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A UAE regulatory listing reported in May 2024 showed Samsung’s upcoming premium watch as the Galaxy Watch Ultra (model SM-L705F) and its lower-cost watch as the Galaxy Watch FE (model SM-R861). It was strong evidence for the names—not a Samsung launch announcement or a complete specification sheet. Both names later became official products.
What the UAE certification revealed
The naming evidence came from the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) database. Contemporary reporting said its listing identified a Galaxy Watch Ultra, model SM-L705F, and a Galaxy Watch FE, model SM-R861. The May 2024 report described the database entry; it was not a Samsung press release.
That distinction matters. A regulatory listing can provide useful evidence that a device is being registered under a particular designation, but it does not announce every retail configuration or establish a product’s full specifications, price, launch date, or availability in every country. Model numbers can also differ by region and connectivity.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhy “Galaxy Watch Ultra” mattered
Before the listing surfaced, coverage had floated several names for Samsung’s premium watch, including Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra and Galaxy Watch X. The TDRA entry made Galaxy Watch Ultra the best-supported name at that point. It suggested Samsung was using Ultra as a distinct product name rather than simply appending it to “Galaxy Watch 7.”
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- 47mm - 1.5" Super AMOLED, 480x480px, 590mAh Battery, MIL-STD 810H certified, IP68/10ATM 100m water resistant, ECG certified
- 64GB, 2GB RAM, Exynos W1000 (3nm), Penta-core, Mali-G68 GPU, Android Wear OS 5, One UI Watch 8 with AI Assistant
- Unlock your full potential with Galaxy AI: Track and improve your fitness performance, monitor heart health with precision, get personalized wellness tips, optimize your sleep for better health, stay connected with smart replies, and enjoy music or podcasts on the go—all from your Galaxy Watch.
- Compatible with Android devices Only. Supports Google Pay. 3G: 850/900/1700/2100/1900/2100MHz, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/18/19/20/25/26/28/40/66/71 - eSIM.
- International Model - No Warranty. 100% Unlocked but Most US carriers may not allow International models. Will still work as Bluetooth Watch. Works outside US with all carriers. (Country selection may not be available during setup. Select Any, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings.)
The certification alone could not guarantee that every market would use precisely the same branding. In June 2024, regional Samsung support pages briefly appeared with the Galaxy Watch Ultra name, providing subsequent first-party corroboration; those pages were later removed. Contemporary coverage of the pages also reported a 47mm size. Samsung later released products under both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch FE names.
What the FCC filing did—and did not—say about charging
A separate US FCC filing was associated with Ultra model SM-L705U. Reporting on the filing noted a 10W wireless-charging input. That figure should be treated as an observation from the filing, not proof that the retail watch’s maximum charging speed was 10W. The test setup may have used a 10W charger, limiting what the record showed; reports at the time said Galaxy Watch 7 models supported 15W.
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- YOUR TRAIL GUIDE ON YOUR WRIST: Navigate challenging trails on your run with path, elevation and pace guidance on your Galaxy Watch Ultra2¹. The smart watch gives you personalized hydration alerts² along the way so you can run and feel your best.
- ONE PERSONALIZED SCORE TO KNOW YOUR HEART BETTER: Get an easy-to-understand view of your overall heart health³ with a single personalized score⁴ and guidance, so you can avoid the guesswork.
- INSTANT AI ASSISTANCE. NO SLOWING DOWN: Every second can be crucial when you're outdoors. With Galaxy Watch Ultra2, you can just raise your wrist, start talking naturally and get instant AI assistance⁵—no wake phrase needed, no slowing down.
- GREAT DURABILITY FOR THE GREAT OUTDOORS: From rugged trails to under water, take this fitness watch anywhere as your dependable adventure partner. IP69K and 10ATM rated, it’s dust-tight⁶ and water resistant⁷ up to 100m so you can take on any challenge.
- YOUR BODY SPEAKS. LISTEN WITH VITALS: Understand your body better with Vitals⁹–it’s built to track 5 different health metrics while you sleep, catch shifts from your usual patterns, and also provide tailored guidance based on the insights.⁸
In short, the FCC detail raised a question but did not settle the Ultra’s final charging specification. Certification evidence should not be stretched into a broader product claim than it supports.
What the Watch FE name suggested
The FE designation signaled a more affordable Galaxy wearable, but the certification did not explain what hardware Samsung would reuse or change. Reports connected the SM-R861 Bluetooth model to the Galaxy Watch 4, whose Bluetooth model number was SM-R860, and speculated that the FE might reuse elements of that watch. That was a lineage theory, not a Samsung-confirmed description or proof that the two products were identical.
