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Samsung has a new Apple Watch Ultra 3 rival in development, and it could arrive next year

Samsung’s next rugged smartwatch aims to push past the first Galaxy Watch Ultra with bigger upgrades and bold Apple Watch competition.

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The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra's case and screen.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

What’s happened? The Korean tech giant Samsung is working on a successor to the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which could arrive as soon as 2026.

  • According to a GalaxyClub report, Samsung is working on a new smartwatch codenamed “Galaxy Watch 9 Ultra.”
  • This could be the successor to the company’s original rugged smartwatch, which could market it as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.
  • The smartwatch is expected to launch around 2026, possibly with next year’s foldables.

Why is this important? While information about the purported Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 remains scarce, the smartwatch should build upon the strong foundation laid by the original Watch Ultra.

  • If the smartwatch arrives in the market in July or August 2026, it will compete directly with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
  • It will feature the classic features such as a larger screen, a big battery, a premium titanium build, and cellular connectivity.
  • However, we could expect Samsung to upgrade the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (and the Galaxy Watch 9 models) with a new and more efficient chipset.
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Why should I care? If you’re interested in a rugged smartwatch that ticks all the boxes but don’t need it immediately, waiting for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could make sense. If you already own a smartwatch, the Ultra 2 might blur the lines between a watch and a standalone device with plenty of storage, performance, power, and battery life. The new smartwatch could also debut with a new version of Wear OS that adds new features.

OK, what’s next? Since we’re still a few months away from the expected launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in July or August 2026, expect more details about the smartwatch to surface online in the coming months. Meanwhile, Samsung is also gearing up to launch its Galaxy S26 in January 2026, which could contain three models: Galaxy S26, Galaxy S26 Plus, and Galaxy S26 Ultra.

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