The event Samsung Unpacked in London served as the stage for the latest news from the South Korean company, unveiling to the public the brand’s latest wearable devices.
Among the many reveals, what drew attention wasn’t just the design or the specs of the new Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, but a crucial announcement concerning the lifecycle of these products.
Samsung has indeed confirmed a significant extension of software support policies for the 2026 line. This gives the new models a clear edge over previous generations, reassuring buyers about the long-term reliability of their investment.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2, updates through 2031
Up to now, since the Galaxy Watch 4 launch, the company’s policy guaranteed four major OS updates, along with five years of security patches. With the debut of the new versions, the company takes another step forward: both the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Ultra 2 variant will benefit from no less than five major releases of the operating system, effectively staying up to date through 2031.
At the time of purchase, the smartwatches will reach users already equipped with Wear OS 7 and the customized interface One UI 9 Watch. Knowing that the watch on one’s wrist will receive constant software and feature improvements for so many years represents an invaluable added value for anyone considering buying a high-end device.
However, one question remains unsettled regarding devices previously marketed. The brand has not yet clarified whether owners of a Galaxy Watch 8, its Classic variant, or the first Galaxy Watch Ultra will be able to retroactively benefit from this extension for the main software versions. The company will surely provide more details in the coming months.
Small but important updates
Beyond delivering greater durability over time from a software standpoint, the new smartwatches introduce a range of novel and optimized features, focusing in particular on AI-powered applications and advanced health monitoring.
As for the timing of distribution and pricing, pre-orders officially opened yesterday, July 22, while the actual global store launch is set for August 7.
The price list clearly reflects the different features and use-case purposes of the two variants: the standard model, the Watch 9, starts at €409, presenting itself as an extremely balanced choice for most consumers.
Conversely, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is offered in a single, rich 47 mm configuration with an integrated LTE module, priced at €749.
