Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra First Impressions: Apple Watch Ultra Finally Has a Rival

For two years, the Apple Watch Ultra tier has enjoyed a free pass in the smartwatch market. While brands like Garmin offer smartwatches for fitness enthusiasts and trekking aficionados, these gadgets have lacked the charm and versatile design suitable for all occasions. Apple, being perhaps the only consumer electronics brand with that coveted blend of sex appeal and premium quality, has dominated this space. However, Samsung has now entered the arena with its Galaxy Watch Ultra, and it's quite impressive—perhaps even surpassing the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in some aspects.

Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra, unveiled at the Paris Unpacked event at the iconic Louvre museum, stands out as perhaps the most impressive product launch of the event. Taking a page from Apple's playbook, Samsung has crafted the Galaxy Watch Ultra with Grade 4 Titanium for the frame. This premium material, combined with 10ATM water resistance, effectively transforms the watch into a dive computer capable of operating from 500 metres below sea level to 9,000 metres above. The result is a device that feels as cool as an Apple Watch Ultra, but arguably more comfortable.

Samsung has retained its signature radial dial whilst embellishing it with a wider bezel-like base. The display is gorgeous, supporting up to 3,000 nits of brightness—even brighter than the Galaxy S24 Ultra smartphone—and featuring a dedicated night mode similar to the Apple Watch Ultra. Like its Apple counterpart, the Galaxy Watch Ultra features a quick button (Samsung's version of the action button) for instant access to various functions, including an emergency siren.

Both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch 7 run on Wear OS 5, making them the first devices to utilise Google's latest smartwatch operating system. New features include a Multi-sports tile and a functional threshold power metre for cycling that measures maximum cycling power in just 4 minutes, unlocking a personalised HR zone for optimal workout intensity.

The new bioactive sensor hub, present in both the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, leverages Galaxy AI with a new algorithm to analyse sleep, including an FDA-approved sleep apnoea feature. It also enables more accurate heart rate monitoring, irregular heart rhythm notifications suggestive of atrial fibrillation, enhanced ECG and blood pressure monitoring, and an AGEs (Advanced Glycation End products) index to track biological ageing and metabolic health.

Powered by a new 3nm chipset, the Galaxy Watch Ultra boasts performance three times faster than its predecessor and 30 per cent improved power efficiency. It also features dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking in dense urban environments. Battery life is impressive, with up to 48 hours in exercise power-saving mode and up to 100 hours in power-saving mode.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra will be available in a 47mm size in titanium grey, white, and silver, featuring a dynamic lug system for enhanced comfort and easy strap changes. The Galaxy Watch 7 will come in 40mm and 44mm sizes, with green available for both sizes, cream for 40mm, and silver for 44mm. New watch bands with colourful stitch details will be available for the Galaxy Watch 7.

Samsung has incorporated more AI-based features, including suggested replies that analyse your communication, a double pinch gesture to easily control your Galaxy smartphone, and integration with Samsung Wallet for payments using digital IDs.

The upcoming Galaxy Ring, set to launch in India at a later date, promises to complement these watches by enabling more comprehensive health analysis and improved battery life.

Samsung's latest offerings in the smartwatch arena demonstrate that Apple's dominance in the ultra-premium segment may finally face a worthy challenger. The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 represent significant advancements in the smartwatch market, with impressive features and design that may even outshine Samsung's phones.