Will the next Galaxy Watch Ultra have a more affordable version?

Samsung fans appreciate the current generation of the premium smartwatch for several specific, well-defined features. Notably, the rugged titanium case, the 4G LTE connectivity included as standard, and a list price that—compared with direct competitors focused on extreme durability—is fairly reasonable.

However, the South Korean company appears to be working to tweak this equation, sacrificing one element to lower the entry barrier to its flagship watch.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2026: three variants for different markets

According to recent rumors from the Dutch press, considered extremely reliable, the next iteration of the device will not be limited to a single option. On the contrary, Samsung would be developing up to three different versions for the launch planned for this summer.

The main novelty lies in the introduction of a variant equipped exclusively with Bluetooth and GPS connectivity, thus lacking the cellular network module.

This choice brings with it a likely geographic diversification of sales. The three models will not necessarily be available in all territories. In Europe, for example, consumers might be able to choose between the Bluetooth-only version and the 4G LTE version.

In the United States, however, the manufacturer could pair the base model with a top-of-the-line variant equipped with 5G connectivity, making distribution much more intricate.

Pricing dynamics and expectations

The absence of cellular support immediately suggests a clearly lower starting cost. However, current economic dynamics call for the utmost caution.

The recent price hikes that have heavily affected the smartphone and tablet sectors could soon extend to the wearable devices industry.

Consequently, the base model without 4G or 5G could debut at a price entirely similar to that of the very first generation with cellular connectivity.

This scenario would make the hypothetical 5G variant particularly expensive, which is why it will be necessary to wait for official figures before drawing definitive conclusions about the actual value of the new line.

The lineup’s situation is nonetheless quite peculiar. Months ago, the company launched a 2025 edition of the device that proved aesthetically identical to the 2024 generation, with the only real technical difference represented by doubling the internal storage space, from 32 to 64 GB.

Precisely because of this atypical nomenclature, the new device will most likely be called Galaxy Watch Ultra (2026), avoiding classic suffixes like 2 or 3.