The Galaxy Watch 9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 represent a clear step forward in wireless connectivity thanks to the integration of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear Elite. Beyond raw performance and hardware upgrades, Samsung is betting on more modern Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi and GPS stacks — improvements that promise better location accuracy, more stable connections and improved power efficiency.
Bluetooth 6.0 and Channel Sounding: more precise positioning
Both new watches include Bluetooth 6.0, which brings features such as Channel Sounding. This capability can enable centimeter‑level positioning between devices, potentially making it easier to locate a lost item with much greater precision. Bluetooth 6.0 should also improve connection reliability in environments congested with wireless signals.
Wi‑Fi 6 on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz: better range and efficiency
Upgrading from Wi‑Fi 4 in previous generations to Wi‑Fi 6 on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands is a significant jump. Wi‑Fi 6 delivers improved range, more stable connections, higher throughput and better power efficiency — all factors that should enhance downloads and phone‑free synchronizations.
Dual‑band GPS and improved activity tracking
The chipset supports dual‑band GNSS (L1 and L5). Combined with the Snapdragon Wear Elite’s performance gains, this should deliver faster fixes and greater positioning accuracy for outdoor activities — cycling, running, hiking — and more reliable navigation in apps like Google Maps.
A 3 nm chip with more power, but no 5G on cellular models
The Snapdragon Wear Elite is manufactured on a 3 nm process and offers superior CPU and GPU performance compared with the Exynos W1000 used in the Galaxy Watch 8 and the previous Ultra. The chip supports NFC and 5G RedCap (reduced capability 5G), but Samsung has opted not to enable 5G on the new watches’ cellular variants: Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 cellular models remain LTE only.
What this means for users
In practice, users can expect snappier interfaces, more reliable geolocation during outdoor workouts and wireless connections that are less prone to interference. Upgrades to Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth should also help battery life in connected use and speed up sync operations.
By combining these hardware and connectivity advances, Samsung puts wireless performance at the center of its new wearables — even while stopping short of offering full 5G on cellular models.
