With a surprise trifold unveiling in the books and a new flagship Galaxy phone on the horizon next month, rumors and hopes of a new Samsung Watch aren't too far behind.
Last year, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 8 debuted a slightly controversial redesign, making the return of the Galaxy Watch Classic and its physical rotating bezel all the more satisfying. This year, a new Classic model doesn't seem likely (though another redesign isn't completely off the table). But there may be another headliner ready to steal attention from the flagship once again.
A report from GalaxyClub cited by Android Authority suggests Samsung may launch a new Galaxy Watch Ultra alongside the Galaxy Watch 9, likely in the summer of 2026.
The rugged smartwatch, which debuted in summer 2024, got a few updates in the last cycle, like larger storage (up to 64GB) and a new color, but otherwise remained the same.
This year's version, likely to be called the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, may keep a similar design. At 47mm, the Ultra is already pushing the limits of wrist real estate. While a rotating bezel borrowed from the Classic line would be interesting, it feels like a tough sell for a rugged, adventure-focused watch.
The next Galaxy Watch Ultra could adopt the rotating bezel from the Classic. Vanessa Hand Orellana/CNET
Unlocking new health metrics
More realistically, the Ultra 2 could bring a new processor and upgraded sensors focused on deeper health tracking. Last year's most notable addition was Samsung's antioxidant index, which can pick up on nutrition-related signals through the skin's surface. This year, Samsung could go deeper into skin-based detection, with broader nutrition insights and potentially even noninvasive glucose monitoring -- one of the long-standing "holy grails" of wearable health tech that may finally start to show progress.
Battery and processor
One of the original Ultra's biggest advantages was battery life, which lasted roughly 2.5 days on a charge, compared to the 30 to 40 hours of the flagship Galaxy Watch 8. Both the Watch 9 and Ultra 2 are expected to get a brand-new processor, which could mean better efficiency, longer battery life, or possibly a dual-chip architecture that separates high-performance tasks from low-power background processes, similar to what we've seen on the OnePlus Watch 3. If Samsung pulls that off, it could bring its lineup closer to the multiday endurance seen on competitors like Huawei Watch 5 and OnePlus Watch 3.
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