Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

While not all, some of our long-time complaints remain. We would like to see future Galaxy Watches charge over third-party chargers and Samsung stop gatekeeping some cool features like ECG and Blood Pressure measurements only to users who have Galaxy smartphones.

After two weeks living with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, I can tell you the new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and featherlight Marine band make this the most compelling Galaxy Watch yet. But at $699, a few frustrating tradeoffs mean it’s not a slam dunk for everyone.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a powerhouse smartwatch that justifies its high price for outdoor enthusiasts with three-day battery life, a super-bright screen, and scuba-diving durability.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 improves on the original's size, packs in some more health and fitness features, and has the brightest screen we've seen on a smartwatch. But it'll still prove big and ungainly for many.

If you’re looking for a step up in your Galaxy Watch experience and are willing to pay a premium for battery life and durability, this won’t disappoint. It’s a premium smartwatch that can also pull double duty as an outdoor companion, as long as you don’t expect it to go as far or last as long as a dedicated sports watch.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ($1,299) is a genuine step up from its predecessor, arriving thinner, lighter and noticeably more comfortable thanks to a redesigned, highly adjustable band. Battery life is a standout, easily delivering two to three days of everyday use even with sleep tracking switched on, though the fast-charge speed doesn't quite live up to its name. The screen is the real showstopper, hitting 5,000 nits of brightness with smart ambient adjustment that makes it easily readable in direct sun. Add comprehensive health tracking (sleep staging, blood oxygen, skin temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and even snoring detection via your phone), and this remains a watch built for the "Ultra" crowd of runners, hikers and divers, while still being an excellent daily wear for the far less active. For existing Watch Ultra owners and Galaxy phone users alike, it's a clear win.

Samsung has managed to tone down the bulky, bulbous look of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, slimming its chassis while still ensuring it’s jam-packed with AI-powered features and works seamlessly across all your Samsung devices. Its battery life exceeds expectations, apps look great and work smoothly, and the UI both in-app and on-watch is pleasant and intuitive to use. It’s still a big beast, and there are some accuracy niggles, but it remains a great option for hardcore exercisers — although for me it doesn’t quite hit the heights design-wise of its counterpart, the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is Samsung’s most complete smartwatch yet, combining a dazzling display, excellent health tracking, improved multi-day battery life, and a more comfortable design. Its adventure credentials still fall short of Garmin’s, while the price and software bloat are difficult to ignore, but this remains an outstanding Android wearable.