Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 Focus on Enhanced Battery Life
This year marks a significant evolution for the Galaxy Watch lineup. With the introduction of the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Samsung is honing in on the features that users love and enhancing them. This iterative approach has been a hallmark of their recent models, but this year’s focus is on addressing some of the brand’s previous shortcomings, particularly in battery life and health monitoring capabilities.
The Ultra 2, now priced at $699.99—an increase of $50—boasts impressive upgrades. The 47mm model now features an 800mAh battery, a substantial 35 percent increase from the original Ultra’s 590mAh. I managed about 70 hours with the original, so I’m eager to see how this enhanced battery performs in daily use. Surprisingly, despite the larger battery, the watch is 12 percent thinner, coming in at 10.7mm. The standard strap has also been slimmed down by about 1mm to 1.9mm and feels softer to the touch.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Ultra 2 now sports a 5,000-nit display with slimmer bezels. While that brightness might seem over the top, it’s designed to enhance visibility in bright sunlight. A colleague who got a chance to see the watch noted that the display appeared brighter than the Galaxy Watch 9’s 3,000-nit screen, making the Ultra 2 the brightest smartwatch available, alongside its impressive battery capacity.
The Ultra 2 introduces a new trail run tracking feature, positioning itself as a competitor to Garmin rather than the Apple Watch Ultra. This feature allows users to download GPX files for GPS routes, providing real-time navigation and elevation guidance, along with estimated completion times and hydration alerts. It’s worth noting that the algorithm estimates sweat loss based on workout intensity and personal data rather than directly measuring hydration levels. For divers, the watch offers an IP69K, 10 ATM, and EN 13319 rating for dust and water resistance, along with a specialized diving app from Mares, set to launch later this year, which will track descent speed, record time at depth, and provide ascent guidance.
The Galaxy Watch 9, now priced at $379.99 after a $30 increase, remains largely similar to last year’s model. The most significant change is the switch from Samsung’s Exynos chipset to the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, likely aimed at improving power efficiency and AI capabilities. This new chip was introduced as an “AI-wearable first” at Mobile World Congress earlier this year. One of the updates with Wear OS 7 is the ability to raise your wrist to talk without needing to use the wake word. Samsung claims to have fine-tuned the wake feature to avoid accidental triggers when checking the time. While hands-on experiences have shown some latency in scrolling, this could be attributed to demo conditions rather than the final product.
Battery life sees a slight enhancement in both the 40mm and 44mm models. The smaller version now has a 390mAh battery, a roughly 20 percent increase, while the larger model sees a modest bump from 435mAh to 445mAh. The straps have been redesigned to be 17 percent lighter, featuring an “air pocket structure” for improved comfort and breathability.
The Galaxy Watch 9 also introduces four new preventive health metrics, which are available on the Ultra 2 as well. The Vitals feature generates a baseline for blood oxygen, heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and respiratory rate after a week of continuous wear during sleep. Users receive alerts if any metrics deviate from their baseline, along with tips for improvement. This feature mirrors Apple’s Vitals, which debuted with watchOS 11.
Additionally, a Heart Health Score and Daily Cardio Load metric are included. The Heart Health Score provides a daily score based on sleep averages, activity levels, BMI, and vascular load, while the Daily Cardio Load helps users balance training and recovery based on workout intensity and heart rate data. These concepts aren’t entirely new, as similar features have been seen in devices from other brands in recent years.
The standout new health metric is the Fitness Index, which uses a radar chart to compare your strength, flexibility, endurance, cardio, and body composition against other users. This visual representation helps you understand your relative strengths and weaknesses, much like character stats in roleplaying games.
Overall, this generation of Galaxy Watches feels like a blend of catching up with competitors’ health features while refining existing strengths. While this approach isn’t necessarily negative, the price increases across the board are less than ideal. Samsung has been gradually raising the prices of its wearables, likely influenced by various external factors. Nonetheless, it’s always disappointing to see prices climb.
Preorders for the new watches start today, with shipping expected to begin on August 7th.
