Samsung has long been a significant player in the smartwatch market, continuously refining and enhancing its offerings over the years. With the launch of the Galaxy Watch Ultra, Samsung aims to solidify its position and challenge Apple’s dominance in the premium smartwatch segment. After spending some time with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, it’s time to break down its features, performance, and whether it’s worth the steep price tag.
Is the Design Trendy Enough?
The design of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is striking, but it may not be for everyone. When I first unboxed and tried on the watch, my immediate thought was, “Wow, this thing is massive!” The watch has a squircle design with a circular screen, and while its build quality is premium, it’s undoubtedly on the bulky side. The grade 4 titanium body and sapphire crystal screen offer excellent protection against everyday wear and tear.
Weighing around 90 grams, the Watch Ultra is substantial, and for those used to lighter devices, this can be a deal-breaker. While it offers top-tier materials, the sheer size and weight may make it uncomfortable for some to wear, especially during sleep or extended usage.
Additionally, the non-rotating bezels may feel like a missed opportunity for those used to interactive bezels. However, this design choice could be linked to the watch’s 10 ATM water resistance rating and IP68 certification, making it suitable for swimming and even diving.
Can the Hardware Hold Its Own?
On the hardware front, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is packed with impressive specifications. The 1.5-inch OLED display offers a sharp and vibrant viewing experience, with good brightness levels. It’s the same display from the Galaxy Watch 6, but it’s still a quality screen protected by Sapphire glass, ensuring durability.
Under the hood, the Watch Ultra is powered by the new Exynos W1000 chipset, built on a 3nm manufacturing process. This helps improve battery life and overall performance. Alongside 2GB of RAM, it handles multiple tasks smoothly, and the upgraded 32GB storage allows you to store more data, like images and music, directly on the device.
The Watch Ultra also includes multiple sensors such as Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, Infrared Temperature Sensor, and Optical Heart Rate Sensor, making it a comprehensive health tracker. The addition of LTE, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi support adds versatility, while the new L1+LG dual-frequency GPS ensures better tracking accuracy.
Software, Fitness, and Tracking
The Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in fitness and tracking features. It can detect various workouts automatically, from treadmill runs to outdoor walks. The heart rate zone feature and accurate HR sensor are great for tracking fat-burning efforts during workouts.
Thanks to its built-in GPS and LTE, you can leave your phone at home while still having access to music, tracking, and notifications. The auto workout detection works well, though there may be times when it doesn’t trigger correctly.
For sleep tracking, while the watch offers this feature, the weight and size of the device made it uncomfortable for overnight use, affecting the accuracy of the sleep data. However, the Watch Ultra does include ECG and Blood Pressure monitoring, though these features require a Samsung phone for full functionality. The body composition analysis (BCA) feature is available for Android phones but is not 100% accurate compared to professional tools.
The watch also supports Samsung Pay, which is great for quick payments via tap-to-pay, making it a convenient option for public transport or daily purchases.
How Good Is the Battery Life?
The battery life on the Galaxy Watch Ultra is one of its standout features. It lasted through a full 18-hole golf game with GPS and tracking enabled, which is impressive. On a typical day with Always-On Display (AOD) and active workout tracking, the watch lasted about two days. If you’re conservative with settings, like turning off AOD and using power-saving modes, the battery could extend up to 2.5–3 days.
However, the charging speed leaves much to be desired, taking nearly two hours to fully charge from 0% to 100%. If you’re not wearing it at night, overnight charging is recommended.
Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a solid choice if you’re an Android user seeking a premium smartwatch to rival the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s packed with features, excellent tracking capabilities, and a robust design, making it a top contender in the smartwatch market. However, its size and weight might not be ideal for everyone, and the price could make some think twice.
If you’re willing to overlook these factors and want a high-performing, feature-packed smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is certainly worth considering. But if comfort and design are top priorities, you might want to explore other options.
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