Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 prioritise battery life and health
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Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, with this year's refresh focused on shoring up the brand's traditional weak points of battery life and preventive health tracking, while both models also move away from Samsung's own Exynos chip. The update comes with a further price rise across the range, reflecting Samsung's push to compete more directly with Garmin and Apple in the premium wearables market.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 now costs $699.99 (up $50) and gains an 800mAh battery, a 35% increase on its predecessor, while the 47mm case is actually 12% thinner at 10.7mm, with a slimmer, softer strap too. It also features a brighter 5,000-nit display with thinner bezels, new trail-running navigation with downloadable GPX routes and hydration alerts, plus upgraded diving credentials including IP69K and 10 ATM ratings and a dedicated app from Mares due later this year. The standard Galaxy Watch 9, priced at $379.99 (up $30), is largely unchanged from last year's model, with the switch away from Exynos chips being its most notable update.
- Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 unveiled with bigger batteries, higher prices
- Ultra 2's 800mAh battery is 35% bigger, yet case is thinner
- Both watches drop Samsung's Exynos chip; Ultra 2 gets diving, trail features
More coverage
- Engadget — Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is both slimmer and tougher than its predecessor
- Engadget — A week with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Big, bright and sometimes helpful
- Engadget — Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 vs Galaxy Watch 8: What are the differences?
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Originally published by The Verge as “Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 bet big on battery”.