Samsung is expected to reveal the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at a late July event, and the leaks are stacking up fast.
Tipster Ice Universe posted on Weibo claiming the Ultra 2 screen hits 5,000 nits at peak brightness, a 66% jump over the original. That's relevant outdoors where watches are hardest to read. Samsung is reportedly using its on-cell film (OCF) technology, which fuses the touch layer directly onto the screen instead of adding it as a separate sheet, letting more light through while keeping the panel thinner. Screen size and resolution are expected to stay the same at 1.5 inches.
Leaked specs reported ahead of the expected launch put the battery at around 800mAh, up from 590mAh in the current model, a roughly 35% jump in capacity. The current Galaxy Watch Ultra gets about two days of normal use on a charge, so the Ultra 2 could push closer to three depending on what features Samsung ships. Charging speed reportedly stays at 10W.
Every previous Galaxy Watch has run Samsung's in-house Exynos chip. Samsung's next Galaxy Watch Ultra is expected to get Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear Elite, a newer, faster processor, confirmed on record by both Qualcomm and Samsung at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. It can run AI health models directly on the watch without needing a phone nearby. The standard Galaxy Watch 9 reportedly keeps the older Exynos chip. The Ultra 2 is also rumored to be Samsung's first watch with 5G, meaning it can make calls and pull data on its own even faster when your phone isn't around. Apple added 5G to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 last September.
Evan Blass's unconfirmed leaked press renders show what appears to be the same 47mm squircle shape with a cleaner bezel carrying 1–12 hour markings borrowed from the Galaxy Watch Classic design. The quick button appears as an orange outline rather than solid orange. The same tipster claims the Ultra 2 picks up an IP69K water resistance rating, a step up from the original's IP68. IP69K means the watch can take high-pressure, high-temperature water jets at close range, the kind of standard you see on industrial equipment.
No Galaxy Watch 9 Classic is coming. Both watches cleared US and Chinese regulatory certification on June 15 with no Classic model number appearing in either database. Devices only reach that stage when hardware is finished, so a July launch without a Classic filing means the rotating bezel line is done for 2026.
Ultra 2 bands will carry "Ultra" branding on their tips. The trail band returns in orange, black, green, and blue, and a new Marine-style band arrives in at least five colors for both watches. Pastel bands are Watch 9-only.
SamMobile reports the Ultra 2 could go on sale August 5 at around $699, a small bump from the current model's $649.