Compare Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2024) vs Apple Watch SE 3

Reviewers generally found automatic activity detection reliable and convenient, especially for walks, runs, and auto pausing, with only minor caveats.

Reviewers found automatic workout or walk detection useful and generally dependable, though one noted occasional slower workout-end recognition.

Wear OS and Google/Samsung integration were treated as major strengths, though one long-term reviewer still found smartwatch apps somewhat limited.

The app ecosystem is a major strength, with reviewers praising the Apple Watch App Store and broad app availability compared with rival budget watches.

Band feedback was sharply mixed: some reviewers praised the attachment system and comfort, while others disliked the stock or Marine bands.

Band support is a strength because the SE 3 uses Apple’s familiar strap system and has many Apple and third-party options.

Battery life was consistently better than ordinary Galaxy Watches, commonly reaching roughly two days or more, but still short of serious sports-watch endurance.

Battery life is the clearest mixed area: some reviewers saw all-day or better results, while others still treated it as a daily-charge watch.

Blood oxygen support appeared in sleep and apnea-related tracking, but reviewer confidence varied because one outlet saw unusually low overnight readings.

Blood oxygen tracking is consistently described as missing from the SE 3, making it a clear limitation versus Series and Ultra models.

Bluetooth support exists, but the clearest reviewer evidence focused on frustrating power-meter pairing rather than broad Bluetooth reliability.

Bluetooth support is present and useful for headphones and audio, though reviewers mostly mention it as part of the connectivity package rather than a standout feature.

Reviewers strongly agreed the 3,000-nit display is a standout, with excellent brightness in sunlight and outdoor use.

Brightness is adequate for many reviewers, but the 1,000-nit display is repeatedly framed as weaker than the Series 11 in direct sunlight.

Build quality was repeatedly praised as premium, rugged, and solid, with reviewers calling out top-notch construction.

Build quality is generally praised as light, well made, and attractive, with tougher glass helping the SE 3 feel less like a budget device.

The Quick Button was often useful, but reviewers repeatedly criticized the missing rotating bezel, absent crown-like control, and limited customization.

Button and gesture controls are strongly received, especially the Digital Crown, side button, Double Tap, and Wrist Flick gestures.

Call handling worked well as a phone-extension feature, with reviewers using or highlighting calls from the wrist.

Call handling is solid for a wrist device, with useful speaker, microphone, cellular, and voice isolation notes, though it is not ideal as a primary phone substitute.

Calorie tracking was present in daily stats and workout targets, but reviewer evidence focused more on availability than accuracy or depth.

Calorie tracking is treated as part of the reliable core fitness feature set, with one reviewer noting workout calorie metrics matched comparison data.

Charging convenience was mixed to weak because wireless charging exists, but reverse wireless charging was removed and top-ups still require planning.

Charging convenience improves with USB-C magnetic charging and fast top-ups, but sleep tracking still requires a daily charging routine for many users.

Charging speed was a recurring drawback, with reviewers reporting roughly 1.5 to 3 hours for a full recharge.

Charging speed is a repeated upgrade, with reviewers citing useful fast-charge top-ups and roughly 80 percent in around 45 minutes to an hour.

Coaching support was clearest through Wellness Tips and audio feedback tied to goals, but evidence was narrower than for core tracking.

Coaching features are useful but not deeply advanced; Workout Buddy is described as beginner-friendly, motivational, or basic depending on the reviewer.

Comfort depended heavily on wrist size and use case: several reviewers wore it comfortably, while others found it too large or disruptive for sleep.

Comfort is a strength, with reviewers calling the watch lightweight, unobtrusive, and well suited to sleep or smaller wrists.

Samsung Health was praised for useful aggregation and free features, but the broader app setup was criticized for requiring multiple Samsung apps.

Companion app quality is functional but split across Watch, Health, and Fitness apps, which can be useful yet occasionally tedious.

NFC and wallet payments were useful and reliable for several reviewers, though one long-term user disliked the PIN friction.

Contactless payments are a strong Apple Watch staple, with Apple Pay repeatedly included among the SE 3’s core smartwatch strengths.

Compatibility was a major caveat: the watch is Android-only and many advanced features are best or only available with Samsung phones.

Cross-platform compatibility is weak because reviewers frame the SE 3 as an iPhone smartwatch and note it only works with iPhone.

Customization was a clear strength, covering data pages, complications, watch faces, tiles, and the Quick Button.

Customization is strong across watch faces, metrics, widgets, bands, and gesture-driven controls.

Display quality was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising the AMOLED panel, clarity, size, sharpness, and visual impact.

Display quality is much improved by the always-on OLED screen, though thicker bezels and lower brightness keep it below Series and Ultra displays.

Durability was widely praised, with evidence around titanium, sapphire, rugged ratings, scratch resistance, and long-term wear.

Durability is improved through tougher Ion-X glass and water resistance, but some reviewers still point to weaker scratch or dust protection than pricier models.

ECG was valued as an advanced health feature, but multiple reviewers noted Samsung-phone or app restrictions.

ECG functionality is absent, and reviewers repeatedly call this one of the main health-feature tradeoffs.

Fit was polarizing because the 47mm body felt comfortable to some but bulky, wide, or wrist-dominating to others.

Fit is favorable for smaller wrists and sleep tracking, though one reviewer found the older chassis less flush than newer models.

Fitness accuracy was broadly positive for runs and GPS workouts, but reviewers still reported sport-specific weaknesses and mixed conclusions.

Fitness tracking accuracy is a strong point, with reviewers reporting accurate workouts and close agreement with comparison devices.

GPS accuracy was one of the product’s clearest wins, with many reviewers finding it accurate, fast-locking, or finally competitive.

