Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra in the test: Ugly smartwatch, but lasts 3 days

Compared to the slim model of the Galaxy Watch, the Ultra is noticeably larger and offers a much larger battery. However, the design takes some getting used to. The smartwatch with Wear OS lasted almost three days in testing and also offers accurate pulse measurements, a more robust housing, LTE as standard and an ECG measurement – which, however, only works with Samsung smartphones. This test shows how it performs in practice.

As is well known, one can argue about tastes. Visually, Samsung is taking a completely different approach with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. To some extent, Samsung probably couldn’t decide on the shape of the case. The watch is vaguely rectangular with rounded corners, but the sapphire crystal display remains round. The whole thing looks as if a Mercedes G-Class had been smashed into a Fiat Multipla. The watch looks quite bulky, but its size wastes space for the display. In our opinion, the look of a sports watch (best list) like the Garmin Fenix ​​7 (test report) would suit the Galaxy Watch Ultra better.

What’s new is the action button, which is built on a crown but doesn’t offer any function when rotated. With a diameter of 47 mm, the watch is quite large. It offers water protection up to 10 ATM (100 meters of water column) and meets IPX8 and the US military standard MIL-STD-810H. Unlike the Apple Watch Ultra, it is not suitable for diving, except for snorkeling.

In our opinion, the titanium case seems to be sensitive to scratches, even though the watch was not damaged in any way in testing. Also, this is not a unibody made of titanium, so the Koreans also use plastic, which doesn’t seem as high quality as you would expect for the price. Changing the bracelet is easy.

The diagonal of the screen is 1.5 inches and is therefore only twice as large as the Galaxy Watch 7 (test report) at 44 mm. The image quality of the extremely fast OLED panel is excellent. In addition, the display is brilliantly bright and can be read even in sunlight. Samsung claims a brightness of 3000 nits, which is noticeably brighter than the Galaxy Watch 7 or the Apple Watch.

The always-on display is activated by default, but this reduces battery life by about half a day. Without the always-on display, the display doesn’t always activate immediately when you turn the watch towards you, you have to jerk your wrist slightly – we didn’t have this problem with the Galaxy Watch 7.

The Watch Ultra has the new Samsung Exynos W1000 processor, manufactured using a 3 nm process. This means that the watch runs extremely smoothly and without delays. The memory offers 32 GB with 2 GB of RAM, which allows for internal music storage without a cell phone or for offline use. Wireless communication is primarily via Bluetooth 5.3, optionally also via WLAN (2 GHz and 5 GHz) and LTE with eSIM.

NFC is integrated so that the watch can be used to make payments with Samsung Pay. GPS, GLONASS, Beidou and Galileo are available for location determination, which means the smartwatch can be used for running even without a smartphone. However, the accuracy is not optimal. There is also a compass on board.

The prerequisite for use is that an Android smartphone with at least Android 10 be compatible; the range of apps is large thanks to the Google Play Store, and Wear OS enables the use of Google applications such as Bixby, Smartthings, Samsung Pay, Google Maps and other services such as Spotify or Komoot. Sensors monitor sleep, cycles, blood oxygen, blood pressure, calorie consumption, heart rate and skin temperature, and the watch also counts steps and swimming strokes. Fall detection is also available. Altimeter and air pressure sensors are also integrated.

However, only Samsung smartphones can fully use the smartwatch, as functions such as ECG or blood pressure measurement are only available via the Samsung Health Monitor app with Korean smartphones. Blood pressure measurement is performed optionally and is only available to users of Samsung smartphones. To do this, the watch must be calibrated beforehand with the upper arm cuff, after which the results are quite solid, although perhaps only an estimate.

Wear OS ensures many smart functions and close integration with smartphones. The Watch Ultra automatically syncs supported apps and some smartphone settings. A QWERTY keyboard and ready replies are available for answering SMS and WhatsApp messages. It is also possible to make phone calls from the watch. There are also some Galaxy AI features, but not as many as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 (test report).

