Samsung usually kicks off what I call the ‘Smartwatch Launch Season Palooza’, at the end of July, with the competition – including our favorites from our next smartwatch list – following in the following weeks.
If 2026 is like the last few years, you can probably expect the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 – and possibly the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 – to make an appearance in mid-summer, perhaps followed by the launch of the Google Pixel Watch 5 in late August and the Apple Watch Series 12 in mid-September.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Price and release date estimates
Although no official Samsung event has been announced for the summer of 2026, it may take place in July or early August. I expect the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and possibly the Ultra 2 to launch alongside the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 handhelds.
Samsung has raised the starting price of last year’s model, the Galaxy Watch 8, to $349, for an increase of $50 against the Galaxy Watch 7. This puts it in line with the starting price of the Google Pixel Watch 4. However, it is still $50 cheaper than the cheaper Apple Watch Series 11.
For 2026, I do not expect another price increase for the Galaxy Watch 9 series. However, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may end up costing more than the 2024 model, which started at $649. Remember, the Apple Watch Ultra 3, its closest competitor, starts at $799.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Possible technological improvements
While there is talk that Google will ditch Qualcomm chips for the next Pixel Watch 5 in favor of Google’s in-house Tensor chip, Samsung is said to be doing the opposite.
The Galaxy Watch 8 series uses Samsung’s Exynos W1000 chipset. However, an internal report, first covered by SamMobile, says that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Ultra 2 may feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chipset, which, in theory, can support the main functions of the device’s AI – instead of handing it over to the phone – with better energy efficiency than the previous generation of Galaxy Watches.
There are also reports that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Ultra 2 may support 5G connectivity. Apple surprised last year by bringing 5G to its entire watch lineup, including the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3, so it seems logical that Samsung will follow suit.
Another internal report, this time from Smartprix, suggests that the onboard 3-in-1 BioActive health sensor array will see some kind of upgrade, which could result in better accuracy for metrics like heart rate, tracking sleep steps, and detecting chronic conditions like sleep apnea and AFib.
There have also been complaints about non-invasive blood sugar monitoring – a holy grail smartwatch tool – being introduced in the next Galaxy Watch series, but with little evidence to go by, I suspect the technology is not yet ready for prime time.
When it comes to health, expect AI to play an even bigger role in interpreting your overall data and making recommendations.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Design, display and battery rumours
Samsung has moved the original Galaxy Watch series to its circle-ish-square shape, first introduced in 2024’s Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I don’t expect the Galaxy Watch 9 or Ultra 2 (if there is one) to look much different from their predecessors.
But what about the Galaxy Watch 9 Classic? I’m sorry to report, dear reader, that as of writing, it doesn’t look like a gaming version of the Galaxy 9 is in the cards, but hey, I could be wrong!
The maximum brightness of the screen has been gradually increasing in the last few generations of the Galaxy Watch, and although there is still a chance that we will see the Galaxy Watch 9 above 4,000 nits – a 1,000-nit increase over the previous generation – I doubt that any brightness will increase in the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. For information, the latest Galaxy Watch 000 is also 000.
Insiders suggest that the battery capacity, at least for the larger version of the 44mm Galaxy Watch 9, will be almost the same as the 44mm Galaxy Watch 8, 435 mAh. However, improved performance may make the new model last longer than the previous model, which averaged 30 hours per charge (not the old one).
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Outlook
Finally, the Galaxy Watch 9 may look the same as the Galaxy Watch 8, but the improved processor could unlock new AI-powered features and general applications. We can also see increased battery life, as well as improved health monitoring technology.
There are no leaks or hints of a Galaxy Watch 9 Classic model, but a more robust, oversized Galaxy Watch Ultra replacement may be possible. Similar to the Galaxy Watch 9, the Ultra 2 may look the same as its predecessor, but it may offer new, advanced health, fitness and AI features.
What new features are you most looking forward to when the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 launch? Let me know in the comments below.
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