably less impressive visuals. Expect lower brightness and less accurate color reproduction.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy S9's camera is a major highlight, offering excellent image quality, particularly in good lighting conditions. It features a variable aperture and optical image stabilization. The BLU View 2's camera is likely to be adequate for basic snapshots but will fall short in terms of detail, dynamic range, and low-light performance.

Performance

The Galaxy S9's Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 chipset (depending on region) provides significantly faster performance than the BLU View 2's Helio A22. Expect smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance on the S9. The View 2 will struggle with demanding apps and games.

Battery Life

Both phones are reported to have an endurance rating of 78h, which is impressive. However, the S9's more efficient chipset and optimized software likely contribute to better real-world battery life despite potentially having a slightly smaller battery capacity.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the BLU View 2? Those on a very tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and affordability above all else. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S9? Anyone seeking a reliable, high-performing phone with a great camera and display, even if it's a few years old. It's a fantastic value on the used market.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the BLU View 2 good for gaming?
No, the BLU View 2's processor is not powerful enough for demanding games. It can handle basic games, but expect low frame rates and lag.
❓ How does the Galaxy S9's camera compare to newer phones?
While not the absolute best today, the Galaxy S9's camera still holds up well. It's a capable all-around shooter, especially for everyday photography.
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S9 still worth buying in [current year]?
Absolutely! The Galaxy S9 offers excellent value on the used market, providing a premium experience at a fraction of the original price.