Compare Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)

Auto-detection works very well for walking and running, but one reviewer found it less reliable for cycling and strength training.

The antioxidant index is consistently weak, with several reviewers calling it low-value, inaccurate, gimmicky, or only marginally responsive.

The app ecosystem was a standout strength, with reviewers praising the huge App Store and iPhone-integrated app experience.

The app ecosystem is strong, with reviewers citing many apps and plenty of smartwatch functionality.

Band quality evidence was positive for the reflective Trail Loop’s workout stability compared with the Ocean Band.

Band quality is mixed to positive, with easy swaps and a robust strap system offset by dirt buildup and a hit-or-miss release mechanism.

Battery life was broadly improved and often praised as multi-day for a smartwatch, but still short of endurance-watch rivals.

Battery life is a strength relative to other Galaxy Watches, but real-world results vary widely with always-on display, GPS, and travel use.

Blood oxygen tracking drew a clear caveat, with one reviewer repeatedly seeing lower SPO2 results than expected from other sensors.

Brightness earned strong praise as the brightest display of any Apple Watch in the reviewed evidence.

Brightness is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly noting bright output and easy readability.

Build quality was praised as durable, refined, and rock solid.

Build quality is a major strength thanks to the rugged titanium case, robust design, and adventure-ready construction.

Button and gesture controls were a strength, especially the Action button and touch-free gestures.

Button controls are polarized: reviewers like the programmable/quick button, but one long-term reviewer had repeated accidental presses and wanted better workout shortcuts.

Call handling received positive evidence from smartwatch audio quality in the PhoneArena review.

Charging convenience was praised because quick top-ups reduced sleep-tracking and daily-use friction.

Charging convenience is hurt by Samsung omitting the wall charger, which one reviewer called stingy.

Charging speed was mixed-to-positive: reviewers liked 80% charging in about 45 minutes, but one saw little generational improvement.

Workout Buddy and coaching were viewed as promising but uneven, with reviewers noting wrong or limited guidance and phone requirements.

Coaching features are a standout, especially Running Coach, which reviewers found useful, personalized, or exceptionally effective.

Comfort was mixed: several reviewers found it wearable, but others called it bulky or preferred smaller/lighter watches.

Comfort varies by reviewer: some found it comfortable, including for sleep, while others felt the weight and bulk.

The companion-app experience was criticized as disjointed across Fitness and Health.

Companion app quality is mixed because Samsung still splits settings and health data across separate apps.

Apple Pay and Wallet were cited as useful day-to-day smartwatch tools.

Cross-platform compatibility was a clear drawback because reviewers emphasized that the watch remains locked to iPhone users.

Cross-platform compatibility is limited: reviewers note Android support but no current iPhone compatibility.

Customization was praised through strong third-party data-screen options for running apps.

Customization is strong for widgets, dashboards, watch faces, and tiles, but workout data-screen customization drew a complaint.

Display quality was one of the strongest consensus areas, with reviewers praising screen size, clarity, brightness, and readability.

Display quality is consistently praised as vibrant, large, detailed, scratch-resistant, and excellent overall.

Durability evidence was positive, including titanium-case praise and no visible damage after knocks.

Durability is excellent across reviews, from chassis feel to military-standard claims and real-world wear with little damage.

ECG is treated positively as part of Samsung Health Monitor’s useful health-tool set rather than as a deeply tested medical feature.

Fit had a specific concern: the Trail Loop worked loose enough to affect sensor contact.

Fit is context-dependent: one reviewer liked the big watch on their wrist, while another found it too large.

General fitness metrics were considered accurate in higher-level testing, especially when GPS and heart-rate results were evaluated together.

Fitness tracking is broadly positive for running and general activity, though scientific testing framed performance as good enough rather than best-in-class.

GPS accuracy was one of the strongest areas, with multiple reviewers calling tracks solid, impressive, precise, or market-leading.

GPS accuracy is praised by several mainstream reviewers, but scientific testing found visible deviations and placed it behind stronger sports watches.

Hypertension-related health alerts were treated as meaningful preventive signals, though evidence was limited to one reviewer’s health-feature assessment.

Health-tracking accuracy is mixed: reviewers praised some running-related readings, but questioned HRV, blood oxygen, antioxidant-style metrics, and scientific testing placed Samsung below top-tier rivals.

Heart-rate results were mostly praised as close to straps and among the best wrist readings, but some reviewers reported race-day or run-session misses.

Heart-rate accuracy is generally good for running and daily fitness, though scientific testing still found better wrist options and exercise-dependent limits.

Cellular/5G was mixed: one reviewer saw stronger weak-signal reception, while another found little real-world benefit.

LTE is a meaningful advantage for users who want to run or stay reachable without carrying a phone.

