Anticipation is building for the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, which shouldn't be too far off. But there's also been talk of a new premium-level version of the smartwatch, possibly adopting Ultra branding (a bit like Samsung's top-end smartphones).
Below, we've collected all the leaks and rumors we've heard so far about a possible Galaxy Watch Ultra. It doesn't have a name yet – it could be a numbered Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, or it could be a Galaxy Watch 7 Pro that follows the naming convention of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
Whatever the smartwatch ends up being called, it'll be exciting to see what Samsung's working on, and when the Galaxy Watch Ultra arrives, it'll likely be released alongside a variety of other new Samsung products.
Get to the point
What is it? A premium Samsung smartwatch. When will it be released? Probably July 10th. How much will it cost? Likely over $400 / £400 / AU$670
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Release date and price predictions
We're looking forward to another Unpacked invite like this one (Image credit: Samsung)
There have been not one but two reports suggesting that the next Samsung Unpacked event will take place on July 10. While there's still no official announcement, there seems to be a lot of speculation going on about the specific date on the calendar.
If you are curious to know what the Samsung Unpacked event will be like, check out our Unpacked January 2024 live blog to see what it will entail: Several devices are expected to make an appearance at the same showcase, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, Samsung Galaxy Buds 3, and Galaxy Ring.
This date makes sense because the Samsung Unpacked event took place on July 26, 2023, when the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 was first announced. Samsung is typically consistent with its product release cycle, which increases our confidence that the Galaxy Watch Ultra will arrive on July 10.
In terms of price, this looks set to be Samsung's most expensive smartwatch ever – considering the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic's current starting price is $399.99 / £399 / AU$669, it's likely to be higher than that, and will probably be closer to the Apple Watch Ultra 2's starting price of $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Leaks and Rumors
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (Image courtesy of Samsung)
While there haven't been any major leaks about the Galaxy Watch Ultra yet that reveal absolutely everything about the device, there are plenty of tantalizing tidbits. In fact, rumors about additional Galaxy Watch 7 models have been swirling for the past few months.
For a while, most of the leaks had been using the name Galaxy Watch 7 Pro (including this tidbit about increased battery capacity), but it now seems more likely that the new wearable will actually be called the Galaxy Watch Ultra (and not the Galaxy Watch X, as one leak suggested).
Other rumors have only hinted that an Ultra model is indeed on the way, without revealing anything about it other than the name. There have been some indications that a few smartwatches are on the way, including the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and possibly the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE.
We've seen some unofficial renders of the watch (leaked images using the name Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra), which suggest that Samsung couldn't decide between a square or round design, ultimately opting for something in between, with a rotating bezel, just like the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
Apparently they couldn't decide whether to go square or round, so… Check out these stunning 5K renders of the #Samsung #GalaxyWatch7Ultra revealed for the first time today! On behalf of @Smartprix 👉🏻 https://t.co/SPHPEW9TCd pic.twitter.com/Lo8aMDQV7RMay 24, 2024
The renders show additional never-before-seen buttons and a reconfigured sensor compared to the current model, though it's not clear how many of these changes will also make it to the standard Galaxy Watch 7.
Another rumor we've heard suggests that the Galaxy Watch Ultra will be the first Samsung smartwatch to feature a micro-LED display (current models use OLED), which could make the device slimmer or create room for a bigger battery.
Don't forget about software updates: The Galaxy Watch Ultra will likely arrive with Wear OS 5, or at least soon after launch. New versions of Wear OS have debuted on the Samsung Galaxy Watch in the past.
Samsung hasn't said anything official about a possible Galaxy Watch Ultra, but it's not silent either: One of the company's official press releases mentioned that a “premium” smartwatch was on the way. Whether that means the regular Galaxy Watch 7 or an Ultra model remains to be seen.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: What to expect
The Galaxy Watch Ultra will compete against the Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Image credit: Future)
It's probably too late for the manufacturer to take our advice now, as we're well past the stage where Samsung could make changes to the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, but we'd like to list some of the features we'd like to see in the wearable.
1. Ultra-long battery life
One reason you might want to spend more on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 instead of the Apple Watch 9 is the much longer battery life: 18 hours of typical use vs. 36 hours for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. While battery life remains a challenge for smartwatch makers, we expect the Galaxy Watch Ultra to last for days without a charge, making it perfect for outdoor adventures.
2. Rugged appearance
Speaking of outdoor adventures, if the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is to compete with the best Garmin watches on the market, it needs to be built well. We're thinking premium materials, enhanced water and dust resistance, and so on. A smartwatch you can take anywhere, but also one that wouldn't look out of place paired with smart clothes to a dinner party.
3. Advanced Features
When we look at the best smartwatches you can buy today, we see that they're pushing the boundaries of what's possible for a wearable device. We know Samsung is ambitious when it comes to developing health features like blood pressure and glucose monitoring. While those upgrades are probably still a few years away, we're hoping the Galaxy Watch Ultra will come with features that push smartwatches forward.
4. AI – but use it wisely
Samsung has openly stated that it plans to bring an AI upgrade to its next smartwatch, and as long as it's used appropriately and doesn't become so pervasive that it becomes a nuisance, that's fine by us.
Especially in smartwatches, AI should be used sparingly and helpfully — for example, to extract insights from reams of tracking data or to identify the most important notifications to push to your wrist.
5. Reasonable prices
If Samsung does indeed release the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it must be hoping that there are users willing to pay more for a more capable smartwatch, but let's just hope that the device doesn't come with a price tag that's too high: Once you reach the level of Samsung's top-end smartphones in terms of price, it doesn't make much sense to invest in a smartwatch.