The Galaxy Watch Ultra is spotted again as Samsung hints at 'premium' smartwatches

Four Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 models
The Galaxy Watch 6 launched in 2023 (Image credit: Samsung)

If the rumors are to be believed, the grand unveiling of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 series is going to be happening next month – and it looks very much as though we're going to get at least one premium-level smartwatch in the collection.

Let's start with what Samsung has said officially, in a press release announcing financial results: the company says it's looking to launch "new premium models" in the smartwatch category in the second half of the year.

That's all Samsung says on the matter, but it could certainly be read as something the company is saying in the context of looking to build sales momentum with the introduction of new products – and SamMobile sees it as a hint that the previously rumored Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra is indeed in the offing.

You could reasonably claim that the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is going to count as premium, as there are certainly cheaper smartwatches out there, but a third model for 2024 has been talked about. Last year we got two watches: see our Galaxy Watch 6 review and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic review for our verdicts on those.

Firmware spotted

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 47mm

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Even more evidence for a new, higher-end Galaxy Watch comes from the tipsters over at Android Headlines, who have spotted a firmware build for a smartwatch model believed to be the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra. It's not the first time we've seen that name mentioned, though there have also been mentions of a Galaxy Watch 7 Pro.

According to Android Headlines, the three models unveiled in the coming weeks will be the Watch 7, the Watch 7 Classic, and the Watch Ultra (but without a '7'). It seems as though the Pro variant may have fallen by the wayside – or was actually the Ultra edition all along.

At this stage it seems probable that we'll get an Ultra model, perhaps with a larger battery to help distinguish it. Samsung uses the Ultra labeling for its phones and its tablets already, and of course Apple has its own Ultra smartwatch model.

The leaks have been pointing to July 10 as the date when Samsung is going to hold its next Unpacked hardware launch, and as well as three new Galaxy Watch models, we're also expecting to see the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Galaxy Ring, and more.

You might also like

TOPICS
David Nield
Freelance Contributor

Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you'll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 front
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: latest rumors, updates, and what we want to see
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: What we want to see from Samsung's next rugged smartwatch
Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic 47mm
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 could bring the Classic model back
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
5 things the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should steal from the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Two OnePlus Watch 2s on a pink background
A OnePlus Watch 3 Pro launch may be imminent – and it could be feature-packed
An Apple Watch Ultra 2 on an orange background
Apple Watch Ultra 3: Everything we know so far
Latest in Smartwatches
Garmin Instinct 3 in Neotropic Green
"I'm an idiot": Garmin user reveals how fixing one setting completely changed their training after months of making no progress
A garmin forerrunner 55 on an orange background with the phrase lowest price
Sprint! The best cheap Garmin for runners is back down to its lowest-ever price
Half-Life running on a smartwatch
This Redditor installed a game engine on their smartwatch, and now it runs Doom, Quake, and Half-Life
Apple Watch Series 10 experience
How can we make wearables more sustainable, and is it even possible?
Apple watch pair with iphone
I've been wearing an Apple Watch for 10 years – these are the 5 settings I change right out of the box
Garmin Instinct 3 next to the Apple Watch Ultra 2
New figures claim the smartwatch market just shrunk for the first time ever, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is to blame
Latest in News
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #1147)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #378)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Sunday, March 16 (game #644)
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Super Mario Odyssey
ChatGPT is the ultimate gaming tool - here's 4 ways you can use AI to help with your next playthrough