You are upgrading or buying your first Samsung Galaxy Smart Watch to go with your Samsung Galaxy phone. A wise move. You’ve decided you can afford one of the newest models. Another wise move, and there’s little harm in getting last year’s model. What you can’t figure out is whether to get the bigger one with the bigger battery or the other, sleeker-looking one. Here’s some help for you.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 goes two or three days between charges. The Galaxy Watch 9 goes one day. That is the biggest everyday difference between Samsung’s two new watches, and most of the rest follows from it. Both run the same software and have the same health and training features, so you aren’t giving up Daily Cardio Load, Vitals, or Running Coach by choosing the cheaper one. What you give up is battery life, a fast charging (more importnat than you think), a tougher case, and three things Samsung keeps for the Ultra 2: a power meter on the watch, a trail running mode and diving.
Every figure here is Samsung’s own claim. My view is that the Ultra 2 is the better buy for endurance athletes or anyone with larger wrists. It lasts longer, survives better and does more. For everyone else, the Watch 9 is the same in a lighter, cheaper body.
The full figures are on the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 specification pages.
Which is better for you?
| If you want | Choose | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Two days or more between charges | Ultra 2 | Samsung claims up to 60 hours, against 30 for the Watch 9. |
| A quick top-up before training | Ultra 2 | About 40 per cent in half an hour. The Watch 9 has no fast charging. |
| A watch for a small wrist | Watch 9 | It comes in two sizes and weighs about half as much. The Ultra 2 comes in one large size. |
| The lowest price | Watch 9 | From £349 or $379.99. The Ultra 2 is £649 or $699.99. |
| A watch that survives knocks | Ultra 2 | Titanium rather than aluminium, and rated for deeper water and high-pressure jets. |
| Diving | Ultra 2 | Certified to 40m, with a Depth app. The Watch 9 is for swimming only. |
| Cycling with a power meter | Ultra 2 | It connects to power, speed, and cadence sensors and calculates your FTP. The Watch 9 does not. |
| Trail running | Ultra 2 | It shows the climb ahead, keeps you on a route and reminds you to drink. Samsung keeps this for the Ultra 2. |
| Racing beyond a marathon | Ultra 2 | Samsung claims up to 20 hours of GPS. It gives no GPS figure for the Watch 9. |
| Training load, recovery and coaching | Either | Both have Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, Vitals, Energy Score and Running Coach. |
| Sleep tracking you will keep doing | Watch 9 | The same overnight features at half the weight on the wrist. |
What differs between the two
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | Galaxy Watch 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £649 / $699.99, mobile connection included | From £349 / $379.99. The large watch with a mobile connection is $459.99 |
| Sizes | One, 47mm | Two, 40mm and 44mm |
| Case | Titanium | Aluminium |
| Weight | 61.5g | 31.5g or 34g |
| Screen in bright sun | Brighter (5,000 nits) | Bright (3,000 nits) |
| Battery life (Samsung’s claim) | Up to 60 hours | Up to 30 hours |
| GPS recording (Samsung’s claim) | Up to 20 hours | Not given |
| Quick top-up | About 40 per cent in half an hour | No fast charging |
| Full charge | 90 minutes with a 10-watt plug, 190 without | 80 or 90 minutes |
| Water | Swimming and diving to 40m | Swimming |
| Storage for music and apps | 64GB | 32GB |
Everything else is the same: the chip, the memory, the software, the GPS, the sapphire glass, the toughness rating, ECG, body composition and all of this year’s health and training features.
Battery life and charging
The Ultra 2’s battery is about twice the size of the small Watch 9’s, and Samsung’s claims follow: 60 hours against 30. In practice, that means the Watch 9 goes on the charger every day and the Ultra 2 every second or third day. Turn off the always-on screen and the Ultra 2 stretches to 80 hours.
For long races, Samsung claims up to 20 hours of GPS on the Ultra 2, or 16 hours if you are following a route, which covers an Ironman, most ultras, and all super-long one-day bike rides like Chase The Sun. It gives no GPS battery life figure at all for the Watch 9, a hint that the Ultra is for those of you who are sporty-minded.
The Ultra 2 is the first Galaxy Watch with fast charging: about 40 per cent in half an hour and full in 90 minutes, as long as you plug its charger into a phone charger of 10 watts or more. Samsung’s support page says the Watch 9 has no fast charging and takes 80 or 90 minutes to fill, depending on size.
