Rising Costs for Wearable Tech

It appears that consumers looking to upgrade their wristwear may soon face higher costs. Recent reports indicate that Samsung's next-generation wearables, the Galaxy Watch 9 and the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, are set to arrive with increased price points compared to their predecessors.

These new devices are currently anticipated to make their debut during Samsung’s major launch event on July 22, which is also expected to showcase the company's latest foldable smartphones.


Anticipated Price Adjustments

According to information originating from retailers and cited by the reputable source WinFuture, the pricing strategy for the new lineup will see a notable climb:

  • The Galaxy Watch 9 is expected to see a price increase of approximately €20.
  • The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may see a steeper rise of roughly €50.

While specific figures for the UK and US markets have yet to be confirmed, industry analysts anticipate that the price hikes observed in Europe will likely follow a similar pattern globally. For instance, the 40mm Bluetooth Galaxy Watch 9 could start at €400, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might debut at €749.


Why are prices climbing?

The primary driver behind these adjustments is the surging cost of electronic components. The rapid expansion of the AI sector has significantly increased demand for critical parts like RAM and high-capacity storage. Consequently, manufacturers are grappling with higher procurement expenses for components that were far more affordable just a year ago.

To mitigate the impact on consumers, Samsung is likely to introduce attractive pre-order incentives. As one industry expert noted: «We expect the company to offer bundled deals with new smartphones, store vouchers, additional straps, and more generous trade-in values for older devices to cushion the blow of the higher retail prices.»


Hardware and Software Evolution

Despite the higher cost, the new watches are expected to deliver tangible improvements. Moving to the Snapdragon Wear platform, the devices should offer superior power efficiency and increased battery capacity. While major aesthetic overhauls are not expected, the design will likely feature refined details.

On the software front, users can look forward to integration with an updated Galaxy Wearable app. Given the broader ecosystem updates, including the rollout of One UI 9 and the transition to Android 17, the new watches are expected to debut with Wear OS 7. All final details are scheduled to be revealed on July 22.