Samsung Galaxy Watch9 and Watch Ultra 2 leaks have me oddly conflicted
Another June, another wave of Samsung wearable leaks arriving right before Unpacked. The latest batch covers the Galaxy Watch9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and the picture forming around both feels familiar in ways that make me raise an eyebrow. I spend more time than most of you staring at the dull parts of spec sheets because, well, that’s part of my job. So the model codes in the freshest leak gave me plenty to chew on.
The full lineup, decoded from the model codes
The leaked list maps out two Watch Ultra 2 variants alongside a broader Galaxy Watch9 spread. Both Ultra 2 codes (SM-L715F) point to LTE-only versions in Titanium Gray and Titanium Silver, which tells me Samsung wants to keep its rugged flagship as a premium connected device. No Bluetooth-only Ultra shows up anywhere in the batch.
Over on the mainstream side, the Galaxy Watch9 splits into 40 mm and 44 mm sizes, each sold in Bluetooth and LTE flavors. Samsung gave the smaller 40 mm two softer shades in Cream and Graphite, while the 44 mm swaps Cream for a sportier Silver. Graphite carries across the whole range as the safe default for anyone who would rather not agonize over color.
Decode the codes and the logic clicks into place. Samsung uses an L prefix for watch hardware, with 340 and 345 assigned to the 40 mm, 350 and 355 to the 44 mm, and the trailing 5 flagging LTE. One model number is enough to map the entire grid.
A Snapdragon swap that might mean less than it sounds
At MWC in March, Samsung confirmed a jump from Exynos back to a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chip for the next-generation Galaxy Watch. On paper, a chip change after years of Exynos sounds like a proper leap forward. However, I’d pump the brakes a little.
The Exynos W1000 that powered the Watch7 and Watch8 already runs a fast prime core paired with four efficiency cores, and the new Snapdragon appears to share a similar layout. Big performance figures tend to compare the new silicon against ancient wearable chips rather than the part Samsung shipped last year. Qualcomm’s pitch leans hard on AI features running on your wrist, which interests me far less than smoother everyday navigation would.
Related: I use a Samsung S23—here’s what Galaxy S26 leaks say about upgrading
The squircle is staying, and I’ve made my peace with it
A round screen pressed into a squared-off body, with rounded corners of dead space framing the display. The design that divided opinion on the Watch8 looks set to return untouched on the Watch9, sensors and all. That’s a pity because plenty of long-time owners wanted a return to the circular look with a proper rotating bezel.
My own view has softened over time. The cushion shape gives the watch a distinct identity next to a sea of round rivals, and the flatter profile should rest more easily against the wrist than the older domed designs did. I still find the wasted corners around a circular panel awkward, and a full rectangular screen would use that footprint better.
Battery and GPS, the parts I care about most
Battery numbers are where I get fussy. Leaks point to a bigger battery on the Ultra 2, somewhere around a 30% bump, paired with the more efficient chip. A current Ultra clears just under three days for most people, so a confident push past that mark without limping along in a power-saving mode would finally justify the Ultra name for me.
GPS matters more to me than any AI gimmick. Dual-frequency tracking lets a watch pin your position with far less drift down a tree-lined street or a city canyon. Samsung’s positioning has wobbled in the past while rivals held a tighter line, so I’ll be watching whether the new generation tightens its tracking rather than chasing another health metric of dubious value.
Price, the missing Classic, and who should wait
Expect another price climb. With component costs rising on the back of a memory shortage, a $50 increase looks likely, which would push the Watch9 toward the $399 and $429 tags. Samsung still tends to undercut the Pixel Watch4, so the value story holds even after a bump.
No Classic appears in the leaks, which fits Samsung’s habit of alternating that model from year to year. Anyone holding out for the rotating bezel will probably wait for the Watch10 instead. The raised metal ring on the standard watch keeps teasing a twist it never delivers, and a year of patience remains the only route to the click I miss most.
And before you go, here’s my buying advice. Committed Android owners on an aging Watch4 or Watch5 should get the Watch9, because the chip and battery gains will feel noticeable after three or four years on old hardware. Current Watch8 owners can skip it without a shred of regret.
