What’s expected to change vs Galaxy Watch 8: 

Likely a similar squircle design, refinements possibleSimilar 1.47-inch and 1.34-inch display sizes as the ones used on predecessorsAI-driven health monitoring is possibleExynos W1000 (3 nm) chip Samsung may test solid-state batteries for the Watch 9 Expected release timeline:

Expected price:

No leaks on pricing yet. Could start from $349 as its predecessor. Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 release dateBased on Samsung’s usual schedule when it comes to wearables, we’re pretty sure the Galaxy Watch 9 will be unveiled alongside Samsung’s next foldables in the summer of 2026. Normally, Samsung launches its wearables the same month the company announces the devices, with market availability following in about two weeks’ time.Here’s a historical representation of the past couple of Galaxy Watch launches:Device family
AnnouncementMarket release
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 seriesJuly, 2023
August, 2023Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 seriesJuly, 2024July, 2024Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 seriesJuly, 2025July, 2025Samsung Galaxy Watch 9July, 2026*July, 2026*

* – probable dates

Leaks and rumors are scarce currently, but IMEI listings popped up in the beginning of the year. According to records found in the GSMA IMEI database, the company’s new generation standard smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch 9, is coming with the model number SM-L345U, which is in line with the previous generation models.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 price
Currently, there are no leaks saying there will be a price increase for the Galaxy Watch 9, which in this case is “no news equals good news.” Samsung already bumped up the prices of the last generation, so another price increase is unlikely at the moment.Here’s a quick reference table for Galaxy Watch series prices for the past couple of generations:Galaxy Watch model
40/44mm Bluetooth40/44mm LTESamsung Galaxy Watch 6$299/$329$349/$379Samsung Galaxy Watch 7$299/$329$349/$379Samsung Galaxy Watch 8$349/$379$399/$429Samsung Galaxy Watch 9*$349/$379*$399/$429*

*- anticipated price

We have our fingers crossed Samsung will keep the price of the Galaxy Watch 9 the same as previous generation, namely $349/$379 for the 40mm and 44mm Bluetooth models respectively, and $399/$429 for the LTE versions.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 designThere are no leaks and rumors concerning the design of the Galaxy Watch 9, but expect renders and press materials to start showing up as the launch date draws near. Early speculations suggest that Samsung will stick to a similar design for the Galaxy Watch 9 as the one used on the past couple of generations – sleek, modern, and stylish.

The rugged and bulky look will be reserved for the Ultra model. The vanilla model will most likely be an evolution and refinement of the squircle design of the last generation, possibly thinner, lighter, and sleeker.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 displayThe two versions of the Galaxy Watch 9 will most likely stick to the squircle design, meaning they will feature a circular displays. There are no leaks about the exact size and other specs, regarding the display panels, but there’s a big chance Samsung might use the same 1.47-inch and 1.34-inch display sizes as the ones used on the previous generation.The last-gen Galaxy Watch devices sported 3,000 nits of brightness, which is an industry standard now in the smartwatch world, so we will most likely get the same brightness, if not more, on the Galaxy Watch 9. As far as resolution and refresh rate go, we expect them to remain the same as last year: 438 x 438 pixels (~327 ppi density) for the smaller 40 mm model and 480 x 480 pixels (~327 ppi density) for the 44 mm one.Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 batteryWe have to wait for battery certification listings to find the actual capacities before the official launch of the Galaxy Watch 9. However, there’s a remote possibility of a huge surprise. Samsung is developing solid-state batteries, and according to the latest information, the company is planning to test the tech first in its wearables.

Whether this would be the Galaxy Watch 9 series, we still don’t know. For reference, the last generation featured 435 mAh and 325 mAh cells inside the 44 mm and 40 mm models, respectively, managing around 30 hours on a single charge.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 features and softwareBased on early 2026 rumors, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 is expected to focus on advanced, AI-driven health monitoring and enhanced efficiency. The watch will likely run One UI Watch 9 based on Wear OS 7 with some serious Galaxy AI integration. 

In terms of sensors, the Galaxy Watch 9 will likely refine the 3-in-1 BioActive chip (Optical Heart Rate, Electrical Heart Signal, Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) we’re familiar with from the past couple of Galaxy Watch generations.

There are rumors that Samsung will introduce non-invasive glucose monitoring on the Galaxy Watch 9, but presently there’s no additional information on the subject. Further down the line of expected features, the sensor suite is expected to continue supporting blood pressure, ECG, skin temperature, and blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 hardware and specsWe expect the same chip as last year to power the new Galaxy Watch 9, namely the Exynos W1000. It’s a relatively new silicon that Samsung first introduced back in 2024 on the Galaxy Watch 7. It seems that, according to a recent leak, Samsung has chosen to equip the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a mightier processor to differentiate it from the Watch 9. The leak corroborates earlier expectations that the Galaxy Watch 9 is coming with the Exynos W1000 chip.

In terms of sensors, the rumor mill is silent currently, so the expectations are for Samsung to stick with the already quite comprehensive set of sensors, including a body impedance one and one that measures the oxidative stress of the body.

Galaxy Watch 9’s expected specs:
CPU: Exynos W1000 (3 nm)Connectivity: LTE, BluetoothBattery life: Around 30 hours with Always-on displayMaterials: AluminumSizes: 40mm and 44mmStorage: YesSensors: BioActive, temperature, antioxidant index

In terms of connectivity, we expect the usual two versions – a Bluetooth-only model, and one with LTE connectivity.

Should I wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9?
You should wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9if you’re on the lookout for the latest and greatest Samsung wearable, and you’re prepared to wait a couple of months before pulling the trigger. If you come from an older Galaxy Watch and want to upgrade, the Galaxy Watch 9 is the perfect choice. You just have to be patient.You should not wait for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 9if you already own the Galaxy Watch 8, as there probably won’t be enough upgrades to justify the purchase. Alternatively, if you’re not into Samsung’s ecosystem or you want a new smartwatch right now, you should probably look elsewhere.