Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Unveiled with AI Coaching Features

On a sunny afternoon in London’s St. James's Park, the area adjacent to Buckingham Palace was bustling with citizens and tourists enjoying the warm weather. The park's lush greenery, swans, and pelicans attracted runners along its scenic paths.

I ventured into the park for a running experience, wearing the Galaxy Watch 9, which Samsung unveiled on July 22. Joining me was BullyJuice, a global health creator with 10 million YouTube subscribers.

Before starting, I set the running mode on the Galaxy Watch 9. Once I pressed the start button, the watch displayed real-time data on distance, speed, and heart rate. Although St. James's Park has a relatively flat terrain with various paths, the Galaxy Watch 9 accurately tracked my route.

One of the most impressive features was the voice guidance. Shortly after I increased my speed, I received a prompt saying, "Your current pace is faster than your target. Please slow down." This voice feedback helped me manage my pace effectively. When I was tempted to match BullyJuice's brisk pace, the watch's coaching feature prevented me from overexerting myself.

The Samsung Health running coach analyzes users' fitness levels and provides personalized training programs. After completing a 12-minute running test, the watch assigns a running level from 1 to 10 based on endurance and fitness. It then automatically recommends suitable training from over 160 specialized programs, ranging from basic fitness to high-intensity workouts.

As I ran alongside BullyJuice, the Galaxy Watch 9 encouraged me to maintain a steady rhythm rather than compete for speed. The beautiful scenery of London’s park, combined with the AI coach on my wrist and the presence of a famous YouTuber, made the 3 kilometers feel remarkably short.

After finishing the run, I enjoyed reviewing my workout results. The Galaxy Watch 9 not only measured distance and heart rate but also analyzed my fitness and recovery status, providing tailored insights.

A new feature, the 'Fitness Index,' comprehensively analyzes personal fitness metrics, including body composition and cardiovascular endurance. It compares users' physical strengths and areas for improvement against others in the same age group using Samsung Health. The 'Daily Load' feature assesses the strain on the heart from daily activities and exercise, advising whether to continue exercising or take a break.

The 'Hydration Guide' is another notable addition, alerting users to potential dehydration by measuring sweat loss relative to body weight. This feature helps prevent exhaustion and injuries during long runs or trail running, ensuring appropriate exercise levels.

The Galaxy Watch 9 has also improved wearability for extended health data monitoring. It maintains a 'cushion design' with a round display encased in a square body, using a lightweight aluminum frame and soft silicone band. It fits securely on the wrist, minimizing movement during runs.

Performance has been enhanced as well. The watch is equipped with the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform, improving data processing speed, and the 40mm model features a 390mAh battery, a 20% increase from its predecessor. The display, with a maximum brightness of 3000 nits, allows users to clearly view workout metrics even in bright outdoor conditions.

Samsung aims to position the Galaxy Watch 9 not just as a fitness tracker but as a proactive health management device. New features include 'Biometric Signs,' which detect changes in heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen saturation during sleep, as well as a 'Heart Health Score' that analyzes sleep, activity levels, and body composition.

After completing the short 3-kilometer run, we gathered by the lake in St. James's Park. The heart rate, pace, and exercise load data that I might have overlooked alone were now recorded on my wrist. Running in London’s park with a renowned health YouTuber, enhanced by personalized advice from an AI running coach, made for a uniquely enjoyable experience.