Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Watch 9 looks set to stick closely to the design of its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch 8. According to leaked renders shared by Android Headlines, there’s barely any difference: the same round display, squircle-shaped case, familiar button layout, speaker, and sensor array. The official reveal is scheduled for July 22 during Samsung’s Unpacked event.
The leaks suggest the Galaxy Watch 9 will continue offering two sizes-40 mm and 44 mm-which matches last year’s lineup. Samsung’s decision to adopt the ”pillowy” squircle body style from the Galaxy Watch Ultra into the main series appears to be holding steady. Color options reportedly include Cream, Graphite, and Green.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 follows a similar pattern. The premium model remains chunky and hefty in the renders-clearly not designed for slim wrists. It’s expected to come in Gray and Silver colors, likely sticking with a single 47 mm size. For long-time Galaxy Watch users, there’s good news: the rotating bezel seems to be sticking around, according to the images.
While Samsung isn’t betting on a design overhaul this year, the upgrades are expected under the hood. The Galaxy Watch 9 series should launch with Samsung’s customized Wear OS 4, adding features like Gemini and other software improvements. Since the case and display remain largely unchanged, the company will likely push performance gains-including chipset enhancements, battery life improvements, new health sensors, and AI-powered features-rather than flaunting a new look on your wrist.
This approach fits Samsung’s recent pattern. The Galaxy Watch 8 was more of an iterative refresh than a redesign. In the highly competitive smartwatch segment, many brands opt for steady incremental updates rather than dramatic leaps. Counterpoint Research notes Samsung ranks among the top global smartwatch makers, though Apple still leads by a wide margin.
The challenge for Samsung now is pricing. Component costs are rising, and if the new Galaxy Watch 9 comes with a higher tag, buyers will scrutinize what’s genuinely new. So far, leaked details don’t show a long list of changes to justify a premium.
With the official launch looming, all eyes will be on whether Samsung can deliver meaningful improvements in battery life, sensor accuracy, or AI features to justify the incremental design. In a market increasingly dominated by fitness and health capabilities, these behind-the-scenes upgrades will be important to keeping Samsung competitive against Apple’s ongoing innovations.