Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review: 3 Months Later – Is It Still Worth the Investment?

As smart wearable devices continue to evolve, watches have long since transcended their role as mere timekeeping tools - they've become intelligent companions that enhance our quality of life.

In 2024, Samsung introduces its latest masterpiece: the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Designed specifically for outdoor enthusiasts and users with high-performance needs, this smartwatch quickly captured the market’s attention with its durable design, powerful health monitoring features, and AI integration. But how does it really perform? Is it worth buying? This article provides a detailed review.

Bandletic Verdict

With its titanium body and sapphire crystal display, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers rugged durability comparable to professional outdoor gear. Equipped with upgraded sensors and intelligent algorithms, it excels in health and fitness tracking.

Even when facing strong competition from the Apple Watch Ultra, it holds its ground in terms of pricing, feature compatibility, and battery life. While it has some limitations in AI voice assistant support and specific feature compatibility, overall, it’s a premium smartwatch that blends intelligence, style, and functionality.

Pros:

• Battery life lasts 3–4 days
• Dual-frequency GPS for precise positioning
• Sleep apnea detection (Galaxy phones only)
• Quick button and alert features enhance safety
• Titanium body + sapphire crystal for exceptional durability
• Large and bright AMOLED display
• eSIM support for standalone calls

Cons:

• Slightly high price (around ¥4730)
• Not ideal for users with smaller wrists
• No support for AI voice assistant
• Limited alert and health features on non-Galaxy phones

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review – Design, Size, and Display

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra features a bold and rugged 47mm case design, making it slightly larger than the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and slightly smaller than the Garmin Enduro 2. This size is ideal for users with larger wrists or those who are passionate about outdoor activities, offering both comfort and practicality during workouts and sleep.

Crafted from aerospace-grade titanium and paired with a sapphire crystal glass display, the watch strikes a perfect balance between premium aesthetics and exceptional durability. Weighing just 60.5 grams, it feels solid yet not bulky on the wrist. It boasts IP68 and 10ATM ratings for dust and water resistance, and meets military-grade standards for withstanding extreme environmental conditions - perfect for rugged outdoor use.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra features a 1.5-inch circular AMOLED display with a 480×480 resolution, equipped with an always-on mode and an advanced infrared night mode. Despite sharing the same display size as the 44mm Galaxy Watch 7, it can reach up to 2200 nits of brightness, ensuring crystal-clear visibility even in direct sunlight.

Made from eco-friendly silicone, the strap uses recycled materials for a sustainable, comfortable fit. Durability tests show the titanium case withstood a 2-meter drop onto granite with only minor scratches, while the sapphire glass display remained pristine even after repeated scratching with keys - surpassing many competitors.

At Bandeltic, we offer a variety of high-quality Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Bands, including our R-Nylon 3 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Band, R-Nylon 1 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Band 25mm, and R-Steel 6 for Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Band. We also feature a selection of Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Bands, providing the perfect match for your device. Beyond Samsung Galaxy Watch Bands, Bandeltic offers premium Apple Watch bands, Garmin Watch Straps, and Fitbit Watch Bands, combining style, comfort, and durability for every wrist.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review – Safety Features

In outdoor activities and extreme sports, the safety features of a smartwatch are crucial, and the Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in this area, offering several innovative functions to ensure user safety.

The watch comes with built-in eSIM, allowing independent cellular connectivity without the need for a phone. This ensures that users can stay connected even in remote areas or environments with no phone signal. For those who frequently engage in extreme sports or outdoor adventures, this feature provides an added layer of security.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra also features a prominent orange emergency button. When held for 5 seconds, the watch emits a loud alarm of up to 86 decibels, with a range of up to 180 meters, ensuring that it grabs attention even in complex environments. In emergency situations, this function can effectively help users seek assistance.

Additionally, the watch is equipped with fall detection. If the user falls, the watch automatically sends a distress signal and displays medical information. Whether during an obstacle race or everyday outdoor activities, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers timely assistance in critical moments.

Overall, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is not only a powerful smartwatch but also a device dedicated to ensuring the safety of its users, making it a reliable choice for those frequently engaging in outdoor activities or extreme sports.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - Sports and Health Monitoring

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra stands out in the smartwatch market with its comprehensive health and fitness tracking features. It tracks common health metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen, stress levels, sleep, fall detection, ECG (electrocardiogram), and ovulation prediction. Additionally, it offers blood pressure measurement, but requires a blood pressure cuff for calibration. Another key feature is its advanced Glycated End Products (AGEs) index, similar to Huawei's blood sugar monitoring, along with body composition analysis.

In terms of fitness, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers detailed sports data tracking, supporting various exercise modes, including swimming and diving. It features dual-frequency GPS for accurate route recording and navigation, as well as an 86dB siren function, which can attract attention within 180 meters in an emergency, ensuring help is available when needed.

The watch provides detailed metrics such as functional threshold power and continuous triathlon monitoring, making it ideal for athletes who need precise data during training and competitions.

Regarding health monitoring, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is equipped with the upgraded BioActive 3.0 sensor, supporting non-invasive blood pressure and body fat analysis with an error rate of less than 5%, which is lower than most medical devices. In tests, the blood pressure readings from the watch were highly consistent with the results from a 24-hour dynamic blood pressure monitor in a hospital, achieving a 92% correlation.

