Roadmap
Samsung Galaxy Watch
Updated June 18, 2026
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 arrives July 22 with the single biggest chipset change in Galaxy Watch history. Qualcomm publicly named Galaxy Watch 9 at MWC 2026 as a Snapdragon Wear Elite launch partner — dropping Samsung's in-house Exynos for the first time ever in the mainstream Watch line. The 3nm chip brings 5x CPU performance, 7x GPU, a dedicated Hexagon NPU for on-device AI, and 30% better efficiency. That chip shift is the headline.
The AI health story is already rolling out. On June 4, Samsung officially previewed four new health features: Vitals (overnight bio-signal deviation alerts against your true baseline), Daily Cardio Load (cardiovascular strain with optimal training targets), Fitness Index (health score vs. your peers), and Heart Health Score (activity, sleep, stress, and body composition combined). Samsung began rolling the Samsung Health app update out June 8. The features are confirmed. The watch that runs them best launches July 22.
The competitive picture is sharp. Galaxy Watch 9 announces at Unpacked six weeks before Apple reveals Series 12 in September. Samsung gets first-mover press at the most watched moment in smartwatch history. Galaxy Watch 9 ships with blood pressure monitoring already active where approved. Series 12 blood pressure status is unconfirmed until September.
Expected
July 2026
Announce date
Jul 22, 2026
Est. price
From $299 (est.)
Latest news
All in Tracker →Quick answers
When will Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 be released?
July 22, 2026. Samsung Unpacked is confirmed for July 22 in London alongside Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Pre-orders open the same day; retail availability typically follows within one to two weeks.
Samsung NewsroomWhat chip does Galaxy Watch 9 use?
Snapdragon Wear Elite — confirmed by Qualcomm at MWC 2026 by name. First time Samsung has put Qualcomm silicon in its mainstream Galaxy Watch lineup, replacing the in-house Exynos. The 3nm chip has a dedicated Hexagon NPU, 5x CPU performance, 7x GPU, and 30% better battery efficiency.
Smartwatch InsightDoes Galaxy Watch 9 work with iPhone?
No. Galaxy Watch 9 requires an Android phone — specifically a Samsung Galaxy phone for full feature access. If you use an iPhone, Galaxy Watch 9 is not compatible.
PhoneArenaBuy now or wait?
Galaxy Watch 8 owners: the Snapdragon chip is a meaningful efficiency jump, the four new AI health features are confirmed, and if satellite activates that is a new capability entirely. Worth upgrading if you are replacing annually.
Galaxy Watch 7 or older: upgrade. Biggest Watch chipset change in years, confirmed new health AI, and continued blood pressure monitoring on a device that has finally closed the performance gap with competitors.
Apple Watch Series 11 owners considering a switch: Galaxy Watch 9 requires Android. If you are on iPhone, this is not compatible.
Price
From $299
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Availability
Available now
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Chip
Exynos W1000
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Battery
Up to 40 hours (40mm)
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Blood pressure
Yes (where approved)
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Blood glucose
No
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AI assistant
Galaxy AI via Samsung Health
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Satellite
No
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Display
AMOLED, 2,000 nits
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Ecosystem
Android (Galaxy full features)
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Design
Squircle aluminium
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Connectivity
LTE + Wi-Fi
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Status
Available now
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Reported features
Snapdragon Wear Elite chip — confirmed by Qualcomm at MWC 2026, first non-Exynos Galaxy Watch
Qualcomm publicly named Galaxy Watch 9 at MWC 2026 as a Snapdragon Wear Elite commercial launch partner. Not a leak — a public announcement from the chip supplier. First time Samsung has put Qualcomm silicon in its mainstream Galaxy Watch lineup. The 3nm chip has a dedicated Hexagon NPU, 5x CPU performance, 7x GPU, and 30% better battery efficiency.
Vitals — overnight bio-signal deviation alerts against personal baseline
Samsung officially announced Vitals June 4, 2026. Each morning, Vitals analyzes five overnight bio-signals — heart rate, HRV, respiratory rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen — against your true resting baseline. Alerts only when it detects meaningful deviation. Helps identify illness or recovery needs without alert fatigue.
Daily Cardio Load — cardiovascular strain tracking with optimal training targets
Officially confirmed June 4, 2026. Measures accumulated cardiovascular strain, calculates your maximum training capacity, and recommends optimal training load and rest timing. Designed for athletes managing periodization without a dedicated coaching platform.
Fitness Index — overall health score benchmarked against peers
Officially confirmed June 4, 2026. Analyzes heart rate, VO2 max, and daily steps relative to your peer group — producing a health score with tailored content and personalized goals based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
Heart Health Score — combined cardiovascular metric replacing Vascular Load
Officially confirmed June 4, 2026. Combines activity data, sleep patterns, stress readings, and body composition into a single cardiovascular health number — replacing the previous Vascular Load metric.
NB-NTN satellite connectivity — chip-level capability, activation at launch TBC
Snapdragon Wear Elite includes NB-NTN satellite connectivity for emergency messaging. The hardware capability is present in the chip. Whether Samsung activates satellite on Watch 9 at launch or holds it for a later software update has not been confirmed.
Blood pressure monitoring — inherited from Watch 8, expected to improve
Galaxy Watch 8 already ships with blood pressure monitoring where regulatorily approved. Watch 9 inherits and is expected to improve this capability. Some sources report a move toward actual systolic/diastolic values rather than trend-only alerts.
UWB (Ultra-Wideband) — precise spatial tracking and digital key functionality
Firmware and database references point to UWB support on Watch 9, enabled by Snapdragon Wear Elite. Enables precise Find My Phone with directional guidance, digital car key functionality, and proximity-based unlocking. Galaxy Watch 8 did not have UWB.
Fainting prediction — Samsung confirmed testing on current hardware
Samsung confirmed it has been testing fainting prediction on current Galaxy Watch hardware, using HRV patterns to identify pre-syncope signals before a fainting episode. Watch 9 is the first watch in line after this confirmation.
Same squircle design as Galaxy Watch 7 and 8 — refinements possible
Samsung introduced the squircle form factor with Watch 7. Watch 8 kept it. Watch 9 expected to do the same. The Classic model with rotating physical bezel is not being released in 2026. New colours expected.
Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring — not confirmed for Watch 9, attributed to Ultra 2
Glucose monitoring is heavily speculated for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — the premium sibling launching the same day. It is not confirmed for standard Watch 9. If it ships anywhere in the 2026 Samsung lineup, it arrives on Ultra 2 first.
What the codenames mean
SM-L345UGalaxy Watch 9 model number — appeared in GSMA IMEI database February 2026 and Samsung Canada trade-in site May 2026Fresh 9Galaxy Watch 9 codename found in Wear OS software references alongside Wise 9 (Classic variant)Samsung Galaxy Watch coverage by iDevice
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