The Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus aren’t exactly the freshest phones on the block, but if you’re still rocking on with yours, you may be loathe to give it up. That’s for a good reason — Samsung’s older flagship sports a beautiful design, a capable camera, and a potent combination of hardware that means it’s still a great device in 2021.
But even with a few years under its belt, there may be a few elements of your Galaxy S9 you’re not using. Here are some of the best accessories you can still buy for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus that will help to turbocharge an older phone.
Gear VR Headset and Controller
If you’re not interested in investing a small fortune in the Oculus Rift, Samsung’s Gear VR Headset is a good place to try out a light virtual reality experience. While we’ve not seen an update for the Gear VR in over a year, the last model will work just fine with the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. Although you can use your eyes to navigate, the included controller tends to make things a lot easier. Right now there are well over 600 different apps, games, and experiences to immerse you into an all-new VR world.
Samsung Fast Charge 2.0 Wireless Charger Convertible
The Fast Charge 2.0 Wireless Charger Convertible is one of the most expensive wireless charging options out there, but Samsung’s stand-style wireless charger is excellent and worth the investment if you can afford it. As a Samsung product, it’s going to be optimized for your device, even if your Galaxy S9 doesn’t have the hardware to make the most of the stand’s 15W fast wireless charging. But that extra power means it’ll last for longer than an older (and cheaper) pad, so it should work with your next device as well. There’s a fan cooler to keep your device’s warmth down — as a cooler battery charges faster — and it works with devices in both portrait and landscape positions. A little out of your budget? Check out our list of the best wireless chargers to see a wider range of great options.
Belkin Pocket Power 15K Power Bank
While there are plenty of battery packs to choose from for your Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus, we chose Belkin’s Pocket Power 15K Power Bank for its quick-charging capabilities, hefty 15,000mAh battery, and small size. At $50, it’s definitely not the cheapest option available, but Belkin’s quality and excellent warranty make it a great option.
Moshi Car Charger Duo
It’s pricey, but Moshi’s quality is not to be understated, and that’s why we keep returning to the Moshi Duo as our car charger of choice time after time. The Duo offers two 12W USB ports, so you can keep devices charged at once. The aluminum casing is attractive (for a car charger), while the LED light indicator tells you whether your device is charging or not. If you don’t like your car charger sticking out like a sore thumb, then this is a winner.
Samsung Gear 360
If you want to collect 360 degree photo or video for Facebook or other social media, the Gear 360 is an inexpensive option to get your foot in the door. With the Gear 360, it’s easy to capture 4K 360-degree videos and photos with your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus. While the Gear 360 does all the heavy lifting in terms of photos, it connects to an app on your phone, allowing you to review your content and upload it to whatever platform you fancy. There’s even a live-stream option if you want to share those special moments as they happen. The Gear 360’s tiny size makes it easy to stash in your pocket or bag for everyday use. And fear not, the MicroSD card slot accepts cards up to 256GB in size, making it easy to capture plenty of footage.
Samsung Dex Pad
While we definitely liked the Dex Station, first introduced with the Samsung Galaxy S8, the smartphone manufacturer improved on a few niggling features to introduce the Dex Pad. It allows you to use your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus as a makeshift computer when attached to an external monitor. Unlike its predecessor, the Dex Pad lets you access the headphone jack and you can even use your Galaxy S9 or S9 Plus screen as a mouse or keyboard.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
It’s not enough that Samsung makes some of the best smartphones around, it just has to make some of the best smartwatches too. The Galaxy Watch 3 is the cream of the crop where Android-friendly smartwatches are concerned, and it’s the best choice if you’re looking to complement your Galaxy S9 with a smartwatch. It’s loaded with Samsung’s Tizen operating system, which uses the Galaxy Watch 3’s rotating bezel to zip through menus with ease. The battery will last about two days if you turn it off overnight, and it has plenty of fitness tracking features, a heart rate sensor, and even an ECG monitor.
Samsung EVO Plus 128 GB MicroSDXC Card
It was a bit of a disappointment to see storage remain at 64GB on the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus. While many smartphones are offering 128GB or 256GB options, Samsung is stubbornly sticking with a single 64GB option. However, if you’re willing to give up your secondary SIM slot, you can easily add up to 400GB of external storage with a MicroSD card. Try Samsung’s Evo Plus MicroSD card if you want to add 128GB of storage to your new Galaxy S9 within seconds. While you can surely find cheaper MicroSD cards, Samsung’s Evo Plus line offers high performance for 4K video recording and is extremely reliable.
Galaxy Buds
Samsung’s new, true wireless earbuds are the company’s answer to Apple’s popular AirPods, and they have proven to be a worthy competitor. When we reviewed the Galaxy Buds in February 2019, we were impressed that these buds fit seamlessly in our ears, came with a wireless charger, and lasted a whopping 6 hours without needing a charge, not to mention a relatively low $129 price tag. As far as sound quality, although we noted that the Galaxy Buds “don’t offer the same vibrant clarity we’ve experienced from true wireless headphones like the Sennheiser Momentum,” they still proved to be versatile, working well with classic rock, rap, and all sorts of other genres. Given the pricing, comfort, and features, the Galaxy Buds are the premier wireless earbuds for Galaxy users.
Uni USB-C to HDMI Adapter
If you want to watch your videos on a big screen, one option is to invest in a cable that’ll allow you to simply throw your phone screen up onto an HDMI-equipped TV or monitor. This 6-foot-long cable from Uni is perfect for anyone on the move who might want to easily watch stuff on hotel TVs, or just anyone who wants to take advantage of their phone’s power. You can even connect a Bluetooth controller so that you get more options than just watching videos on a big TV, such as your favorite mobile games.
iOttie Car Mount Holder
While there are thousands of smartphone mounting options available, we prefer the iOttie Car Mount Holder. It has a strong, sticky, gel suction cup that will attach to your dashboard or windshield without causing any damage or discoloration. It’s easy to tell when your Galaxy S9 is in the perfect place with the iOttie car mount as you’ll feel it snap into place. When you want to take your phone out of it, there’s a handy button that instantly releases its grip. Since the iOttie Car Mount Holder has a telescopic arm and swivels to 225 degrees, you’ll never have a problem finding the perfect placement for every driver.
