As a Galaxy Watch 8 Enthusiast, Here’s My Top Wish for the Galaxy Watch 9!

The release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 series is just around the corner, and for the first time in a long while, I find myself genuinely anticipating the launch of a Samsung smartwatch. What has sparked this excitement? This year, I acquired the Galaxy Watch 8, which has become crucial for my sleep tracking.

Concurrently, the competition in the wearable tech sector is intensifying. Competitors like Google are branching out with products like the Fitbit Air, while high-end smartwatch functionalities are becoming available beyond just the leading brands. For the Galaxy Watch 9 to capture my attention, it will need to tackle a significant shortcoming of the Watch 8 — its battery life.

Initially, when I started tracking activities and sleep with the Galaxy Watch 8, it lasted around three days on a full charge. Although this is shorter than the week my prior smartwatch would last, I found it a fair trade-off given the enhanced accuracy in sleep tracking. My previous device had been misleading with its sleep estimates, often being off by hours.

However, a software update earlier this year considerably reduced the battery life of my Watch 8. Instead of its typical three-day stretch, I began needing to charge the device every two days. I first suspected that Spotify was to blame, but soon discovered other Galaxy Watch users reporting similar issues.

Even now, months post-update, my battery life hasn’t reverted to the original three-day duration. I frequently find myself recharging before the 48-hour mark. The causes of battery depletion vary — it could be the Samsung Health Monitor app (even without a Galaxy smartphone) or Google Play, adding to the annoyance.

While I initially thought I would adapt to this inconvenience, it has only escalated my frustration. I often feel reliant on the charger, waking with a completely drained watch on more than one occasion. When planning short trips, ensuring my watch is charged beforehand has become a necessity to avoid having a non-functional accessory.

Charging the device is also not particularly speedy, compounding the inconvenience. Many people mention recharging their smartwatches while showering, yet my Galaxy Watch 8 takes over an hour to reach a full charge. Often, after taking a shower and preparing a meal, the battery is still charging, leading to missed step tracking opportunities.

While I am eagerly looking forward to new updates in the Samsung Health app that will accompany the Galaxy Watch 9, my primary desire for the hardware is a marked improvement in battery performance. Samsung could achieve this with adjustments in battery capacity or through software enhancements. The dramatic impact of software was made clear when an update halved my device’s battery life.

This trend of two-day battery life is common among many Wear OS smartwatches. However, alternatives like the OnePlus Watch 4 utilize a dual OS system to stretch battery life to five days. Similarly, HONOR’s new Watch 6 promises 17 days of use under typical conditions, opting for their proprietary MagicOS over Wear OS.

Another way for Samsung to enhance the Galaxy Watch 9’s battery life without enlarging the device is adopting silicon-carbon battery technology. This approach has been effectively used by the Xiaomi Watch 5, which runs Wear OS while delivering around six days of battery life. The takeaway is that Samsung has options to explore, and I hope they take action.

While better battery life is my top priority for the Galaxy Watch 9, I am also interested in additional changes. I would like to see fewer features restricted to Galaxy smartphone users. Currently, individuals using other brands have to navigate around regional limitations and locked features using applications like GeminiMan Wellness Companion. These limitations affect functionalities such as blood pressure monitoring, sleep apnea detection, ECG monitoring, and notifications for irregular heart rhythms.

Such features are marketed as key selling points for Galaxy Watches, but potential buyers often overlook the fine print stating the need for a Galaxy smartphone. This limitation detracts from the overall appeal, especially when advanced features are a primary reason users are drawn to Samsung’s offerings.

Along with the anticipated One UI 9 Watch, I am eager to explore functionalities like Vitals, designed to highlight any abnormal trends in health data. I hope this will resolve the persistent issue of my watch encouraging excessive activity, even during periods of illness or fatigue.

So far, Samsung has hinted at AI features for the upcoming Watch 9 series. However, if these features are restricted to Galaxy smartphone users, their usability will be hindered. The company has also teased enhancements to battery life, and I hope they will be substantial.

For now, I’ll have to wait for the Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 to see if my expectations for this smartwatch series are met.