I wore the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch 9. Real upgrades are hidden inside

Published Jul 22, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT Andy is a seasoned technology journalist with more than 15 years experience in the mobile industry, writing for Digital Trends, Wired, and more. Andy has reviewed hundreds of smartphones and tablets, dozens of smartwatches, and a host of smart rings, smart glasses, and fitness trackers, giving him a unique ability to assess and evaluate the latest products. His daily mobile tech life includes Android and iOS devices, smart rings, and a smartwatch, unless it's a special occasion, when a traditional watch takes its place on his wrist. Andy always has a strong opinion on the state of the mobile industry, and writes in-depth analysis features to put the latest news and products into context. He has attended multiple CES, MWC, and IFA tradeshows, has a passion for photography and cars, listens to far too much K-pop, and follows F1. You can find Andy's portfolio of work on his Authory page. Samsung has two smartwatches for 2026, a reinvigorated Galaxy Watch Ultra2, and the return of the cushion design for the Galaxy Watch 9. Looking for a new Watch Classic? Don’t, because it’s Samsung’s “off” year, and the Ultra2’s arrival takes its place. Galaxy Watch Ultra2 A big step forward The original Galaxy Watch Ultra was a beast. Wide, thick, and purposeful, it was a serious statement maker. For the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, none of its statement-making overall size has disappeared, but some key changes have made it more wearable, and will likely help it appeal to more people. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 Case size 47mm Case Material Titanium Display 1.52-inch Super AMOLED Display resolution 498 x 498 / 5,000 nits CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite RAM 2GB RAM Storage 64GB Battery 800mAh Cellular connectivity LTE Wi-Fi connectivity Y Software Wear OS 7 / One UI 9 Watch Dimensions 47 x 47 x 10.1mm Weight 61.5 grams IP Rating IP69K Colors Titanium Silver / Titanium Gray ATM Rating 10ATM Sensors Samsung BioActive Sensor Toughness MIL-STD-810H The shock resistant titanium case is 12% thinner, measuring 10.7mm, and the softer, lighter, thinner strap makes it feel so much less bothersome on your wrist. You’re still going to notice a whopping 1.52-inch screen and the 47mm case size, but it’s immediately less tank-like. Samsung says it used AI modeling techniques to create the Watch Ultra2’s final design, and it seems to have worked well. Although hard to test during my short time with the smartwatch, Samsung says the screen is the brightest on any smartwatch at 5,000nits. What about the Galaxy Watch 9? More of the same Samsung reinvented its bread-and-butter smartwatch series with the Galaxy Watch 8, and it has brought back the excellent cushion design for the Galaxy Watch 9. Available once again in 40mm and 44mm case sizes, the screen isn’t quite as bright as the Watch Ultra2’s, but still impressive at 3,000nits. It still looks modern, fun, and unlike any other smartwatch available. There is a new softer band, which also comes in a new finish, and it’s another big step over the stiff version fitted to the Watch 8. Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 Case size 40mm / 44mm Display 1.34-inch Super AMOLED / 1.47-inch Super AMOLED Display resolution 438 x 438 pixels / 480 x 480 pixels CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite RAM 2GB RAM Storage 32GB Battery 390mAh / 445mAh Cellular connectivity LTE Wi-Fi connectivity Y Software Wear OS 7 / One UI 9 Watch Dimensions 43 x 40 x 8.6mm / 46 x 44 x 8.6mm Weight 31.5 grams / 34 grams IP Rating IP68 Colors Graphite, Cream / Graphite, Silver ATM Rating 5ATM Sensors Samsung BioActive Sensor Toughness MIL-STD-810H Until you try on the Galaxy Watch 9, don’t dismiss the design. It works so well with its low profile case and sleek, fuss-free shape, and suits all wrist sizes. Samsung did the right thing by not dramatically changing the design. New processing power An important debut The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch 9 use the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite processor. Introduced earlier this year, it promises big performance improvements. Qualcomm says to expect 30% better battery life, much improved on-device AI from the dedicated NPU, faster GPS, and interesting feature additions such as a low-power, always-on Wi-Fi mode. It’s not clear if the new Galaxy Watch models will make use of this though. One new feature I tried out was Raise to Talk for Google Gemini. As it suggests, you raise your wrist to chat to the AI. Sensibly, it takes a substantial gesture to activate, so it won’t just start when you check the time. It worked reliably for my demos, but the small, glowing indicator at the bottom of the screen is easy to miss, and there’s no other way to establish Gemini is listening. Updated Galaxy Health Hardcore updates for the Ultra2 Both smartwatches connect to the new Galaxy Health app, which brings Vitals stats, Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, and a completely new design. To emphasize the Galaxy Watch Ultra2’s hardcore credentials, Samsung has added a dedicated Trail Run mode, which tracks long-distance hikes. It shows detailed routes with elevation guidance, accepts GPX files, shows an estimated completion time, and alerts if you leave the route. An interesting addition to this is real-time hydration and nutrition alerts, which are based on environmental aspects, your route, body stats, and sweat levels. Later this year, Samsung will release a dedicated dive computer app with dive technology company Mares. The Watch Ultra2 has 10ATM water resistance and meets the EN13319 dive computer certification standard. Upgrade worthy? Or stick with what you’ve got The Galaxy Watch Ultra2’s comfort improvements alone make it worth considering if you already own a Galaxy Watch Ultra, but crucially, only if you’re already pushing the limits of its toughness. Design-wise, the Galaxy Watch 9 won’t be a big upgrade from the Galaxy Watch 8, but this may change when we understand how much better the performance and battery life is from the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite. Samsung has made a clear effort to keep its smartwatches fresh and relevant, with welcome comfort and performance upgrades, without dismissing its signature new design style. What were already good smartwatches have been made better, and we’re keen to put the new processing power to the test. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch 9 price and availability The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is available for pre-order from July 22 and costs $700. This is a $50 increase over the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is also available to pre-order from July 22. The standard 40mm version starts at $380 and the LTE model is $430. The 44mm standard version starts at $410, and the LTE model is $460. These represent a $30 increase over the Galaxy Watch 8's prices.