[Digital Today reporter Jin-ho Lee] Samsung Electronics unveiled the 'Galaxy Watch Ultra2' and 'Galaxy Watch9' with strengthened battery, display and healthcare features. It aims to become a health companion on the wrist by detecting physical changes in advance and suggesting personalised management directions.

Samsung Electronics introduced two new Galaxy Watch models at 'Galaxy Unpacked 2026' held in London on July 22 (local time).

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is equipped with an 800 mAh battery, increasing capacity by 35 percent from the previous model. Using the 'Snapdragon Wear Elite platform', central processing unit (CPU) performance improves by 32 percent and graphics processing unit (GPU) performance by 19 percent.

Its thickness is reduced by 12 percent from the previous model to 10.7 mm. The display supports up to 5,000 nits of brightness for the first time among smartwatches. Its dust and water resistance rating is strengthened to IP69K. It also features 10 ATM water resistance and obtained EN13319 certification, an international safety standard for diving equipment, allowing real-time recording of depth, water temperature and dive time. Samsung Electronics plans to provide a dedicated app jointly developed with diving equipment company Mares from the second half of this year.

A new 'trail running' feature tracks altitude, climbing progress and ground conditions to help users adjust their pace. A function was also added that tells users when to drink water based on sweat loss relative to body weight.

The everyday model Galaxy Watch9 keeps the previous model's cushion design while applying an aluminium body and silicone band to improve wearability. For the 40 mm model, battery capacity increases by 20 percent from the previous model to 390 mAh, and it features a display with up to 3,000 nits of brightness.

It also strengthens healthcare features. It added a 'vital signs' feature that measures heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen saturation during sleep and notifies users when changes different from usual appear.

It also provides a 'heart health score' that analyses sleep, activity levels, body composition and vascular stress, and a 'daily aerobic load' feature that shows the burden exercise and daily activities place on the heart. It also includes a 'physical fitness index' that comprehensively analyses body composition and cardiorespiratory endurance, and a 'hearing' feature that detects harmful noise.

The AI-based sleep apnea detection feature has been upgraded to provide insights into the level of breathing disorders during sleep. Samsung Electronics aims to convert data collected by the Galaxy Watch into AI-based health insights to help users identify disease risks and physical changes in advance.

Roh Tae-moon (노태문), Samsung Electronics CEO and head of the MX Business Division, said, "These new products are an important milestone in the digital health experience that will enable users to enjoy healthier lives through preventive healthcare," adding, "They will provide practical insights to help proactive health management."

Samsung Electronics will begin pre-orders for the new Galaxy Watch models on July 28. The Ultra2 comes in a single 47 mm LTE model priced at 969,100 won. The Galaxy Watch9 44 mm model costs 569,800 won for LTE and 539,000 won for Bluetooth. The 40 mm model costs 529,100 won for LTE and 499,000 won for Bluetooth.