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Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra

F
Ranked #25 in Smartwatches
0 LP on the category ladder what's LP?
Announced July 2026 by Samsung

Superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, still sold first-party, and owner reports on r/galaxywatchultra say the advertised battery life never materializes. The worst buy on the board.

Consolidated from 51 cited sources across 43 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

  • 1 glowing source
  • 2 enthusiastic sources
  • 25 positive sources
  • 12 mixed sources
  • 8 unconvinced sources
See the sources
Flagged as a product to avoid

6 of 11 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

Superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, which is thinner, lighter, longer-lasting and better reviewed, yet still sold first-party so buyers can easily land on it. Owner reports on r/galaxywatchultra say the advertised 50 to 60 hours of battery life never materializes, with the watch never lasting over two days.

Flagged 15 October 2026
  1. Superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, which is thinner, lighter, longer-lasting and better reviewed, yet still sold first-party so buyers can easily land on it. Owner reports on r/galaxywatchultra say the advertised 50 to 60 hours of battery life never materializes, with the watch never lasting over two days.

    Flagged 15 October 2026
  2. The most marketing-pushed watch of its launch window, now first-gen and explicitly outdone by Samsung's own Ultra 2, which CNET calls the best Galaxy Watch money can buy. Owners report a bulky size, missing rotating bezel, and software bugs.

    Flagged 15 October 2026
  3. Owners report its advertised always-on battery figures did not hold up in real-world use, it has been superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 in every way that matters, and it is still being sold new.

    Flagged 10 September 2026
  4. Outclassed by its own successor, which PCMag and TechRadar both describe as slimmer, lighter and better in every way that matters, while the original lingers on shelves at discounts.

    Flagged 10 September 2026
  5. High price with no significant feature leap over the cheaper Galaxy Watch 8, making it a poor value proposition.

    Flagged 27 July 2026
  6. high price and limited app ecosystem compared to the Galaxy Watch 8

    Flagged 27 July 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

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Pros & cons

  • ✓ Solid fitness tracking
  • ✓ Comfortable hardware
  • ✓ Hardware that reviewers were kind to
  • ✓ Rugged build suitable for extreme conditions
  • ✓ Long battery up to 80 hours
  • ✗ Owners report it never lasts over two days despite advertised 50 to 60 hours of battery life
  • ✗ Called a power hog in a long-term owner review
  • ✗ Superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 but still sold first-party
  • ✗ Bulky size
  • ✗ Missing rotating bezel

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found. 1 outlet wouldn't let us check its link.

