Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: A Worthy Competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has entered the smartwatch market, poised to challenge the dominance of the Apple Watch Ultra. Priced at $729.98, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers some compelling features that set it apart from its rival.
**Smooth Display and Design**
One of the standout features of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is its smooth display. Powered by the new Exynos W1000 processor, navigating through WearOS 5 feels seamless and zippy. However, it’s worth noting that the display is slightly smaller, measuring 1.5 inches compared to the Apple Watch Series 9’s 1.7-inch display. The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra even boasts a larger 1.9-inch display. Despite this difference, the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s display still delivers a great user experience.
The design of the Galaxy Watch Ultra is another area where it shines. Samsung has taken a unique approach by combining a circular and squircle design, resulting in a visually appealing watch face. This design choice sets it apart from other popular smartwatches like the Google Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 7. While some may argue that it resembles an Apple “clone,” the opportunity to own a similar smartwatch for $150 less is a compelling reason to consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
**Competition-Beating Sensors**
Where the Galaxy Watch Ultra truly excels is in its sensor capabilities. It offers several sensors that are not found on the Apple Watch Ultra. The blood-oxygen and sleep apnea sensors are standout features, with the sleep apnea sensor even being FDA-approved. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch Ultra boasts a body composition tracker, a feature not natively available on its Apple counterpart.
In terms of health tracking, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers an impressive range of features. From skin temperature monitoring to cycle tracking, irregular rhythm notifications to high or low heart rate notifications, this smartwatch has it all. It even includes ECG testing and sleep tracking. While a brief test of the ECG feature showed a healthy heart rate, further testing is needed to fully evaluate the watch’s health and exercise sensors. Galaxy AI also plays a role in some features, such as Energy Score and Wellness Tips, providing personalized insights and recommendations based on your activity and sleep habits.
**Bands and Battery Life**
One area where the Galaxy Watch Ultra could use some improvement is in its band swapping mechanism. Removing and reattaching the bands can be a bit tricky, requiring the user to press down on small silver button mechanisms. It would be beneficial if Samsung ships the watch with the bands already attached to save users from the hassle of figuring out how to snap them together.
In terms of battery life, the Galaxy Watch Ultra shows promise. Samsung claims that it can last up to four days on Power Saving Mode, surpassing the Apple Watch Ultra’s three-day battery life on Low Power Mode. While this claim needs to be tested thoroughly, a smartwatch that doesn’t require frequent charging is certainly an attractive prospect.
**Final Verdict**
It’s still too early to definitively say whether the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is worth the investment. However, its impressive range of features, competitive pricing, and unique design make it a strong contender in the smartwatch market. Further testing is needed to evaluate its battery life and overall performance, but if it lives up to its promises, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may just win over the hearts of consumers looking for a reliable and feature-packed smartwatch.
