Updated

Updated · TechCabal · Jun 23

Samsung Faces 28% Watch Shipment Drop as Galaxy Watch 9 Leak Points to Chip Shake-Up

Updated

Updated · TechCabal · Jun 23

Samsung Faces 28% Watch Shipment Drop as Galaxy Watch 9 Leak Points to Chip Shake-Up

Q: Why might Samsung's premium Watch Ultra 2 launch with different chips for the US and European markets?

Samsung is likely considering different Watch Ultra 2 chips by region because the rumored US model is tied to a more advanced connectivity package, while Europe may get a lower-spec cellular setup. Leaks point to the US version, identified as SM-L716, using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite with an integrated 5G modem. That would fit a premium-market strategy in North America, where carriers have been pushing smartwatch eSIM adoption and where Samsung is under pressure to better compete with Apple and Google at the high end. Qualcomm is also pitching the chip’s dedicated AI processor as important for Wear OS 7’s on-device Gemini features, along with major gains in speed, graphics and battery efficiency. By contrast, the European model, SM-L715F, is rumored to keep Samsung’s Exynos W1000 with a 4G modem. If accurate, that would suggest Samsung is segmenting the product based on regional network needs, carrier economics, and possibly pricing or supply-chain flexibility. Samsung already uses region-based chip strategies in other product lines, so the approach would not be unusual. The practical effect is that a US Watch Ultra 2 could offer stronger AI features, better future-proofing and faster connectivity, while a European version might be a more conservative upgrade. That said, the chip split remains unconfirmed, and conflicting reports mean Samsung’s July 22 Unpacked event will be the key test of whether this regional divide is real.

3 articles · Updated · TechCabal · Jun 23

Samsung’s unannounced Galaxy Watch 9 is shaping up as a modest hardware update, with leaks pointing to the same 40mm and 44mm sizes, similar displays, unchanged 10W charging and no clear price yet.
The biggest unresolved change is the processor: at least one 2026 Galaxy Watch model may switch from Samsung’s Exynos W1000 to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite, which could determine access to on-device Gemini AI features.
Battery leaks suggest the 40mm model could rise from 325mAh to about 400mAh, while the 44mm version appears to stay at 435mAh, limiting gains unless a new chip or Wear OS 7 improves efficiency.
A Watch 9 Classic with the rotating bezel is increasingly doubtful, with June filings and design leaks pointing to its absence even though a late-May report suggested it was in development.
The launch matters for Samsung after Counterpoint said Galaxy Watch shipments fell 28% year over year in Q1 2026, cutting its global smartwatch share to 5% from 7% as Apple gained ground.