Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: Upgrades that matter

The Galaxy Watch 9 has taken over the helm, but it looks nearly identical to the last-gen Galaxy Watch 8, so you wouldn't be able to tell based on looks alone. Samsung did tweak things on the inside, upgrading some key internals. The Watch 9 has a new Qualcomm processor, larger batteries, a newer Bluetooth version, and a third color option.

While all that sounds great, remember that it's only been a year since the Galaxy Watch 8 came out, and it is still a perfectly fine smartwatch. And considering the inevitable price cuts following the Watch 9 launch, the Watch 8 might even deliver more value as it's not too different from the Watch 9. This begs the question, which of the two stalwart Samsung smartwatches is better?

Deciding between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8 can be easy, if you know where your priorities lie. Let me break it down for you.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: Design and display

The Galaxy Watch 9 looks almost identical to the Galaxy Watch 8, and that's not surprising. The Watch 8 got a makeover only a year back, so apart from the new colors and few design details, there isn't any difference. It still comes in two sizes of 40mm and 44mm, with each having Wi-Fi and cellular options.

The Galaxy Watch 8 was pretty slim and light, and the Watch 9 features nearly the exact same dimensions and weight. The same ruggedness has also transferred over, which includes the IP68 rating, 5ATM water protection, and MIL-STD-810H certification.

Not everyone is a fan of the squircle design of the Galaxy Watch 8, but I personally think it looks quirky enough to stand out.

The Galaxy Watch 9 features the same displays as the Watch 8. The 44mm Galaxy Watch 9 has a 1.47-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 480x480 resolution, up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, and a Sapphire Crystal glass cover. The 40mm version on the other hand has a 1.34-inch display.

The Galaxy Watch 8's display has been excellent when we tested it, and we have no real complaints here. Touch response is great, sunlight legibility is adequate, and colors are rich and vibrant. The Watch 9's display performs just as well, as expected.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: Hardware & specs

The big upgrade in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is the processor. Samsung has used the Exynos W1000 chip for the past two generations of Galaxy watches, and it has finally switched to the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform for wearables. More specifically, it's the SDW6100 chip which consists of five cores and is built on the 3nm process.

Compared to the W5 Gen 2 chip, it's said to deliver up to 5x and 7x performance for the CPU and GPU, respectively. The NPU is rated at 10 TOPS and can handle 2B-parameter AI models, making it well-suited to running Gemini Intelligence or even Gemini Live. The Watch 9 still comes with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, just like the Watch 8.

As for pricing, the Galaxy Watch 8 was already $50 more expensive than its predecessor, starting at $349.99. Samsung has held onto this price till now with only minor discounts on some shopping platforms.

The Galaxy Watch 9 has gotten more expensive by $30, which means it now starts at $379.99 and $409.99 for the 40mm and 44mm variants, respectively. The LTE versions for both sizes costs an additional $30. Earlier rumors did point to a $50 increase in price, so this is some consolation I guess.

Some of the other specs that has changed thanks to the new chip is Bluetooth 6. Dual-band GPS is present as well, just like on the Watch 8. The Galaxy Watch 9 uses the same health tracking sensors as the Watch 8.

The one-day battery life of the Watch 8 was our biggest gripe, especially since at least a two-day battery life has become quite common for Wear OS watches. The 44mm Watch 9 has a 445mAh battery, while the 40mm version has a 390mAh capacity. Samsung advertises a 30-hour runtime with AOD (Always-on Display) enabled.

Unfortunately, our reviewer Derrek Lee found that the Galaxy Watch 9 continues to disappoint and frustrate when it comes to battery life. Lee said that it "barely lasts through the day, and I often have to charge it before bed".

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: Health & fitness tracking

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 already introduced a redesigned BioActive sensor for more accurate readings and the tracking of new metrics like Antioxidant Index, Running Coach, Vascular Load, and AGEs Index. The Galaxy Watch 9 can do all of these things, and more.

The Galaxy Watch 8 already does a fantastic job of tracking health and fitness data. In our review of the watch, we found that certain metrics like Energy Score tended to be overestimated at times. For instance, even when the score would be above 80, the watch would still suggest prioritizing rest.

The Galaxy Watch 9 addresses these shortcomings, and users get even more health features in addition to a Sleep score and Energy score, such as my Vitals and Heart Health. The new layout of the Samsung Health Android app has also greatly improved.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs. Galaxy Watch 8: Which one should you buy?

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 doesn't reinvent the squircle by any means, but upgrades to the processor and battery capacity makes it that much better. The new on-device AI features, snappier responses from Gemini, and more usage hours between charges are all nice things to have. The bump in price does hurt but all tech has gotten more expensive, no thanks to the rise in memory costs, so we just have to live with it. But the lack of improvement in the battery department is a sore spot that rubs salt in a pricey wound.

If you're not sold on the new features of the Watch 9, I would confidently recommend getting the Galaxy Watch 8 instead. It's still a fantastic product with a lot of life left in it, and the difference in battery life and power is negligible, if noticeable at all. It delivers excellent tracking performance, has a beautiful display, is lightweight and comfortable, and has a cellular option. Buy the Watch 8 on clearance sales and you'll be happier than you would be with the Watch 9 at full price.