Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review
Introduction
Samsung has raised the bar with its latest premium smartwatch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Aimed at competing with Apple’s high-end Watch Ultra, Samsung’s version promises a blend of ruggedness and advanced features, designed for those who live an active lifestyle. This new addition to Samsung’s wearable lineup doesn’t merely follow in the footsteps of its predecessors but rather creates a new standard, appealing to both fitness enthusiasts and tech lovers alike.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at the premium end of the market, retailing for $649.99 in the US and €468.99 in Europe. The watch is equipped with top-tier specs, ensuring it stands out among competitors and Samsung’s own previous models.
Let’s dive into what makes this device the ultimate wearable companion for extreme conditions and day-to-day use.
Design and Build Quality
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a stunning piece of engineering with a design that’s not just stylish but built to withstand extreme environments. The watch comes in at 47.4mm x 47.4mm x 12.1mm and weighs 61 grams, which makes it feel robust without being overly bulky.
The body is made from grade 4 titanium, a material known for its strength and lightweight properties, while the front is covered with sapphire crystal to protect the display from scratches and harsh impacts. The back of the watch uses a mix of ceramic and sapphire crystal, ensuring durability and a premium feel on your wrist.
One of the main attractions of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is its durability. It’s IP68 certified, meaning it’s dustproof and can be submerged in water up to 100 meters. Furthermore, it’s MIL-STD 810H certified, indicating it can survive high altitudes, extreme temperatures, and even shock from impacts, making it an excellent choice for outdoor adventurers.
Display
The display on the Galaxy Watch Ultra is simply outstanding. It features a 1.50-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 480×480 pixels and a pixel density of 327 ppi. The screen is bright and vivid, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight.
The Always-On Display mode is a welcome feature for those who prefer to see the time and their stats at a glance without needing to raise their wrist. Despite the rugged exterior, the screen is responsive, smooth, and offers crisp visuals, making navigation effortless.
However, Samsung has omitted its signature rotating bezel this year. While this may disappoint some long-time fans, the virtual bezel works well enough, allowing users to scroll through apps and widgets by running their fingers around the screen’s edge. This gives the Ultra a sleeker appearance without the additional moving parts of a physical bezel.
Performance
Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is powered by the new Exynos W1000 chipset, which represents a significant leap in performance over its predecessor, the Exynos W920. The W1000 chip features a penta-core setup and is built on a 3nm process, ensuring better efficiency and improved performance.
Coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, the Galaxy Watch Ultra handles multitasking with ease. Whether you’re using health-tracking apps, navigating with Google Maps, or controlling your music, the watch offers snappy and smooth performance without noticeable lags.
For those who rely on smartwatches for more than just notifications, the LTE support and eSIM capability allow you to use the Galaxy Watch Ultra as a standalone device, making calls, sending messages, and using apps without needing your phone nearby.
Battery Life
Battery life has always been a concern for smartwatches with extensive features, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra performs admirably in this regard. The 590mAh battery provides enough power to get through a full day of heavy usage, and with lighter use, it can easily last two to three days on a single charge.
Samsung has included 10W wireless charging support via Qi technology, allowing you to recharge the watch quickly. The magnetic charging dock included in the box makes it convenient to top up the battery, but you can also use third-party wireless chargers if needed.
Health and Fitness Tracking
One of the most compelling reasons to choose the Galaxy Watch Ultra is its comprehensive health and fitness tracking capabilities. The watch is equipped with Samsung’s BioActive Sensor, which integrates multiple sensors into a single chip, allowing for more accurate readings of health metrics.
Key Health Features
- Heart Rate Monitoring: Accurate, continuous heart rate tracking is at the core of the Ultra’s health features, helping you monitor your cardiovascular health in real-time.
- SpO2: The watch measures your blood oxygen levels, which is particularly useful during intense workouts or in high-altitude environments.
- ECG Monitoring: The ECG feature provides insight into your heart’s rhythm and can detect irregularities, helping users identify potential heart issues early on.
- Body Temperature Sensor: The addition of a body temperature sensor sets the Ultra apart, offering another layer of health tracking for those who want more data on their well-being.
The watch also supports a wide array of fitness modes, including running, cycling, swimming, hiking, and more. The barometer, altimeter, and compass are particularly useful for outdoor enthusiasts, providing real-time data on altitude changes and atmospheric pressure.
Connectivity and Software
The Galaxy Watch Ultra runs on Android Wear OS 5 with Samsung’s One UI Watch 6 interface layered on top. This combination ensures smooth navigation, with a user-friendly interface that seamlessly integrates with Samsung’s ecosystem and other Android devices.
In terms of connectivity, the Ultra offers LTE, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC for mobile payments via Samsung Pay. The inclusion of eSIM support means you can use the watch independently for calls and texts, making it a handy companion for those who prefer to leave their phone behind during workouts or adventures.
Unboxing and In the Box
Samsung delivers a premium unboxing experience with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The packaging is compact and functional, containing the watch itself, a set of default straps, and the 10W wireless charger featuring a USB-C connector. The included accessories are enough to get started, although the range of customizable straps available for purchase allows users to personalize their look.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Premium build with titanium and sapphire crystal
- Excellent display with Always-On mode
- Powerful performance with Exynos W1000 chipset
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking features
- Solid battery life with fast wireless charging
- LTE and eSIM support for independent use
- Water resistance up to 100 meters and MIL-STD 810H certification for durability
Cons
- No rotating bezel, which may disappoint some users
- Slightly bulkier than previous models, might not suit smaller wrists
- High price tag, placing it in the premium category
Conclusion
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is undoubtedly one of the most feature-rich and durable smartwatches on the market today. It excels in terms of design, performance, and health-tracking capabilities, making it the go-to choice for those who need a rugged, reliable smartwatch for both fitness and adventure.
While it carries a premium price tag, the Galaxy Watch Ultra justifies it with a plethora of features and a build quality that ensures it will withstand the test of time. If you’re in the market for a smartwatch that can handle extreme conditions without compromising on everyday usability, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is worth every penny.