Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: A New Era in Smartwatch Technology

Top Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Features Revealed

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is set to transform the smartwatch market, particularly for Android users. With its impressive array of features and enhancements, this wearable device offers a compelling combination of advanced health tracking, increased storage, faster charging, and a brighter display. The Galaxy Watch Ultra introduces several industry-first functionalities, such as sleep apnea detection and customizable quick access buttons, further elevating its appeal and setting it apart from its predecessors and competitors. The video below gives us a look at the top features on the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. One of the standout features of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is its enhanced BioActive Sensor. This advanced sensor provides highly accurate measurements for essential health metrics, including heart rate, electrocardiogram (EKG), body composition, and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). For individuals who prioritize health and fitness, the BioActive Sensor offers precise data to monitor and improve their well-being effectively. With this feature, users can gain valuable insights into their cardiovascular health, track changes in their body composition, and assess their overall metabolic health. The Galaxy Watch Ultra addresses two common pain points for smartwatch users: limited storage and slow charging times. With an impressive 32GB of storage capacity, this watch allows you to store a wide range of apps, music, and data directly on your wrist. This significant upgrade ensures that you have ample space for all your needs without heavily relying on your smartphone. Additionally, the watch supports 15W fast charging, allowing you to fully charge the device in just 45 minutes. This feature is particularly beneficial for users with busy lifestyles, as it minimizes downtime and ensures that the watch is ready to go whenever you are. Battery life is a crucial factor when considering a smartwatch, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in this aspect. Equipped with a substantial 590mAh battery, this watch features the largest battery capacity among Android wearables. With the power-saving mode enabled, the Galaxy Watch Ultra can provide up to an impressive 100 hours of usage on a single charge. This extended battery life makes it an ideal companion for users who demand reliable performance without the need for frequent recharging. Moreover, the watch features the brightest display in the Galaxy Watch series, with an astonishing 3000 nits of brightness. This high-brightness display ensures clear visibility even under direct sunlight, enhancing the overall user experience and readability. The Galaxy Watch Ultra introduces groundbreaking features that prioritize user well-being and safety. One such feature is the industry-first sleep apnea detection. By monitoring your sleep patterns, the watch can detect and alert you to potential sleep apnea episodes, providing valuable insights into your sleep health. This functionality is particularly crucial for individuals who are concerned about the quality of their sleep and its impact on their overall well-being. In addition to sleep tracking, the watch also incorporates a customizable Quick Button that allows you to swiftly access workouts and other frequently used apps. This feature enhances the watch's usability and makes navigation more intuitive and efficient. Safety is another key aspect where the Galaxy Watch Ultra shines. In emergency situations, you can activate an 85-decibel siren by holding the Quick Button. This loud siren can alert others in your vicinity and potentially summon help when needed. This added layer of safety provides peace of mind, knowing that you have a reliable means of attracting attention in critical situations. The Galaxy Watch Ultra leverages advanced software features to enhance the user experience further. It integrates Galaxy AI, offering personalized insights and recommendations through features like Energy Score and Wellness Tips. These AI-powered features help you better understand your energy levels and provide tailored suggestions to optimize your well-being. Additionally, the watch includes a Night mode with a red filter, which helps reduce eye strain in low-light conditions, promoting better sleep hygiene and reducing the potential impact on your circadian rhythm. In terms of design, the Galaxy Watch Ultra embraces modernity and innovation. The traditional rotating bezel has been replaced with a sleek and intuitive touch bezel interface. This change offers a more seamless and responsive way to interact with the watch, making navigation smoother and more enjoyable. The touch bezel complements the watch's overall aesthetic, providing a contemporary and sophisticated look. Under the hood, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is powered by a innovative 3nm processor. This advanced processor delivers exceptional speed and efficiency, ensuring that the watch performs seamlessly and handles multiple tasks with ease. Whether you're tracking your workouts, receiving notifications, or using various apps, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a smooth and responsive experience. The combination of powerful hardware and optimized software makes this watch a top performer in its class. In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a catalyst for Android users, offering a comprehensive suite of features and enhancements that cater to health enthusiasts, fitness trackers, and those seeking a reliable and feature-rich smartwatch. With its advanced health tracking capabilities, ample storage, fast charging, extended battery life, and innovative safety features, the Galaxy Watch Ultra sets a new standard in the wearable market. Its modern design, intuitive touch bezel interface, and innovative processor further contribute to its appeal. If you're an Android user looking for a smartwatch that combines functionality, style, and innovation, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a compelling choice that delivers on all fronts.

