The biggest flaw with the Galaxy Watch 9 has nothing to do with the watch itself

You’d expect that purchasing a device would grant you access to all its features, right? If I buy a car, I’d be surprised if I couldn’t fasten the seat belts or adjust the air conditioning because I haven’t also purchased the brand-specific floor mats. Well, that’s what buying a Galaxy Watch has been like for the past six years.

The seemingly inconsequential Samsung Health Monitor app holds a host of important health and wellness monitoring features hostage to users who don’t meet certain conditions. While I’ll admit that regulatory and regional limitations are beyond Samsung’s control, there is one condition that certainly isn’t. To make the most of your Samsung Galaxy Watch, you need to pair it with a Samsung Galaxy smartphone , even if you own a brand-new Android handset.