Samsung unveiled its new flagship Galaxy S9 smartphones on the eve of the official start of the 2018 Mobile World Congress (MWC) running February 26-March 1 in Barcelona, seeking to explore more business opportunities amid reportedly stagnant sales momentum for Apple's iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The new Samsung devices are slated to start official sales worldwide on March 16.

The Galaxy S9 comes in two sizes, a regular model with a 5.8-inch screen, and a larger and more expensive S9+ with a 6.3-inch screen.

The new phones boast a dual-aperture camera designed to allow better photos in low light, and are capable of shooting video in super-slow motion. The S9+ features a dual-lens configuration on the rear for better zoom capabilities. In addition, the phones can also track facial movements to produce "augmented reality emoji" that mirrors the user's expressions during taking selfies. In addition, a service powered by artificial intelligence (AI) allows users to point its camera to instantly translate a sign in a foreign language.

Moreover, the new models are fitted with a "Smart Things" app to help users connect all the Samsung smart devices, allowing them to control connected devices at home directly via smartphones. This is designed to build a more comprehensive Galaxy ecosystem, according to company sources.

Lee Yuan-jung, vice president of mobile and IT division of Samsung Taiwan, said that the S9 series devices are slated to hit the markets including Taiwan on March 16, adding that they will be available to pre-order by Taiwan consumers from March 5. Lee indicated that Samsung expects to score a 10% growth in starting sales of S9 series over those of S8 series. He estimated S9+ and S9 will see a sales ratio of 85:15 in Taiwan.