Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch 9 (2026): Which to Buy?

Quick answer: if you use an iPhone, buy the Apple Watch Series 12, because the Galaxy Watch 9 doesn’t work with iPhones at all. If you use an Android phone, the Galaxy Watch 9 is the pick, with a brighter 3,000-nit screen, Gemini built in and extra health tools that work best with a Galaxy phone.

These two watches cost almost the same and look nothing alike, but the phone in your pocket decides most of this for you. Below is how they compare on screen, health tracking, battery and smart features.

Your phone mostly makes the call. Still, battery, health tracking and price differ in ways worth knowing.

Quick Verdict

Buy the Apple Watch Series 12 if you own an iPhone 11 or newer and want Apple’s new heart sensor, the Readiness score and the tightest phone integration you can get.

Buy the Galaxy Watch 9 if you’re on Android, especially a Samsung Galaxy phone, and want a brighter display, a thinner case, Gemini on your wrist and features like blood pressure tracking and body composition.

Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch 9 at a Glance

Here’s the short version. Both start around $400, and each is tied to its own phone platform.

Price and Availability in the USA and UAE

Prices: the Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 | AED 1,599 and the Galaxy Watch 9 at $379.99 | AED 1,449.

The Galaxy Watch 9 is a little cheaper at every size, both in the USA and UAE. The gap is small in dollars but bigger in dirhams once you move up to cellular models.

Apple Watch Series 12 prices

Per Macworld’s launch pricing, USA prices are unchanged for the 42mm GPS model and up $20 for the 46mm. UAE prices below come from Jumbo Electronics’ Series 12 listing.

Galaxy Watch 9 prices

Samsung’s USA Galaxy Watch 9 page lists the 40mm Bluetooth model from $379.99, and Best Buy has the 44mm Bluetooth version at $409.99. In the UAE, the Samsung UAE store lists all four versions.

Tip for UAE shoppers: those are Samsung’s list prices, and some UAE retailers sell the 40mm Bluetooth model for less, so compare before you pay.

Where to buy: Compare the official Apple UAE Store with the official Samsung UAE watch store and established local retailers. US buyers can check the official Apple and Samsung stores. Confirm local warranty, size and cellular compatibility before ordering. Buy the UAE or Middle East version if you want local warranty support.

Full Specs Comparison

On paper, Samsung wins on brightness, thinness and dust rating. Apple wins on materials and phone integration.

Design and Display

The Galaxy Watch 9 has the brighter, thinner and tougher-glassed display. Apple offers more materials and a more premium top end.

Apple kept last year’s shape. Macworld calls it a “modern classic,” though its unit had a sharp edge where screen meets case. The big change is under the hood of the aluminum model: Ceramic Shield 2 replaces Ion-X glass, and Apple says it’s 60% tougher. Eight finishes are offered, including returning ceramic.

Samsung went the other way. It kept its round cushion design, and Wareable’s Galaxy Watch 9 write-up says it’s still “the most distinctive design in the mid-range.” Every model gets sapphire glass, and Notebookcheck’s lab tests measured peak brightness at 3,162 nits, which really helps outside in bright sun.

Winner: Galaxy Watch 9. Brighter screen, sapphire on every model and a slimmer case for less money.

Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch 9 Health Features

Both nail the basics. Apple went deeper on heart sensing. Samsung went wider, adding things like blood pressure and body composition.

The Series 12 gets Apple’s first major sensor redesign since 2020, called the Health Sensing System. It checks your heart rate every five seconds, all day, and samples heart rate variability up to 24 times more often than before. That feeds a new 0 to 10 Readiness score. You also get ECG, sleep apnea notifications and a sleep score. One catch: Apple’s UAE Series 12 page notes that hypertension notifications may not be available in your region yet.

Samsung’s list is longer. The Galaxy Watch 9 offers Vitals, a 0 to 100 Energy Score, Bedtime Guidance, Running Coach, body composition, an Antioxidant Index and an FDA-cleared sleep apnea feature. Blood pressure tracking is there too, but you need to calibrate it with a separate cuff. And here’s the bit that matters: Notebookcheck points out that ECG, blood pressure and sleep apnea need a Samsung phone.

Winner: Tie. Apple has the sharper heart sensor and a clean Readiness score. Samsung has more tools, but only if you own a Galaxy phone.

Fitness Tracking and Accuracy

Independent tests give Samsung decent marks with some hiccups, and Apple’s new sensor looks like a step up, though not perfect.

According to Notebookcheck, the Galaxy Watch 9 matched a Polar H10 chest strap at rest and averaged 4.3 bpm off during bike rides. Wareable’s results were more mixed. On one steady run the watch landed within 0.5 bpm of a Garmin chest strap, but it dropped out for about eight minutes on another run and missed most of an interval session.

For the Series 12, Apple cites its own study of more than 1,000 people. Macworld found the sensor “more accurate overall but not infallible,” and noted Readiness needs seven nights of data first.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 12, by a nose. The always-on five-second heart rate sampling is the bigger upgrade this year.

Battery Life and Charging: Which Lasts Longer?

Samsung claims more hours, but independent tests put the two watches closer than the spec sheets suggest.

Apple rates the Series 12 at up to 50 hours, or up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, under its stated test conditions. In Macworld’s testing, though, it averaged 45.5 hours across two runs (51 and 40 hours). The flip side is that charging was inconsistent: Apple specifies 0–80% in about 45 minutes, but Macworld got between 58% and 72%.

