GoKawiilC. Scott Brown / Android Authority
The launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 series is nearly upon us, with this marking the first time in a while that I’ve excitedly anticipated the arrival of a Samsung smartwatch. So what changed? This year, I became the owner of the Galaxy Watch 8, and the smartwatch has become an integral part of my sleep tracking.
At the same time, competition in the wearables market is heating up. Companies like Google are diversifying their offerings with devices like the Fitbit Air, while premium smartwatch features are no longer limited to the top manufacturers. For the Watch 9 to really stand out for me, it needs to address a weakness of the Watch 8 — battery life.
Which improvement do you most want to see on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9? 19 votes A bigger battery. 58 % Faster charging. 5 % More health features that don't require a Galaxy phone. 16 % More accurate tracking. 16 % Something else (let us know in the comments). 5 %
I love the Galaxy Watch 8, but its battery life is a major drawback
Megan Ellis / Android Authority
When I first started using the Galaxy Watch 8 for activity and sleep tracking, it lasted about three days. My previous smartwatch lasted a week, so although this was still significantly shorter, it felt like an acceptable compromise for the more accurate sleep insights. After all, I had stopped wearing my previous device in bed at all because its sleep estimates were off by several hours.
However, an update earlier this year significantly shortened the battery life of my Watch 8. Instead of the usual three days, I had to charge my watch every two days. At first, I thought the culprit was Spotify, but then I saw other Galaxy Watch users reporting battery issues.
Despite it being months since the update, my battery life hasn’t returned to its three-day peak. I usually have to charge it again before I reach the 48-hour mark. The exact culprit for the drain changes — sometimes it’s Samsung Health Monitor (even though I’m not using a Galaxy phone), and sometimes it’s Google Play. Either way, it’s annoying.
An update earlier this year reduced my Watch 8's battery life from three days to two.
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