I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 for a month — the new health tools impress, but that doesn’t mean you should upgrade
The Galaxy Watch 9 looks exactly like the Galaxy Watch 8, but don't let that fool you. Samsung went ahead and added some useful new health, fitness, and AI features.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 has been in the hands of the TG fitness team for over a month, serving as a minor upgrade over the 2025 Galaxy Watch 8. While the design, display, and battery life remain unchanged, the Galaxy Watch 9 offers a slightly faster processor, a more comfortable strap, and new features. The watch's price has increased compared to the Galaxy Watch 8, with the 40mm model starting at $379 and the 44mm model at $409.
Despite the price hike, the Galaxy Watch 9 remains competitively priced, as Google also raised prices for its Pixel Watch 5 lineup. The watch's wellness tools have been improved, with a new Vitals dashboard displaying heart rate, HRV, Sp02, body temperature, and breath rate. A new Heart Health score out of 100 has been introduced, which takes into account factors like daily step count, V02 Max, and workout recovery time. The Galaxy Watch 9 is set to launch worldwide on July 22, 2026.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
