Samsung made waves in the smartwatch market with its Galaxy Watch Ultra, a rugged, premium device designed to compete directly with Apple’s Ultra lineup. After updating the model this year to include 64GB of storage and rebranding it as the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025), anticipation is already building for the next installment. Recent reports suggest that Samsung is actively developing a successor, likely to be named the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, which aims to take on the formidable Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Samsung’s Next Step: The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Reliable sources from Galaxy Club claim Samsung is working on a new smartwatch based on the Galaxy Watch 9 platform. Internally dubbed the "Galaxy Watch 9 Ultra," this new model is expected to hit the market in summer 2026, officially launching as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. This naming follows a pattern similar to the previous generation, where Samsung referred to the earlier flagship internally as the Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra.
The Battle Ahead: Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 3 alongside the iPhone 17 lineup in September, boasting a similar design with enhancements such as a larger display, improved viewing angles, and a significant battery life boost of up to 42 hours. Its fresh interface and polished performance make it a tough competitor, especially given the overlapping price points with Samsung’s Ultra series.
Who Are Rugged Smartwatches For?
These big, durable, and feature-packed smartwatches are not for everyone. Their larger size and weight cater predominantly to users who spend a lot of time outdoors or engage in intense fitness activities, where the extended battery life and rugged build are essential. While the long battery life appeals even to casual users, the bulky form factor often makes these watches better suited for more active lifestyles.
Personally, while I appreciate long-lasting battery life, the size and weight of these devices don’t match my everyday needs. As someone mostly indoors who prefers casual walks in the park, I find smaller smartwatches a better fit. Nonetheless, it’s exciting to see how Samsung will innovate with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
