Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review: There’s more to this outdoorsy smartwatch | Technology News
In 2024, there is a gamut of reasons for one to own a smartwatch. For someone like me, who occasionally goes on trekking expeditions, and takes brisk walks every day, health tracking could be a good enough reason to own a smartwatch. I recently got the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, a smartwatch designed to last in the great outdoors. Whether its to do with cycling, jogging, or swimming, Samsung has put a lot of thought into building this unique piece of tech.
I have been using the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for nearly two weeks. While I admire the watch as a whole, a few aspects of the smartwatch could improve. In this review, I will try to give a nuanced approach to this smartwatch, which is a premium offering from the South Korean smartphone brand.
What caught my attention
The first thing that caught my eye was the large, robust body, and the new proprietary strap in bright orange. I felt the strap itself can make a unique style statement on your wrist.
Well, the Galaxy Watch Ultra represents a significant redesign in the Galaxy Watch lineup. Ever since it was launched, the design has attracted praise and drawn some criticism for its resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Regardless, this is indeed Samsung’s boldest smartwatch to date.
The Samsung Galaxy Ultra Watch features a super strong strap, designed to meet the rigours of adventure sports. (Image: The Indian Express/Bijin Jose)
Although users may like the new aesthetics, some may miss the more refined look of the previous models in the Galaxy Watch lineup, especially the classic rotating bezel which is missing on the Watch Ultra. One can still use a similar motion inside the bezels to scroll through options.
I found the watch’s build quality to be premium and the titanium casing adds to the durability factor of the device. After days of wearing it to work, going for long walks, and carrying out other outdoor activities, the Galaxy Watch Ultra remains free of scratches or dents. This showcases the resilience of the watch that is specifically designed to survive the rigours of outdoor adventures.
How does it perform?
In my experience, the Galaxy Watch Ultra adequately delivers on the performance front. This is owing to the presence of its advanced sensors and hardware. The watch could be an ideal choice for fitness enthusiasts given its accuracy in tracking various metrics.
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During my test, the GPS and heart rate sensors performed well with a bare minimum lag. Besides, it monitors various health metrics such as sleep, heart rate, and AGEs quite efficiently. Due to a lack of time, I could not fully gauge the AGEs Index, a function that is capable of offering insights into your biological age and metabolic health. All these features and their detailed feedback can help users fully optimise their everyday routines for better health.
Samsung Health app has an intuitive interface that allows you to track various metrics of your everyday activities.
For those who want to improve their quality of sleep, the Watch Ultra offers detailed sleep metrics, including blood oxygen monitoring and sleep apnea detection. While the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers accurate tracking, I was not too much impressed with the battery life. Imagine you are planning a three-day trek with your friends. What good would a device that requires you to charge it multiple times during your expedition be? Still, the Galaxy Watch Ultra gives you 2.5 days of battery life. Also, the watch takes around 1.5 hours to charge fully.
While it has a similar battery life to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, it falls slightly short of the 100 hours advertised by Samsung on power-saving modes. Perhaps, the biggest limitation here would be the lack of an option to charge the watch via a Samsung smartphone as such a feature would be convenient for avid travellers. At present, users will have to carry a separate charger for their smartwatch, adding to the bulk of their luggage.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra nudging me to stand up and stretch after I have been glued to my seat for hours. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
I felt the buttons were not fully optimised for physical activities as they would often activate features like Samsung Pay and Google Assistant . However, reconfiguration to set it as a scroll up and down button can be greatly useful during workouts.
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A plethora of features
I have been particularly charmed by how effortlessly the Galaxy Watch Ultra lets you sift through apps and functions, be it managing notifications or running apps. If you do not like how the watch looks, you could simply opt for a watch face that matches your style. The customisations are complemented by a series of gestures such as the double pinch gesture which allows quick actions such as dismissing notifications or snoozing alarms. In my experience, I didn’t have much use for the double pinch gesture. However, this could come in handy for heavy users.
A side view of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. (Image: The Indian Express/Bijin Jose)
The Galaxy Ultra offers a range of smart features, from voice assistants to music control and app management. Besides, there is support for useful gestures that enhance interaction, allowing users to manage notifications with ease or perform quick actions without extensive use of the buttons. I had a great time reading through WhatsApp messages on the crisp super AMOLED display.
Who should consider Galaxy Watch Ultra?
In my opinion, the Galaxy Ultra Watch can be ideal for active Android users who prioritise fitness tracking and durable design over anything else. Also, this smartwatch does not pair with iPhones. Outdoor enthusiasts may find it particularly appealing, especially the combination of rugged build, accurate GPS, and features optimised for outdoor activities. This could be a great pick for fitness-focussed individuals, who can benefit from accurate heart rate monitoring and comprehensive workout tracking.
