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First look with the Galaxy Watch 9: I took it on a run in London - here's what I learned
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ZDNET's key takeaways
- I went for a run with the Galaxy Watch 9 while visiting London.
- Samsung added several helpful features, such as hydration tracking.
- Ultimately, it's an intelligent workout companion that's lighter (and classier) than the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
As a tourist, there's one thing I try to do on each trip I go on -- go for a run to see some sights (and get in a few hours of exercise). So, of course, while I was in London for Galaxy Unpacked, I decided to go on a run with the Galaxy Watch 9, Samsung's newest smartwatch it unveiled on Wednesday.
I had been testing the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for around a week before I got my hands on the Galaxy Watch 9. While I enjoyed the rugged design of the Watch Ultra 2, I'll be honest, it is a honker of a smartwatch, and its chunky build doesn't necessarily work with my wardrobe or vibe. The Watch 9, though? Well, it's a match.
Also: Everything announced at Samsung Unpacked 2026: New foldables, smartwatches, and smart glasses
For starters, it's smaller and more comfortable to wear. The white band and silver case look great, and it's just the type of exercise smartwatch I want, something that's style-minded but still functional as a workout companion. Here are my thoughts as I wore it on my run around Buckingham Palace and Hyde Park.
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This thing is light
Samsung created this smartwatch to be more comfortable to exercise, sleep, and live in, and that was certainly accomplished with the Watch 9. It's pleasant to run and work in for long periods of time.
I've worn two generations of both the Pixel Watch and the Galaxy Watch now, and one thing I prefer on the Galaxy Watches is the flattened watch display. Viewing information -- whether a text message or my pace per mile -- is easy to see on the watch, thanks to the 3,000 nits super AMOLED display. Also, in my opinion, the flatter display makes the watch look a tad classier than the Pixel Watch.
Hydration guidance is a nice touch
It's July, so during my run through Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace, I naturally started to get hot. 40 minutes into the run, I got my first hydration alert through the nutrition function. It told me that I had lost 0.5% of water during my workout, and I should rehydrate with one cup of water.
Also: Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: I've compared both models, here's my advice
Rehydrating after a sunny, outdoor workout is not rocket science, and drinking one cup of water after a 40-minute run is nearly intuitive. However, for marathon trainers who are running for hours on end, or cyclists biking 50 miles out in the sun, those hydration alerts could more accurately supplement watch users' training -- especially if you're pushing yourself to the limit. You can configure this setting in the watch app, so be sure to enable it if you want these alerts.
I'm still waiting on a Samsung AI health coach
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Galaxy Watch 9 so far. But if we're comparing the Pixel Watches to the Samsung Galaxy Watches, I'd be remiss to not mention Google's AI health coach. I can see all the puzzle pieces for a Samsung AI health assistant coming together on the Samsung Health app -- and even an opportunity to beta test an AI health coach coming soon.
The watch monitors more biomarkers than ever, with new scores for heart health, cardio, blood pressure, and more. An AI health coach could fit into that equation of data with context and plain language explanations, alongside an opportunity for users to ask health questions and contextualize their wellness journey.
Samsung seems to be taking its time with this feature, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. AI-powered health devices must be clinically tested and rigorously developed, so as to not provide uninformed users with wrong information -- or abuse the health data users provide.
Also: I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for a week - it's a true Apple Watch Ultra 3 rival
I'll get more in depth with the Galaxy Watch 9 soon -- particularly to test how it compares with the new flagship, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and its previous-gen counterpart, the Galaxy Watch 8.