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Samsung’s summer Unpacked event is coming into view, and the wearables picture is getting clearer by the week. Leaks and GSMA database entries confirm what most observers had already assumed: The Galaxy Watch 9 and a true successor to the Ultra are both on the way, likely landing in late July or early August alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8.
But what’s becoming more interesting than their anticipated arrival is the rumored gap between them: a standard watch designed for everyday wear and biometric reliability on one side, and a flagship chasing 5G, possible glucose monitoring and four-day battery life on the other.
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. And based on recent leaks, that timeline is looking increasingly credible. Firmware for the Galaxy Watch 9 has reportedly been spotted on a US test server by Mohammed Khatri (as mentioned in Phone Arena), suggesting Samsung has moved from development into active testing and signaling that the rumored July launch window is on track.
The rugged smartwatch, which debuted in summer 2024, received a few updates in the last cycle, such as larger storage (up to 64GB) and a new color, but otherwise remained the same.
This year’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to stick with a similar design and focus on performance upgrades. At 47mm, it already pushes the limits of wrist real estate, though a rotating bezel (like the one on the Galaxy Watch Classic) could be in play for the rugged smartwatch.
The next Galaxy Watch Ultra could adopt the rotating bezel from the Classic.
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 detect 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 be showing progress.
Improved connectivity
Samsung could also take a page from the Apple Watch Ultra playbook by adding 5G connectivity to its Ultra lineup this year. A new report from Dutch site Galaxy Club (via SamMobile) suggests Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers pointing to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi versions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra. In this scenario, the 5G models would launch in the US and Korea, while other markets would get 4G and Wi-Fi options only.
The original Galaxy Watch Ultra is due for an upgrade in 2026.
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.
This year, the Ultra 2 is expected to get a significant processor upgrade in the form of the Snapdragon Wear Elite, a new wearables-focused chip Qualcomm officially announced at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. An insider report cited in SamMobile suggests at least one of Samsung’s new smartwatches could include the new processor. Built specifically to handle AI tasks on-device, it could mean faster, smarter health coaching that doesn’t need to ping a server to think. Though the standard Galaxy Watch 9 may still use an Exynos chipset like its predecessor, which could mean significant performance and efficiency differences between the two models.
The Ultra 2 is also rumored to be adding 5G connectivity, which would make it the first of Samsung’s smartwatches with this capability. If it follows industry norms, a 5G model would likely come at a higher price than the standard LTE and Wi-Fi versions. According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Rumors also point to a possible dual-chip architecture on the Ultra 2, separating 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 the Ultra 2 closer to the multi-day endurance of competitors such as the Huawei Watch 5 and the OnePlus Watch 3.
AI health coaches are popping up in wearables and could become more prominent on the next Galaxy Watch.
More AI and less reliance on the phone
Improved processing power could also unlock more on-device AI features, especially as health coaching and AI-powered insights continue to evolve in wearables. Satellite connectivity is another possibility, following similar additions on the Apple Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch.
Where’s the Galaxy Ring 2?
One notable absence from the 2026 Samsung wearable conversation: the Galaxy Ring. The original launched in summer 2024 at the height of smart ring hype, but Samsung has yet to hint at a successor. At this stage in the game, nothing has surfaced (in terms of leaks or rumors) pointing to a Galaxy Ring 2 this cycle. Whether this signals a broader smart ring hesitation or just a temporary prioritization of smartwatches remains to be seen. For now, Samsung appears to have just the two-tier watch launch for its 2026 wearable line-up: the Watch 9 and Ultra 2.
All of this is still based on leaks and early industry signals and none of it has been 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?
