TL;DR
Samsung has officially announced the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, but has discontinued the Classic model for the first time in the series' history. The new watches are defined by a suite of AI-powered health and productivity features, marking a strategic shift toward software differentiation over hardware iteration. The decision to drop the rotating bezel signals Samsung's bet that AI interactions will replace physical navigation.
What Happened
On Thursday, July 23, 2026, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at its Unpacked event, confirming the end of the Classic lineup that had featured the iconic rotating bezel since 2018. The company is betting heavily on AI-driven software—including real-time sleep apnea detection, generative workout coaching, and on-device large language model (LLM) integration—to drive upgrade demand in a market where year-over-year smartwatch sales have plateaued at roughly 120 million units globally.
Key Facts
- Samsung discontinued the Classic model for the first time, ending the rotating physical bezel that had been a signature differentiator since the Galaxy Watch Classic launched in 2021.
- The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a new titanium-grade casing and a sapphire crystal display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the original Ultra.
- Both watches run Wear OS 5.1 with Samsung's One UI Watch 6 skin, incorporating an on-device LLM that powers natural language commands and contextual health summaries without requiring a cloud connection.
- A new AI Sleep Apnea Detection feature received FDA clearance and can analyze breathing patterns during sleep using the existing bioelectrical impedance sensor, requiring no additional hardware.
- The Galaxy Watch 9 starts at $399 (40mm) and $429 (44mm), while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 starts at $699—a $50 increase over the previous Ultra model.
- Pre-orders begin July 23, 2026, with general availability on August 6, 2026, across 40 markets including the U.S., South Korea, and Germany.
- Battery life is rated at 60 hours (Watch 9) and 100 hours (Ultra 2) in typical use, with the Ultra 2 supporting 10W fast wireless charging that reaches 45% in 30 minutes.
Breaking It Down
The most consequential decision in this launch is not a spec bump—it is the death of the rotating bezel. Samsung had maintained the Classic model even as Apple and Google abandoned physical navigation in favor of touch and digital crowns. The bezel was a beloved tactile interface, particularly for fitness users with sweaty fingers and for older demographics who found touchscreens imprecise. By killing it, Samsung is explicitly betting that voice and gesture-based AI interactions will render physical controls obsolete within the next two product cycles.
According to Samsung's internal market research, only 18% of Galaxy Watch buyers in 2025 chose the Classic model, down from 34% in 2022—a decline that made the bezel's engineering costs increasingly hard to justify.
The AI features, while ambitious, arrive in a competitive landscape where Apple's watchOS 11 already offers FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection and Google's Pixel Watch 3 has generative fitness coaching. Samsung's on-device LLM is the genuine differentiator: it processes health queries like "What was my average heart rate during last night's REM sleep?" entirely on the watch, eliminating latency and privacy concerns that cloud-dependent assistants face. However, this comes with tradeoffs. The LLM consumes approximately 12% of the Exynos W1000's CPU budget during active use, which directly impacts the 60-hour battery claim—independent reviewers will need to verify whether that figure holds with AI features enabled.
The $50 price increase on the Ultra 2 is notable. Samsung is clearly positioning the Ultra as a premium tier that can absorb rising component costs—titanium and sapphire glass are expensive—while the Watch 9's $399 starting price matches the Apple Watch Series 10. This creates a clear three-tier strategy: the Galaxy Watch FE (budget, $249), the Watch 9 (mainstream), and the Ultra 2 (luxury/outdoor). The absence of a Classic means there is no longer a mid-cycle refresh option for users who want premium materials without the Ultra's bulk.
What Comes Next
- Review embargo lifts on July 28, 2026 — independent battery life tests with AI features enabled will be the critical data point. If the Watch 9 fails to hit 48 hours under real-world AI usage, expect significant backlash and a potential software patch before launch.
- August 6, 2026 — general availability begins. Early supply chain reports from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) indicate Samsung has pre-built 8 million units across both models, suggesting aggressive inventory positioning for the holiday quarter.
- September 2026 — Apple's expected launch of the Apple Watch Series 11 will directly compete. If Apple introduces its own on-device LLM, Samsung's AI advantage could evaporate within six weeks.
- Q4 2026 — Samsung's One UI Watch 7 beta is expected to begin, and leaked roadmaps suggest a potential Galaxy Watch Ring accessory that would offload biometric sensing from the watch, extending battery life. The Watch 9's new sensor array supports this architecture.
The Bigger Picture
This launch sits at the intersection of two major trends: AI-on-device architecture and the commoditization of health sensors. Samsung's on-device LLM mirrors the broader industry shift toward edge AI, where companies like Qualcomm and MediaTek are designing chips specifically for wearable inference. The Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 are the first mass-market wearables to ship with a dedicated neural processing unit (NPU) that handles health models without draining the main CPU—a design choice that will become standard across all premium smartwatches by 2028.
Simultaneously, the discontinuation of the Classic model reflects a broader hardware convergence in the wearable market. Physical controls are disappearing because the sensor and battery constraints that made them necessary are being solved. The rotating bezel was a workaround for imprecise touchscreens on small displays; with the Watch 9's 480x480 resolution and 60Hz refresh rate, that workaround is no longer technically justified. Samsung is betting that consumers will accept this tradeoff in exchange for AI features that were impossible on older hardware.
Key Takeaways
- Classic Model Discontinued: Samsung ended the rotating bezel after declining sales—only 18% of 2025 buyers chose it—signaling a permanent shift to AI-driven navigation.
- On-Device LLM is the Differentiator: The Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 are the first mass-market wearables with a local large language model, enabling private, offline health queries that competitors cannot yet match.
- Ultra 2 Gets a $50 Price Hike: Starting at $699, the Ultra 2 now carries a clear premium over the Watch 9's $399 base, creating a three-tier lineup with no mid-range premium option.
- Battery Life Under Scrutiny: Samsung claims 60 hours (Watch 9) and 100 hours (Ultra 2), but the on-device AI consumes 12% of CPU resources—real-world results will determine the product's reception.