Mapping and navigation were mixed: native Apple navigation was criticized, while turn-by-turn and third-party route tools helped.

Mapping and navigation benefit from larger storage for offline maps and route-related use, especially for outdoor users.

Materials quality was praised for the slick titanium case and premium feel.

Materials quality is excellent, with praise for titanium, ruggedness, and corrosion-resistant construction.

Menu navigation in the redesigned workout app was described as easier to use.

Menu navigation is mixed: the digital bezel and haptics help, but reviewers miss a rotating bezel/crown and find usability reduced.

Music controls and Apple Music access were praised as joyful when running without an iPhone.

Onboard music and storage are valuable for Spotify, podcasts, media, and offline use, especially now that storage is doubled.

Operating-system experience was praised for frictionless iPhone integration and ecosystem fit.

The operating system experience is improved by One UI 8, with more functional UI elements and praised new software features.

Outdoor visibility was generally excellent in sunlight and canopy conditions, though reflections could still interfere for one reviewer.

Outdoor visibility is excellent, with multiple reviewers saying the display remains readable in direct sunlight.

Pairing reliability is excellent in the Notebookcheck test, where the watch was recognized and set up without issues.

Recovery and training analysis remained a recurring weakness, with reviewers saying Apple still lacks the depth of dedicated sports-watch platforms.

Recovery-style guidance is a weak spot in one long-term review, where the energy score felt redundant and unhelpful.

Reliability was supported by evidence describing the Ultra 3 as a reliable multi-day smartwatch.

Reliability is mostly good, but Notebookcheck reported brief display interruptions during always-on display use.

Safety features were a major strength, especially satellite connectivity, SOS, and off-grid reassurance.

Safety features are helped by LTE, which one reviewer valued for safer phone-free running.

Size options were a weakness because the same large case felt too thick and bulky for smaller wrists.

Size options are limited by the single large case, and multiple reviewers describe the Ultra as very big.

Sleep tracking drew generally positive reactions for accuracy, clarity, and the new Sleep Score, with a few caveats around simplicity and confidence.

Sleep tracking earns mixed marks: reviewers liked the score and some stage consistency, but noted low awake detection and second-tier sleep-stage performance.

Notification handling benefited from wrist-flick and gesture improvements that reviewers found useful for dismissing alerts.

Notification handling is positive, with one reviewer noting detailed, useful notifications from the watch.

Reviewers consistently positioned the Ultra 3 as a top-tier smartwatch and strong daily driver, especially for iPhone users.

Core smartwatch features are strong, but some reviews temper praise by noting the 2025 model adds few meaningful upgrades.

Software smoothness was strong, with reviewers citing fluid watchOS animations, responsiveness, and a smooth user experience.

Software smoothness is strong in direct testing, with smooth operation and quick app launches.

Step counting is strong during normal arm-swinging walks, with a caveat that carts or strollers reduce accuracy.

Style and design were generally praised as rugged, streamlined, sophisticated, and balanced.

Style is subjective: one reviewer loved the stylish look, while another disliked the rugged, masculine aesthetic.

Third-party app support was a major advantage, especially for runners using apps such as WorkOutDoors, Strava, and other services.

Third-party app support benefits from extra storage and useful fitness/media apps, giving users more room for services beyond Samsung’s own tools.

Touchscreen responsiveness was praised as brilliantly responsive and enjoyable.

The interface was mostly liked for Liquid Glass fluidity, though one reviewer found the softer contrast harder to read.

The user interface is functional and approachable, though at least one reviewer found parts of the visual design odd.

Value for money was mixed: reviewers praised the capability but repeatedly flagged the $799 price, upgrade case, and iPhone limitation.

Value for money is the most contested attribute: reviewers like the watch itself but often question the 2025 refresh and launch price.

Siri responsiveness was praised in the Nextpit review as smooth and on-device responsive.

Gemini makes the voice assistant experience notably useful and convenient, especially because the watch screen is small.

Ultra watch faces were a meaningful differentiator for one reviewer, especially Modular Ultra.

Watch faces are a major strength, with reviewers praising Samsung’s selection, visual quality, and customization.

Water resistance was praised as dive-ready with 100-meter resistance.

Water resistance is treated positively for pool, rain, snow, and diving-oriented use.

Wellness insights were praised mainly around Sleep Score and hypertension-style health alerts, which reviewers found useful and welcome.

Wellness insights are useful when they explain metrics or provide coaching, though some newer metrics remain questionable.

Workout variety was praised for strong cycling, swimming, triathlon, and other activity profiles.

Workout variety is a strength, with reviewers praising broad activity support, multisport-style capabilities, and Samsung’s wide exercise list.