Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9: It's an easy choice

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Living up to its nameThe Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has all the upgrades you want in 2026. It has a bigger battery, brighter AMOLED, faster internals, and it is somehow thinner than its predecessor. The 47mm case is on the bigger end of the scale, but it is made out of titanium, and looks exquisite. If you're ready to switch to a bigger smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the obvious choice. A great all-rounderThe Galaxy Watch 9 isn't too different to what we got last year, but the biggest positive is that it uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite platform as the Ultra 2. You get a slightly bigger battery, and while the overall design hasn't changed — it's still available in 44mm and 40mm variants — it is just as thin and light as the Galaxy Watch 8. Samsung is instead focusing heavily on the software, rolling out a new health dashboard and fitness metrics — which you get on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as well. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9: Pricing and availability (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 at a launch event in London on June 22, 2026. Both smartwatches are now on pre-order globally, with sales starting shortly.Like previous years, Samsung has two models of the Galaxy Watch 9: 40mm and 40mm. The 40mm model with Bluetooth costs $379, and if you need LTE, you'll need to pay $429. The 44mm Bluetooth variant is $409, and the LTE model is $459. There's a modest increase from last year, but the Galaxy Watch 9 is still an affordable choice.The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, on the other hand, retails for $699, a $50 increase. You are getting an extensive feature-set, bigger battery, and titanium chassis, and that's reflected in the cost.Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9: Design and display (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)The Galaxy Watch 9 looks identical to its predecessor, and that's a good thing. You still get a smartwatch that looks great, and it's just as thin (8.6mm) and light (34g) as the Galaxy Watch 8.Samsung didn't change its choice of materials either, so you get an aluminum case with a plastic housing on the underside to accommodate the BioActive module. Like last year, the Galaxy Watch 9 is sold in 40mm and 44mm variants, and Samsung is even selling the same color models. There's no rotating bezel on either device, but you get side-mounted buttons.If you're looking to get a watch that looks different to last year, you'll need to pick up the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. It has a significantly thinner design that looks much better this time, and the 47mm case gives it a dominating presence that you just don't get with the 44mm Galaxy Watch 9. It's made out of titanium, and has better durability as well — 10ATM and IP69K versus 5ATM and IP68 of the Galaxy Watch 9. (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Coming to the display, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 gets a 1.52-inch AMOLED that goes up to a ridiculous 5,000 nits. The 44mm Galaxy Watch 9 has the same 1.47-inch panel as last year, and the 40mm model retains the 1.34-inch screen, with both going up to 3,000 nits. Outside of that, you don't see much of a difference between the two smartwatches.Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of AndroidSamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9: Features and specs (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)What's good to see is that both smartwatches use the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite. Ahead of launch, it was unclear if the Galaxy Watch 9 would come with last year's Exynos W100 instead of the new Qualcomm silicon, and Samsung did the right thing by using Qualcomm across the board.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategorySamsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2Samsung Galaxy Watch 9Display47mm: 1.52-inch AMOLED, 498x498, 5,000 nits max44mm: 1.47-inch AMOLED, 480x480, 3,000 nits max40mm: 1.34-inch AMOLED, 438x438, 3,000 nits maxOSWear OS 7 Powered by Samsung, One UI 9 WatchWear OS 7 Powered by Samsung, One UI 9 WatchChipsetQualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, 3nmQualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite, 3nmMemory & Storage2GB/64GB2GB/32GBConnectivityBluetooth + LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, dual-band GPSBluetooth + LTE, Wi-Fi, NFC, dual-band GPSDurability10ATM, IP69K water resistance, MIL-STD-810H durability5ATM, IP68 water resistance, MIL-STD-810H durabilityBattery800mAh, 100% in 90 min (40% in 30 min)44mm : 445mAh, 100% in 90 min (45% in 30 min)40mm: 390mAh, 100% in 80 min (50% in 30 min)Dimensions47.4 x 47.1 x 10mm44mm: 46.0 x 43.7x 8.6mm40mm: 42.7 x 40.4x 8.6mmWeight61.5g44mm: 34.0g40mm: 31.5gColorsTitanium Silver, Titanium Gray44mm: Silver, Grey40mm: Cream, GreySensorsSamsung BioActive, SpO2, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyro, barometer, altimeterSamsung BioActive, SpO2, heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyro, barometer, altimeterWhile the hardware itself is exciting, Samsung turned its attention to the software this year, and both smartwatches have a ton of new health and fitness features. There's Energy Tracking, Sleep Apnea Detection, a new running-focused feature, and Vitals, a dashboard that gives you a broad overview of your vitals in one area.You also get a new Nutrition Alert feature alongside Trail Run that measures detailed elevation changes and climbing progress. And as for the software, both smartwatches run the latest Wear OS 7 with Samsung's One UI 9 Watch. Samsung does a great job with the software in general, and One UI 9 Watch has the best feature-set of any Android smartwatch.Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Galaxy Watch 9: Which should you buy? (Image credit: Derrek Lee / Android Central)Choosing between the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 is entirely down to what you need in a smartwatch. If you need a smaller watch that nails the basics and looks stylish, just get the Galaxy Watch 9. You're not missing out on the essentials, and this is a proven design that has worked really well for Samsung in the last two years.But if you want a bigger smartwatch that grabs attention, you should get the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Yes, it costs a lot more, but you also get a bigger screen that gets much brighter, much bigger battery that lasts nearly twice as long, better durability, and a titanium design that looks exquisite. If I had to choose a model between these two, I'm getting the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 anytime — it's much more exciting. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Living up to its nameSamsung outdid itself with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, delivering what is possibly one of the best smartwatches ever made. A great all-rounderThe Galaxy Watch 9 may not have as many upgrades as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, but it still nails the basics. You're getting a stylish smartwatch with standout software and health monitoring features, and it doesn't cost as much. Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central's Senior Editor overseeing mobile coverage. In his current role, he leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, networking products, and AV gear. He has been testing phones for over a decade, and has extensive experience in mobile hardware and the global semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.