Another June, another wave of Samsung wearable leaks comes before Unpacking. The latest collection covers the Galaxy Watch9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and the graphics on both feel familiar in ways that make me raise an eyebrow. I spend more time than most of you staring at the dull parts of the pages because, well, that’s part of my job. So the model codes in the newest leak gave me plenty to chew on.
Complete list, extracted from model codes
The leaked listing reveals two variants of the Watch Ultra 2 alongside the wider distribution of the Galaxy Watch9. Both Ultra 2 (SM-L715F) codes point to LTE-only versions in Titanium Gray and Titanium Silver, which tells me that Samsung wants to keep its rugged flagship as a premium connected device. No Bluetooth-only Ultra appears anywhere in the collection.
On the standard side, the Galaxy Watch9 comes in 40 mm and 44 mm sizes, each sold in Bluetooth and LTE flavors. Samsung has given the 40 mm two soft shades in Cream and Graphite, while the 44 mm swaps Cream for a sporty Silver. Graphite carries the entire range as a safe default for anyone who would rather not worry about color.
Select codes and logical clicks in the area. Samsung uses the L prefix for watch hardware, with the 340 and 345 assigned to 40 mm, the 350 and 355 to 44 mm, and the next 5 flagging LTE. One model number is sufficient to map the entire grid.
The Snapdragon swap may mean less than it sounds
At MWC in March, Samsung confirmed the switch from Exynos back to the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite chip for the next-generation Galaxy Watch. On paper, a chip change after years of Exynos sounds like a decent leap forward. However, I would pump the brakes a little.
The Exynos W1000 that powers the Watch7 and Watch8 already uses a fast core paired with four efficient cores, and the new Snapdragon appears to share the same architecture. Major performance figures often compare new silicon against older wearable chips than the part that Samsung shipped last year. Qualcomm’s superiority depends largely on the AI features running on your wrist, which interests me far less than smooth everyday navigation.
Related: I’m using a Samsung S23—here’s what the Galaxy S26 leak says about the upgrade
The squircle is sitting, and I have apologized to him
A circular screen pressed into a square body, with rounded corners of dead space framing the display. The design that split the view on the Watch8 looks set to return untouched on the Watch9, sensors and all. That’s a shame because many long-time owners wanted a return to the round look with a proper rotating bezel.
My own opinion has softened over time. The pillow shape gives the watch a unique identity among a sea of round competitors, and the flat profile should sit more comfortably on the wrist than older domed designs. I still find the jagged corners around the round panel awkward, and a full rectangular screen could use that footprint better.
Battery and GPS, the parts I care about the most
The battery numbers are where I get loud. The leak points to a larger battery in the Ultra 2, somewhere around 30%, paired with a more efficient chip. The current Ultra clears in less than three days for most people, so confidently pushing past that mark without limping into save mode would finally justify the Ultra name for me.
GPS is more important to me than any AI gimmick. Dual tracking allows the watch to pinpoint your location by drifting slowly down a tree-lined street or city canyon. Samsung’s position has been shaky in the past while rivals have held a firm line, so I’ll be looking to see if the new generation tightens up tracking rather than chasing another health metric of questionable value.
The price, the missing Classic, and who should wait
Expect another price hike. With component costs rising after the memory shortage, a $50 increase seems likely, which would push the Watch9 to the $399 and $429 tags. Samsung still tends to undercut the Pixel Watch4, so the price issue is still on hold even after the bump.
Nothing unusual comes from the leak, which fits with Samsung’s habit of changing that model year after year. Anyone holding out for a rotating bezel will likely wait for the Watch10 instead. The raised metal ring on the standard watch keeps teasing a twist that never gives, and a year of patience is always the only way to click that I miss the most.
And before you go, here’s my shopping advice. Android owners committed to the aging Watch4 or Watch5 should get the Watch9, because the benefits of the chip and battery will become apparent after three or four years on older hardware. Current Watch8 owners can make the jump without regret.
Grigor Baklajyan is a technical copywriter at . His contributions include product reviews, buying guides, how-to articles, and more.