Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Desired Features and Expectations
Samsung is gearing up for the release of its next-generation smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 9, and it's shaping up to be a significant upgrade from its predecessors. Here's what we know so far.
Design and Build
Beyond adopting the squircle (cushion) design, the Galaxy Watch 9 is expected to feature a thinner and more compact form factor, aiming for enhanced comfort and style. A new lug mechanism, the Dynamic Lug System, will allow easier and more secure strap changes, improving customization and fit.
Display and Battery
An AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of around 3000 nits is expected for the Galaxy Watch 9, providing better visibility in bright sunlight. Despite the smaller size, battery capacity is expected to be larger or more efficient, resulting in longer usage times. Samsung is likely to stick to the same 40-hour battery estimate, but improvements in efficiency could translate to real-world usage benefits.
Processor and Performance
A more efficient 3nm chipset will power the Watch 9, enabling smoother performance and better AI capabilities. This upgrade should result in a noticeable improvement in the watch's speed and responsiveness.
Health and Fitness Features
The Galaxy Watch 9 may push out even more health and fitness tools to justify a potential Samsung Health subscription. Features like proactive coaching, running sessions, and holistic health monitoring are expected to expand, leveraging AI for personalized insights.
Software Experience
Running One UI 8 and Wear OS 6, the Galaxy Watch 9 will offer a new software experience. Customizable tiles/widget stacks will allow more flexible information display and improved user interaction. AI-powered assistance on the watch will help with smarter notifications, health tracking, and contextual awareness.
Additional Features
The Galaxy Watch 9 may feature ultra-wideband technology, enabling features such as digital car keys, paired watch/phone unlocking, or better Find My tools. It's also hoped that the watch will adopt Qi2 charging for faster and more efficient charging.
Looking Ahead
While the Galaxy Watch 9 is expected to continue using two sizes and aluminum cases with a 5ATM water-resistant and MIL-STD-810H protective rating, Samsung is working on all-solid-state batteries for future devices, including the Galaxy Watch 10 (2027).
Samsung is also reportedly working on non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, but it needs to be accurate and relevant to be useful. The current Galaxy Watch 8 bands are narrow compared to the watch case, and a wider band for the Galaxy Watch 9 is hoped for.
The Galaxy Watch 8 is available now, offering trade-in deals and cash-back credit. The report suggests that the "dream batteries" may be more expensive than typical lithium-ion batteries. Samsung should bring back the BioActive sensor in the Galaxy Watch 9, but it remains to be seen if this feature will make it into the final product.
Lastly, Gemini on Wear OS has launched, and it's hoped that it will continue to improve, integrate more closely with Google & Samsung apps, and provide direct coaching based on user data.
In summary, the Galaxy Watch 9 is shaping up to be a significant upgrade with advancements in design slimness, display brightness, battery performance, processor tech, health features, user interface, and AI assistance, all aiming for a more powerful, comfortable, and personalized smartwatch experience.
Smartphones might benefit from the technology innovations in the Galaxy Watch 9, particularly the more efficient 3nm chipset, as this could potentially power future Samsung smartphones. With the anticipated AI-powered assistance on the Galaxy Watch 9, users may soon use similar features on their smartphones for smarter notifications and contextual awareness.
The Galaxy Watch 9's potential adoption of Qi2 charging could also inspire improvements in wireless charging technology for smartphones, leading to faster and more efficient charging solutions. This advancement in charging technology might eventually be implemented in future Samsung smartphone models.