On Samsung’s figures, half an hour on the charger gives the Ultra 2 about a day of use. I go into the chargers in Galaxy Watch vs Apple Watch charging speed.
Toughness and price
The Ultra 2 costs £300 more than the cheapest Watch 9, or $320 more in the US. Some of that gap closes because the Ultra 2 includes mobile connectivity (very useful, in my experience) and twice the storage on every watch. Against the large Watch 9 with mobile connectivity, the gap is $240.
The rest buys the case. Titanium takes dents and scratches better than aluminium, and a watch that shrugs off rock, gym kit and bike frames saves a repair bill. The Ultra 2 is also rated for deeper water and for high-pressure jets. I make the same argument for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 over the Series 12.
One important thing is the same. Both watches have sapphire glass over the screen, so neither should scratch with sensible use.
Size and weight
The Ultra 2 comes in one size, and it is a big watch at 61.5g. The Watch 9 comes in two sizes, at 31.5g and 34g, both thinner.
If you have a small wrist, the small Watch 9 is the only sensible choice. A watch you take off at night records no sleep or recovery data, no matter how long its battery lasts. The Ultra 2’s larger screen is only slightly bigger than the large Watch 9’s; its real advantage is brightness in full sun.
The features only some people need
Samsung keeps four things for the Ultra 2. For many people, these are ‘must-haves’
- Diving. Certified to 40m, with an app that shows depth, water temperature and dive time. It still doesn’t track how long you can safely stay down.
- Cycling sensors. The Ultra 2 connects to power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors without a phone, and calculates your FTP on the watch.
- Trail run mode. It shows the gradient and climb ahead of each section and reminds you to drink.
- The Quick Button. It switches sports in a triathlon and sounds a siren loud enough to be heard across a field. The Watch 9 does not have one.
If none of those are for you, Watch 9 runs the exact same Wear OS 7 software with the same health features.
Which one should you buy?
- Choose the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 if you want two or more days between charges, a quick top-up before training, a case that takes knocks, diving, a power meter for trail running, and a watch that fits your wrist.
- Choose the Galaxy Watch 9 if you have a smaller wrist, want a lighter watch for sleeping and running, are happy to charge every day, and don’t need any of the features Samsung keeps for the Ultra 2.
If you own an older watch, the Galaxy Watch upgrade guide covers each one. What changed within each line is in Galaxy Watch 9 vs Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra. For Samsung’s rugged watch against Apple’s, see Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 9
Everyday health and fitness smartwatch
+other retailersQuick answers
Which has better battery life, Galaxy Watch 9 or Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung claims up to 60 hours, meaning you charge it every two or three days. The Galaxy Watch 9 is claimed at up to 30 hours, which means charging every day.
Does Galaxy Watch 9 support fast charging?
No. Samsung’s support page says only the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 fast charges. The Galaxy Watch 9 takes 80 minutes to fill in the small size and 90 in the large.
How fast does Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 charge?
About 40 per cent in half an hour and full in 90 minutes, using the charger in the box plugged into a phone charger of at least 10 watts. With a weaker plug, a full charge takes 190 minutes.
How much does Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 weigh compared with Galaxy Watch 9?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 weighs 61.5g without the strap. The Galaxy Watch 9 weighs 31.5g in the small size and 34g in the large, so the Ultra 2 is nearly twice as heavy.
Does Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 come in a smaller size?
No. It comes in one 47mm size. The Galaxy Watch 9 comes in 40mm and 44mm, and the 40mm is the better fit for a small wrist.
What is the price difference between Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 launched at £649 or $699.99 with a mobile connection included. The Galaxy Watch 9 starts at £349 or $379.99 for the small Bluetooth model. The large Galaxy Watch 9 with a mobile connection costs $459.99 in the US.
Do Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 have the same health features?
Largely, yes. Both have ECG, body composition, Energy Score, Daily Cardio Load, Fitness Index, Heart Health Score and Running Coach. Samsung keeps diving, cycling sensor connection and trail run mode for the Ultra 2.
Can you dive with Galaxy Watch 9?
No. The Galaxy Watch 9 is rated for swimming and has no dive certification. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is certified for diving to 40m.
Last Updated on 2 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
