Samsung has a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 rival in development, and it could arrive next year
Samsung’s next rugged smartwatch aims to push past the first Galaxy Watch Ultra with bigger upgrades and bold Apple Watch competition.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
What’s happened? The Korean tech giant Samsung is working on a successor to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which could arrive as soon as 2026.
- According to a GalaxyClub report, Samsung is working on a new smartwatch codenamed “Galaxy Watch 9 Ultra.”
- This could be the successor to the company’s original rugged smartwatch, which could market it as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
- The smartwatch is expected to launch around 2026, possibly with next year’s foldables.
Why is this important? While information about the purported Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 remains scarce, the smartwatch should build upon the strong foundation laid by the original Watch Ultra.
- If the smartwatch arrives in the market in July or August 2026, it will compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
- It will feature the classic features such as a larger screen, a big battery, a premium titanium build, and cellular connectivity.
- However, we could expect Samsung to upgrade the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (and the Galaxy Watch 9 models) with a new and more efficient chipset.
Why should I care? If you’re interested in a rugged smartwatch that ticks all the boxes but don’t need it immediately, waiting for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could make sense. If you already own a smartwatch, the Ultra 2 might blur the lines between a watch and a standalone device with plenty of storage, performance, power, and battery life. The new smartwatch could also debut with a new version of Wear OS that adds new features.
OK, what’s next? Since we’re still a few months away from the expected launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in July or August 2026, expect more details about the smartwatch to surface online in the coming months. Meanwhile, Samsung is also gearing up to launch its Galaxy S26 in January 2026, which could contain three models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.
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What’s happened? The US International Trade Commission has opened a new review that could again block imports of updated Apple Watch models into the country. On the same day, a California jury ordered Apple to pay Masimo $634 million over blood oxygen tech in the watch.
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What’s happened? Samsung’s next premium earbuds have leaked again, and this time we’re getting more than a fuzzy render. New One UI 8.5 setup animations show the Galaxy Buds 4 Pro with fresh hardware and a new way to control them.
Android Authority obtained the animations, which highlight a “Head Gestures” feature that lets the buds respond to simple movements, plus a flatter stem and redesigned charging case.
