Summer is coming to a close and so is a new batch of Samsung Galaxy products. Leaks point to duplicity smart watch Debut: Galaxy Watch 9 and what looks to be the true successor to the Ultra. But if you were hoping for a Galaxy Ring 2, don’t hold your breath.
Last year, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 introduced a slightly controversial redesign, which makes the return of the Galaxy Watch Classic and its physical rotating bezel all the more satisfying. This year, a new Classic model seems unlikely (although another redesign isn’t entirely off the table). But there may be another headliner ready to steal the attention from the flagship once again.
a report from GalaxyClub cited by Android Authority There are suggestions that Samsung could launch a new Galaxy Watch Ultra alongside the Galaxy Watch 9, possibly in summer 2026. And based on recent leaks, that timeline is looking increasingly credible. The firmware for the Galaxy Watch 9 has reportedly been done spotted By Mohammad Khatri on US test server (as mentioned). phone arena), suggesting that Samsung has moved from development to active testing and indicating that the rumored July launch window is on track.
The Rugged smartwatch, which debuted in summer 2024, received a few updates 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 the same design and focus on performance upgrades. At 47mm, it already pushes the limits of wrist real estate, though a rotating bezel (like the Galaxy Watch Classic) could come in handy for a sturdier smartwatch.
The next Galaxy Watch Ultra may adopt the rotating bezel from the Classic.
Unlocking new health metrics
More realistically, the Ultra 2 could bring a new processor and advanced sensors focused on deeper health tracking. Last year’s most notable contribution was Samsung’s Antioxidant Index, which can detect nutritional signals through the skin surface. This year, Samsung may delve deeper into skin-based detection with broader nutrition insights and potentially non-invasive glucose monitoring — one of the long-standing “holy grails” of wearable health tech that may finally show progress.
better connectivity
Samsung may 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 that Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers pointing towards 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi versions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra. In this scenario, the 5G models will launch in the US and Korea, while other markets will get only 4G and Wi-Fi options.
The original Galaxy Watch Ultra is scheduled to be upgraded in 2026.
Battery and processor
One of the biggest advantages of the original Ultra was battery life, which lasted about 2.5 days on a single 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. Citing an insider report sammobile There are suggestions that at least one new smartwatch from Samsung may include the new processor. Built specifically to handle AI tasks on device, this could mean faster, smarter health coaching that doesn’t need to ping a server to think. However the standard Galaxy Watch 9 may still use the Exynos chipset like its predecessor, which could mean significant performance and efficiency differences between the two models.
The Ultra 2 is also rumored to add 5G connectivity, making it Samsung’s first smartwatch with this capability. If it follows industry norms, the 5G model will come at a higher price than the standard LTE and Wi-Fi versions. according to Dutch website Galaxy Club (and viewed by sammobile), Samsung’s servers have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G, and Wi-Fi-enabled versions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Rumors also point to a possible dual-chip architecture on the Ultra 2, which separates high-performance tasks from low-power background processes, similar to what we’ve seen on the OnePlus Watch 3. If Samsung pulls this off, it could bring the Ultra 2 closer to the multi-day endurance of competitors like the Huawei Watch 5 and OnePlus Watch 3.
AI health coaches are surfacing in wearable devices and may become more prominent in the next Galaxy Watch.
More AI and less dependence on phones
Better processing power could also unlock more on-device AI features, especially as health coaching and AI-powered insights evolve into wearables. Satellite connectivity is another possibility, following similar additions on the Apple Watch Ultra and Pixel Watch.
Where is the Galaxy Ring 2?
One notable absence from the 2026 Samsung wearables conversation: the Galaxy Ring. The original was launched in the summer of 2024 at the peak of the smart ring hype, but Samsung has yet to hint at a successor. At this stage of the game, nothing has surfaced (in terms of leaks or rumors) pointing towards a Galaxy Ring 2 in this cycle. Whether this signals broader smart ring hesitancy or a temporary preference for smartwatches remains to be seen. For now, it appears that Samsung has only launched two tiered watches for its 2026 wearables line-up: the Watch 9 and the Ultra 2.
This is all still based on leaks and early industry hints and has not been confirmed by Samsung in any way. But the pieces are starting to fall into place.
Check this out: Galaxy Watch 8 vs. Classic vs. Ultra: Which One Should You Buy?