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The operation of the Galaxy Watch series remains largely unchanged in the new version. The smartwatch can be controlled via the touchscreen and two side buttons, as well as a new action button, the latter of which is not available on the Galaxy Watch 7. By default, the action button starts the workout menu, alternatively you can assign the button to a specific workout or activate the stopwatch, flashlight or water lock. However, you cannot assign other functions to this button.

The top button returns to the home screen. By default, a double tap opens the last used app, but it can also be used for other functions. A long press starts Bixby, although Google Assistant or a switch-off menu will also be available as options. The bottom button acts as a back button, but can be optionally configured to display an overview of open apps.

Swipe movements allow easy navigation through menus. There is no physical bezel, but there is a digital version in which you can scroll through information tiles by swiping along the edge of the display. Each input is confirmed by haptic feedback. Voice commands can be done via Bixby or Google Assistant.

The Watch Ultra pairs with a smartphone via an app Galaxy WearablesWhich is preinstalled on Samsung devices. Android smartphone users should also do this Galaxy Watch 7 Plug-in Installing. Sleep analysis and other health data are stored in the app Samsung Health Displayed, but functions such as ECG and blood pressure measurement are only available on Samsung smartphones via the app Samsung Health Monitor Usable. According to Samsung, this function was only certified for its own smartphones, but it seems to us as if they were trying to force Koreans to buy mobile devices. It’s a shame, the Pixel Watch 2 (test report) can do an ECG with any Android device.

The Watch Ultra’s heart rate sensor delivers accurate measurements even under highly fluctuating loads. The step count is also accurate, but the GPS seems less accurate when running. Samsung offers a number of training profiles. However, you almost feel overwhelmed by this choice. There are different profiles for many exercises in the gym, but a simple profile for “strength training” is missing. Automatic training detection works reliably. It instantly detects when you are cycling and automatically stops recording when you stop. The watch also reminds you to walk after an hour of inactivity.

During training, the Watch Ultra displays data such as distance, maximum speed, calorie consumption and heart rate. A comprehensive analysis is carried out in the Samsung Health app, which also offers a “running coach”. The watch also measures blood oxygen level and stress level. “Advanced running metrics” analyze the running style and give suggestions for optimization.

In addition to sports functions, the watch accurately tracks sleep and divides it into different stages such as light sleep, deep sleep, REM and waking phases. It also evaluates the user’s energy level based on sleep quality and previous activities.

What’s new in Sleep is the measurement of the AGEs index (advanced glycation end-products), which provides information about the extent of glycation end products in the body. These compounds are formed when sugar binds to proteins or fats, which are linked to age-related and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems. The feature is still in beta.

Probably the biggest advantage over the Galaxy Watch 7 is the relatively long battery life thanks to Wear OS. Without the always-on display and wearing it while sleeping, we also got three days of battery life in testing the watch. If you wear it at night and use the always-on display, you get about two days.

With the included charging pad, the Watch Ultra takes about two hours to fully charge. That’s not particularly fast. Unfortunately, the watch can’t be charged using other Qi charging mats or smartphones. A power supply isn’t included, so you’ll need to make sure you have one Power supplies with USB-C port (price comparison) uses it.

The surcharge is appropriate for the Ultra model. The RRP is an impressive 699 euros. There is only one variant with LTE via eSIM. Available strap colours are orange, white and dark grey. There are also a number of bracelets. Street prices start at around 552 Euros – The orange variant is the cheapest one.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a sporty smartwatch that scores points mainly due to its sturdy build and impressive battery life of up to three days. The bright OLED display impresses even in direct sunlight, and Wear OS has extensive fitness and health features. Unfortunately, due to certification, ECG only works with Samsung smartphones.

However, the watch is less reliable when it comes to GPS accuracy. The design is a matter of taste: while its robust appearance and water protection up to 10 ATM make it suitable for outdoor use, it appears clunky and less elegant than the higher price suggests. Unlike Apple’s counterpart, it is not meant for divers.

The Watch Ultra is primarily suited for outdoor enthusiasts and fitness-conscious people who value a feature-rich smartwatch that lasts longer than most competitors with Wear OS. However, anyone who prefers a more elegant design will be less happy with the Watch Ultra. The price seems too high to us.