Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review: A Compelling Choice for the 'Ultra' Lifestyle

Are you curious how Samsung’s approach to the premium fitness smartwatch would perform?

Design: Sleek and Sturdy

Let’s start with the obvious: the Galaxy Watch Ultra is truly a sight to behold. Samsung has embraced a rugged aesthetic, featuring a robust 47mm titanium case and a sapphire crystal face. It’s designed to withstand the rigours of outdoor adventures, whether you’re diving, hiking, or biking. With water resistance up to 10 ATM and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, it's built for the elements. Plus, it can endure temperatures up to 55 degrees Celsius and elevations reaching 9,000 meters.

However, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra's design is impressive, it does evoke a sense of déjà vu when compared to its primary competitor, Apple. The orange band feels strikingly familiar, and the side button resembles Apple’s Action button. Even the Double Pinch gesture seems reminiscent of Apple’s Double Tap feature.

Overall, Samsung has hit the mark with the design. Yet, if you're seeking something more unique than the Apple Watch Ultra, you might find this model somewhat derivative.

Performance and Features

On the functional side, the Galaxy Watch Ultra performs admirably. It tracks a wide array of activities and provides detailed metrics similar to those of its competitors.

Navigating the Galaxy Watch Ultra can be a bit cumbersome. In contrast, the Apple Watch's interface feels significantly more intuitive. There’s certainly room for improvement, and let's hope future updates will streamline the experience. However, for now, it’s a minor inconvenience.

Battery Life: Good, but Room for Improvement

Battery life is always a critical factor for outdoor fitness watches, and this is where we wish Samsung had pushed the envelope further. The Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a decent battery life of around two days, which is commendable for a smartwatch but may not suffice for an extensive weekend camping trip. With Power Saving mode activated, you can extend it to about 3-5 days, yet this still falls short compared to what Garmin offers.

Health Insights: The AGEs Dilemma

One of Samsung's standout features is its Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) index. While the science behind this measurement is intriguing—helping to assess risks for conditions like diabetes or stroke—it remains largely experimental. At present, it feels more like a novelty than a transformative health feature. In contrast, body composition measurements are fairly consistent and useful. However, there’s nothing here that significantly outshines existing options on the market.

Sleep Tracking: Fun but Familiar

Samsung's sleep-tracking capabilities are impressive, particularly the “sleep animal” profiles that provide amusing insights into your sleep habits. It's a nice addition, although not groundbreaking—Fitbit has been doing similar things for a while.

Sports and Adventure: Missing Some Key Features

Clearly designed with the adventurer in mind, the Galaxy Watch Ultra includes features like dual-band GPS, a compass, and TrackBack capabilities. They aren't as intuitive or seamlessly integrated as those found on the Apple Watch Ultra. Accessing them during an activity is more complicated than it needs to be.

While the watch provides numerous useful metrics like cadence and vertical oscillation, it lacks certain sports features that make the Apple Watch Ultra more appealing, such as diving capabilities. If you're passionate about water sports, you might find this watch wanting compared to Apple's offerings.

Connectivity and Compatibility: Android Limitations

This is where things get a bit tricky. If you're an Android user, particularly with a Samsung phone, you’ll likely enjoy a seamless experience with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. However, if you use a non-Samsung Android transitioning from an iPhone, the experience can become fragmented.

Certain features, such as ECG monitoring, are exclusive to Samsung phones. While the watch can sync with apps like Google Fit, Samsung Health is the optimal partner, limiting its appeal to non-Samsung users. Additionally, Samsung still lacks the integrated satellite messaging and connectivity features that the Apple ecosystem provides.

The Verdict: A Strong First Effort

There’s no denying that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a well-crafted, highly capable outdoor fitness watch. However, after extensive testing—sometimes alongside Apple Watch Ultra 2—it feels more like a promising work in progress than a market leader.

Samsung has considerable potential to catch up in future versions, and for Android users, this is one of the best options currently available. However, if you’re entrenched in the Apple Watch ecosystem, particularly for outdoor activities, you might find it challenging to make the switch entirely. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a solid debut, but it’s not yet the category disruptor it has the potential to be.