The new smartwatches pack in more features to better compete with Apple's respective Apple Watch models.
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Gizmodo may earn an affiliate commission..
The regular Galaxy Watch 9, which comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes, also has a 20% larger 390mAh battery compared to the Physical changes such as a 12% slimmer titanium case on the Ultra 2 may not be all that noticeable in day-to-day wear, unless you hate chunky smartwatches like I do. I really like its new silicone band for two reasons: it looks less like a blatant clone of the Apple Watch Ultra’s ribbed “Ocean” band, and it’s 25% lighter.
Samsung redesigned the bands on both the Ultra 2 and Watch 9 with air pockets to improve breathability. The numbered-hour marks on the Ultra 2’s dial are a nice touch that make it easier to read the time, too. You’ll find the main changes on the inside. Both the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Galaxy Watch 9 use the latest.
Samsung is throwing around stats like a 32% faster CPU, 19% faster GPU, and 15% efficiency, but all that really means is that the sensors monitoring your health and tracking your fitness should lag less. The screen on the Ultra 2 maxes out at 5,000 nits for better visibility outdoors.
I, of course, couldn’t test that in my brief indoor hands-on with the smartwatches. The Ultra 2 also has a higher IP69K rating than the IP68 rating on the original Ultra, which means it can withstand high-pressure and high-temperature water jets.
That IP69K rating on the Ultra 2 is important because the smartwatch is also a full-blown diving computer, like the, a renowned scuba-diving equipment manufacturer, Samsung says the Ultra 2 can provide accurate, real-time tracking underwater for metrics such as depth , dive time, and water temperature. Back on land, the Ultra 2 has “pro-level sport” for trail runs, tracking routes and elevation, according to Samsung.
The smartwatch even has the world’s first real-time hydration guidance, which sends an alert to the wearer to drink water, the company says. Samsung’s non-Ultra smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 9, has few physical changes year over year. It’s still got an aluminum case with a round screen nestled on top and a touch-sensitive bezel for navigating the wearable’s software. It’s slim and light but very iterative.
You won’t get any diving capabilities, but the Watch 9 shares the same Vitals tracking as the Ultra 2, which looks at metrics like your heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and respiratory rate to spot potential early health issues. There’s also a new Heart Health Score that helps make sense of your heart rate measurements, a Daily Cardio Load that advises runners on when to run harder and when to rest, and a Fitness Index that gives you an overview of your strength, body composition, cardio, flexibility, and endurance.
—raise-to-talk with Google Gemini. As I said in my Pixel Watch 4 review last fall, it’s handy when you need quick answers from Gemini and don’t want to pull out your phone, but the gesture’s accuracy only worked about 70% to 80% of the time for me. I’ll have to see how responsive it is on Samsung’s new smartwatches. If you’re looking for groundbreaking new features on Samsung’s latest smartwatches, you’re unlikely to be impressed.
That being said, these are likely to be the best smartwatches for Android users. There just isn’t that much competition. At the very least, they catch up to many of the features found on Apple’s various Apple Watch models. The Galaxy Ultra 2 costs $699.99 and comes in Titanium Gray and Titanium Silver.
The 40mm Galaxy Watch 9 costs $379.99 and $429.99 ; the larger 44mm model costs $409.99 and $459.99 . Both Samsung smartwatches are available for preorder starting today, with a release on Aug. 7. There are so many screens out there to watch things on, and not all of them have to take up tons of space in a dorm room.
Stay cool and enjoy the long, sunny days ahead with these gadgets to upgrade your life this summer and beyond. Follow along with the Gizmodo crew as we cover all the foldables and wearables Samsung announces at its summer 2026 Galaxy Unpacked event.
Please follow us on Google to support usUnited States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Galaxy Card Is Samsung’s Answer to the Apple CardDirectly added to your Samsung Wallet account, it’s yet another cash-back credit card, this time tailored for Samsung stans.
Read more »
Samsung unveils Galaxy credit card ahead of Galaxy UnpackedSamsung has unveiled the Galaxy Card, offering up to 5 percent cashback on eligible Samsung purchases ahead of its Galaxy Unpacked event.
Read more »
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2026: How to watchSamsung seems to have a lot in store.
Read more »
Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold 8 at Galaxy Unpacked EventSamsung has unveiled the new Galaxy Z Fold 8 at its Galaxy Unpacked event, marking a fresh start for the Fold line. The device features a squatter and wider profile, with a 5.5-inch 10:16 Dynamic AMOLED cover screen and a 7.6-inch canvas when unfolded.
Read more »