The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 (stylized as Samsung Galaxy Watch9) and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (stylized as Galaxy Watch Ultra2) are Wear OS-based smartwatches developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics. They were announced on July 22, 2026 at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked event held in London, England, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, the Galaxy Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Glasses, and were officially released on August 7, 2026 as the successors to the Watch 8 and Watch Ultra respectively. The Watch 9 series are the first Galaxy Watch models to use the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite platform in place of the Exynos W1000 used by the previous two generations, and the first to ship with Wear OS 7 and One UI 9 Watch. No Classic variant was announced, breaking with the Galaxy Watch 8 lineup.
History
Pre-release reports Both watches passed FCC certification in June 2026, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Renders and software details were reported later that month. On July 14, 2026, Samsung published a series of teaser videos describing the Galaxy Watch 9 as a "health-first, always-on gateway for advanced, personalized AI". A full specification sheet and European pricing were reported by Roland Quandt of WinFuture the day before the launch event. Several pre-release reports proved inaccurate. Coverage in early July stated that the 40 mm Galaxy Watch 9 would carry a 325 mAh battery, and a number of outlets expected Samsung to retain a split Exynos and Snapdragon strategy; the official specification sheet confirmed a 390 mAh cell and the Snapdragon Wear Elite platform across both models.
Announcement The two watches were announced at Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22, 2026. Samsung positioned the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for high-intensity sport and outdoor use and the Galaxy Watch 9 for everyday health management covering sleep, cardiovascular health, exercise and recovery. Pre-orders opened on the day of the announcement in most markets, with general availability from August 7, 2026.
Design The Galaxy Watch 9 retains the cushion-shaped, lug-less case that Samsung introduced on the Galaxy Watch Ultra and brought to the standard line with the Galaxy Watch 8. It is built from aluminium, covered by sapphire crystal, and is 8.6 mm (0.34 in) thick, measuring 42.7 x 40.4 mm in the 40 mm size and 46.0 x 43.7 mm in the 44 mm size. It is offered in two sizes; the 40 mm model is available in Graphite and Cream and the 44 mm model in Graphite and Silver. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is produced in a single 47 mm size, measuring 47.4 x 47.1 x 10.7 mm, with a grade 4 titanium case. A redesigned internal layout made it 12 per cent thinner than the previous generation despite a 35 per cent larger battery. It is sold in Titanium Silver and Titanium Gray, fewer options than were offered across the Galaxy Watch Ultra line. Samsung also introduced new strap ranges for both models, including perforated silicone, mixed-material and textile options.
Specifications
Health and sensors Both models carry the Samsung BioActive sensor, which combines optical heart-rate measurement, electrocardiography and bioelectrical impedance analysis. These are supplemented by a temperature sensor, an ambient light sensor, an accelerometer, a barometer, a gyroscope and a geomagnetic sensor. Samsung introduced several health measurements with the series, including an index derived from advanced glycation end-products, an antioxidant index and a blood pressure trend feature, along with tools aimed at trail running. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is certified to EN13319 for diving equipment and records depth, elapsed time and water temperature on submersion. A dedicated diving application developed with the Italian manufacturer Mares was announced for release later in 2026 as a separate download. The model can also connect directly to third-party cycling power meters and speed and cadence sensors.
Software Both watches ship with Wear OS 7.0 and the One UI 9 Watch interface. The Galaxy Watch 9 series are the first watches to support 5 years of OS and security updates, covering major operating system upgrades, feature drops and security patches; on the stated launch window this runs to 2031.
Availability and pricing Pre-orders opened on July 22, 2026 in most markets, with general availability from August 7, 2026.
The Chinese line-up omits the 40 mm LTE configuration offered in other markets.
References
External links Official website