"Your pace is 12 seconds faster" Wearing the Watch 9 while running feels like having a 'running coach' [Galaxy Unpacked 2026]

【London, UK = Jang Min-kwon】"Your pace over the past minute is 12 seconds faster than your target."
When I ran through central London in the UK on the 23rd wearing the Galaxy Watch 9, that alert appeared on the watch face. Before a run, users can tap the goal icon on the right side of the preparation screen to set a distance or time target and turn on pace alerts. If the pace is above or below the target, notifications sound every one or three minutes. A heart rate alert feature is also included. During the 2-km run that day, the average heart rate was 145 bpm. Users can set heart rate zone alerts before exercise and receive notifications when each zone is reached.
For the person wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, a hydration alert popped up saying, "Your weight has decreased by 0.5 percent. Drink water." The watch automatically detects the user's weight and fluid loss, then sends a reminder to drink water once a certain threshold is exceeded.
The newly released Galaxy Watch series focuses on improving users' everyday health habits. To that end, it includes a range of new features that track vital signs. It measures heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen saturation during sleep, then establishes personal baselines and alerts users when meaningful changes occur. The daily cardio load feature uses the strain placed on the heart through daily activity and exercise to help users decide whether to continue working out or take a rest. With alerts optimized for everyday exercise, such as heart rate, pace and hydration reminders, users can build better workout habits.
The heart health score feature shows a heart health score based on trends in sleep, activity, body composition and vascular stress, while also offering personalized guidance to help maintain heart health. The physical readiness index feature comprehensively analyzes personal fitness indicators, including body composition and cardiorespiratory endurance, to provide insights for improving exercise performance. It also detects harmful noise levels and issues warnings, while offering detailed reports and long-term guidance for hearing health management.
The new watch series also felt more comfortable to wear than its predecessor. In fact, I was able to focus on the workout without any discomfort or irritation on my wrist throughout the run. The Watch 9 weighs about the same as the previous model, but its lightweight aluminum body and soft silicone band made it fit more gently against the wrist.
Given that the run started at around 4:30 p.m. that day, it was also notable that the screen remained easy to read even under direct sunlight. That is because the display brightness reaches up to 3,000 nits, making it possible to deliver a clear screen outdoors.
A Samsung Electronics official said, "Data measured by the Galaxy Watch is converted into health insights," adding, "It helps users establish their own daily routines and manage their health proactively."
[email protected] Jang Min-kwon Reporter