At its Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event, Samsung introduced several new devices, including two new smartwatches. One is the Galaxy Watch Ultra, an ultra-rugged smartwatch designed for extreme athletes. Sound familiar? It’s difficult not to notice the striking similarities between the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the similarly named Apple Watch Ultra 2 (and original Ultra).
While the two devices are for very different users, one for Samsung Galaxy (or other Android) phone owners and one for Apple iPhone users, it’s interesting to see how they compare. Has Samsung really introduced a durable, adventurer’s smartwatch for Galaxy phone owners that is a viable iPhone user equivalent?
How They Look
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: With a square frame around the round display, it has a Digital Crown on the side and two function buttons, and new dynamic lug system with a cushion design. The watch comes in one size at 47mm and with both Bluetooth and an LTE options for connecting to a network separately from your phone if desired.
Finished in Titanium Silver, Gray, and White, the default band is an orange Marine band. Samsung also offers a Trail Band and PeakForm Band, each suited to a different type of active user, from hikers to swimmers, and available in colors like orange, dark gray, green, and white, and in small, medium, and large sizes.
The 1.5-inch screen boasts 3,000 nits peak brightness, so you can view it comfortably even in bright sunlight. There’s also a Quick Button that can initiate and control workouts and map other functions. The Watch automatically switches to Night Mode in the dark.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: With the Apple Watch Ultra 2, you get a larger 1.92-inch square-shaped screen and 49mm size. It also affords 3,000 nits peak brightness and has a Night Mode. On the side is the signature Digital Crown and side button as well as a customizable Action button you can use to do things like start a workout, mark a Compass Waypoint, or begin a dive. Choose from similar band options as well, including Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band.
Key differences: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is larger all around, though both are larger than your typical smartwatch.
Durability
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Made of lightweight Titanium Grade 437, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra boasts 10ATM water resistance and is rated to work at altitudes from 500 metres below sea level to 9,000 metres high. So, you can wear it down to a depth of 100 metres for 10 minutes. With the IP68 rating, you can also wear it down to 1.5 metres for up to 30 minutes. But it’s not designed to be worn during high-pressure water activities nor diving. Its operating temperature is -20°C to 55°C.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 49mm titanium case, making it both lightweight, rugged, and corrosion resistant. It’s water-resistant down to 100 metres as well and meets the same MIL-STD-810H standards with IP6X dust resistance. It is rated to be worn while diving, and even has a depth gauge that provides real-time measurement of underwater depth, down to 40 metres. In fact, it meets EN13319 certification to classify as a diving accessory and contains a full-featured dive computer.
With an altitude operating range of 500 metres to 9,000 metres, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 falls in line with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra in this respect as well. Its operating temperature range is -20°C to 55°C, too, so it can be safely worn everywhere from on a ski hill in the frigid cold to exploring the desert in extreme heat.
Key differences: Both are ultra-rugged but if you’re a diver, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is specifically rated for diving activities, with features to match.
Key Fitness, Health, and Wellness Features
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Powered by WearOS 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra offers Galaxy AI-powered health insights, including multi-course workouts using the new Multi-sports tile, ideal for those training for something like a triathlon. The new Functional Threshold Power (FTP) metric is designed for cyclers while personalized HR Zones are ideal for runners.
It offers all the usual fitness and wellness tracking metrics as well, including heart health notifications, ECG, sleep tracking, temperature sensing, blood oxygen monitoring, and more. With Samsung’s BioActive Sensor, you get accurate tracking and information about your health and body.
New to this model is a De Novo FDA-authorized feature that checks for signs of Sleep Apnea. It can also track advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which can help determine your overall biological aging process and give you an indication of metabolic health.
Use GPX data-based guidance to navigate back to destinations, get detailed guidance along routes, and use the Track Back feature to easily get back to where you started. There are special features for specific activities, like Race for tracking your pace against past records, and personalized heart rate zones for things like cardio workouts.
