Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra2 wants to be your dive buddy and your PT

In addition to its 2026 lineup of foldable phones, Samsung has also unveiled its new Galaxy Watch lineup, with improvements to the Watch Ultra and a new refresh with the Watch family.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9 landed alongside the Galaxy Z Fold8 series at its London Unpacked event.

Each watch is built for a distinct audience: The Ultra2 is built for people who want to push limits outdoors, while the Watch9 is aimed at anyone who just wants a comfortable everyday health companion.

Galaxy Watch Ultra2 keeps its titanium casing but gets an 800mAh battery, a 35 percent jump on the Watch Ultra, which is enough for up to 60 hours with the always-on display switched on.

Despite the bigger battery, Samsung says the watch is 12 percent thinner than the previous generation thanks to internal re-engineering, plus softer, lighter bands.

The display now hits 5,000 nits, which Samsung claims is the brightest a smartwatch screen has ever gone, useful when you're squinting at a trail map in direct sun.

The Ultra2 is also rated IP69K, 10ATM and EN13319 certified, meaning it's built to survive high-pressure cleaning jets as well as actual diving.

Once it hits water, it automatically starts tracking depth, dive time and water temperature.

For trail runners, a new Trail Run mode tracks elevation and terrain impact, while Nutrition Alert measures sweat loss against body weight to tell you when to hydrate.

Galaxy Watch9 takes the opposite approach, prioritising comfort over ruggedness. It uses a lighter aluminium casing built around Samsung's familiar cushion shape, designed to sit closer and more naturally on the wrist for genuine 24/7 wear.

It comes in two sizes: 40mm with a 390mAh battery, and 44mm with 445mAh, both rated for up to 30 hours with the always-on display active, alongside a 3,000-nit screen.

Both watches run on the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite platform and share the same suite of AI health features.

Vitals keeps an eye on your baseline while you sleep and flags anything unusual. Heart Health Score turns your cardiovascular data into a simple number with lifestyle tips attached. Daily Cardio Load tells you how hard you've trained and how long you need to recover, Fitness Index gives a broader read on your physical strength, and Hearing warns you when ambient noise levels get risky for your ears long term.

"Today we're launching two distinct wearable options, designed to help Australians meet their health and fitness goals, no matter what they are," said Kylie Mason, Head of Wearables, Mobile eXperience at Samsung Electronics Australia. "Whether you're looking to beat a personal best, or just stay active, the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 enable advanced, proactive health tracking to give Australians the tools they need for their journey."

Band choice also splits along the same lines. The Ultra2 ships with a purpose-built range including the breathable Marine Band, the dressier hybrid Peakform Band and the fabric Trail Band, while Watch9 owners can pick from the soft-touch Sports Band, two-tone Misty Band and breathable Fabric Band.

Both watches also come with a 60-day Strava trial and a two-month iFIT trial for anyone wanting to put the new hardware to work straight away.

Pricing and availability

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 has an RRP of $1299 for the 47mm model in Titanium Silver or Titanium Grey. The Galaxy Watch9 starts at $649 for the 40mm Bluetooth model, rising to $699 for 44mm Bluetooth, $749 for 40mm LTE and $799 for 44mm LTE.

Both watches are available for pre-order in Australia from July 23, with general availability landing August 14, through Samsung.com, Telstra, Optus and TPG (Vodafone), as well as select retail partners.

Pre-order buyers on Samsung.com can use the code TIME2SAVE for $100 off the Watch9 or $250 off the Watch Ultra2, while Telstra and TPG are both offering $200 off the Watch9 and $500 off the Watch Ultra2 with a pre-order.

Pre-ordering through participating retailers also nets a bonus gift card worth $100 for the Watch9 or $250 for the Watch Ultra2, all valid between July 23 and August 13.

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Nick Broughall

Nick Broughall is an award-winning technology journalist with 20+ years experience, previously Editor at Finder, Gizmodo and TechRadar. He founded BTTR Reviews and regularly contributes to News.com.au's Checkout section.