The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 that I reviewed previously may be the model that attracts more attention for its specialised outdoor features – such as diving and trail running. The regular Galaxy Watch9, on the other hand (see what I did there?), is a smartwatch that most people can comfortably wear throughout the day and, perhaps more importantly, through the night.
Samsung sent over the 44mm non-LTE model in Graphite, which comes with a S$568 SRP in Singapore. Design wise, it retains the same look as last year’s Watch8, and I can also quickly add that battery life remains its most obvious weakness. But the Watch9 is also lighter and more comfortable to wear as a sleep tracker compared to the Ultra2, and for an everyday smartwatch, that could be more appealing for most people.
Familiar design but noticeably better comfort
The Galaxy Watch9 44mm is actually just an atom heavier than the Watch8 44mm, at 0.3g.
Photo: HWZ
Samsung has retained the “squircle” design it introduced with the Watch8 series, placing a circular display inside a softly squared aluminium case. I know the look continues to divide opinion, particularly among those who prefer a conventional round watch, but after wearing it for a few weeks, I have to admit the Watch9 has sort of grown on me.
The 44mm version weighs only 34g without its strap and measures 8.6mm thick. It is not a particularly small watch, but in my opinion its low weight and slim case stop it from feeling cumbersome. The supplied band is also soft enough to wear for long periods without weighing you down.
This became more important when I wore it to bed. I have mild sleep apnoea and have spent quite a bit of time testing Samsung’s sleep features on the Watch8 Classic and, more recently, the Ultra2. Both were noticeable in bed, whereas the Watch9 felt less intrusive – it’s arguably Samsung’s most “unnoticeable” watch to use as a sleep tracker.
The 1.47-inch Super AMOLED display also feels like the right size. There is enough room to read notifications, navigate apps and check workout information without making the watch look cumbersome. Its peak brightness of 3,000 nits may not be the same as the Ultra2’s, but it is still bright enough to keep the screen legible even under the afternoon sun. But like the Ultra2, the Watch9 also use scratch-resistant sapphire crystal to protect the display as well as an IP68 rating (for dust resistance and protection against continuous submersion in water). Water resistance (ATM) is rated at 5ATM compared to the Ultra2’s 10ATM.
And like the Ultra2, the more important change lies inside the watch. Samsung has replaced its Exynos processor with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite processor, paired with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. This certainly made the Watch9, like the Ultra2, very responsive – apps opened quickly and moving between notifications, widget tiles and workout screens felt responsive during my time with it. The Watch8 handles everyday apps pretty well as it is, but the Watch9 will feel slightly faster and smoother.
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