Your next Galaxy Watch may make the Apple Watch feel a decade old
Samsung hasn't released its next‑gen smartwatches yet, but it's already making big moves to improve the Samsung Health experience. Starting June 8, the app update begins rolling out, giving us a sneak peek at the key features that will come with the Galaxy Watch 9 series.
Samsung's upcoming wearable offers a radically different approach to health
Reading through Samsung's press release, it's clear they're fully committed to building a true AI‑powered health experience. The new features promise to transform the Galaxy Watch 9 series from a passive health tracker into a proactive, personalized companion.
Samsung will launch several new features for the Samsung Health app, and they'll first appear on the upcoming wearables. It's still unclear whether some of these features will be locked to new hardware. If not, existing models might get them later.
Let's break down the new features
The major Samsung Health update includes four key additions: Vitals, Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load, and Fitness Index. Plus a bonus: Hearing Health.
Vitals
Samsung is building on its existing Energy Score with Vitals. It monitors key bio‑signals overnight – heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen, heart rate variability, and respiratory rate. Then it compares them to your resting baseline. When you wake up, it notifies you only if something is dramatically off.
In plain English, this helps Samsung Health figure out whether you might need more rest or could be showing early signs of illness.
Heart Health Score
The upcoming Galaxy Watch will include Heart Health Score. This unified metric pulls from your sleep, activity, stress, and body composition data to give you a clearer picture of your heart health – and which habits actually affect your long‑term well‑being. Think of it as an expanded, smarter version of last year's Vascular Load feature.
Daily Cardio Load
This one measures your cardiovascular strain, calculating your maximum training capacity and daily load. Then it helps you figure out optimal training targets and rest periods. The goal? Reach your fitness goals without hurting yourself.
Fitness Index
Fitness Index looks at key metrics like VO2 max, daily steps, and heart rate to see how well your current workout routine is working for your fitness level. It identifies your strengths and weaknesses, then offers tailored guidance and personal goals to help you improve over time.
Hearing Health
Samsung is also debuting Hearing Health across the Galaxy ecosystem. The feature uses your Galaxy Watch to monitor surrounding noise levels and gives you personalized tips to help protect your ears – pretty neat for commuters or frequent concert‑goers.
Improvements to existing features
Alongside these four new features, Samsung is upgrading the existing Antioxidant Index. The AGEs index quietly works in the background, capturing automatic measurements overnight. Now the Antioxidant Index also includes daily history logs and trend charts, so you can see how your lifestyle choices connect to your body's responses over time.
A fresh new layout
Samsung isn't just adding features – it's making them easier to find. The Samsung Health app interface is now organized into five pillars: Nutrition, Activity, Sleep, Mindfulness, and Vitals. You'll be able to access daily wellness tips, monitor your Energy Score, and more, all from a cleaner home screen.
What people think of Samsung Health
The Samsung Health app is generally well‑liked. One thing users really appreciate is that you don't need a paid subscription to access the features or get detailed health insights. That's a big win compared to some competitors.
That said, it's not perfect. Some users have reported occasional inconsistencies – things like inaccurate sleep tracking or step counts. So there's still room for improvement.
Personally, I wouldn't call it flawless, but Samsung Health is undeniably feature‑rich and accessible. Unlike some rivals, it streamlines your data, makes it easier to learn about your metrics, and puts your vital stats right where you can see them.
Let the AI future begin
With these new personalized features, Samsung is moving closer to its AI ambitions. Instead of just logging numbers, the company is positioning Samsung Health to offer truly insightful, proactive suggestions that help shape your lifestyle.
Two quick thoughts from me. First, while the Galaxy Watch experience isn't always perfect, I still think it's among the best in the smartwatch world. And with these new features, the upcoming watch promises to be even more reliable.
Second – full disclosure – I'm not really a smartwatch fan myself. But I can absolutely see how useful these new features will be for a lot of people. This feels like an active effort by Samsung to push smartwatches into their next stage of evolution.