The Galaxy Watch Ultra series is Samsung’s answer to the rugged, outdoor adventure-ready Apple Watch Ultra series, and the latest model, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, makes a strong case for being the best tough-built, full-featured smartwatch on the market today.
Two years after the launch of the original ultra-rugged Samsung Galaxy Watch, the new model adds better battery life, tons of new health and fitness insights, a brighter screen, and improved water resistance, all in a familiar design.
But can the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 actually keep up with the latest Apple Watch Ultra 4 and/or the best Garmin watches when it comes to logging adrenaline-pumping activities like mountain bike rides, hikes, and more? I decided to find out by wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for two weeks. Here’s what I discovered.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Key upgrades
But first, here’s a cheat sheet to all the most notable Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 stats and upgrades.
- Price:At $699, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is $50 more than its predecessor, which launched two years ago, but still $100 less than its nearest competitor, the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
- Design: The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a tiny bit thinner than the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, but you may not notice the difference; the dimensions and weight are nearly identical to the original model
- Screen:Maximum screen brightness has been bumped up from 4,000 nits to 5,000 nits, making it remarkably visible in direct sunlight
- Health features: New ‘Vitals’ dashboard with key metrics including heart rate, HRV, Sp02, body temp, and breath rate in one place; new ‘Heart Health’ score
- Fitness features: New Cardio Load insights, new Fitness Index score out of 100 based on factors like daily step count average, V02 Max, average heart rate, BIA (Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), and average workout recovery time
- Battery life: 800 mAh battery is the largest in an Android wearable and a 35% capacity increase over the original Galaxy Watch Ultra; battery life usage averages ~25% drain per day in testing so far
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Versus competition
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1.52-inch AMOLED, 5,000 nits max brightness |
1.5-inch AMOLED, 3,000 nits max brightness |
1.98-inch OLED, 3,000 nits max brightness |
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100 meters (not approved for diving) |
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Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 value: 3/5
- At $699, the Ultra 2 is $50 more than its predecessor but still $100 cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra 4
- The more affordable Galaxy Watch 9 offers most of the same features as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, starting at $379
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is priced at $699, a modest $50 increase over the launch price of its two-year-old predecessor. More notably, it’s a hundred bucks cheaper than the latest Apple Watch Ultra 4, its nearest non-Android competitor.
Meanwhile, the latest Galaxy Watch 9 models —which share pretty much all the same features, just in a less beefy package — range from $379 to $459.
The $699 Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is available now in stores and online.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 display: 4.5/5
- The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has one of the largest, brightest displays in any full-featured smartwatch
- Max brightness is 5,000 nits, making the Ultra 2 a breeze to read in direct sunlight
The new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 sports a sizable 1.52-inch display that maxes out at an impressive 5,000 nits, making it one of the brightest displays in any full-featured wearable, including 2026’s best smartwatches.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4, by comparison, also features a large, lovely display, but it only maxes out at 3,000 nits. Real-world translation: the new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a lot easier to read in bright sunlight than the newest Apple Watch Ultra.
I also wore both the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Instinct 3 — my go-to GPS sports watch — while e-mountain biking and also found the former more legible while on the move.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 design and durability: 4/5
- Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is now officially scuba dive-certified
- The case is a little slimmer than before, but you might not notice; ultimately, the Galaxy Watch Ultra feels pretty chunky on my 6.5-inch wrist
- The included strap is softer and more flexible than the strap for the original model
The original Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra promises 100 meters of water resistance, but unlike its Apple Watch Ultra counterpart, Samsung’s rugged model wasn’t intended for use while diving or even snorkeling.
Samsung no doubt caught some flak for this shortcoming. Thankfully, the new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is thoroughly dive-ready. In fact, Samsung partnered with the industry-trusted Mares diving app to turn the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 into a fully-fledged dive computer, complete with speed monitoring and safety-stop alerts. The app costs $8.99 a month or $69.99 for the year.
The Ultra 2 is rated for 100 meters of water resistance and is EN13319-certified for scuba diving and IP69K-certified against dust and moisture.
Design-wise, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 looks nearly identical to its predecessor, with close-to-the-same dimensions and weight. That said, Samsung technically shaved 2mm off the case thickness, but I hardly noticed it. The case still feels very large on my 6.5-inch wrist.
There are three physical buttons along one side of the case; the center “Action” button can be customized to perform one of eight actions. I set it up to start a workout.
One less obvious but definitely welcome design change is the inclusion of a softer, more flexible strap. Also, the Ultra 2 uses the same attachment system as its predecessor, so if you prefer the older version, you can easily swap it onto the newer model.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Health tools: 4.5/5
- New Vitals tab in Samsung Health app provides useful insights into long-term health and fitness trends
- Comprehensive sleep tracking reports on par with the best smartwatches
- None of Samsung’s holistic features are paywalled, unlike Google and Garmin
- New Heart Health score for monitoring cardiovascular wellness
Similar to the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 9, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ships fully-loaded with all sorts of new health and fitness insights.
