What to Know About samsung fans won’t like Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 designs
Detailed images have emerged for Samsung’s new smartwatch range, the Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2, and they look very familiar.
Samsung is expected to announce the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at its big Unpacked event next month, and there’s now no mystery concerning their design.
So-called “press images” of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 have been supplied by tipster OnLeaks via Android Headlines. And it looks… exactly like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8.
The issue is that Samsung wearable shipments are down 28% year on year, so this is a crucial launch for the brand. And yet it has responded by delivering more of the same.
Onleaks x Android Headlines
To be fair, smartwatch design generally moves at a glacial pace, and by those standards last year’s model represented a fairly radical refresh. That involved making Samsung’s standard watch look more like its premium Galaxy Watch Ultra, maintaining a circular display but ditching the round chassis in favour of more of a ‘squircle’ base.
That wasn’t a widely appreciated move, giving the perception that Samsung was ditching its own brand identity to move closer to Apple Watch design – but falling short.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 follows suit with the squircle. It seems the smaller 40mm option will come in Cream and Graphite colours, while the 44mm variant will come in Silver and Graphite.
Otherwise, the significant changes will all be on the inside, led by a rumoured switch to the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chip for a major AI boost.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Separate to this leak, the design for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has also leaked.
Tipster king Evan Blass (@evleaks) has sent out detailed renders of Samsung’s next high-end smartwatch. It looks – you guessed it – exactly like the first Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
That’s the same rugged squircle body and the same pronounced three-button arrangement on the right edge.
Evan Blass
According to rumours, the colours could to be the only significant change here, with Titanium Grey and Titanium Silver options likely to be offered in a single size.
Personally, I’m fine with this design, but I hope that Samsung addresses some key issues with the original Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. That includes iffy GPS accuracy, inconsistent battery life, and a lack of offline mapping support.
Again, we’re expecting the Snapdragon Wear Elite to make an appearance.
