- A code leak points to three new Galaxy Watch models
- They might all get the Pixel's 'raise to talk' feature
- Users still have concerns about the battery life of the devices
We're expecting successors to the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic from Samsung within the next couple of months, and a fresh leak gives us a better idea of the models to expect — plus one of the features they might bring with them.
The team at Android Authority has found three smartwatch codenames buried in the latest Google Wear OS app for Android: Fresh 9 (most likely the Galaxy Watch 9, based on past codenames), Wise 9 (the Galaxy Watch 9 Classic), and Project V2 (possibly the long-awaited Galaxy Watch Ultra 2).
Samsung's smartwatch launches aren't quite as easy to predict as they are for its smartphones, and we don't always get a Classic or an Ultra addition. We have previously seen a Pro model, too: the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, from 2022.
This goes some way to settling the question of what we're about to see, though it'll be interesting to find out what the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 brings with it. The original Ultra made its debut back in 2024.
Raise to talk
The same digging into the Wear OS app code has revealed something else: these upcoming Galaxy Watch models may well feature the 'raise to talk' feature that's available on Google's smartwatches, including the Google Pixel Watch 4.
Changes in the code, including a "3p" tag that could mean third-party, suggest the feature won't be a Pixel exclusive for much longer. It enables the user to lift their smartwatch up towards their head, and Gemini will instantly launch — ready to receive voice commands.
As for the online reaction to Samsung's upcoming smartwatch refresh, there's approval of the current circular face design, but questions over battery life. Of the three rumored models, one Redditor says "none of them solve the reason I moved to Garmin" — the reason being weeks rather than days of battery life.
Another commenter suggests "we don't need annual releases of Samsung watches", saying "they evolve very little year-to-year". With the approval of Reddit or not, it looks like these wearables are on the way — and we'll bring you all the details when they arrive.