Samsung rates the Galaxy Watch 9 at up to 30 hours with the always-on display. Wareable saw 24 to 30 hours, depending on GPS use, and Notebookcheck said a full recharge took almost 1.5 hours.

Winner: Apple Watch Series 12. It’s rated lower, but real-world tests show it lasting longer.

Smart Features, AI and Performance

Right now, Samsung’s Gemini setup is the more useful one. Apple’s AI tricks look promising, but a few aren’t finished.

The Galaxy Watch 9 runs Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, and it’s quick. Notebookcheck measured 66.8 runs per minute in Speedometer 2.0, compared with 40.5 for last year’s Apple Watch Series 11. Wareable found Gemini “noticeably faster” too, and said the new Raise to Talk gesture works so well that the writer ended up using Gemini about twice as much.

Apple’s S11 chip powers Audio Intelligence. Sound Recognition (alerts for sirens, doorbells and crying babies) and passive music recognition work now. But Macworld notes that Live Rewind and Siri Recap are still coming “in beta later this year.”

Winner: Galaxy Watch 9. Faster chip, and its AI assistant is fully working right now.

Is Apple Watch Series 12 Better Than Galaxy Watch 9 for Value?

The Galaxy Watch 9 gives you more hardware for the money, but the Series 12 holds its value better for iPhone owners, who can’t use Samsung’s watch anyway.

At the entry level, the Galaxy Watch 9 costs $19 | AED 150 less than the Series 12, and you still get sapphire glass, a brighter screen and an IP68 rating. Move to cellular in the UAE and the gap widens: the 42mm Series 12 with cellular starts at $544 | AED 1,999, while the 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 LTE is AED 1,649, a difference of AED 300.

That said, TechRepublic sums it up well: the small price gap “is nearly irrelevant” when your phone decides which watch you can actually use.

Which Should You Buy?

Start with your phone, then check whether any specific feature tips the balance.

• iPhone owners: Apple Watch Series 12. The Galaxy Watch 9 won’t pair with an iPhone.
• Samsung Galaxy phone owners: Galaxy Watch 9. You get ECG, blood pressure and sleep apnea tracking on top.
• Other Android phone owners (Pixel, OnePlus and more): Galaxy Watch 9 still works, but you’ll lose some Samsung Health Monitor features.
• Upgraders from Series 10 or older: the Series 12 is a worthwhile jump. From a Series 11, Macworld’s mixed verdict suggests waiting.
• Budget buyers: the Galaxy Watch 9 40mm.

Alternatives to Consider: Apple Watch SE 3, Ultra and Galaxy Watch 8

Not everyone needs these two flagship watches. The Apple Watch SE 3 costs less than Series 12 and suits iPhone users who mainly want notifications, activity tracking and basic health features. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is another option for people who prioritize outdoor use, although the newer Ultra model may also be worth comparing. On Android, the previous Galaxy Watch 8 can offer better value when discounted. Check the differences in sensors, battery life and software support rather than choosing solely by the model number.

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 (from $799 | AED 3,199): a larger 49mm titanium case built for outdoor fans. Our guide on which Apple Watch you should buy compares every current model.
• Cheaper smartwatches: if you’d rather spend less, see our picks for the best smartwatches under $350.

Pairing your watch with a new phone? Check our iPhone 18 Pro price and specs guide or see whether the Galaxy S26 Ultra is worth buying. Torn on the phones? Our iPhone 18 Pro vs Galaxy S26 Ultra comparison helps.

Final Verdict

This is one of those rare matchups where the answer is simple. On an iPhone, get the Apple Watch Series 12: its new heart sensor, Readiness score and longer real-world battery make it the best regular Apple Watch yet, even with a few features still on the way. On Android, get the Galaxy Watch 9: it’s faster, brighter, slightly cheaper and has the more useful AI assistant today. Galaxy phone owners get the most out of it.

FAQs

Does the Galaxy Watch 9 work with an iPhone?

No. Samsung says the Galaxy Watch 9 needs an Android phone running Android 13 or later with at least 1.5GB of RAM. iPhones aren’t supported, so iPhone users should look at the Apple Watch Series 12 instead.

Is Apple Watch Series 12 better than Galaxy Watch 9?

It depends on your phone. The Apple Watch Series 12 is the better choice for iPhone owners thanks to its new heart sensor and Readiness score. The Galaxy Watch 9 is better for Android users, with a brighter 3,000-nit display, a faster chip and Gemini built in.

Which has better battery life, Apple Watch Series 12 or Galaxy Watch 9?

Samsung rates the Galaxy Watch 9 at up to 30 hours with its always-on display enabled, while Apple rates the Series 12 at up to 50 hours under its stated test conditions. In independent tests, though, Macworld averaged 45.5 hours on the Series 12, while Wareable saw 24 to 30 hours from the Galaxy Watch 9.

What is the Apple Watch Series 12 vs Galaxy Watch 9 price in UAE?

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $435 | AED 1,599 for the 42mm GPS model. The Galaxy Watch 9 starts at $395 | AED 1,449 for the 40mm Bluetooth model on Samsung’s UAE store. Prices were checked on October 22, 2026, and UAE retailers often discount the Samsung watch.

Should I upgrade from Apple Watch Series 11 to Series 12?

Probably not, unless you really want the new heart sensor or the Readiness score. Macworld found the design unchanged and battery life similar to the Series 11, so owners of a Series 10 or older will see a bigger jump.

Image credits: Photo: Kyu3a, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. • Photo: Kyu3a, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.