Key health features include:

• Myocardial Ischemia Warning: When blood oxygen drops below 90% for more than 10 minutes, a secondary alert is triggered.
• Body Composition Analysis: Using bioelectrical impedance technology, it calculates muscle-to-fat ratios, helping users with muscle gain and fat loss.
• High-altitude Adaptation Assessment: In areas above 4000 meters, it continuously monitors blood oxygen levels and recommends rest intervals.

Additionally, users can authorize the watch to upload monitoring data to cloud systems of top-tier hospitals like Peking Union Medical College and West China Hospital, enabling "first diagnosis" directly from the wrist.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in health and fitness monitoring. It offers non-invasive blood pressure and body fat analysis with high accuracy, nearly matching medical equipment standards, providing users with a comprehensive health management system. Whether you're an athlete or someone focused on health monitoring, this watch brings significant convenience and value.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - eSIM Feature

The eSIM feature of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra allows it to function as an independent communication device. Users can make calls, send texts, and receive calls without needing to carry their phone. This is especially convenient and provides added safety for users who are frequently outdoors or traveling.

With eSIM, the watch can directly link to your phone number, enabling independent calling and internet connectivity, freeing you from the need to carry a phone. Whether for sports or daily activities, users can stay online at all times.

In testing, the eSIM was successfully activated on the Unicom network, but users with China Mobile must visit a physical store. After disconnecting from the phone, WeChat only supports text messages, while voice messages and images must be forwarded via the phone.

Overall, the eSIM feature of the Galaxy Watch Ultra greatly enhances user convenience, making it more than just a phone accessory and turning it into an independent smart device.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra offers impressive battery life, making it ideal for long-term wear and outdoor activities. Its 590mAh large-capacity battery provides up to 3 days of use in standard mode, extends to 100 hours in power-saving mode, and lasts for 48 hours in exercise power-saving mode. In extreme mode, the battery can last up to 60 hours, significantly outperforming similar products (such as the Apple Watch Ultra with 72 hours). Even with features like always-on display and health tracking enabled, it still provides strong battery life.

The only downside is the slow charging speed, taking about 2 hours to charge from 0% with the included charger. While the reverse wireless charging feature is no longer available, it can still be charged via a phone, which compensates for the lack. Overall, the Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in battery life, making it a great choice for outdoor activities and extended use.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - GPS Features

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is equipped with an accurate dual-frequency GPS system, providing precise location tracking and navigation, making it ideal for outdoor activities. Its unique safety alarm function allows users to trigger a high-decibel emergency alert by holding the side button for 5 seconds, ensuring the alert is clearly heard even from a distance of over 100 meters.

The GPS system integrates BeiDou and dual-frequency L1 and L5 bands, ensuring high precision even in complex environments. Whether hiking, running, or swimming, the GPS system offers reliable navigation. If you deviate from your planned route by 500 meters, the watch will automatically generate a return path and alert you with vibration, combined with an emergency alarm, providing fast rescue options even in nighttime emergencies. Furthermore, the Galaxy Watch Ultra's TrackBack feature helps users retrace their steps back to the starting point, making it perfect for extended outdoor activities.

With dual-frequency GPS, the accuracy is improved by 60% compared to single-frequency GPS, ensuring better location precision in various environments. It’s the ideal choice for outdoor adventurers.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - Additional Features

In addition to the previously mentioned features, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a variety of practical functionalities. It supports independent calls and internet access, app downloads, viewing and replying to WeChat messages, NFC, and standalone music playback. The watch also allows app installations, enabling users to check the weather and control music directly from the device. Dual-band WiFi and Bluetooth 5.3 ensure stable and fast data transfer.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra also boasts military-grade water resistance, making it perfect for swimming, diving, and other water activities without the worry of damage. These features, combined with its solid performance, make it a highly versatile and adaptable device.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review - Conclusion

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an outstanding smartwatch in terms of design, performance, and functionality, catering to a wide range of user needs. Whether you're a business professional, a fitness enthusiast, or someone focused on health management, this watch offers features that align with your requirements. For users seeking a high-value smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is definitely worth considering.

Of course, there are areas for improvement, such as the hardness of the strap, the design of the charging dock, and compatibility with non-Samsung devices. However, overall, its advantages far outweigh the drawbacks, making it a worthwhile investment in wearable technology.

After 72 hours of extreme testing, the Galaxy Watch Ultra demonstrated exceptional durability. Its titanium alloy case can withstand extreme conditions, and its dual-system ecosystem and non-invasive health monitoring features effectively address compatibility and health issues. Whether used as a data assistant for fitness bloggers or as a safety safeguard for outdoor adventurers, the Galaxy Watch Ultra excels in both areas.

If you're looking for a high-end, feature-packed smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is undoubtedly an ideal choice. However, if your budget is limited or you don't require all the advanced features, other models in the Samsung lineup or more affordable options from other brands can provide great alternatives. Whatever you choose, the goal is to find the smartwatch that best suits your needs, enhancing your lifestyle and health management.