Evidence 15 articles, 32 video reviews and 4 community sources

25 positive sources

S Subscribers Kevin Lee · reviewer · Jul 2026
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is proving to be the high-end smartwatch the Apple Watch Ultra 3 should have been. On the surface, it features a slimmer design and a brighter display that peaks at 5,000 nits. Internally, Samsung has also upgraded the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 with a faster Snapdragon Wear Elite processor and a 35% larger battery. Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 3’s crummy list of upgrades, it’s easy to see Samsung is winning here. The only thing I don’t love about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is its $50 more expensive at $699.
Read
Z zollotech zollotech · 2.2M subscribers · Jul 2026
When it comes to the display, it's much brighter this time, up to 5,000 nits and this is slightly larger at 1.52 inches.
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T trendystraps.com Mukesh Kumar · reviewer · Mar 2026
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is one of the most capable smartwatches available today — built tough, packed with sensors, and designed for every kind of wearer. But the band you choose changes everything: how it feels on your wrist, how it performs during workouts, how it looks in the boardroom, and how long it lasts.
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F Flossy Carter Flossy Carter · 2.1M subscribers · Jul 2026
However, this is a real upgrade. I choose movie I this is a real upgrade. Let's talk about the differences. Number one, you're getting a brighter display. Now with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, that was 3,000 nits peak brightness. Now with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, 5,000 nits peak brightness. That makes this the brightest display on any smartwatch available.
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A Android Central Article · Jul 2025
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 brings exciting upgrades across the board, and this is a smartwatch that deserves the Ultra moniker. It has a titanium case that's significantly thinner, and the design looks better. It is much faster than last year, has tons of new software features, and gets brighter while you're outdoors.
Read
S sakitech sakitech · 1.4M subscribers · Jul 2026
All right, guys, so as you know, last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra, the 2025 model, had a battery capacity of 590 mA hours, which was already amazing. The watch was lasting 2 to 3 days, no problem with average use. This year, based on the latest reports, we are going to get a massive upgrade with a brand new 800 mA hours battery. That is a 36% increase in battery capacity, and that's going to be huge for people that really wear these watches all the time. So, that is change number one, and of course, it is a report, but I believe this is going to be the case. But of course, we have more.
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E Expert Reviews Ben Johnston · reviewer · Jul 2026
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is slightly more deserving of fanfare than the brand’s concurrently released smartwatch , the Galaxy Watch 9. This is because, unlike the majority of Samsung’s lineup, the Watch Ultra series doesn’t get updated every year.
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T TechTalkTV TechTalkTV · 885K subscribers · Mar 2026
But in this case, I do think there are some real advantages.
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P Pcmag Andrew Gebhart · reviewer
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a powerhouse smartwatch that justifies its price for outdoor enthusiasts with three-day battery life, a super-bright screen, and scuba-diving durability,
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T The Quantified Scientist The Quantified Scientist · 412K subscribers · Dec 2025
Galaxy Watch Ultra - In-depth Scientific Review!
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P Phonearena Article
It's the best smartwatch Samsung has in its portfolio to date, and even though the price may seem steep, what you're getting in return is definitely worth it.
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H H2TechVideos H2TechVideos · 397K subscribers · Aug 2025
comes with this really nice blue band and it's a really nice overall watch.
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M Man of Many Scott Purcell · reviewer · Jul 2026
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s titanium-clad, sapphire crystal premium smartwatch, and it’s a proper competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
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S Shane Symonds Shane Symonds · 340K subscribers · Jul 2025
Even though this isn't drastically different from last year's Galaxy Watch Ultra, I still wanted to check it out in a video here cuz I think it's worth considering some of the benefits on this over the just released Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
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G r/galaxywatchultra u/Babuskaruska · owner
so bottom line is that I love my watch ultra it just works for me for what I do
Read thread
M Mark Ellis Reviews Mark Ellis Reviews · 307K subscribers · Aug 2026
The good news is Samsung has made two changes that I think have fixed those problems. Right. So, the two changes, and I do need to refer to some notes here because numbers and specs and things aren't my strong point, as you possibly know if you watch this channel regularly. The battery is now 35% bigger, and it's the biggest battery Samsung has ever put into a watch. That has made a difference.
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T TechOdyssey TechOdyssey · 215K subscribers · Jul 2026
Absolutely love it. I like it better than the original Galaxy Watch Ultra.
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T Tech with Jerad Tech with Jerad · 136K subscribers · Apr 2026
I really like the UI of the watch.
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T TechnoProz TechnoProz · 93K subscribers · Feb 2026
For 2026, I can easily recommend this watch, even better than the latest Galaxy Watch 8 or 8 Classi
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T The Product Lab The Product Lab · 89.9K subscribers · Apr 2025
This is one of the most durable and well-built smart watches I've ever used. It's tough and rugged enough for everyday use while still being lightweight, stylish, and comfortable to wear all day and night. It also comes in a variety of colors, and the wristbands are fully customizable. Plus, they're even easier to swap out than in previous models. The watch measures just under 2 in in height and width with a thickness of less than/ an inch.
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A ALLSTARSPACE ALLSTARSPACE · 84K subscribers · Jan 2026
I really love the Galaxy Watch Ultra right here. And we could just end the review just like that, saying I love it. But as with many things in life, there's much more to it. So, this is the original Galaxy Watch Ultra that came out at first. And I have been wearing it one year now, 24 by7 more or less. I have to charge it at one point, of course. Messaging, exercise tracking, GPS, Google Pay, you name it, all of it. First thing I notice is that software issues that you may remember from previous Galaxy Watch models are basically gone. updates on the Galaxy Watch are smooth.
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T Tech It Easy Tech It Easy · 40.1K subscribers · Oct 2025
With the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I just know that I can rely on it to get me through that second night of sleep tracking. But with the Galaxy Watch A Classic, it frequently loses charge during that second night, which is just so frustrating. That being said, can the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic scrape back some points when it comes to charging? Charging speeds is a really interesting one. Both watches come with 10 watt wireless charging, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra takes just over an hour and 40 minutes to charge from naugh to 100%. The Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, on the other hand, will be done in just less than an hour and a half.
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T The Gray Dog The Gray Dog · 16.6K subscribers · May 2025
It is the most beautiful display that I have seen on a smartwatch. 3000 nits, whatever that means in terms of brightness, but it's very bright. A super AMOLED display, 1.5 in, 480x480 pixel. It is stunning. It is beautiful.
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T the german tech girl the german tech girl · 12.3K subscribers · Aug 2025
Not every smartwatch can claim that.
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E Elden Reviews Elden Reviews · 3.3K subscribers · Dec 2025
So today I'm going to quickly tell you my top five features or top five reasons to buy the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. Been using this for about a month now. So I've had lots of time to play and get used to the features. So the first one I'm going to mention is the sheer amount of health features you have available from the watch. So you've got sleep apnea tests, blood pressure tests, ECG tests. Basically, the watch does a really good job of keeping on track of your health and your progress towards your goals.
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12 mixed sources

