Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Premium Design & AI-Powered Features Impress in Early Reviews
Alongside their foldable phones, Samsung unveiled the high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra. This new smartwatch boasts an eye-catching design, powerful processor, and helpful features. Let's delve into what the media has to say about this exciting new wearable.
Design & Display: A Touch of Rugged Elegance
The Verge points out that the name "Watch Ultra" clearly positions this device as a direct competitor to the Apple Watch Ultra, and the similarities are evident. However, Samsung's offering distinguishes itself with unique design elements.
- Built Tough: The Watch Ultra features a durable 47mm titanium case, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and a distinctive square bezel surrounding the circular display.
- Water Ready: With 10 ATM and IP68 water resistance, you can dive up to 100 meters without worry.
- Extreme Conditions: This watch is built to endure temperatures from -20°C to 55°C and altitudes up to 8891 meters, adhering to the MIL-STD 810H standard.
New Features for Convenience & Safety
- Customizable Button: The Quick Button can be configured to launch your favorite app or begin a workout. A 5-second press activates a loud siren for emergencies.
- Enhanced Navigation: Dual-band GPS ensures faster and more accurate location tracking.
- Brilliant Display: The 1.5-inch AMOLED display boasts a 480x480 resolution, offering vibrant colors and a peak brightness of 3000 nits.
Performance & Battery: Power Meets Efficiency
Powered by Wear OS 5 with One UI Watch 6 and the Exynos W1000 chipset (3nm), Samsung claims a threefold increase in speed and 30% improved energy efficiency compared to its predecessor. While these claims are yet to be thoroughly tested, ZDNet praises the system's snappy performance.
The chipset also enables AI-driven features like:
- Energy Score: Analyzes your sleep patterns, activity levels, and other metrics to provide an overall wellness score and personalized recommendations.
Health & Fitness Tracking: A Comprehensive Suite
Alongside familiar sensors for temperature, geomagnetic activity, and light, the Watch Ultra features:
- Upgraded BioActive Sensor
- Accelerometer
- Barometer
- Gyroscope
New additions include:
- Functional Threshold Power (FTP) tracking for cyclists
- Heart rate zone training
- Race mode for runners, allowing real-time comparisons with past runs
Sleep Monitoring & Other Features:
- FDA-approved sleep apnea detection
- Nighttime theme with a red interface for better sleep rhythm regulation
- ECG, heart rate, and body composition analysis
Samsung states that the 590mAh battery provides up to 60 hours of typical usage with AOD enabled. Exercise Power Saving mode offers 48 hours, while the battery saver mode extends it to 100 hours.
Price & Availability
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at $650.
