There are chunky smartwatches and then there's the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Samsung made some beefy watches in the past but none compares to the latest top-of-the-line model. The company has rightly tapped into the pulse of the market and created something that meets a need in the market that conventional watchmakers have long adjusted to. This is how Samsung has ensured that even those who can't extract the full potential of this smartwatch will end up buying it anyway.
The watch industry has seen a major shift in customer preferences over the past few years. Larger watches are now in much more demand, as people prefer owning beefier and bulkier timepieces as opposed to the smaller sizes that could easily slip under the cuff of a shirt. 42mm has become the norm for most manufacturers while the vast majority are now pumping out models above 44mm.
Some of the biggest brands that aren't so quick to jump on trends have also realized where the industry is going and have adapted accordingly. Take Rolex, for example, one of the world's leading manufacturer of luxury watches. In recent years, its iconic Datejust lineup has been expanded from the longstanding 36mm size to 41mm, the largest size ever made for this series. The Oyster Perpetual series, once available in sizes as small as 31mm, has been expanded to offer 39mm and 41mm sizes.
Then there are the Panerais and Hublots of the world, brands that are known primarily for their larger watches. Iconic luxury brands like Audemars Piguet are producing watches as large as 48mm with incredible mechanical watchmaking precision. Suffice to say, larger watches are most certain “in” these days, and there's nothing to suggest that this is a passing fad.
Samsung has also adapted to this shift as it has already launched models as large as 46mm, this includes the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, the outgoing bonkers smartwatch that has now been replaced with the new Galaxy Watch Ultra. At 47mm, it's larger still, and the unique design choice that Samsung has made for this new smartwatch further highlights its aim to tap into this growing trend of large watches.
The simple circular design that's long been synonymous with its smartwatches is out in favor of a new look that includes a circular face fused with a frame that's more on the squarish side. It's evocative of watch models we've seen from the likes of Panerai and Hermes. The frame sits flush against the wrist and provides the circular face with a pronounced presence.
Samsung has executed this look very well. It doesn't feel rough around the edges, on the contrary, it looks rather sleek despite its heftier silhouette. Yes, nobody's mistaking it for a class dress watch, but it doesn't look brutish either. It's the prefect blend of sporty and stylish, which is exactly what most buyers are looking for these days.
Conventional watch owners who have resisted switching over to smartwatches simply because they've been used to wearing larger sizes now have a good option in the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Longtime Galaxy Watch owners who have otherwise chosen to wear larger conventional watches will also appreciate the new model, as it scratches that itch for them. This gives them a reason to upgrade even if they weren't going to for the new features alone.
That's precisely why the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a masterclass from Samsung on being at the right place at the right time. It has rightly judged where the industry and consumer preferences are moving and has come out with a product that checks all of the boxes. So even though this $649 smartwatch offers almost the same functionality as a $300 Galaxy Watch 7, the one thing that makes it stand out is what's precisely going to attract most of its buyers, even if they aren't planning to summit Mount Everest while wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Yes, you could actually do that with this smartwatch if you so desired.