With Galaxy AI, you can get an Energy Score that analyzes your overall condition to help you make proactive changes to improve.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: Along with standard fitness tracking features, including heart health notifications, ECG, sleep tracking, temperature sensing, and blood oxygen monitoring, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has added features that will appeal to specific types of athletes. It can connect to cycling accessories like power meters via Bluetooth. Training Zones are calculated as you work out so you can keep on top of your intensity levels. You can do Multisport workouts and sync the Watch with custom workout APIs from apps like TrainingPeaks.
You also get advanced running metrics and track detection that uses Apple Maps and GPS to provide accurate pace, distance, and route maps. The dual-frequency GPS ensures accurate location tracking, even in dense environments. It also has a compass app with the option to save waypoints. With Backtrack, retrace your steps so you don’t get lost; and access advanced map details, including topographic maps, right from the Watch face.
Of course, you can also access Apple’s Fitness+ subscription service for workouts of all kinds. You can create custom workout plans, track workouts from the watch seamlessly while following on the big screen, and keep tabs on progress. You get a free trial with purchase, but beyond that, you’ll have to pay for Apple Fitness+ if you want to use it.
Key differences: The two smartwatches are relatively on par with one another, though Apple offers an entire ecosystem with its Apple Fitness+ subscription-based service if you’re looking for virtual workout classes to add to your routine. Samsung, meanwhile, has a leg up with features like its Sleep Apnea detection and AGEs.
Battery Life
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: This watch can last for up to 100 hours (about four days) in Power Saving mode and 48 hours in Exercise Power Saving mode.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: It sports up to 36 hours of normal use (a day and-a-half), up to 72 hours of normal use with the low power settings enabled, or up to 17 hours of workout use in Low Power Mode.
Key differences: The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is rated to last much longer, but this could come down to how you use both and which features you rely on the most.
Other Mentionables
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Naturally, you can access a host of apps on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, including Samsung apps, Google apps, and third-party apps. It also works alongside the new Samsung Galaxy Ring to provide even more accurate health tracking, especially while sleeping. There are safety features with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, like an Emergency Siren as well.
Night mode ensures you can see in the dark, adapting to the ambient lighting condition. Along with tracking sleep, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra also focuses on detailed sleep coaching to help you better understand your sleep and improve.
Apple Watch Ultra 2: This watch affords access to tons of apps as well, including built-in ones from Apple along with third-party ones from a variety of sources. It comes equipped with dual speakers and a three-mic array so you can make and receive calls from the Watch, summon Siri, listen to tunes, and more.
There’s an 86-decibel siren with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 that can be heard from up to 600 feet away. Another neat safety feature is flashlight boost, which allows you to double flashlight brightness in dark situation by turning the Digital Crown. There’s also Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and Emergency SOS.
You can use tap gestures to control the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Double tap your index finger and thumb to answer calls, for example, or pause/resume a time.
Key differences: The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra places more focus on sleep, and presumably might offer more accurate sleep tracking and more proactive data.
Pricing
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: $880
Apple Watch Ultra 2: $1,099
Key differences: The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is $219 cheaper than the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Bottom Line
There’s no choosing between these two smartwatches: if you have an iPhone, you’re going to get an Apple Watch and if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you’re going to get a Galaxy Watch. But it’s interesting to see just how close these two smartwatches are in terms of features and functions.
They both have aspects that make them different and unique. Apple, for example, certifies this device for diving, making it a great option for pro swimmers and divers who want to track their explorations. Samsung, meanwhile, is creating a holistic partnership between its Galaxy Watches and the Galaxy Ring, which could mean an exciting new way to get more precise data than ever before.
How much these devices are similar just goes to show that both Apple and Samsung are pushing one another to do better and continue to innovate. Whichever platform you choose, if you’re an adventurer or extreme athlete, you’ll appreciate either of these smartwatches.
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