A Android Police Andy Boxall · reviewer · Aug 2026
Yes, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a good purchase. It’s very durable, packed full of health and fitness features, has just enough to push it past a non-adventure smartwatch’s capabilities, and the screen is superb. However, the tradeoff comes in the large, often ungainly overall size.
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C CNET CNET · 4.1M subscribers · Aug 2026
This is the best Samsung watch money can buy, but it's also the most expensive. And here's the thing, you can get a lot of these features for less on other watches.
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P Phonearena Article
While it has some faults, the Galaxy Watch Ultra already does a few things very well.
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T TechTalkTV TechTalkTV · 885K subscribers · Aug 2024
But let's talk about what I don't like. The stock band is a disaster.
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C Chase the Summit Chase the Summit · 189K subscribers · Aug 2026
But, does it live up to the hype? Well, kind of. Just to get some of the basics out of the way, this watch comes in at $699 US, though right now on Samsung's website, I noticed that it's already marked down for some reason, maybe some sort of pre-order promo. And to be clear, this watch is only compatible with Android phones. You can't use this watch with an iPhone. Uh and there are some things that only work if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone in particular. Let's not waste any time though and dive right into the hardware. This watch is a 47-mm square design, or squircle design, as it's been said.
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I Ivan Kam Ivan Kam · 86.2K subscribers · Aug 2026
And I've got some good news and some bad news, right?
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T Tech It Easy Tech It Easy · 40.3K subscribers · Oct 2025
And after 30 kg of weight loss, incredible gains in my overall fitness, and the release of the Galaxy Watch 8, I've actually changed my mind.
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T Tech It Easy Tech It Easy · 40.3K subscribers · Jun 2026
That being said, it's not all good news. There's still four battery points that have actually disappointed me with the Galaxy Watch Ultra. And the first one is the charging speeds. While I'm fine with the battery life as a whole, a lot of people rightfully aren't.
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E Everyday Legends Everyday Legends · 19.5K subscribers · Dec 2024
Something I was a little bit disappointed about was the charging.
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E Elden Reviews Elden Reviews · 3.3K subscribers · Nov 2025
Do find really depends on whether you've got the always-on display running all the time or whether you've got that turned off, but I get about 4 to 5 days before I've got to give this a charge again, which brings me to one of my gripes with Samsung on this is that, you know, they give you the cable, the cable to charge, which magnets to the back of the watch, pretty similar to all the others, nice decent amount of cable, but they don't give you the charging block that is required.
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L Lorenzo Angeles Lorenzo Angeles · 2.9K subscribers · Jul 2025
The design of this watch will definitely be a conversation starter for those who are interested in tech as it features a squirk design with raised bezels that lack functionality, opting instead for more of a stylistic edge.
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T The Review Daily The Review Daily · 1.2K subscribers · May 2026
So, comfort is decent, but size is something you need to be honest about before buying.
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8 unconvinced sources

D Droid Life Tim · reviewer · Aug 2026
Sure, it had good battery life and plenty of activity tracking, but overall I don’t think it was worth the price. It was barely even comfortable enough to wear.
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F Flossy Carter Flossy Carter · 2.1M subscribers · Jul 2026
There's one major problem that you may have if you get the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 if you have tattoos.
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G r/GalaxyWatch u/Nervous-War6141 · owner
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 killed by a swimming pool. Samsung denied warranty after 4 months.
Read thread
J Jimmy is Promo Jimmy is Promo · 716K subscribers · Jul 2025
I'm going to say right now, if you have the Watch Ultra from last year, which is 2024, you don't need to upgrade, at least on this generation, only because soon you will have Samsung 1 UI 8 watch on the 2024 edition over here, and it's going to catch you up to this one.
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I Instagram Instagram post
The watch was defective from day one with severe overheating and abnormal battery drain.
View post
A AppX AppX · 177K subscribers · Jul 2026
I'm going to give you six no-nonsense reasons why keeping your current watch is the much smarter move.
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T Travis MCP Travis MCP · 129K subscribers · Apr 2026
Galaxy Watch Ultra, that was a 2025 version, killed by a swimming pool. And they denied the warranty after 4 months. We're going to read through this. But let me just remind you again here. This is like out in the middle of the water where obviously some salt water could be involved and they're going to tell you definitely salt water is not something that they're probably going to warranty against but this is crazy.
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D DKHD DKHD · 17.3K subscribers · Jul 2026
Let's talk about why you should update from Galaxy Watch Ultra to Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and why you should change your Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #25 of 26 on our smartwatches tier list, in F tier. That placement draws on 51 cited sources across 43 outlets.

8 of the 48 sources with a clear view are critical of it, among them AppX, DKHD and Droid Life. Owners report it never lasts over two days despite advertised 50 to 60 hours of battery life. Called a power hog in a long-term owner review. Superseded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 but still sold first-party. Bulky size. Missing rotating bezel.

On our smartwatches board, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic ranks #12 (C tier) ahead of Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra at #25 (F tier). Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic: Premium build and Samsung's multi-year update commitment, with the rotating bezel as the one extra mechanical part to worry about.

On our smartwatches board, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 ranks #4 (A tier) ahead of Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra at #25 (F tier). Samsung Galaxy Watch 8: CNET found its tracking reliable and it remains widely stocked and recommended. Superseded by the Galaxy Watch 9 with a shorter remaining update window, which is why it ranks below the newer generation despite solid hardware.

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