Galaxy Watch 9 & Watch Ultra 2 Maintain 10W Charging Speed

Samsung is expected to unveil its new lineup of smartwatches, including the “Galaxy Watch 9” and “Galaxy Watch Ultra 2,” during the upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, which is likely to take place on July 22. Both devices have been listed in China’s Compulsory Certification (3C) database, signaling their imminent arrival.

This news was reported by Android Police, which noted that the certifications were issued on June 3. The model numbers—SM-L3550 for the Galaxy Watch 9 and SM-L7150 for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2—align with previous leaks.

The most notable detail from the certification is the charging specification. Both devices will support 10W (5V/2A) charging, which remains unchanged from the previous Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra models. Considering that smartwatch charging speeds have seen significant advancements in recent years, this lack of improvement is a clear sign of stagnation.

No Change in Battery Capacity

For the Galaxy Watch 9, the battery capacity is confirmed to be 435mAh, identical to that of the Galaxy Watch 8. This indicates that Samsung has not made significant improvements in either charging speed or battery capacity with this model. Consequently, complaints regarding the “slow charging time” of the previous model are unlikely to be addressed in the Galaxy Watch 9.

Meanwhile, the battery capacity of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 remains unknown at this time. The previous model, the Watch Ultra, featured a large 590mAh battery, which took over an hour and a half to fully charge with 10W charging. If the capacity increases in the new model, charging times could become even longer.

Limited Evolution from Galaxy Watch 8

The Galaxy Watch 8, released last year, offered improvements in display performance and sensor accuracy. However, complaints about charging speeds persisted, particularly from heavy users of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, who found it challenging to quickly recharge the device after GPS-intensive training sessions.

The 3C certification details for the Galaxy Watch 9 and Watch Ultra 2 suggest that these complaints have not been addressed. In contrast, many recent smartwatches from Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi and Huawei now support fast charging, enabling quicker recharge times.

Samsung’s apparent lag in this area is concerning. However, certification data alone does not provide a complete picture of the product. In the overall user experience of a smartwatch, factors like optimized power consumption are just as important as charging speed. There’s still a possibility that the new Exynos chips and improvements in Wear OS might enhance effective battery life.

Editorial Perspective

The lack of improvement in charging speed will likely be a disappointment for Samsung’s smartwatch users in the short term. For high-end models like the Galaxy Watch Ultra, which are aimed at outdoor and fitness enthusiasts, the ability to quickly recharge after a workout is a critical use case. With competitors adopting faster charging technologies, Samsung’s decision to maintain the status quo raises concerns about its competitive edge in this area.

However, from a long-term perspective, it is worth noting that faster charging can accelerate battery degradation. Samsung may be prioritizing durability and long-term battery health. Additionally, this product cycle might focus on other advancements, such as standardizing wireless charging protocols or supporting Qi2. The overall reception of these devices will depend on the other updates revealed during the launch event.

As an editorial team, we are particularly interested in the strategic choices Samsung is making for its Galaxy Watch series. If the company has chosen to forgo innovations in charging technology to concentrate on improving health monitoring accuracy and AI functionalities, it may be a justifiable trade-off. Nevertheless, ignoring consumer frustrations could risk cementing a negative brand image around “slow charging.” Samsung’s rationale will become clearer as additional updates are unveiled at the upcoming event.

References

• Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 likely won’t charge any faster than their predecessors - Android Police — Published June 5, 2026
• Galaxy Watch 9 leak hints at three new models, plus a borrowed feature from Google - Android Police — Published June 3, 2026
• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Name Confusion Confirmed by Bluetooth SIG - Singulism — Published June 5, 2026