Not long ago, I got into smartwatches. I mean, I wasn’t completely clueless, but stepping out without my Oura ring now feels strange. So when I had the opportunity to check out the new Samsung Galaxy Watch9, which is out today, I was all in. Actually, I got my hands on the watch first—I needed to see those calories tracked!
To start with, the 40mm Bluetooth version is priced at $379.99, while the 44mm version costs $409.99. If you want to use features like calls or texts, you’ll need to connect to a nearby phone, but there’s also an LTE option available for an extra $50.
You’ll want to use this with an Android smartphone, and for all the advanced health features, a Galaxy model is a must—similar to how an Apple Watch only works with an iPhone. So whether you’re upgrading from an older Samsung watch or switching from something else, let’s dive into what this watch offers for health tracking.
Fitness Tracker in Action
Samsung invited me to a workout event for the launch of the watch and the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Testing the fitness tracker in real-time was exciting. As I exercised, seeing my heart rate spike immediately on the screen was helpful, as was identifying the exercises that really challenged me. When I took a casual stroll in Central Park, I didn’t even have to press record—the watch vibrated to let me know it was tracking my activity and beeped to summarize my steps and calories when I finished.
I could literally feel my heartbeat. So, perhaps I was a bit too caught up in my emotions during a stressful conversation, which was logged as a workout session. My heart rate hit zone 3—who knew stress could count as cardio? Plus, the watch nudges you to move if you sit too long, buzzing to remind me it’s time to get back to it, which, as research shows, is crucial for heart health and general well-being.
Not everyone thinks of fitness trackers as essential unless you’re super active. However, for those needing a bit of motivation, the instant feedback and goal tracking can be pretty motivating.
Track Your Progress
A new aspect of the watch is its Fitness Index, helping you compare your fitness level to others and providing guidance on improvement. It evaluates various metrics like cardio fitness and muscle strength, scoring you on five key areas. I set a goal to enhance my overall fitness and was assigned tasks to complete over the week.
For my first week, I was supposed to hit 2.5 hours across four categories—strength, cardio, flexibility, and endurance workouts. You can also access categorized workouts via an additional $15/month iFit subscription.
Assess Your Sleep
There’s a common joke among health tracker users: If you can’t check your sleep score in the morning, how do you know how sleepy you are? The watch provides sleep scores that fluctuate daily, but thankfully, it’s not as erratic as some might expect. I prioritize sleep, given its immense importance for heart health and overall longevity. Samsung’s new sleep coaching feature could be beneficial for anyone looking to build better habits, guiding users with tasks across the week.
Nutrition Insights
One intriguing feature is the “antioxidant index.” This estimates the level of beta-carotene—found in foods like carrots and spinach—through skin analysis. While it can hint at how well you’re eating, it doesn’t quite tell you if you’re getting enough veggies. My own scores aren’t stellar, even though I eat my fair share of greens, reminding me that this feature has its limitations.
Health Monitoring
The watch also tracks things like skin temperature, sleep heart rate, and oxygen levels—different from traditional vital signs but still informative. It’s essential to monitor these indicators; for example, I noticed some data flagged during a strange night of sleep.
Body Composition and Heart Health
Unlike BMI, which can be misleading for athletes, this smartwatch provides valuable body composition insights. It’s one of the few wearables offering such detail, with its accuracy reportedly close to DEXA scans. Alongside this, the Health Monitor app includes ECG monitoring for irregular heart rhythms and blood pressure tracking, both of which add to the watch’s comprehensive health profile.
AGEs Index
This watch also measures AGEs, which can signify dietary and lifestyle impacts on health. High levels can indicate issues like oxidative stress linked to various health conditions, so there’s a push to manage these scores effectively.
As I wrap up this review and continue wearing the watch, I find the data not only insightful but kind of fun! Sure, it can feel a bit overwhelming, but I enjoy discovering what’s happening under the surface and challenging myself to improve. For now, though, I think I’ll take a breather today—my body says it’s been through enough.
