A month of testing found Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 feels modestly faster thanks to its new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, with quicker on-device Gemini responses and a still-distinctive mid-range design.
The roughly 20% larger battery did not deliver a major real-world gain: the 44mm model lasted about 24 to 30 hours, trailing the Pixel Watch’s roughly 48 hours and the Ultra 2’s around four days.
Workout tracking raised the biggest concern. GPS stayed within 20 meters of a Garmin reference, but heart-rate readings showed dropouts and missed intervals across 10-plus tests, despite some runs finishing within 0.5 BPM of a chest strap.
Samsung’s new health software adds Vitals, Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load and a five-part Fitness Index, while Raise to Talk makes Gemini more useful without reaching for a phone.
The review concludes the Watch 9 is a solid refinement rather than a must-upgrade device—better than older Galaxy Watch models, but still harder to recommend over Google’s Pixel Watch while battery life remains limited.