Samsung’s latest smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2, are betting big on battery life. The Ultra 2, which now costs $699.99 (up from $599.99), features an 800mAh battery, a 35% improvement over previous models. Surprisingly, despite the larger battery, the ultra watch has become slimmer by 12%. The new chips and display improvements might have you reaching for your wallet deeper.
The Galaxy Watch 9 costs $379.99 (up from $349.99), with similar changes. Both watches now run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite, likely to boost performance and power efficiency. Health metrics get an upgrade too, including a new Fitness Index that compares your fitness against other users.
While the tech is impressive, the price hikes might be a turn-off for budget-conscious consumers. Samsung’s gradual increase in prices over time suggests they believe their premium offering justifies extra cost—though geopolitical factors may also play a role this year. Whether these smartwatches will continue to dominate the market remains to be seen.
