Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9 misses the mark as screenless trackers take over
Android Police 2026-07-24 15:16:09
Context: This week, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9, a device heavily focused on health features, at the Galaxy Unpacked event. The presentation, led by Sharanya Desai, head of digital health algorithms at Samsung, showcased various health capabilities, including Vitals, Fitness Index, and an enhanced sleep apnea detector. However, the launch may have missed the mark as the market shifts towards screenless and less burdensome health-tracking devices.
Key Facts
- The Galaxy Watch 9 was introduced with a presentation led by Sharanya Desai, head of digital health algorithms at Samsung, that solely focused on its health features.
- The Galaxy Watch 9 offers various health capabilities, including Vitals, which tracks five biometrics, a Fitness Index that manages activity needs and capabilities, and an enhanced sleep apnea detector.
- Over 77 million users rely on Samsung Health, according to Sharanya Desai, highlighting the company's significant presence in the health-tracking market.
- The market has shifted towards low-profile health-tracking devices, such as smart rings like Oura and Samsung's Galaxy Ring, and screenless health trackers like Whoop and Google's Fitbit Air.
- Garmin recently entered the market with Cirqa, a screenless health tracker that is being celebrated for being subscription-free, which is likely to expand its reach and demand.