A couple of years ago, Apple broke the internet with its Apple Watch Ultra, an outdoor-focused smartwatch with a titanium case, tons of sports features, and your choice of durable strap. It already came out with a follow-up, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a wider display and a few other updates. However, Samsung now has a thing to say about the rugged wearable, unveiling its own direct competitor, the Galaxy Watch Ultra (notice it also has the word “Ultra” in the name), announced at its Unpacked event this week. Let’s take a look…
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Basics
Compared to the squared case and screen on the Apple Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch Ultra features a round display like the brand’s basic smartwatch line. It measures 47mm across — the biggest the brand has come out with so far — and is made of titanium with a sapphire crystal and 100m of water resistance (IP68 rated) so despite being large, it’s also pretty lightweight on your wrist. Along with the trio of case color options, there are also three strap types — Marine, Trail, and Peakform — depending which activity you prefer. These can be swapped out with Samsung’s new lug system.
For those already immersed in the Samsung ecosystem and wanting something a bit more activity-oriented, this Ultra watch is perfect for you. Like the Apple version, the Galaxy Ultra has a quick-start button for fitness and sports modes. However, the Samsung smartwatch also has dedicated buttons for “Home” and “Back.” The screen also ups the brightness to 3,000 nits.
Working alongside the dual-frequency GPS, Samsung’s rotating digital touch bezel helps with navigation. Other additions include new features for cyclists and runners, a new multisport activity profile with AI-powered features such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips, Night Mode which turns the screen black and red, an 85dB emergency siren, and the longest-lasting battery Samsung has made thus far with 100 hours of total battery capability — 48 hours in activity modes. And lest we bury the lede, there’s a groundbreaking new feature that can detect sleep apnea, and it’s FDA-approved — an industry first!
There’s also the Galaxy Watch 7
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of the $650 Galaxy Watch Ultra, you can spend considerably less and still get Samsung connectivity at your wrist. Updating the Galaxy Watch 6, the Galaxy Watch 7 will cost you just $300 and has much of the same software updates as the Ultra. Compared to the outgoing model, the 7 is the same size and has the same battery life. While it won’t have all the bells and whistles of the Ultra, it will have the same dual-frequency GPS, storage, and fast-charging capabilities. Like the Ultra version, the 7 has been FDA-cleared for sleep apnea as well, which is pretty awesome.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 47mm
Case Material: Titanium
Strap: Silicone or fabric
Water Resistance: 100m
Battery Life: 100 hours (48 hours in exercise modes)
GPS?: Yes, dual-frequency
Max Brightness: 3,000 nits
Pricing & Availability
Around $150 cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at $650. Pre-orders are available right now from Samsung’s website. The smartwatch will arrive July 24.
Recap
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Samsung makes an alternative to the adventure-oriented Apple Watch Ultra, also with a titanium case, 100m of water resistance, and lots of sports features. However, there’s also the addition of the first-ever FDA-approved sleep apnea detector.
