Samsung released the details of the new Galaxy Watch 9 smartwatch line launch in the Brazilian market this Thursday (6th). For those who want to understand the improvements compared to last year's Galaxy Watch 8, Olhar Digital prepared a detailed comparison between the two models.
In terms of design, the Galaxy Watch 9 maintains great similarity with its predecessor; the aesthetic with rounded corners has been preserved, and the watch retains almost identical dimensions and weight, available in the same 40mm and 44mm sizes.
The Super AMOLED screen also remains unchanged, offering excellent visibility in direct sunlight with a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits. External aesthetic modifications are minimal, limited to small adjustments in color options and the redesign of straps focusing on comfort.
The significant differences lie inside the devices. There was a change in processor supplier: while the Galaxy Watch 8 used the Exynos W1000, developed by Samsung itself, the Galaxy Watch 9 now employs Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, promising an increase in speed and performance.
Samsung opted to keep the RAM and internal storage of the Galaxy Watch 8, both fixed at 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. However, Bluetooth was updated from version 5.3 to 6.0, which should ensure more stable wireless connections with smartphones and other equipment.
Battery capacity varies depending on the selected version. In the smaller 40mm model, the capacity increased from 325mAh to 390mAh, representing a notable gain for users who prefer smaller watches. In the larger 44mm version, the increase was discreet, going from 435mAh to 445mAh.
In practice, the estimated autonomy remains around one day, maintaining a similar behavior between the two generations, indicating that the Galaxy Watch 9 will likely require daily charging, even with the slightly larger battery.
The Galaxy Watch 9 is launched with Wear OS 7 and the One UI 9 Watch interface. Google Gemini remains integrated to assist with searches, reminder creation, and voice responses. A new feature introduced is the automatic activation of artificial intelligence when the wrist is lifted.
The physical sensors remain the same, including the BioActive suite for heart rate, electrocardiogram, and bioimpedance measurements, as well as temperature and barometer sensors. Additionally, the Watch 9 incorporates new tools for monitoring vital signs during sleep, cardiovascular health scoring, and training loads, although some of these software functionalities will also be made available for the Watch 8 via operating system updates.
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Samsung introduced two new smartwatches at the Galaxy Unpacked event in London, with each model designed for different types of users.
The Galaxy Watch9 is positioned as a lighter option for daily use, intended for monitoring sleep, physical activity, recovery, and heart health. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is a more rugged model aimed at trail runners, divers, and individuals requiring significantly longer battery life.
The Watch9 is available in 40mm and 44mm sizes. This model retains the round display and aluminum casing characteristic of Samsung. The screen reaches a brightness of 3000 nits, and the battery capacity is increased to 390 mAh for the smaller version and 445 mAh for the 44mm model. Both versions utilize the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.
Samsung's new health tools include Vitals, which tracks significant deviations from the user's usual nighttime metrics, and Heart Health Score, which translates cardiovascular information into a simple daily rating. The Daily Cardio Load feature helps balance training and recovery periods, while the Fitness Index assesses overall physical fitness. The watch can also alert users to potentially unsafe noise levels. Samsung emphasizes that its health tools do not replace medical consultation, and feature availability may vary by market.
The 47mm Watch Ultra2 model offers enhanced features: a titanium case, an 800 mAh battery, and a display capable of reaching 5000 nits. Despite the larger battery volume, Samsung claims the Ultra2 is 12 percent thinner than the previous Ultra. New capabilities include trail running tracking, hydration recommendations based on estimated sweat loss, and automatic dive data covering depth, time, and water temperature. The model holds ratings of 10ATM, IP69K, and EN13319.
In the United Arab Emirates, official prices for the Watch9 are 1449 AED for the 40mm version and 1564 AED for the 44mm version. LTE-enabled versions cost 1649 AED and 1759 AED, respectively. The Watch Ultra2 is offered at 2669 AED. Pre-orders are already open, with general availability scheduled for August 7th. The Watch9 comes in Cream, Graphite, or Silver depending on the size, while the Ultra2 is available in Titanium Silver and Titanium Gray.