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- 47mm - 1.5" Super AMOLED, 480x480px, 590mAh Battery, MIL-STD 810H certified, IP68/10ATM 100m water resistant, ECG certified
- 64GB, 2GB RAM, Exynos W1000 (3nm), Penta-core, Mali-G68 GPU, Android Wear OS 5, One UI Watch 8 with AI Assistant
- Unlock your full potential with Galaxy AI: Track and improve your fitness performance, monitor heart health with precision, get personalized wellness tips, optimize your sleep for better health, stay connected with smart replies, and enjoy music or podcasts on the go—all from your Galaxy Watch.
- Compatible with Android devices Only. Supports Google Pay. 3G: 850/900/1700/2100/1900/2100MHz, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/18/19/20/25/26/28/40/66/71 - eSIM.
- International Model - No Warranty. 100% Unlocked but Most US carriers may not allow International models. Will still work as Bluetooth Watch. Works outside US with all carriers. (Country selection may not be available during setup. Select Any, as Country will updated later after Connecting to WIFI in Settings.)
Later Samsung US pricing documentation listed Bluetooth Galaxy Watch FE models under SM-R861 and LTE models under SM-R866. That later distinction is a reminder that the first model number reported was not the entire FE family. A shared platform or related model number also does not establish identical casing, battery, sensors, processor configuration, software support, or connectivity.
Design and specifications were still leak territory
Alongside the naming reports, renders and other leaks described a possible Ultra design with a round display inside a squircle-like, rounded-square outer case. Reports also suggested a 47mm size, an approximately 1.5-inch display, three side buttons, and a larger speaker grille. These details were not established by the TDRA name listing. They belonged to a separate, less certain stream of pre-launch reporting.
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- WHY GALAXY WATCH ULTRA: Longest-lasting battery yet.¹* Advanced health and sleep tracking features.* Personalized Running Coach.* Durable titanium casing.* 10ATM Water Resistance.⁹* Dual-frequency GPS.* Personal AI assistant for hands free help.⁶*
- A BATTERY BUILT FOR ENDURANCE: Have the confidence to adventure off-grid with a battery that can keep up with you. Galaxy Watch Ultra features our longest-lasting battery yet,¹ so you can go to the extreme for days on end without needing to recharge.
- YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS THE NIGHT BEFORE: Fuel tomorrow’s performance with a great night’s sleep, thanks to Advanced Sleep Coaching² - now improved with even more ways to help you sleep smarter.
- BUILT FOR THE LONG RUN: Whether you’re on a trail or a track, unleash the winning runner within using Running Coach³ on Galaxy Watch Ultra. It analyzes factors⁴ such as your age, weight, oxygen levels and heart rate to guide you through your run.
- UPDATES THAT GIVE YOU THE EDGE: Navigate the wild more easily with Now Bar⁵ and an improved user experience. Now Bar conveniently puts the info you use the most - like weather, timers, directions and more - right on your main Watch screen.
The same caution applies to claims about the processor, battery capacity or real-world battery life, health sensors, water resistance, software version, final colors, and price. None was confirmed by the naming certification. Nor did that record establish whether the Ultra would replace a Pro model or sit alongside one.
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Launch timing: what was expected in May 2024
At the time of the certification report, Samsung was expected to introduce the watches alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 family at Galaxy Unpacked in Paris on July 10, 2024. That was the reported schedule, not a date proved by the TDRA filing. The expected launch subsequently took place, and Samsung went on to sell products under both names.
Evidence at a glance
| Claim | What the evidence supported |
|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch Ultra name | Reported in the UAE TDRA listing for model SM-L705F; later briefly echoed by Samsung regional support pages. |
| Galaxy Watch FE name | Reported in the TDRA listing for model SM-R861. |
| US Ultra model | FCC reporting associated model SM-L705U with the US filing. |
| Ultra charging | A 10W input was reported in the FCC record, but that alone did not establish the watch’s maximum retail charging speed. |
| Ultra and FE design/specifications | Separate reports and renders offered expectations; the naming certification did not confirm them. |
| FE and Galaxy Watch 4 relationship | A reported theory based on model lineage, not confirmation that the FE was an identical rebrand. |
What the listing could not confirm
Read as a naming milestone, the certification was meaningful: it helped resolve whether Samsung’s premium watch would be called Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch 7 Ultra, or Galaxy Watch X, and it tied the names to model numbers. Read as a full product announcement, it was not enough. It did not by itself establish retail pricing, exact launch timing, global or carrier availability, final features, or whether a device would be identical across markets.
For historical context, Samsung’s US materials later listed the original Galaxy Watch Ultra at a $649.99 MSRP and the Galaxy Watch FE at $199.99 for Bluetooth and $249.99 for LTE. Those are US MSRP figures, not universal or necessarily current transaction prices; promotions and availability change. Samsung’s later MSRP documentation also listed the FE’s Bluetooth and LTE model families separately. Samsung’s published US MSRP file provides that later product and pricing context, while the original certification report remains the relevant source for what surfaced in May 2024.
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