What the Cheaper Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Variant Actually Is
The budget Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a rumored Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth version of Samsung’s upcoming flagship smartwatch that keeps premium hardware like Snapdragon Wear Elite but removes built‑in cellular connectivity, including 5G, to reach a lower starting price for buyers who do not need standalone network access. Until now, the original Galaxy Watch Ultra has only shipped as a cellular model, limiting it to people willing to pay for LTE connectivity. Reports based on Samsung server listings and regulatory databases indicate that the Ultra 2 generation will be split into multiple connectivity tiers, including Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, 4G/LTE, and 5G smartwatch variant models. By mirroring the structure of the regular Galaxy Watch family, Samsung seems ready to reposition the Ultra line as a broader platform instead of a single, high‑priced niche device.
Snapdragon Wear Elite Without 5G: Cutting Cost, Not Capability
Samsung is expected to equip the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite, a new wearables chip built for on‑device AI and improved performance. According to GSMArena, “one of the key upgrades on that chip is that it offers 5G connectivity,” but the budget model will reportedly ship without using that 5G modem. This echoes the earlier Snapdragon Wear W5 generation, where not every watch enabled all modem features. Dropping cellular radios lowers component and certification costs while keeping the core CPU, GPU, and AI accelerators intact. That means the affordable Galaxy Watch could still offer faster health analysis, smoother Wear OS performance, and richer apps, only relying on a paired phone or Wi‑Fi for data. For many buyers, that tradeoff makes more sense than paying extra for 5G they rarely use.
A Summer Launch and a More Accessible Ultra Lineup
Leaks point to Samsung’s next big Unpacked event in late July or early August, where the Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are expected to appear alongside new foldables. CNET notes that firmware for the next Galaxy Watch has already surfaced on a US test server, signaling that a summer launch window is on track. Within that lineup, Samsung is reportedly preparing Ultra 2 models with Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth, LTE, and a 5G smartwatch variant for different markets. The Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth edition could debut as the new entry point to the Ultra family, with LTE and 5G positioned as higher tiers. If Samsung applies the same memory strategy as the first Ultra, which rose from 2GB RAM and 32GB storage to 64GB in its refresh, even the cheapest Ultra 2 could still feel like a premium watch in everyday use.
Why a Budget Ultra Could Reshape the Smartwatch Market
A cheaper Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 does more than trim features; it challenges how premium wearables are priced. Smartprix reports that Samsung is working on LTE and Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth Ultra 2 variants, explaining that a Wi‑Fi‑only model “could lower the smartwatch’s starting price significantly.” By finally offering an affordable Galaxy Watch in the Ultra line, Samsung aligns this rugged flagship with the rest of its wearables, which already ship in multiple connectivity tiers. This approach mirrors smartphone lineups, where buyers pick between 5G and Wi‑Fi‑only devices based on budget and needs. Since Apple’s latest smartwatches are currently the only ones with 5G connectivity, Samsung’s move to split Ultra 2 into Wi‑Fi, LTE, and 5G options could both match that high‑end specification and undercut it on entry cost, making advanced health features and long battery life accessible to more people.