These features include a new Vitals dashboard in the Samsung Health app for viewing your most important up-to-the-minute health stats in one place, a new Cardio Load score to track your heart health, and a new Fitness Index score that compares your overall physical health to averages for your age and gender.
The Vitals tab shows your current heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen saturation percentage (Sp02), body temperature, and breathing rate.
The new Heart Health score ranges from one to 100, with the upper end being better. This metric updates dynamically throughout the day, keeping users appraised of how their everyday decisions may be impacting cardiovascular health for better or worse.
Fitness Index, meanwhile, factors in loads of fitness and wellness metrics to figure out how your overall health compares to your peers in five key categories: strength, cardio, endurance, flexibility, and body composition. You also get a dynamic score from one to 100 (mine is currently 82, or “average”).
Samsung’s smartwatches deliver some of the most detailed and actionable sleep reports of any smartwatch brand, and even though there aren’t any shiny new features, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a mighty fine sleep tracker. That is, assuming you can get over wearing something so chunky to bed.
Like its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is FDA-cleared for sleep apnea detection, something that can’t be said for the newest Google Pixel Watch models.
Also, unlike some of the competition — cough, cough, Google and Garmin — Samsung doesn’t make you pay a monthly or annual subscription to access the full suite of health insights, including AI-powered personalized training and recovery recommendations.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 fitness tracking: 3/5
- Reliable heart rate tracking
- Nearly as reliable at logging workouts as the best outdoor adventure watches, with one exception…
- The Ultra 2 tends to overinflate the ‘Climb’ metric when logging walks, runs, bike rides, and hikes
- Lacks tracking modes for some of the more nuanced yet popular outdoor activities like mountain biking and e-biking
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is rightfully billed as a smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of extreme-style sports. However, I found two shortcomings in my testing.
First, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 sometimes struggles to accurately track elevation gain when logging an outdoor workout, with a tendency to noticeably inflate climb data. I encountered this when testing the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Garmin Instinct 3 while city cycling in hilly Seattle, Washington, and again when I went e-mountain biking in Washington State’s Cougar Country.
That said, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 performed extremely well in a head-to-head walk test comparison versus the Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, it once again delivered highly inflated elevation data when I hiked the Cascade Mountains with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs. Garmin Instinct 3 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Elevation tracking aside, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 largely performs as well as the best smartwatches and fitness trackers when it comes to reliably logging both moving and stationary workouts. Ultimately, as long as you wear the device tight enough, heart rate data should also be highly accurate.
My other criticism of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, which, again, is sold as an outdoor adventure-ready smartwatch, is a lack of tracking modes for popular activities, like mountain biking and e-biking.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 AI features: 3.5/5
- Google’s useful Gemini AI voice assistant is built-in and can be launched via a handy, new ‘Raise to talk’ gesture control
In addition to AI playing a part in some of Samsung’s flagship new health features, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ships with Google’s Gemini AI voice assistant built-in. It’s the best smartwatch voice assistant I’ve tested so far, though that may change after I thoroughly test the latest Siri AI on the Apple Watch Series 12.
With access granted to apps like Gmail and Google Calendar, the Gemini assistant is more than capable of answering super-specific questions like, “When did my sister say her flight is landing next week?” as well as more generic ones like “What’s the cheapest, easiest way to soften a stiff T-shirt?”
Better yet, you can launch the Gemini assistant using the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 by simply raising your wrist (you will need to first turn it on in the settings menu). Samsung’s “Raise to talk” gesture control is remarkably effective, on par with Google’s version for the Pixel Watch 4 and 5.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 battery: 4.5/5
- The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 exceeded its 60-hour-per-charge battery life rating in testing, lasting closer to 72 hours per charge with the always-on display enabled
- This makes it one of the longest-lasting full-featured smartwatches for Android in 2026 and longer-lasting than the latest Apple Watch Ultra 4
Not only did Samsung equip the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a higher-capacity battery — 590 mAh for the old model vs. 800 mAh for the new one — but the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is also more power-efficient than its predecessor, despite a brighter display.
The original Galaxy Watch Ultra had a battery life rating of 48 hours per charge, a claim we verified in our testing. The new model is rated to last up to 60 hours per charge, but in my testing, it comfortably surpassed that, cruising for closer to 72 hours per charge.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 review: Verdict
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a meaningful update to the original Galaxy Watch Ultra. The newer model is even tougher, with legit scuba-diving-ready specs and features, longer-lasting, with up to three days of battery per charge, and ever-so-slightly more comfortable thanks to a thinner case and a softer, more flexible strap.
The screen brightness has also been increased, giving the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 the brightest display in any full-featured smartwatch for Android. Plus, new health and fitness tracking metrics help to bring long-term holistic trends into sharper focus.
As an outdoor adventure watch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 proved mighty capable, with one exception: faulty elevation data. However, I’m hoping this is just a minor hiccup that will eventually be fixed with future firmware.
Ultimately, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a tougher, smarter, longer-lasting take on what was already one of the best Android smartwatches ever made. That, I think, is worth the $50 price increase.
