Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra is the newest member of its Galaxy Watch lineup. It’s technically the successor to the
Samsung’s Health app can connect and sync data to Google’s Health Connect and other third-party services like Strava
Like the recent Galaxy Watch models, you must download two apps to your Samsung smartphone. The first is the Samsung Health app, and the second is the Samsung Health Monitor app. It’s wise to pair the Watch Ultra with a Samsung smartphone because the second app, which is used for taking electrocardiogram (ECG) readings and getting blood pressure reports, is only available in Samsung’s Galaxy Store and hence cannot be (officially) installed on non-Samsung devices.
Samsung’s Health Monitor app is a must-have if you want to try out BP and ECG features
The Watch itself is easy to set up given that most will pair it with a Samsung smartphone. The Samsung Health app is very functional and easy to use, with neatly laid out tabs (also works on large foldable displays) and information. There’s also a Fitness tab, which has a ton of video workouts, with new ones being added regularly. The Health Monitor app is reserved for more accurate (read nearly medical-grade) features and solely exists to show your ECG and BP reports (numbers) and nothing else.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review Performance: Up there with the best
- Processor – Samsung Exynos W1000 (3nm)
- RAM – 2GB
- Storage – 32GB (21.1GB available)
While the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s design is subjective, the new Quick Button (customisable) gets activated easily even if you lightly drop the watch on its side when placing it on a table. It has been designed to register short presses as well. Once a workout mode has been activated, you can press it to pause or resume, double press for a lap or a long press to finish a workout. I did find these a bit confusing and fidgety to use, and I can best compare them to earbuds’ touch controls (which are also of the same nature). One detail to appreciate is the overall fluidity of the One UI-based Wear OS interface, which has improved even more than last year’s Galaxy Watch 6 models.
Even though Samsung clearly specifies (in the app) that the Watch’s Blood Pressure readings should not be taken seriously (not medical-grade), I did take a few in the presence of a doctor. You have to take three of them during the set-up itself (with no ongoing medication to interfere with the readings). It turned out to be an accurate indicator, even if it wouldn’t show the exact numbers as on a stand-alone machine or instrument. Being a high BP patient myself, I do find this to be a useful feature, at least till I can get to a doctor and get a proper reading.
The speaker on the Galaxy Watch sounded loud and clear while placing calls
Electrocardiogram (ECG) readings are available as well. While there was no way for me to verify this, it is good to have on a smartwatch as it could point out if there were even potential signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which could end up saving your life if conducted on a daily basis.
A SpO2 reading on a Samsung Galaxy Watch always needs specific wrist and elbow placements or positioning. And despite getting those right, the readings were consistent but not accurate when compared to a standalone pulse oximeter.
The sleep tracking feature still cannot track naps, but it did a fine job of accurately monitoring my sleep patterns. You still have to tell the watch when you will sleep by turning on Sleep mode. Like last year’s watch, I liked the suggestions provided by the companion app (diet changes, etc.) to improve sleep. In terms of fitness tracking, I did take it out and about to get an idea about step count and GPS tracking (sans the smartphone). While the step count was spot on, the standalone GPS tracking was a bit shaky and not accurate, especially when between buildings.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review Battery: A bit better than your average
- Battery capacity – 590mAh
- Charging rate – 10W
- Charging adapter – Magnetic (in the box)
I like that Samsung uses a wireless magnetic charging mechanism that’s devoid of any pogo pins that can, for some, cause skin allergies. However, it still cannot be wirelessly charged with standard chargers or reverse-charged with non-Samsung devices. The battery on the new Ultra has the same capacity as the Watch 5 Pro but is powered by a more efficient Exynos W1000 processor.
I am not impressed by its 2-day battery life when used for a GPS-connected 5-kilometre walk every day with AOD switched on and all health monitoring features on. For a multisport smartwatch, I expected a lot better. However, With AOD switched off and no workout tracking, the watch does better (as a regular Wear OS-powered smartwatch) with a solid three days on a single charge.
Charging, although wireless, is still quite slow compared to the competition
While it’s on par with other WearOS-powered premium smartwatches, the OnePlus Watch 2R manages an impressive 12 days when used in its RTOS-powered Power Saver mode, which again gives you access to health and fitness features on call. Charging is fast on the OnePlus Watch 2, with the Galaxy Watch Ultra taking 1 hour and 50 minutes to a full charge, while the former manages to get the job done in 46 minutes.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Verdict
With important features like BP monitoring and ECG readings reserved solely for Samsung smartphone owners, it’s tough to recommend this smartwatch to anyone without a Samsung device unless they are fine with not using these features. The Galaxy Watch 7 will offer all the health and fitness tracking features you can get on the Galaxy Watch Ultra at Rs. 23,000 less. Without any standout feature that differentiates the Watch Ultra from the Watch 7, I don’t see any reason to go in for one by paying the premium if you are a casual smartwatch user.
However, it is easy to recommend the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra to the urban adventurer. One who is into running marathons, competing in triathlons, or just looking for the best possible battery life from a “Galaxy smartwatch”. Galaxy Watch 5 Pro owners who have been waiting for an upgrade can also get one.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra remains a few steps behind Apple’s Watch Ultra 2 (despite not receiving any updates this year) as it offers more features (like a dive computer) for those who need it. The Galaxy Watch Ultra also lacks several features compared to other multisport or triathlete watches with ruggedised designs. Outdoor watches from Garmin (Fenix series) and Suunto (Ocean) might be a bit more expensive but are better suited for trekking in the wilderness or diving into the ocean depths and can last between 16 days to a month on a single charge!
