Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: the latest news, rumors and what we want to see
Anticipation is building around the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which shouldn’t be too far away – but there’s also talk of a new premium version of the smartwatch, perhaps with Ultra branding (a bit like Samsung’s top version) . smartphones).
Below, we’ve rounded up all the leaks and rumors we’ve heard so far about a possible Galaxy Watch Ultra. We’re still not sure about the name: it could be the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra with the numbering included, or it could be the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro, keeping the naming conventions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Whatever the smartwatch will ultimately be called, we’re curious to see what Samsung has been working on. When the Galaxy Watch Ultra does release, it will most likely share its launch with a number of other new Samsung devices as well.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A premium smartwatch from Samsung
- When is it out? Probably July 10th
- How much is it? Can exceed $400 / £400 / AU$670
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: expected launch date and price
We’ve now had not one, but two messages stating that the next Samsung Unpacked event will take place on July 10. While nothing is official yet, there seems to be a lot of speculation surrounding that specific date on the calendar. .
If you’re wondering what Samsung Unpacked events will look like, check out our Unpacked January 2024 live blog for a taste of what to expect. Several devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and the Galaxy Ring, are expected to appear in the same showcase.
It’s a meaningful date because on July 26, 2023 there was a Samsung Unpacked event – when the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 first saw the light of day. Samsung tends to be consistent in its product release cycles, which gives us more confidence that the Galaxy Watch Ultra will indeed launch on July 10.
As for pricing, it sounds like this will be Samsung’s most expensive smartwatch yet. Bearing in mind that the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic currently starts at $399.99 / £399 / AU$669, it will likely be higher than that – perhaps closer to the Apple’s $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 starting price Watch Ultra 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Leaks and Rumors
There haven’t been any major Galaxy Watch Ultra leaks that have revealed the device in all its details, but there have been plenty of intriguing smaller tidbits. There are even rumors of additional Galaxy Watch 7 models floating around for months now.
Most leaks used the name Galaxy Watch 7 Pro – including this one about the increase in battery capacity – but it now seems more likely that the new wearable will actually be called the Galaxy Watch Ultra (and probably not the Galaxy Watch as one leak suggested).
Other rumors have simply indicated that it is an Ultra model is indeed on its way, without revealing anything about it other than the name. We’ve now seen some signs that several smartwatches, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra, are will appear soon – including the recently unveiled Samsung Watch FEa cheaper version of the current offering that aims to compete with the Apple Watch SE.
Another rumor we’ve come across suggests that the Galaxy Watch Ultra will be Samsung’s first smartwatch with a Micro LED display, an upgrade to the current models, which use OLED screens. That would make the device slimmer, or perhaps leave room for a larger battery.
Don’t forget the software updates: the Galaxy Watch Ultra will probably show up with Wear OS 5 on board, or at least very soon after launch. New versions of Wear OS have debuted on Samsung Galaxy Watches in the past.
A recent leak also highlighted the potential color scheme of an Ultra model. While the Galaxy Watch 7 will likely come in Marble Gray, Cream White, and Forest Green, it appears the Galaxy Watch Ultra will come in Titanium Gray “all business,” with no other options available.
So we may already know a lot about what it looks like, but on the internal data front, we’ve also seen leaked data. According to a tipsterthe Ultra offers 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which matches the Galaxy Watch 7.
Samsung hasn’t said anything official about a possible Galaxy Watch Ultra, but in one of the company’s official press releases: it was talked about “premium” smartwatches coming. Whether that’s the regular Galaxy Watch 7 or an Ultra model remains to be seen.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: what we want to see
We’re probably well past the stage where Samsung can make changes to the upcoming Galaxy Watch Ultra – so it’s too late for the manufacturer to take our advice now – but we’d still like to list a few features we’re hoping for in the wearable included.
1. Ultra-level battery life
One of the reasons you might want to spend a lot more on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 over the Apple Watch 9 is that it offers much better battery life: 36 hours of normal use compared to 18 hours. Battery life remains a challenge for smartwatch makers, but we hope the Galaxy Watch Ultra will last several days between charges, making it perfect for outdoor adventures.
2. Robust and beautiful appearance
Speaking of outdoor adventures, if the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is going to compete with the best Garmin watches on the market, it needs to be built right. We’re thinking of high-quality materials, improved water and dust resistance, etc. – the kind of smartwatch that you can take anywhere, but wouldn’t look out of place wearing with smart clothes to a dinner party.
3. Advanced functionality
When you look at the best smartwatches you can buy right now, they’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with a wearable device. We know Samsung is ambitious when it comes to developing health features like blood pressure and glucose monitoring – those upgrades are likely still a number of years away, but we’d like to see the Galaxy Watch Ultra come with some of the features that smartwatches help move forward.
4. AI – but use it well
Samsung has officially said that AI upgrades are headed to their next line of smartwatches, and we’re okay with that – as long as it’s used properly and isn’t so widespread that it gets in the way.
Especially on a smartwatch, AI should be used sparingly and usefully: for example, extracting insights from a mass of tracking data or identifying the most important notifications to push to your wrists.
5. A reasonable price
If Samsung really is launching a Galaxy Watch Ultra, then it must think there are users willing to pay more money for a capable smartwatch – but we hope the device doesn’t confirm too much of a premium price tag. Once you get to the level of the best Samsung phones in terms of price, it becomes less sensible to invest so much in a smartwatch.