Samsung Announces Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9

Samsung announced two new smartwatch models at its Unpacked event in London today, the $700 high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and the $380 Galaxy Watch9. Both models are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite platform and 2GB of memory, and they also run Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI 9 Watch interface.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is Samsung’s latest rugged model, and it’s only available in a 47 mm size. It offers an 800mAh battery with 35% more capacity than the original model, and Samsung said that it’s the first smartwatch with a display with peak brightness of 5,000 nits.

For extreme sports enthusiasts, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offers dedicated tracking modes for outdoor sports, and a new Diving app developed with diving equipment brand Mares will be available later this year. The new watch also introduces a Nutrition Alert, which builds on the existing Sweat Loss feature to provide real-time hydration guidance.

“Galaxy Watch Ultra2 retains its shock-resistant titanium casing to help ensure rugged durability, while also introducing enhanced comfort and stability for a broader, more diverse range of users,” Samsung said today. “Despite a significantly larger battery, Galaxy Watch Ultra2 achieves an innovative slimmer design that transitions seamlessly from rugged outdoor and sports activities to everyday lifestyle use.”

The new Galaxy Watch9, which starts at $380, will be available in two sizes, 40 mm and 44 mm. The batteries in the two models are slightly larger, and the displays are also brighter with a maximum of 3,000 nits.

Samsung highlighted today the “lightweight yet durable aluminum casing that preserves Galaxy Watch’s signature cushion silhouette, refined specifically for a closer, more natural fit on the wrist.” The company also promised “a massive boost in speed and efficiency” thanks to Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon Wear Elite platform.

On the software front, the Galaxy Watch9 introduces a new Heart Health score feature that monitors cardiovascular wellness throughout the day. Other features, such as Sleep Apnea, Vitals, Daily Cardio Load, and Fitness Index, are also available on older models.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 are available for pre-order in select markets starting today, July 22, with general availability starting Aug 7. The two models come with a Strava 60-day free trial and an iFIT 2-month free trial.