Samsung unveils Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 with advanced AI health tracking and diving capabilities

Samsung Redefines Its Smartwatches Lineup at Galaxy Unpacked

Samsung wearables took center stage at Galaxy Unpacked in London, where the company introduced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as its most capable health-focused devices yet 1

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. The launch marks a strategic departure from previous years, as Samsung eliminated the Classic variant entirely while delivering a genuine sequel to its Ultra model. Both smartwatches ship with Wear OS 7-based One UI 9 Watch and leverage Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite processors instead of Samsung's traditional Exynos chips, signaling a commitment to performance that users have long requested 4

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The Galaxy Watch 9 starts at $379.99 for Bluetooth models and $429.99 for LTE variants, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 commands a premium $699.99 price point 2

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. Pre-orders opened immediately in select global markets, with general availability following shortly after.

Galaxy Watch 9 Brings Everyday Health Management

The Galaxy Watch 9 adopts a refined approach to the squircle design introduced with the Watch 8, but Samsung achieved a 25% weight reduction in the aluminum body compared to its predecessor 1

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. Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes, the smartwatches feature Super AMOLED displays measuring 1.34 inches and 1.47 inches respectively, both delivering 3,000 nits peak brightness for outdoor visibility 4

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Battery improvements stand out as a key upgrade. The 40mm model received a 20% capacity boost, growing from 325mAh to 390mAh, while the 44mm variant packs 445mAh 1

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. The Snapdragon Wear Elite processor, built on a 3nm process with five cores, pairs with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage to handle demanding applications throughout the day 3

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The Galaxy Watch 9 ships with Samsung's new silicone Sports Band, though buyers can customize with premium options like the Misty Band or breathable Fabric Band 1

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. Connectivity includes LTE, Bluetooth 6.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, and dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5), while durability ratings span 5ATM, IP68, and MIL-STD-810H 4

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Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Pushes Boundaries with Extreme Performance

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 represents Samsung's most ambitious wearable yet, featuring an 800mAh battery that delivers 35% more capacity than the previous generation 3

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. Despite this massive power cell, Samsung reduced thickness to 10.7mm from last year's 12.1mm through component optimization and internal redesign 1

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. Users can expect up to 60 hours of operation with always-on display enabled, or 20 hours with continuous GPS tracking.

The 1.52-inch display breaks new ground with a 5,000 nits display brightness—the first smartwatch to achieve this level—ensuring readability even in harsh sunlight 2

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. The titanium frame returns but with improved ergonomics, while the band incorporates a new air pocket structure that reduces weight by 26% 3

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The Ultra 2 elevates water resistance to IP69K with 10ATM rating, enabling professional diving up to 300 feet 1

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. Samsung partnered with Mares to develop a dedicated diving mode that tracks depth, dive time, water temperature, and provides real-time ascent and descent rates along with safety decompression time 3

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. EN13319 certification for diving instruments validates its capabilities for underwater activities.

Trail Run, exclusive to the Ultra 2, delivers real-time elevation data, climbing progress, and cumulative ascent and descent distance for hikers and trail runners 3

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. Nutrition Alert now includes hydration guidance based on sweat loss relative to body weight, calculating recommended fluid intake during extended exercise sessions 2

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. The device ships with 64GB storage and Samsung's silicone Marine Band, with options for the PeakForm Band or fabric Trail Band.

AI Health Features Transform Wellness Monitoring

AI-powered health tracking capabilities define both devices, with Samsung integrating comprehensive monitoring through its updated Samsung Health app 3

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. The BioActive Sensor combines optical heart rate monitoring, electrical heart signal detection, and bioelectrical impedance analysis, supplemented by temperature, accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic, and ambient light sensors 4

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FDA-approved sleep apnea detection analyzes breathing disruptions per hour using AI algorithms, categorizing them into three levels 1

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. This builds on Samsung's world-first De Novo authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received in 2024 3

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The Heart Health Score consolidates activity level, sleep quality, body composition, and stress trends into a single metric representing cardiovascular condition 3

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. Fitness Index assesses whether current exercise volume matches fitness levels, helping establish personalized goals. Daily Cardio Load evaluates training balance and determines necessary recovery time after intensive workouts 4

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Vitals monitoring tracks heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen saturation to establish personalized baselines and identify meaningful health changes 3

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. Advanced health monitoring extends to hearing protection with alerts for dangerously loud noise levels.

Raise-to-talk functionality debuts on Samsung smartwatches, enabling users to activate Gemini AI by simply raising their wrist and speaking 1

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. This mirrors capabilities previously seen on competing devices and requires data connectivity, meaning non-LTE Galaxy Watch 9 owners need their phones nearby.

What This Means for Wearable Technology

Samsung's decision to adopt Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite across its lineup instead of Exynos chips suggests the company prioritizes performance consistency over in-house silicon. The 3nm process and five-core architecture should deliver the responsiveness users expect from premium wearables, with Samsung claiming 32% faster CPU performance on the Ultra 2 compared to last generation 1

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The emphasis on AI-driven health insights reflects broader industry trends toward predictive wellness rather than reactive tracking. By establishing personalized baselines and identifying deviations, these devices aim to catch potential health issues before they escalate. The FDA approval for sleep apnea detection adds medical credibility that positions Samsung's offerings as serious health tools rather than fitness accessories.

Buyers receive a 60-day Strava Premium trial and two-month iFIT trial in eligible markets 4

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. The devices support WPC-based fast wireless charging, though Samsung hasn't disclosed specific charging times.

Whether the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2's $699.99 price justifies its diving mode and extreme durability depends on user needs. For outdoor enthusiasts and athletes pushing limits in demanding environments, the combination of 800mAh battery, 5,000 nits brightness, and specialized tracking features makes a compelling case. The Galaxy Watch 9 targets everyday users seeking reliable health management without premium pricing, though its $379.99 starting point still positions it in the upper tier of smartwatches.