Samsung unveiled Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2: for the first time with Snapdragon, a giant battery, and a brutal display

Foldables were the main draw of today’s Galaxy Unpacked, but wrists also got their moment on stage in London. Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9 in two sizes and the outdoor Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 – and although at first glance they look like last year’s models after a cosmetic update, a small revolution has taken place inside. For the first time, the Koreans replaced their own Exynos chips with silicon from Qualcomm.

The end of Exynos on the wrist

Both models are powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite (SDW6100), which Qualcomm unveiled at MWC this year. It’s a 3nm penta-core chip that offers over 50% higher performance compared to the outgoing Exynos W1000 – if your Galaxy Watch ever froze mid-workout, this is a change you’ll actually notice. The chip is complemented by 2 GB RAM, with 32GB storage on the Watch 9, and the Ultra 2 getting a full 64 GB. Connectivity includes Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and especially dual-frequency GPS L1+L5 for more accurate route tracking. The watches run on Wear OS 7 with the One UI 9 Watch overlay.

Watch 9: familiar casing, new heart

The basic model continues the cushion-shaped “squircle” design that divided fans into two camps last year – but Samsung evidently considers it the new standard for the series. The aluminum case with 5 ATM and IP68 resistance comes in 40 and 44 mm sizes with 1.34″ and 1.47″ displays under sapphire glass with brightness up to 3,000 nits. Batteries have improved to 390 and 445 mAh, respectively. Among the health features, we highlight sleep apnea detection, which has received FDA certification, a Healthy Heart overview for cardiovascular fitness, a Fitness Index with daily goals, and long-term hearing protection with excessive noise alerts. The smaller version is sold in graphite and cream colors, the larger in graphite and silver. The sad news for lovers of the rotating bezel is the end of the Classic version – it’s not happening this year.

Watch Ultra 2: thinner titanium and three-day battery life

However, the main stars are the second Ultra models, available in a single 47mm size with LTE. The titanium case is 12% thinner than the first generation, yet it houses an 800 mAh battery – 35% larger than the previous 590 mAh. The 1.52″ display under sapphire glass also saw an impressive leap, with its peak brightness soaring from 3,000 to 5,000 nits; maps and training data will thus remain legible even in direct sunlight. Durability is underscored by IP69K, 10 ATM certifications, and the EN13319 diving standard – the watch automatically measures depth, time, and water temperature after submersion, and a full-fledged Diving app, developed with diving equipment specialist Mares, will arrive later this year. Landlubbers will appreciate the new Trail Running exercise with elevation monitoring and the Nutrition feature, which advises when and how much to drink based on estimated fluid loss.

How much you’ll pay for the new watches

Galaxy Watch 9 start at 9,999 CZK for the 40mm Bluetooth version, while the largest 44mm LTE variant costs 11,999 CZK. The top-tier Watch Ultra 2 will cost 18,499 CZK. Additionally, Samsung is enticing buyers with a cashback for a review during pre-sale – 2,000 CZK for Watch 9 and 3,000 CZK for Ultra 2 – which effectively reduces prices to 7,999 CZK and 15,499 CZK, respectively. There’s also a 10% discount on a second wearable product, a 30% discount on accessories including straps, and with the watches, you get 60 days of the Strava app for free. Pre-orders are open from today, and both new products are set to go on sale on August 7th.

Will Snapdragon on your wrist convince you to upgrade, or are your current Galaxy Watch sufficient?

Source: Samsung