Samsung Electronics’ next-generation premium smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, has seen a flood of leaked marketing images and detailed specifications. The information emerged just three days before Galaxy Unpacked 2026, scheduled for July 22 (local time) in London, UK, previewing a significantly enhanced battery, improved performance, and a slimmer design compared to its predecessor.
According to materials released by IT tipster Evan Blass via his Substack newsletter, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 retains a square titanium case with a silicone strap design while reducing thickness by approximately 12% compared to the previous generation. Considering that the first-generation Galaxy Watch Ultra was relatively thick, the new model is expected to offer noticeably improved wearing comfort. Three buttons are arranged on the side, with the center button serving as a programmable quick button that users can customize for their preferred functions.
The most notable change is a substantial increase in battery capacity. Leaked materials indicate the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 packs an 800mAh battery. This represents an approximately 35-36% increase over the 590mAh battery found in the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024 and 2025 models), marking the first battery capacity upgrade since the Ultra lineup launched. Tech outlet Notebookcheck analyzed that “a capacity increase of this magnitude should translate into a meaningful improvement in real-world battery life, potentially lasting several days even with the always-on display (AOD) enabled.”
Display brightness is also significantly improved. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a circular OLED panel with a peak brightness of 5,000 nits, far brighter than the previous generation’s 3,000 nits. In terms of durability, the water and dust resistance rating has been upgraded from IP68 to IP69K, meaning the device can withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jet cleaning environments.
A major change is also anticipated in the chipset serving as the device’s brain. Samsung Electronics appears to have equipped the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with Qualcomm’s latest wearable chipset, the Snapdragon Wear Elite, instead of its own Exynos processor. Notebookcheck reported that “this chip, manufactured using TSMC’s 3-nanometer process, is the first Qualcomm wearable chip to feature dedicated on-device AI hardware (NPU),” adding that it “opens the door for AI-based smart replies and fitness coaching features running directly on the watch without a smartphone connection.” Leaked marketing images clearly display a “Powered by Snapdragon Wear Elite” badge over an exploded view of the product’s internals. This chipset transition is not limited to the Ultra model; it is expected to apply equally to the Galaxy Watch 9, which will be unveiled alongside it, suggesting the entire 2026 Samsung watch lineup will switch to Qualcomm chips.
In the leaked images, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 appears in two color options. One pairs a titanium case with an olive green band, while the other features an all-black design with an orange accent ring around the rotating bezel.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is scheduled for its official unveiling at Galaxy Unpacked in London on July 22. Beyond the smartwatch, the event will also see the debut of new foldable smartphones, smart glasses, and various other wearable devices.
At this Unpacked event, Samsung Electronics will introduce the premium foldable phone Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra for the first time, segmenting its lineup. The Z Fold8 Ultra aims to differentiate itself from the standard model with an 8-inch display featuring a 3:2 aspect ratio, a triple camera system including a 200-megapixel main sensor, and a large-capacity battery. The standard Galaxy Z Fold8 features a wider horizontal dimension compared to its predecessor, achieving an approximately 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded to enhance productivity for document work and video viewing. Both products will debut “Flex Titanium” display technology, which utilizes titanium alloy materials to reduce screen creasing and improve durability.
The devices will run the latest One UI 9 operating system, with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 serving as the application processor (AP). The Galaxy Z Flip8 is reportedly set to use a mix of Qualcomm chips and Samsung’s Exynos 2600 depending on the region.
A slight price increase is expected. Overseas, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra 256GB model is projected to be priced around $2,099, while the standard Z Fold8 256GB model may come in at approximately $1,899. In South Korea, the Ultra model’s launch price is expected to be around 2.6 million won (approximately $1,755).
Alongside these devices, Samsung Electronics will also unveil the Galaxy Glass, an Android-based smart glass developed in collaboration with Google. This AI device supports voice conversations with an AI assistant, real-time translation, navigation, and camera-based information search without requiring a smartphone. It features an everyday design created in partnership with global eyewear brands such as Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.
Samsung’s aggressive push to elevate its hardware competitiveness comes amid fierce pursuit from rivals. Market research firm Counterpoint Research forecasts that if Apple launches its first foldable phone this year, it could capture a 28% global market share in its debut year, rapidly closing in on Samsung. Additionally, with Meta currently commanding roughly 80% of the global smart glass market, industry watchers are keenly observing how the Samsung-Google partnership might reshape the competitive landscape. Samsung Electronics plans to solidify its market leadership through an AI ecosystem strategy spanning its foldable smartphones and wearable devices.