Samsung’s recent Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 models are showing significantly longer charging times than announced by the manufacturer. User reports on online forums and brand platforms indicate that devices take up to four times longer to reach a full charge, leading to unusual solutions such as the use of fans and even ice.
Samsung reports an official full recharge period of 80 to 90 minutes. However, in practice, many owners experience waits of between 2 and 4 hours under regular room temperature conditions.
More on this story: Slow charging of Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 forces users to tricks like fan and ice
Users adopt unusual methods to speed up recharge
This disparity between what was promised and what was real drove smartwatch owners to look for creative alternatives. In online communities, one owner mentioned that he was able to speed up the process by directing a table fan at the device while charging. Another individual even applied thermal paste to the recharge disk, placing it on ice to try to maintain maximum speed.
The difference between the time estimated by the manufacturer and the consumer experience varies depending on the model:
- Galaxy Watch 9 (40 mm): Official time of 80 minutes; in practice, over 120 minutes (2 hours).
- Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Official time of 90 minutes; in practice, it can take up to 240 minutes (4 hours).
What causes a drop in loading speed
The main reason behind this drop in charging speed is the so-called “thermal throttling”. As the device heats up during the process, the system automatically reduces the power received to safeguard the battery and other internal components. Tests carried out by users themselves indicate that the charging rate can drop from 5.5W to 3.5W or even less.
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Compatibility failures and possible bugs in watches
In addition to the heating issue, the line of smart watches appears to have compatibility flaws. On Samsung’s official forums, consumers report that the Galaxy Watch 9 displays “slow charging” messages or simply refuses power when connected to third-party bases or the charger that comes with the Galaxy Watch 8.
Surprisingly, some reports indicate that the charging disk for the Galaxy Watch 6, a previous model, can charge the Galaxy Watch 9 faster than the official cable that comes in the new device’s box. This incongruity raises the possibility of a software communication bug in the releases’ firmware.
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Samsung’s response and what to expect from the next steps
A specialized publication contacted Samsung in search of an official position on the failures and loading times. However, to date, the manufacturer has not commented publicly or confirmed the release of updates to correct the problems highlighted.