These 5 Features Make the Galaxy Watch Ultra Samsung's Best Smartwatch

Quick LinksTitanium Frame With Quick Button Up to 100 Hours of Battery Life 3,000 Nits of Peak Brightness Water-Resistant Up to 100 Meters AI-Powered Wellness Features The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung's most expensive smartwatch to date. Unlike the standard Galaxy Watch 7, the Watch Ultra has some special features that make it stand out from the competition. Let's check them out below. 1 1. Titanium Frame With Quick Button The Galaxy Watch Ultra sports a new polarizing design with a familiar circular dial inside a square housing. This is likely done in order to fit a bigger battery, but it also makes the watch look awfully similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, especially with the orange strap, and somewhat diminishes the circular design flair Samsung watches are known for. That said, the new Grade 4 titanium frame is a welcome addition and makes the watch much more durable and resistant to harsh conditions. In fact, the Galaxy Watch Ultra can survive temperatures as cold as -20 degrees to as hot as 55 degrees Celsius. Sadly, the fan-favorite rotating bezel is gone; it now features a multipurpose Quick Button (similar to the customizable Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra) that allows you to instantly initiate your favorite workouts. You can also map the Quick Button to launch any app or activate the emergency siren to call out for help by long-pressing it for five seconds. 2 2. Up to 100 Hours of Battery Life The Galaxy Watch Ultra packs a 590mAh cell, which is identical to the Watch 5 Pro from 2022. According to Samsung's claims, it can deliver up to 100 hours of battery life in Power Saving mode and 48 hours in Exercise Power Saving mode which is more than enough even for power users. Do keep in mind that these results are lab tested by Samsung in ideal conditions, and therefore, the actual battery life may vary depending on your usage. 3 3. 3,000 Nits of Peak Brightness The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung's brightest smartwatch yet with a peak brightness of 3000 nits, so outdoor visibility shouldn't be a problem at all. For reference, Samsung's flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra we reviewed has a peak brightness of 2,600 nits. Like the Apple Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch Ultra's display automatically shifts to Night Mode and turns the interface red for reduced eye strain and better readability in the dark. The size of the display itself remains the same at 1.5 inches for both the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Watch Ultra, though. 4 4. Water-Resistant Up to 100 Meters On top of an IP68 rating, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is also 10ATM certified, which means it can survive up to 100 meters of water for up to 10 minutes. So, you can rest assured that your watch can accompany you during a swim or dive and will remain more than functional even in heavy rain. That said, it's advisable to rinse and dry the watch afterward. However, unlike the Apple Watch Ultra, Samsung's offering doesn't have a depth gauge. 5 5. AI-Powered Wellness Features The Galaxy Watch Ultra also has some AI features that are not available on the standard Galaxy Watch 7. For instance, the Personalized HR Zone feature monitors your heart rate and helps you run at your optimal intensity. The feature kicks in after you run consistently for more than 10 minutes at speeds of 4km (2.48 miles) per hour or faster. Another feature called FTP (Functional Threshold Power) estimates your maximum pedal power while cycling based on your heart rate. It requires you to connect a power meter to your Galaxy phone and will auto-activate after four minutes of cycling at a mid- to high-intensity level. Overall, Samsung has positioned the Galaxy Watch Ultra as a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra, and its slightly lower $649 price tag is indeed enticing. That said, it's not for everyone and should only be on your wishlist if you're a fitness enthusiast or athlete and need these additional features.

Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on review: 3 things I love -- and one I dislike

