Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) vs Galaxy Watch8
Verified 2026-10-31
A factual specification comparison between the Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) and the Galaxy Watch8.
Image: Samsung Electronics
Samsung · SmartwatchGalaxy Watch9 (44mm)
- Status
- Released · 2026-07-25
- Announced
- Announced 2026-07-09
- Verification
- Verified
- Last checked
- Checked 2026-10-03
Samsung · SmartwatchGalaxy Watch8
- Status
- Released · 2025-07-25
- Announced
- Announced 2025-07-09
- Verification
- Verified
- Last checked
- Checked 2026-10-01
Key differences
SpecificationGalaxy Watch9 (44mm)Galaxy Watch8
Design & Build
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance (differs) | 5 ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H tested | 5 ATM |
Performance
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset (differs) | 3nm 5-core processor | Penta-core processor (1.6GHz + 1.5GHz) |
Battery & Charging
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity (mAh) (differs) | 445 | 435 |
Connectivity
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Cellular connectivity (differs) | Bluetooth or Bluetooth + LTE variants available | Available in LTE and Bluetooth models |
| Positioning (differs) | L1+L5 dual-frequency GPS | Dual-band GPS (L1 and L5) |
Software
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system at launch (differs) | Wear OS (by Google) | Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch |
| Phone compatibility (differs) | Requires a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 12 or later, Samsung Health app, and Samsung account | Requires a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 12 or higher |
Security & Sensors
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Health sensors (differs) | Energy Score, Sleep Apnea detection, Bedtime Guidance, High Stress Alert, Fitness Index, Daily Cardio Load, Running Coach, Vitals, Heart Health Score, Personalized Heart Rate Zone, Personalized Functional Threshold Power, AGEs Index, Blood Pressure, ECG, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, Antioxidant, Body Composition, Cycle Tracking, Hearing Protection | Heart rate, Barometer/altimeter, SpO2, Skin temperature, BioActive sensor (antioxidant index) |
These are specifications where both devices have a confirmed value and the values differ. A difference is not a judgement that either device is better.
Full specifications
differs · Not disclosed: not published by the manufacturer · —: not recorded
SpecificationGalaxy Watch9 (44mm)Galaxy Watch8
Design & Build
1 difference
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Water resistance (differs) | 5 ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H tested | 5 ATM |
| Colors | Graphite, Silver · same on both | |
| Weight | Not disclosed | 44mm: 34.0 g |
| Case dimensions | Not disclosed | 44mm: 46.0 × 43.7 × 8.6 mm |
| Build materials | Aluminum | Not recorded |
Display
No differences
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Not disclosed | Super AMOLED |
| Peak brightness (nits) | 3000 · same on both | |
| Resolution | Not disclosed | 44mm: 480×480 pixels |
Performance
1 difference
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset model name | Not disclosed | Exynos W1000 |
| Chipset (differs) | 3nm 5-core processor | Penta-core processor (1.6GHz + 1.5GHz) |
Memory & Storage
No differences
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Storage (GB) | 32 · same on both | |
Battery & Charging
1 difference
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Charging time | Not disclosed | 10W wireless charging |
| Battery capacity (mAh) (differs) | 445 | 435 |
| Battery life | Not disclosed | Up to 30 hours with Always On Display enabled |
Connectivity
2 differences
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | Not disclosed | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | Not disclosed | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Contactless payments | Not disclosed | Samsung Wallet (NFC) |
| Cellular connectivity (differs) | Bluetooth or Bluetooth + LTE variants available | Available in LTE and Bluetooth models |
| Positioning (differs) | L1+L5 dual-frequency GPS | Dual-band GPS (L1 and L5) |
Software
2 differences
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system at launch (differs) | Wear OS (by Google) | Wear OS 6, One UI 8 Watch |
| Phone compatibility (differs) | Requires a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone running Android 12 or later, Samsung Health app, and Samsung account | Requires a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 12 or higher |
Security & Sensors
1 difference
| Specification | Galaxy Watch9 (44mm) | Galaxy Watch8 |
|---|---|---|
| Health sensors (differs) | Energy Score, Sleep Apnea detection, Bedtime Guidance, High Stress Alert, Fitness Index, Daily Cardio Load, Running Coach, Vitals, Heart Health Score, Personalized Heart Rate Zone, Personalized Functional Threshold Power, AGEs Index, Blood Pressure, ECG, Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification, Antioxidant, Body Composition, Cycle Tracking, Hearing Protection | Heart rate, Barometer/altimeter, SpO2, Skin temperature, BioActive sensor (antioxidant index) |
Terms used on this page (4)
- Nits
- A unit of screen brightness (candela per square metre). Typical, HDR and outdoor peak figures are measured under different conditions.
- IP rating
- Ingress protection under IEC 60529: the first digit rates dust protection, the second water protection, each under the manufacturer's stated test conditions.
- mAh and Wh
- Battery capacity. mAh is charge; Wh also accounts for voltage, so it is the more comparable energy figure across device types.
- MIL-STD-810H
- A US military test standard. Manufacturers choose which of its tests to run, so it does not imply a specific level of durability.
Sources & verification
Galaxy Watch9 (44mm)
Verified 2026-10-03- Samsung ElectronicsManufacturerTier 1
Galaxy Watch8
Verified 2026-10-01- Samsung ElectronicsManufacturerTier 1
- Samsung ElectronicsManufacturerTier 1
- Samsung Newsroom — Galaxy Watch8 series unveilingManufacturer newsroomTier 1
- GSMArena — Samsung Galaxy Watch8Independent technical sourceTier 2
Tier 1 sources are the manufacturer's own product pages, technical specification sheets, or support documentation. Tier 2 sources are reputable independent technical references, used only for facts that couldn't be confirmed from official documentation, as is the case for some facts here.