Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: A Month-Long Deep Dive
When have you ever come across a high-tech product that you just had to try? For me, it was the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Because of so much hype and innovative design, I knew I had to try the Galaxy Watch Ultra and see how it felt in person, day in and day out. This isn’t just a review of the specs, it’s a review of the actual experience, the little things that matter, and the serious accuracy testing I did.
Initial Impressions
The first thing that surprised me when I opened the box was the build quality. The watch looks solid, not like a flimsy high-tech product. The titanium bezel and sapphire crystal display give it a premium look. I chose the titanium gray color with a black strap. The watch face is customizable with different layouts and colors, and I especially appreciate that the UV indexes are right there. The UV index is discreet but important, especially for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. The watch is a bit larger than what I’m used to, but it wears well. It’s also nice that you can use an old lug watch strap.
Detailed Functional Analysis
Let’s talk about the features. The accuracy of the heart rate and GPS is amazing - we tested them with the Polar H10 chest strap and the Garmin Epics Pro Gen 2, and the results were surprisingly close. In running, the Galaxy Watch Ultra often competed with the Polar strap, even during sprints, and the GPS was just as impressive, keeping up with Garmin, known for its GPS excellence.
I was also pleased with the new watch faces. One of my favorites was the one that displays the time, weather, compass, heart rate, and UV index in one place. The pinch gesture is very handy for turning off alarms and snooze notifications. Battery life is two and a half days with an hour-long workout with GPS. That’s not as good as Samsung’s claimed 100 hours of battery economy, but for hours of daily use, it’s excellent. Sleep tracking is pretty detailed, with sleep grades, oxygen levels, and skin temperature graphs. I appreciate the depth of information, even if there are sometimes gaps in the blood oxygen level data.
Real Life Applications
Now I carry this watch with me at all times. I wear it while running, hiking, and golfing. It is very convenient to have all notifications on my wrist and the pinch gestures make it easy to navigate. The callback tracking feature is a lifesaver when exploring a new city. The durable design means you don’t have to worry about scratching it while bouldering. The shortcut button to get to your workout is also a nice touch. The UV index on the watch face is handy when boating. The only downside while golfing is the quick access button sometimes gets knocked off when you bend your wrist. I also use them to track my nightly sleep and it’s great to be able to see all the data in the morning.
Disadvantages and Limitations
Of course, not everything is rosy. I wish the buttons worked differently while running. I think they should work like up and down buttons for navigating through workout pages. The navy strap looks nice, but it has little metal hooks that stick out and could snag on something. Also, the strap is difficult to put on. Also, the touch bezel isn’t as effective as the rotating bezel and it’s hard to use if your hands are sweaty or wet. The tap gesture seemed overly sensitive to us and we had to turn it off. We were also a little disappointed that the watch can’t be charged from a Samsung cell phone. A useful feature for traveling was lost. In addition, we saw several reports of the display being misaligned, which is a serious quality control issue. Lastly, we wish the watch had a wake-up briefing that would display sleep, calendar and weather information.
Compared to other smartwatches
I’ve used, the Galaxy Watch Ultra stands out in a few key areas. Battery life is much better than the Apple Watch and some older Galaxy Watch models; GPS and heart rate accuracy is on par with a high-end fitness watch; and battery life is much better than the Garmin Epics Pro Gen 2. I’ve used the Garmin Epics Pro Gen 2, and while the Garmin was slightly better in some areas, the Galaxy Watch Ultra comes very close. I also don’t like the strap changing mechanism on the Apple Watch Ultra, so Samsung’s new system is a welcome change. The Apple Watch Ultra is a good choice, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a better choice for Android users who want a rugged and feature-rich smartwatch. I was a big fan of the Garmin epics Pro Gen 2, but after using this watch for the past month, I can’t wait to go back to Garmin.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Overall the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a great smartwatch for those who value durability, accuracy, and smooth operation. They’re not perfect, but the pros far outweigh the cons. If you’re a fitness enthusiast who needs a durable watch with great tracking capabilities, and you’re an Android user, this is the best choice. They are a bit pricey, but the features and quality justify the investment. I would recommend them to anyone who runs, sprints or triathlons. The only thing missing is a rotating bezel. If there was one, this would be the best smartwatch for Android users.