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has an exciting array of sensors, but there's one thing you should be aware of. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is one titillating timepiece, swooping in to potentially knock the Apple Watch Ultra off its pedestal. Unlike the Apple rival, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a blood-oxygen sensor (the Apple Watch used to have one, but er, it's a long story) and a sleep apnea monitor (though some rumors claim the Watch X will have it). Oh, and did I mention the sleep apnea sensor is FDA-approved, too? I got to spend a little over an hour with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and in that short time, I spotted three things I love about it -- and one thing that could use some improvement. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra costs $729.98, but as of this writing, it'll set you back $649.99 via Samsung's official website. Conversely, the Apple Watch Ultra costs $799.99 on Amazon. It comes in the 47mm size and offers three colors: Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Black. With the crucial details out of the way, allow me to dive into my short exploration of the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Swiping through WearOS 5, the Galaxy Watch Ultra felt smooth and seamless. From the weather app to the ECG utility, the experience felt zippy. (This is likely due to the new Exynos W1000 processor.) However, as someone who owns an Apple Watch Series 9, the Galaxy Watch Ultra's display is noticeably smaller at 1.5 inches (compared to the Watch Series 9's 1.7-inch display). The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra's display is even larger, coming in at 1.9 inches. When I tried on the Galaxy Watch Ultra for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the intriguing frame that surrounds the watch face. It's as if Samsung said, "We can't decide whether we want this to be circular or squarish, so let's go with both!" And you know what? I'm obsessed. A round design is classic, but yawn-worthy and boring (it's trite in Android world with the likes of the Google Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 7). And although no one owns "squircle," this shape would feel too Apple. Using both seems like a good compromise, and it makes for an eye-catching design that no other popular smartwatch has achieved. Some have argued that the Galaxy Watch Ultra is an Apple "clone," but I can't get myself to mind too much. You mean I get to walk around with an Apple Watch Ultra-esque smartwatch, but spend $150 less? I'm all for a dupe. As mentioned at the outset, there are some sensors that the Galaxy Watch Ultra has that the Apple Watch Ultra doesn't. I already pointed out the blood-oxygen and sleep apnea sensors, but add let's add a body composition tracker to the list, which isn't found natively on the Apple Watch Ultra. Here are some other health-tracking features present on the Galaxy Watch Ultra: I tested my ECG right on the spot, and I've got a healthy heart, thank you very much, at 92 beats per minute. Of course, I wasn't able to test the full scope of the Galaxy Watch Ultra's health and exercise sensors. I'll need to give them some time to do a proper testing, particularly since Galaxy AI plays a role in some features like Energy Score and Wellness Tips. The former generates a score for you based on metrics like your physical activity and sleep habits; the latter offers recommendations and suggestions based on your past actions. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, compared to its cheaper Galaxy Watch 7 sibling, is designed for rugged adventurers. It can reportedly handle temperatures between -4 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can tolerate deep-sea diving and other challenging environments. I haven't visited Antarctica nor strapped it to my wrist while scuba diving just yet, but once I do, I'll let you know how it holds up. I removed the bands from the Galaxy Watch Ultra by pressing down on two small silver button mechanisms on the back. The bands are not easy to remove. (I almost broke a nail trying to push down on the buttons hard enough to release the band from the watch's grip.) Reattaching the bands were a pain, too. I just couldn't figure it out. I haven't seen how Samsung packs the Galaxy Watch Ultra inside the box, but let's hope it ships with the bands attached (like the Galaxy Watch 6). This will save you the headache of snapping the bands together. Speaking of bands, the Galaxy Watch Ultra comes in three different band styles, including Marine (great for swimming), Trail (breathable and lightweight), and PeakForm (OK for all workouts). Marine is the way to go, according to my short experience with it. It appears easier to clean -- and won't collect as much dirt and sweat as the other bands. It's too early to say whether the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is worth it. I'll have to test it first. I'm particularly interested in the Galaxy Watch Ultra's battery life. On Power Saving Mode, Samsung claims the Galaxy Watch Ultra can last four days. Compare this to the Apple Watch Ultra, which lasts three days on Low Power Mode. If I don't need to charge my smartwatch for four days, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may have my heart.

The $5,650 timepiece that Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra looks like

It's frankly silly how much Samsung took from the Apple Watch Ultra to make its latest wearable. However, it doesn't end there. I'd also submit that the Galaxy Watch Ultra takes a few too many design cues from the Hermès H08. 9to5Google has a rebooted newsletter that highlights the biggest Google stories with added commentary and other tidbits. Sign up to get it early in your inbox, or continue reading 9to5Google Log Out below: While most known for luxury leather goods, Hermès also makes watches. Hermès announced the H08 in 2021. It features a round dial in a mostly square case, just like the new Samsung Wear OS device. Note the similarities around the bezel and chamfered edges. The Hermès timepiece starts at $5,650 for a "satin-brushed titanium case with sunburst satin-brushed titanium bezel with mirror-polished chamfers," as well as anti-glare sapphire crystal (and transparent case-back to see the inner workings of the movement). The Galaxy Watch Ultra is also made of titanium with a sapphire crystal. Another similarity is the 10 ATM water resistance. The 42mm mechanical watch is powered by a self-winding movement and has a 50-hour power reserve, which is amusingly close to the 48 hours on the Watch Ultra when using standard modes. Then there's the default orange bands, with Hermes also making bands for the Apple Watch. Besides being "Swiss Made," other things that make the Hermès H08 a $5,650 timepiece are a "black nickel-treated dial, black-gold treated circular satin-brushed minutes disk, grained center, [and] rhodium-plated applied Arabic numerals." The most expensive H08 model is $16,100 because of rose gold and a ceramic bezel. If you're interested in other digital and mechanical watch similarities, compare the domed Pixel Watch (inspired by water droplets) and Ressence Type 1° Round (pebbles). Anyways: No, no, I'm not interested in timepieces, just watches. Hands-on: Galaxy Z Fold 6 is meant for upgraders, no one else Hands-on: Galaxy Buds 3 are basically AirPods now, but that might be a good thing Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Apple Watch Ultra: Who's the most rugged of them all? [Video] Samsung's new Galaxy Ring debuts for $399 with health tracking, gesture controls Bixby is getting an AI revamp, Samsung confirms Samsung's new text-filled Galaxy AI watermark is bigger on wallpapers and images The Galaxy Tab S10 series will launch before the end of the year