Samsung usually doesn’t get things right on day one when it launches a new product lineup or category. It takes a couple of generations for the company to find the winning formula. That isn't the case for the Galaxy Watch Ultra, though.
Before launch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra faced lots of criticism. Many called it an Apple Watch Ultra clone. However, the watch did end up impressing most users and reviewers. I used the Galaxy Watch Ultra for a couple of months, and it impressed me as well.
While the Galaxy Watch Ultra may have copied the Apple Watch Ultra’s color combination, it looks very different in real life. And there isn’t anything fundamentally wrong with the watch, which is rarer than you might think for a first-gen Samsung product.
Excellent OLED screen paired with fast performance
Its OLED screen is bright and easily readable even under direct sunlight. Its titanium body feels tough and is more water-resistant than previous-generation Galaxy Watches.
But what impressed me the most was its speed and software fluidity. Powered by Samsung’s first 3nm chip, the Exynos W1000, the Galaxy Watch Ultra feels extremely smooth.
Everything opens fast, and there isn’t even a hint of slowdown or dropped frames. Even the Google Play Store opens fast. Usually, other Galaxy Watches struggle when I open the Play Store to browse through apps or update them.
It feels like the Watch Ultra is always on its toes and reacts quickly to your commands. That’s especially noticeable to me after using the not-particularly-fast Galaxy Watch 4 for nearly three years (watch out for my long-term Galaxy Watch 4 experience in the near future).
One UI 6 Watch, based on Wear OS 5, is impressive, too. I didn’t find any major glitches in the software, and Samsung has promised four Wear OS version updates for the smartwatch.
Great GPS and heart rate tracking accuracy
My experience with the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s fitness and health tracking has been very good, particularly when it comes to sleep tracking and analysis.
I was pretty disappointed with the GPS (location tracking) accuracy of the Galaxy Watch 4. It couldn't accurately track my walks. After a major (One UI Watch 5) software update, its GPS accuracy improved, but it was nowhere close to that of the Apple Watch (Series 8).
Based on reviews from some popular fitness and training experts, the GPS accuracy didn't substantially improve with the Galaxy Watch 5 or the Galaxy Watch 6.
Samsung finally solved that issue with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Its GPS accuracy is much better than earlier Galaxy Watches, and it is in line with rival smartwatches from Apple and Garmin.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra can be considered a good choice even for professional runners and hikers, thanks to its dual-frequency GPS and accuracy.
Samsung has also improved heart rate tracking, especially during high-intensity workouts; older Galaxy Watches were never this accurate. However, Samsung needs to improve heart rate tracking when there are sudden increases or decreases in the heart rate, as the Galaxy Watch Ultra can take a few seconds to catch up.
Solid battery life and consistency
Finally, let's talk about battery life. Even with AOD (Always On Display), eSIM, and all the health and fitness tracking features turned on, the Galaxy Watch Ultra lasts two days on a single charge. That's enough to prevent my battery anxiety.
In the past, I never got consistent battery life on any Galaxy Watch. They would be fine on some days but have sudden battery drops on others. I didn't have any such issues with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, though I do wish Samsung will improve the charging speed with the sequel.
Galaxy Watch Ultra has everything I need from a high-end smartwatch
Besides the slightly bulky and thick design, I didn't face any significant issues or shortcomings with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. It has a great screen, excellent software features, good GPS and heart rate tracking, and solid battery life. On top of that, it gels well with the Galaxy ecosystem. What more could one want from a high-end smartwatch?
