Galaxy Watch 9 users turn to ice baths for slow charging fix

Galaxy Watch 9 users are facing significant charging issues, prompting some to resort to unconventional solutions like fans and ice baths. This problem has emerged following the release of Samsung’s latest wearables, the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, as early adopters report much slower charging times than the company’s official claims.

Samsung states that the 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 should charge from 0% to 100% in 80 minutes, while the larger 44mm model and the Watch Ultra 2 are rated for 90 minutes. However, many users are experiencing charging durations that far exceed these estimates. One 40mm Watch 9 owner noted that their device took over two hours to fully charge, while another user with the Watch Ultra 2 reported waiting up to four hours under normal room conditions. The discrepancy appears to be largely due to aggressive thermal throttling, which causes the watches to reduce charging power as they heat up.

In response to these issues, some users have taken drastic measures to speed up charging. One user reported that positioning a desk fan directly at the watch during charging significantly improved the time taken for a full charge. Another user went so far as to apply thermal paste to bond the charging puck to a metal surface and set it on ice to maintain optimal temperatures. Additionally, there are reports that the new watches struggle with backward compatibility, often displaying “slow charging” alerts when used with older Galaxy Watch chargers.

The growing number of complaints highlights a widespread problem affecting many units, though it does not seem to impact every device. Samsung has been contacted for comments regarding the overheating issues and whether a software fix is on the horizon. As users seek solutions to these charging challenges, the success of Samsung’s latest offerings hangs in the balance.