Samsung's Latest Galaxy Watch Ultra Takes Aim at Apple Watch Ultra
Samsung has just introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra during its Galaxy Unpacked event. Designed to rival the Apple Watch Ultra series, this rugged smartwatch aims to satisfy Android users with its array of features and durable build.
Priced at $650, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is available for preorder now, with general sales starting on July 24. Purchases can be made through Samsung’s website, Amazon, Best Buy, and other major retailers. As a special offer, preordering the Galaxy Watch Ultra includes an additional watch band at no extra cost.
Samsung markets the Galaxy Watch Ultra as its most durable model yet, constructed with aerospace-grade titanium and featuring a unique “cushion design” to protect the display in tough conditions. The dynamic lug system is engineered for more comfort.
The smartwatch boasts a 47mm Super AMOLED display protected by sapphire crystal glass, measuring 1.5 inches with a resolution of 480 x 480. The always-on display supports full color and reaches a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making it highly visible even in bright outdoor environments.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is water-resistant up to 100 meters and has an IP68 rating, indicating complete dust resistance and the ability to withstand prolonged submersion. Its titanium-grade 437 frame allows operation from 500 meters below sea level to 9,000 meters above. The watch is available in three colors: silver, gray, and white.
Health and fitness features are a key focus of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It is the first smartwatch to include FDA-approved technology for monitoring sleep apnea, requiring the watch to be worn for two consecutive nights to initiate this feature. A Quick Button on the watch initiates and controls workouts and can be customized for other functions.
There are seven built-in sensors that support the health and fitness functionalities, including the Samsung BioActive Sensor, which combines optical bio-signal, electrical heart signal, and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Other sensors include temperature, accelerometer, barometer, gyro, geomagnetic, and light sensors.
Powered by Samsung’s first 3nm processor, the Exynos W1000, the Galaxy Watch Ultra should deliver a smooth and efficient user experience. This processor is also used in the Galaxy Watch 7 and is reported to be three times faster than the previous-generation Exynos W930 chip in the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
The watch features a 590mAh battery compatible with fast charging, offering up to 48 hours of battery life in exercise power-saving mode and up to 100 hours in standard power-saving mode. However, some features like network and Bluetooth connections may be limited in exercise power-saving mode. The watch comes with 2GB of memory and 32GB of storage for apps, music, and files.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 are the first Android smartwatches to run on Wear OS 5, which promises improved performance and power efficiency over Wear OS 4. They also include Samsung’s One UI 6 interface for a unique user experience, along with a variety of apps from Galaxy services, Google, and third-party developers.
Connectivity options for the Galaxy Watch Ultra include LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi (2.4 and 5GHz), and GPS. To use the Galaxy Watch Ultra, you need an Android device with at least 1.5GB of memory and running Android 11 or later. The watch is not compatible with Apple iPhones.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra represents Samsung’s latest effort to deliver a rugged and feature-rich smartwatch for Android users, providing advanced health and fitness tracking, robust construction, and a host of connectivity options.
