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I’m finally taking my fitness journey and my health seriously, and I’m learning that the best way to hold myself accountable is to actually track my progress. So when Samsung’s Galaxy Watch9 came out, I was interested in trying it for at least 30 days to see how if it could fit into my life and show me real-time results of how I was doing in my health journey.
The Product
The Galaxy Watch9 is Samsung’s smartwatch for tracking everyday activity, workouts, and sleep. It has a slim profile and feels very light on my wrist, which I appreciated while wearing it throughout the day.
In addition to fitness features, the watch offers wellness tools including Vitals and a Heart Health Score. For me, the appeal was having more information about my routine in one place, without needing to become a fitness expert to start paying attention.
How I Used It
My first order of business was tracking my steps. My personal goal was 10,000 a day, and being able to look at my wrist and see where I stood. I could easily check my progress throughout the day instead of guessing how much walking I’d done.
But then I found myself tracking more than that. I checked my daily activity, workouts, estimated calories burned, heart-related metrics, cycle, and sleep patterns. I went into the month focused on movement and ended up using the watch to keep tabs on more of my overall wellness.
What I Noticed
I’m the type of person who needs to see progress to stay consistent. Having my activity right there on a screen gave me something tangible to check in with. The watch let me know when I hadn’t moved enough and offered encouragement when I was making progress.
I also appreciated that it picked up activities like jogging and swimming without me having to manually start tracking every time. That made it easier to focus on what I was doing.
I will admit, sometimes I wouldn’t wear it all the time. There were nights I forgot to put it on before bed and times I made it to the gym without it. Usually, I’d take it off because it didn’t go with my outfit or because I wanted to shower without it, then I’d forget to put it back on.
The Price
The Galaxy Watch9 starts at $379.99 for the Bluetooth model, with the price varying by size and connectivity. For the way I used it, I think it’s worth its value.
I’ve paid more for things I barely touched more than once. A watch that helps me keep up with goals I’m actively working toward feels easier to justify. The value, for me, comes from how often I reach for it and use the information it gives me.
Would I Buy It Myself?
Yes. While this watch was gifted, after 30 days of using it, I would spend my own money on it.
This was my introduction to being a Samsung girl, and I get the hype. I was impressed by how much information I could keep track of, just from my wrist. More than anything, it fit a need I already had: a way to see my activity and hold myself accountable as I work on being more consistent.
Who It’s For
This watch makes sense for someone who likes seeing their progress, wants a digital accountability partner, or is figuring out how to make wellness a more regular part of their life. You don’t need to be training for a marathon to use this watch. I started with a daily step goal.
Phone compatibility matters, too. Check that your phone supports the watch and the features you want before buying; certain tools, including Vitals, require a compatible Samsung Galaxy phone.
The Verdict
For me, the Galaxy Watch9 is worth it. Over those 30 days, it made it easier to see what I was doing and where I needed to be more consistent. The movement reminders and automatic workout recognition were especially helpful because they gave me support without requiring me to manage every detail.
I’m still responsible for getting my steps in, going to the gym, and putting the watch back on after getting dressed, but having a way to track those efforts has been useful enough that I want to keep wearing it beyond the 30-day period.
I’m proud of myself for setting a challenge and sticking to it. Now, I’m already looking for new bands. If it’s going to be part of my daily routine, I want it to work with the outfit, too.
Sandy Pierre is the Branded Execution Manager at Refinery29 Unbothered and a contributing writer covering travel, lifestyle, and culture. When she’s not working on brand partnerships, she’s probably planning her next trip or curating a dinner for creatives in New York.
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