Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could launch in two flavours

To 5G or not to 5G?

Summary created by Smart Answers AI

In summary:

• Tech Advisor reports Samsung is developing the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in two variants: model SM-L716 with 5G connectivity and SM-L715F without 5G for affordability.
• This dual-model strategy aims to broaden market appeal and help Samsung compete against Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Garmin offerings.
• The non-5G version could make the smartwatch more accessible, building on the original’s £599/$649 pricing strategy.

After being a no-show last year, it seems as though Samsung is finally working on a follow-up to its Galaxy Watch Ultra wearable, and it could arrive in two different flavours.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is expected to arrive with the model number SM-L716 and now Dutch website Galaxy Club, has spotted a firmware build in Samsung’s servers intended for a device listed as SM-L715F.

These numbers are important as ‘6’ in Samsung’s naming conventions is used to detail the inclusion of 5G connectivity. The idea of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 using 5G speeds isn’t too surprising, as the feature was also a big selling point of the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but what is surprising is that there’s supposedly a second model of Samsung’s upcoming watch that goes without it.

Although there’s very little to know about this watch at present, having a 4G/LTE (not Wi-Fi/Bluetooth-only) variant of the next Ultra smartwatch could be key for providing a more affordable alternative to consumers.

Even though the original Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra was poised as a more affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at the time, shipping with a starting price of £599/$649, we saw the price for Samsung’s wearable dip quite dramatically not too long after hitting the market.

By shipping a more affordable option from the jump, not only can Samsung likely mitigate the current economic storm which is currently pushing up the price of tech worldwide, but also draw in early adopters who might otherwise be tempted to hold off and wait for a deal.

Only last week it was revealed that several of Samsung’s phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, would be going up in price in South Korea.

Despite having a rough and ready build alongside the same type of bright AMOLED display that Samsung’s watches are known for, the first-gen Galaxy Watch Ultra did leave a lot to be desired, and we would love to see more robust mapping features if a successor hopes to go toe to toe with the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Plus, with Garmin bringing features from its premium Fenix range down to more cost-effective devices like the Garmin Venu X1 and the Garmin Venu 4, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 will have more than just Apple to contend with.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

Rating of this product is 3.5 out of 5
Read our review
Price When Reviewed: £599