Samsung often kicks off what I consult with as ‘Smartwatch Launch Season Palooza’, in late July, with the competitors — together with favorites from our greatest smartwatch checklist — following go well with within the weeks following.
If 2026 is something just like the previous a number of years, you’ll be able to most likely count on the brand new Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 — and presumably the Galaxy Watch Extremely 2 — to make a mid-summer look, possible adopted by the debut of a Google Pixel Watch 5 in late August and an Apple Watch Collection 12 in mid-September.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Worth and launch date predictions
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Whereas no official Samsung launch occasion has been introduced for summer season 2026, one will virtually definitely happen in July or early August. I count on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and perhaps the Extremely 2 to debut alongside the brand new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 handhelds.
Samsung upped the beginning value of final yr’s mannequin, the Galaxy Watch 8, to $349, for a rise of $50 versus the Galaxy Watch 7. This places it according to the beginning value of the Google Pixel Watch 4. Nonetheless, it is nonetheless $50 cheaper than the lowest-cost Apple Watch Collection 11.
For 2026, I do not anticipate any additional value will increase for the Galaxy Watch 9 collection. The Galaxy Watch Extremely 2, nonetheless, may find yourself costing a bit greater than 2024’s mannequin, which debuted at $649. Take into accout, the Apple Watch Extremely 3, its nearest competitor, begins at $799.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Attainable tech upgrades
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Whereas Google is rumored to be ditching Qualcomm chips for the next-gen Pixel Watch 5 in favor of an in-house designed Google Tensor chip, Samsung is allegedly doing the precise reverse.
The Galaxy Watch 8 collection makes use of Samsung’s Exynos W1000 chipset. Nonetheless, an insider report, first lined by SamMobile, claims that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Extremely 2 may as an alternative sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon Put on Elite chipset, which, in principle, may assist headier on-device AI duties — quite than handing them off to a paired cellphone — with higher energy effectivity than the prior era of Galaxy Watches.
There are additionally studies that the Galaxy Watch 9 and/or Extremely 2 may assist 5G connectivity. Apple shocked final yr by bringing 5G to your complete lineup of watches, together with the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3, so it appears believable that Samsung will observe go well with.
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One other insider report, this time from Smartprix, means that the onboard 3-in-1 BioActive well being sensor array will see some form of replace, which may end in higher accuracy for metrics like coronary heart price, monitoring sleep phases, and detecting power situations like sleep apnea and AFib.
What to learn subsequent
There have additionally been murmurs of non-invasive blood glucose monitoring — a smartwatch holy grail function — launching on the next-gen Galaxy Watch collection, however with little concrete proof to go by, I believe that the tech shouldn’t be fairly prepared for prime time.
Talking of wellness, count on AI to play a good greater function in deciphering your holistic information and making suggestions.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Design, show and battery rumors
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Samsung shifted the core Galaxy Watch collection over to its circle-ish-square case design format, first launched on 2024’s Galaxy Watch Extremely, and I do not count on the Galaxy Watch 9 or the Extremely 2 (if it exists) to look a lot completely different than their predecessors.
However what a few Galaxy Watch 9 Basic? I am upset to report, pricey reader, that as of writing, it would not seem {that a} clicky bezel-sporting variant of the Galaxy Watch 9 is within the playing cards, however, hey, I may very well be fallacious!
Most display brightness has been steadily growing over the previous a number of generations of Galaxy Watch, and whereas there’s an opportunity we’ll see the Galaxy Watch 9 prime out at 4,000 nits — a 1,000-nit improve over the prior era — I believe that any brightness will increase shall be unique to the Galaxy Watch Extremely 2. For reference, the current-gen Galaxy Watch Extremely additionally boasts 3,000 nits of max brightness.
Insiders recommend that battery capability, not less than for the bigger 44mm Galaxy Watch 9 mannequin, shall be about the identical because the 44mm Galaxy Watch 8, 435 mAh. Nonetheless, improved processing effectivity may make the newer mannequin just a little longer lasting than the previous-gen, which averages roughly 30 hours per cost (non Basic).
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9: Outlook
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Finally, the Galaxy Watch 9 will possible look identical to the Galaxy Watch 8, however an up to date processor may unlock new AI-powered options and holistic instruments. We additionally might even see a slight battery life improve, together with improved onboard health-tracking tech.
No leaks or studies trace at a Galaxy Watch 9 Basic mannequin, however a alternative to the tough-built, outsized Galaxy Watch Extremely is kind of doable. Just like the Galaxy Watch 9, an Extremely 2 will possible look just like its predecessor, however doubtlessly provide new, superior wellness, health, and AI options.
What doable new options or specs are you hoping for many when the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Extremely 2 debut? Let me know within the feedback beneath.
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