Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra First Impressions: Premium Design and AI-Powered Features
Alongside its new foldable phones, Samsung also unveiled its top-of-the-line smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Sporting a striking design, powerful processor, and useful features, the watch has already garnered attention. Let's dive into what the media is saying:
Design and Display
The Verge points out that the "Ultra" in the name is a clear indication of the watch's rivalry with the Apple Watch Ultra, and there are indeed similarities. However, Samsung's offering boasts unique design elements. It features a durable 47mm titanium case with sapphire crystal, and the circular display is encased in a square metal bezel. The watch is water-resistant up to 10 ATM and IP68 certified, allowing for swimming at depths of up to 100 meters. It can withstand temperatures ranging from -20°C to 55°C and altitudes up to 8891 meters, meeting the MIL-STD 810H standard.
The addition of a customizable Quick Button allows users to launch their favorite app or start a workout, while a 5-second press activates a loud siren. GSMArena notes that while the button rotates, this function isn't utilized within the system; scrolling is still handled via the touchscreen, as with the standard Watch 7. Familiar "home" and "back" buttons are also present. A significant upgrade is the inclusion of dual-band GPS for faster and more accurate location tracking. The Watch Ultra sports a vibrant 1.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480x480, boasting a peak brightness of 3000 nits.
OS and Battery Life
Running Wear OS 5 with Samsung's One UI Watch 6, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is powered by the 3nm Exynos W1000 chipset. Samsung claims this processor is three times faster and 30% more energy-efficient than its predecessor. While it's too early to confirm these claims definitively, ZDNet praises the system's snappy performance. The platform supports AI-powered features like Energy Score, which analyzes metrics like sleep quality and activity levels to provide an overall wellness score and suggestions for improvement.
The watch is equipped with sensors for temperature, geomagnetic activity, and ambient light, as well as an updated BioActive sensor, accelerometer, barometer, and gyroscope. New features include Functional Threshold Power (FTP) to measure a cyclist's output over four minutes, and heart rate zones to help users optimize workout intensity. The Race mode for running allows for real-time comparisons with previous runs.
Furthermore, the Watch Ultra can now detect signs of sleep apnea, a feature officially cleared by the FDA. Two nights of data are required for accurate detection. The software also introduces a nighttime theme that turns the interface red, potentially aiding sleep rhythm regulation. ECG, heart rate monitoring, and body composition analysis are also present.
With a 590mAh battery, Samsung claims a battery life of 60 hours in a typical scenario with AOD enabled. Utilizing the Exercise Power Saving setting provides 48 hours of use, while in battery saver mode it can last up to 100 hours.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at $650.
