With less than a week to go until Samsung’s next Unpacked event, we’re getting a clearer picture of what’s next for the company. Galaxy Watches it may look like. Official-looking images of the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 have surfaced alongside Samsung’s upcoming foldable lineup.
First reported by Android Headlines, the latest leak does not reveal any new hardware specifications, but suggests that Samsung is taking an iterative approach rather than introducing a dramatic redesign. The Galaxy Watch 9 appears to retain its round display inside Samsung’s squircle-shaped case, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 sticks with the rugged aesthetic introduced on the original Ultra. The images also show both watches side by side, suggesting a noticeable difference in display size between the two models.
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If the rumors are accurate, the biggest change this year (and arguably the most welcome) could be battery life. According to a report from SamMobile, which was later highlighted by 9to5Google, the rugged Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may get a bigger new battery. If true, the rumored 800-mAh battery would be huge for the Wear OS ecosystem and could push battery life past the nearly two-day range occupied by the current Ultra.
As wearables increasingly move toward holistic health tracking that requires nightly monitoring for recovery metrics and deep health insights, companies like Google again Whoop they chose a screenless wearable that prioritized battery life over functionality. The Ultra 2 may represent a middle ground, combining multi-day endurance with the broad functionality of a traditional smartwatch.
Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 design: same old
Last year, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 released a somewhat controversial redesign, making the return of the Galaxy Watch Classic and its visible rotating bezel more welcome. This year, a new Classic model seems unlikely, although some redesign is not entirely out of the question.
The rugged Ultra, which debuted in 2024, received minor updates in the last cycle, including expanded storage (up to 64GB) and a new color option, but otherwise remained unchanged.
That means that both the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are likely due to a design refresh in response to criticism of the current lineup.
The next Galaxy Watch Ultra may use the rotating bezel from the old one.
At 47mm, the Ultra already pushes the limits of real estate on the wrist (most other smartwatches are 40mm to 44mm, and even large sports watches don’t exceed 47mm), but a borrowed rotating bezel (from the Classic line) would be an interesting addition. Whether that feature makes sense for a rugged, travel-focused smartwatch is another question. And based on the latest leaks, that bezel might stay put this time.
Battery and processor bumpers for both models
Battery increases are expected from one generation to the next, but a recent report suggests that Samsung may be planning something much bigger than repeated collisions.
According to SamMobile, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will reportedly use a battery with a limited capacity of 784 mAh, which may be marketed as 800 mAh. That’s a 30% increase over the 590-mAh battery found in the current Galaxy Watch Ultra, which is already the longest-lasting model in Samsung’s smartwatch lineup at nearly two and a half days of real-world use. It will be significantly larger than the battery in the Google Pixel Watch and larger than the current Wear OS battery leader, OnePlus Watch 3.
The original Galaxy Watch Ultra (below) pictured next to the Galaxy Watch 7 (above) took about two and a half days to charge.
Combined with the rumored Snapdragon Wear Elite processor and its expected performance benefits, the larger battery could push Samsung’s flagship smartwatch closer to the three-day mark, or even beyond if battery-saving features are enabled. Not really Garmin place, but possibly enough to put Samsung at the top of the Wear OS battery conversation.
The same report also says that the smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 will get a battery boost of its own, going up to an estimated capacity of 382 mAh from 325 mAh.
It opens up new health metrics
The Ultra 2 may also bring a new processor and improved sensors that focus on deeper health tracking. Last year’s most notable addition was Samsung’s Antioxidant Index, which can detect nutrient-related markers by using the skin’s surface area. This year, Samsung could delve even deeper into nutrition and fitness tracking, with comprehensive health data and possibly an upgrade to non-invasive glucose testing — one of the long-term holy grails of wearable health technology.
More AI and less reliance on your phone
Samsung also appears to be laying the groundwork for AI-powered health data. The company recently previewed a few new features of Samsung Healthincluding Vitals, Heart Health Score, Daily Cardio Load and Fitness Index — all designed to help people better understand long-term trends in their health and fitness data.
While these features aren’t directly tied to the Galaxy Watch 9 or Ultra 2, they do suggest that Samsung is looking toward a future where its watches do more than collect biometric data. Instead, they will continuously analyze that information and provide personalized recommendations for recovery, cardiovascular health, training intensity and overall health.
Improved processing power may also unlock more on-device AI capabilities, allowing future Galaxy watches to deliver real-time training and health guidance without relying heavily on a connected smartphone — according to the current active trainer on the Galaxy Watch 8.
AI health coaches are coming to wearables and could feature prominently in the next Galaxy Watch.
Satellite connectivity is another possibility (at least for the Ultra 2), following similar additions to the Apple Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch 4.
This is all still speculation at this point, but it’s exciting to see the next Galaxy Watch lineup starting to take shape as more pieces of the puzzle fall into place.
Where is Galaxy Ring 2?
One notable absence from Samsung’s 2026 wearable discussion: the Galaxy Ring. The original was launched in the summer of 2024 at the height of the smart ring hype, but Samsung has yet to reveal a successor. At this stage of the game, nothing has come out (via leaks or rumors) to point to the Galaxy Ring 2 in this round. Whether this reflects widespread smart ring skepticism or a temporary prioritization of smartwatches remains to be seen. At the moment, Samsung seems to have only two watch launches for its 2026 wearable line: Watch 9 and Ultra 2.
All of this is still based on leaking and showing the original factory; nothing confirmed by Samsung. But the pieces are starting to fall into place.
Watch this: Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Classic vs. Ultra: Which Should You Buy?
