Introduction
Given it holds the lion’s share of the Android phone world, there’s no surprise Samsung is also the Android smartwatch king – but it has earned that position through merit, across multiple wearable generations. While the Galaxy Watch9 is an incremental upgrade instead of a ground-up redesign, it’s hard to grumble given how much I liked its predecessor.
Launching as the mainstream alternative to the luxe-leaning Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, it foregoes the fancy bezel of the Galaxy Watch8 Classic in favour of a repeat of the Watch8’s simple, streamlined design. You’re still getting a comprehensive suite of fitness tracking tools, Wear OS smarts and a stunning AMOLED screen, only now battery life has seen a welcome boost (however minor).
You can get one in two sizes, with or without LTE connectivity; each undercuts the equivalent Google Pixel Watch 5. Prices have gone up compared to last year, so you’ll pay $380/£350 for the 40mm, Bluetooth only model. My 44mm review unit starts at $410/£379. The big question is whether the changes are enough to justify the difference, especially while the old Galaxy Watch8 can still be found for sale online – and often at a discount.
Has the Galaxy Watch9 mixed things up on design?
Not a jot, at least visually. The Watch9 is rocking the same cushion-shaped casing that the Watch8 did, in two sizes (40mm and 44mm) and three colours (Graphite, Cream and Silver). Except Samsung has switched the aluminium housing for one that’s 25% lighter, though because the battery has grown in size I couldn’t say I noticed any difference on my wrist. It sits flush to your wrist enough that it proved very comfy to wear to sleep.
The included Sport Band strap has also shed 17% of its mass, by adding an air pocket along the centre to reduce friction and let your wrist breathe a little better during exercise. I can’t say I could feel the gap, but my wrist was a little less sweaty after a workout than…