Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review: Bigger, bolder, better

Rating: 8.5/10

Smartwatches have come a long way – from being an additional screen for notifications to becoming a go-to companion device for health and fitness tracking. As an early adopter of smartwatches – Asus Zenwatch (2016) – I have witnessed this gadget transform from a need to a necessity.

This year at the Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event, Samsung did something different – launched its first smartwatch with the ‘Ultra’ moniker and it makes sense because there’s an ‘Ultra’ smartphone, a tablet and even Galaxy Book Ultra. So why not the Watch Ultra?

The name is alright, but the moment Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra, the whole world compared it with the Apple Watch Ultra and it appears that Samsung did too – while designing one. But that’s not the story here. The Watch Ultra from Samsung is a lot different and has the Galaxy Watch characteristics but in a different state of tune.

With the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, things are transforming once again and, in a direction, where a single watch will offer all that smartwatches have ever been or could be. A single device that will be your phone’s extra display, quick response device, health tracking, fitness monitoring and even replace your phone with onboard LTE support.

It’s not without its quirks and I have used it long enough to tell you everything about Galaxy Watch Ultra and answer the question – whether you should invest Rs 60,000 on it or settle for the regular Galaxy Watch 7 or go for Watch 6 Classic.

Design
Controversial. And that’s one word that can describe the entire Galaxy Watch Ultra’s design. But I feel there’s more to the story. Now, many people are comparing it with the Apple Watch Ultra and why not – the resemblance is there. But, if you dig deeper, the design is more Samsung than anything else. For instance, the rectangular housing with circular display is completely new and no one has done it before Samsung in smartwatches. The traditional two-button design has moved to a three-button design –Action button with an orange accent – is one main highlight and it can be customised to run any command. By default, it is set to Workout modes and it comes in handy more time than you can think – especially if you are involved in physical activities. But, you can change it to do anything you want.

The entire watch is made out of titanium and the display is sapphire crystal which adds to the durability. Samsung has also used a cushion design to make the watch more comfortable and it is military-grade certified too. Samsung says that the watch can withstand extreme low and high temperatures without any worries. The build quality, as always is solid and there’s no complaint as such.

Strap

However, it’s a big watch – 47mm – to be exact and it feels bigger than the even bigger 49mm Apple Watch Ultra and the credit goes to the rectangular-circular housing of the watch. Sure, it feels alright on the wrist, but if your hands are skinny, then it can be a little overwhelming. Then, there’s this whole Orange accent thing and I wish that Samsung should have gone with something else here. Also, the watch, despite its size, is comfortable to wear and it sits well on the wrist too. The default – Sports Band – feels alright, but it is only bulky side. Samsung also offers several other strap options – Peakform and Fabric bands in multiple colour options.

Display
Samsung has ensured that Ultra users get the best display experience. The watch has a 1.46-inch Super AMOLED display with 480x480 pixel resolution and 16M colour depth. Moreover, it can peak at 3000 nits which is insane for a smartwatch. While you won’t need that much brightness in day-to-day usages, but its there and I felt that the Watch Ultra is visible in any lighting conditions.

Galaxy Watch Ultra hand feel

And, I liked the Night Vision modes for the watch faces. There are several of them and it automatically switches to the low light mode as soon as the lights start getting dim in the surroundings. I liked it because it reduces the distraction in low light conditions or while sleeping, in theatres, etc.

Samsung has also added a couple of new watch faces too especially for Galaxy Watch Ultra. These new watch faces complement Watch Ultra’s ‘extreme’ nature to withstand everything by offering more information right on the display.

Software and features

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra comes with One UI Watch 6 based on Wear OS 5. The blend of Samsung’s own take on watch design with the power of Wear OS is a good overall experience. The Galaxy Watch Ultra comes with a similar user interface to other Galaxy Watches and that’s not the bad thing. The One UI Watch experience has always been refined and user-friendly. Plus, Samsung has added its own twist to make things even better and differentiate its smartwatches from other WearOS-powered devices.

Watch Ultra Multisport mode

Wear OS 5 integration enhances the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s functionality by offering deeper compatibility with Google apps, such as Assistant and Google Maps, while the One UI Watch 6 layer provides Samsung-specific features. Notification handling remains a standout feature, with clear previews that display app icons, text, and even images. Users can respond to notifications with quick replies or voice-to-text, though support for certain languages may be limited. Furthermore, Samsung’s AI can suggest context-based quick replies that bring added convenience.

Samsung has also added gesture controls to improve the usability of the smartwatch. It comes with the double-pinch gesture, which works in select scenarios like answering calls or capturing photos. While the camera control feature is restricted to Samsung smartphones, other functions like Shake-to-dismiss and knock-knock gestures remain universally useful.

A notable new addition is the Siren feature, activated by holding down the Action Button. This safety measure could be valuable in emergencies, such as getting lost in remote areas.

Health and Fitness tracking
If there’s one thing that Galaxy Watch Ultra can put anything to shame is health and fitness tracking features. You name it and the Watch Ultra most likely tracks it. This time around Samsung has added the new AGEs index for assessing metabolic health based on blood sugar level and it comes in handy and helps adjust eating habits, workout routines, etc based on it. Do keep in mind that the watch does not actually measure blood sugar levels, it only takes it as a reference point to measure AEGs index.

Health and fitness tracking

Then there’s the ECG and HRV support, but they work only with Samsung Galaxy phones.

Samsung Health’s ability to track workouts has been upgraded with features like route tracking and real-time performance updates when cycling or running. The inclusion of a dedicated Night mode for midnight hikes is designed to preserve battery life and minimise distractions during low-light activities. Moreover, there are hundreds of other fitness and workout tracking options available. Samsung has also added a new Multisport mode that allows users to combine multiple activities into one and monitor them without requiring them to press an additional button.

AGEs Index

The Galaxy Watch Ultra builds on its predecessor’s health and fitness tracking, adding several new features while maintaining core capabilities. One of the most significant improvements is in outdoor navigation, where users can now import GPX data for turn-by-turn guidance. The dual-frequency GPS ensures better accuracy.

Samsung is also leveraging AI to monitor health with Watch Ultra. There’s this new AI-powered Energy Score that aggregates data from sleep, heart rate, and daily exercise to give users a holistic view of their overall health. While the sleep-tracking feature now includes heart rate variability, sleep-tracking, etc. The feature works fine.

Talking about tracking performance, the steps, heart rate, etc are accurate and there are no major issues as such, except for overcounting the steps.

Battery life
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is rated to deliver up to 80 hours of battery life with a 590mAh battery. In my testing, with daily activity of around 1 hour 30 minutes an always-on display turned on, LTE and Wi-Fi connected, heart rate monitoring set to always, and sleep tracking, the Watch Ultra managed to deliver two days of battery life and this is really impressive. In moderate usage conditions, the watch can easily last for around 3 to 4 days on a single charge.

Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an impressive smartwatch designed for those who want a feature-packed device tailored for extreme conditions and fitness enthusiasts. Its robust health-tracking features, durable build, and high-quality display make it stand out.

The integration of Wear OS 5 with Samsung’s One UI Watch 6 ensures a smooth experience with extensive app support. However, the hefty price tag of Rs 60,000 may deter some users, especially with similar offerings in the market. If you're looking for top-tier durability and extensive fitness features, this is a solid investment.