GoKawiilPaul Jones / Android Authority
Samsung launched its latest Galaxy Watches alongside its new foldable phones in July 2026. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is now the latest entry point to the company’s smartwatch lineup, featuring larger batteries, a new Qualcomm processor, a raise-to-talk feature from the Pixel Watch 4, and new health tracking capabilities. Coupled with all the new watch strap designs, the Galaxy Watch 9 might look very tempting, especially if you already own a Samsung smartphone.
Prices have gone up, though, like most new tech launches this year. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 now starts at $380, while the 44mm model costs $410. Add another $50 to each if you want the cellular variant. That’s a lot of money for a smartwatch that’s not too different from the 2025 Galaxy Watch 8.
If you’re not convinced about buying the Galaxy Watch 9, you’ve come to the right place. Just like our curated list of alternatives to the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, here are five smartwatches you should buy instead of the Galaxy Watch 9.
Which Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 alternative would you choose? 70 votes Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 10 % Pixel Watch 4 24 % Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 13 % Garmin Venu 4 16 % Amazfit Balance 2 31 % Other (let us know in the comments) 6 %
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Hadlee Simons / Android Authority Galaxy Watch 8
The closest you can get to replicating the Galaxy Watch 9 experience would be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8. It’s only a year old and shares many of the good qualities of the Watch 9, like its design, low weight, the same AMOLED display specs, and highly accurate health and sleep tracking. We also found it extremely comfortable for daily wear. Samsung has used the same watch strap mechanism in the Watch 9, so all the newer straps will work with the Watch 8.
The biggest reason to buy the Galaxy Watch 8, though, has to be the value quotient. While Samsung still lists it for $350 on its website, you can easily find it for $300 on Amazon and Best Buy. What makes this an even sweeter deal is that many of the new health tracking features on the Galaxy Watch 9 — including Sleep Apnea, Vitals, and more — should also come to the Watch 8 with the One UI 9 Watch software update.
Any downsides of going with the older model? Well, the Galaxy Watch 8 isn’t a multi-day device, so you’ll most likely have to charge it daily. It also doesn’t charge very quickly, requiring nearly two hours to fully top up. Finally, just like the Watch 9, Samsung forces you to use a Galaxy phone for tracking advanced health metrics, which isn’t ideal. However, if you already have a Samsung phone, the Galaxy WAtch 8 is pretty tempting.
... continue reading