Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch9: Which $400 Smartwatch Should You Buy?
Apple Watch Series 12 and Galaxy Watch9 are close in price, but phone compatibility, health tools, battery life, and AI separate the two. The post Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch9: Which $400 Smartwatch Should You Buy? appeared first on TechRepublic .
Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Galaxy Watch9 are available at similar price points, around $400, but they differ in key aspects such as phone compatibility, health features, battery life, and AI integration. At this price point, the choice between the two smartwatches may largely be determined by which phone ecosystem you prefer.
The Apple Watch Series 12, priced starting at $399, requires an iPhone 11 or later, including the second-generation iPhone SE, running iOS 27. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch9 starts at $379.99 and is compatible with Android phones running Android 13 or later, with a minimum of 1.5GB of RAM required.
In terms of health features, the Series 12 boasts a Health Sensing System that measures heart rate every five seconds and heart rate variability (HRV) as frequently as every five minutes. This system provides daytime Vitals and a Readiness score based on activity, training load, vital signs, and sleep. Apple claims their heart-rate measurement system has the highest accuracy in a company study including over 1,000 participants.
Meanwhile, Samsung's Galaxy Watch9 utilizes a feature called Vitals, which provides wellness features such as Fitness Index, Daily Cardio Load, and Heart Health Score. Samsung emphasizes Vitals as a wellness tool rather than a diagnostic one.
When it comes to battery life, both smartwatches require regular charging, but their claims differ. Apple rates the Series 12 for up to 24 hours of normal use, while Samsung claims up to 30 hours for the Watch9 with the always-on display enabled. WIRED’s independent testing averaged around 25 hours for the 40mm model of the Galaxy Watch9. Both devices use different materials for their displays - Apple's Ceramic Shield 2 versus Samsung's sapphire crystal.
The $20 price difference is relatively insignificant when considering the ecosystem fit and the unique features offered by each device. Ultimately, the decision may come down to which ecosystem you're more invested in - Apple's tightly integrated iPhone system or Samsung's broader Android compatibility and deeper health coaching features. At this price point, the choice truly comes down to which smartwatch best fits your personal needs and preferences.
Written by urgent.news from TechRepublic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