GPS accuracy is generally strong for a single-band Apple Watch, with caveats in tall-building or canyon-like conditions.

Health accuracy was mixed: some scores and sensors seemed useful or consistent, while AGEs, body composition, and broader insights drew skepticism.

Health tracking accuracy is solid for the essentials, especially heart rate, sleep, and workouts, while advanced sensors are omitted.

Heart-rate accuracy was usually strong for running and everyday workouts, but reviewers reported weaknesses in cycling, rowing, or certain conditions.

Heart-rate accuracy is repeatedly praised, with reviewers finding close agreement against straps or other watches.

LTE was part of the Ultra’s default configuration and supported independent smartwatch use, though reviewers did not deeply stress-test it.

LTE and cellular connectivity are improved by 5G, with reviewers noting better coverage, calls, texts, messages, and downloads away from the phone.

Navigation was mixed: GPX, compass, Track Back, and turn-by-turn features helped, but reviewers criticized missing maps and limited routing depth.

Mapping and navigation are useful thanks to Apple Maps, offline maps, Find My basics, and Compass Backtrack, though precision finding is limited.

Materials quality was consistently praised, especially titanium, sapphire crystal, and the more premium feel versus aluminum Galaxy Watches.

Materials quality is good for the price, with aluminum and Ion-X glass, but premium titanium, sapphire, and some rugged ratings remain reserved for higher models.

Navigation was mixed to weak: touch and touch-bezel controls can work, but reviewers missed a rotating bezel or crown.

Menu navigation is easy and fast, helped by watchOS, the Digital Crown, touch controls, and one-handed gestures.

Music and media controls were useful as a phone-free convenience for pausing, skipping, and playback control.

Music controls are a strength, including Apple Music pairing, media controls, and playback improvements.

Onboard storage and offline playback are improved, with 64GB storage and support for music or media without the phone nearby.

The Wear OS 5 and One UI Watch experience was considered modern and capable, with performance and efficiency improvements.

The operating system experience is a major strength; reviewers praise watchOS 26 as polished, cohesive, and rich in Apple Watch features.

Outdoor visibility was excellent in most situations thanks to the bright screen, though one reviewer noted underwater visibility limits.

Outdoor visibility is usable but not class-leading, with the 1,000-nit screen and direct sunlight repeatedly cited as limits.

Pairing was mixed: phone setup could be easy and Samsung integration strong, but cycling power-meter pairing was poor.

Pairing and iPhone integration are strong, with reviewers praising how well the watch syncs, routes notifications, and pairs with Apple services.

Recovery and readiness insights were useful but uneven, with Energy Score and post-workout recovery data sometimes lacking sensitivity.

Recovery insights are present through training load, Vitals, sleep score, and workout feedback, but they are not as deep or prescriptive as some rivals.

Reliability was mostly positive over time, especially battery health, but reviewers noted isolated workout stoppage and power-warning issues.

Reliability appears strong in everyday use, with reviewers emphasizing smooth performance and lack of issues in ordinary tasks.

Safety features were a plus, especially the loud emergency siren and outdoor-focused emergency positioning.

Safety features are a major strength, including fall detection, crash detection, emergency SOS, heart-rate alerts, and Compass Backtrack.

Size options were weak because the Ultra only comes in one 47mm case, leaving smaller-wrist users with no Ultra-sized alternative.

Size options are adequate and familiar at 40mm and 44mm, with the smaller size appealing to smaller wrists, though color choices are limited.

Sleep tracking accuracy was mixed: several reviewers found sleep/wake times close, while others saw gaps, optimistic scoring, or idle-time confusion.

Sleep tracking is useful and generally accurate for time and stages, but sleep score is sometimes described as simple or limited.

Notifications generally worked well as a phone-extension feature, with reviewers appreciating wrist-based texting and alerts.

Notifications are a core strength, especially with always-on viewing, wrist vibration routing, and gestures for dismissal or management.

Smartwatch features were broad and capable, with reviewers highlighting Wear OS tools, Samsung ecosystem functions, sports modes, and phone-extension use.

Smartwatch features are excellent for the price, with reviewers emphasizing that it feels like a full Apple Watch rather than a stripped-down tracker.

Software smoothness was a major strength, with reviewers repeatedly reporting fast, fluid, lag-free performance.

Software smoothness is one of the clearest strengths because the S10 chip keeps watchOS, apps, and gestures fast and responsive.

Step counting was generally acceptable but not flawless, with reviewers noting close controls in one case and phantom or hand-motion-related steps in others.

Step counting appears as part of the core activity toolkit, though reviewers discuss the feature more than rigorous step-count accuracy.

Stress tracking was present but weakly reviewed, with one reviewer calling it an afterthought and another simply listing it among Samsung Health tools.

Design was polarizing: some reviewers loved the bold rugged look, while others disliked the squircle body and Apple-like cues.

Style and design are mixed: reviewers like the familiar Apple Watch look but often criticize the older body, thicker bezels, and limited colors.

Third-party app support was a Wear OS advantage, especially popular apps like Komoot, Strava, Spotify, and broader Wear OS options.

Third-party app support is strong because the SE 3 retains Apple’s large app store and broad developer support.

Touch input was fine in dry conditions but a weakness in sweat, rain, or wet sports situations.

Touchscreen responsiveness is strong, with reviewers saying touch, buttons, gestures, and everyday controls work promptly and fluidly.

The UI was generally refined and familiar, though some reviewers found Samsung’s watch experience less straightforward than rivals.

The user interface is easy, clean, and cohesive, especially with watchOS 26 and the familiar watch face/home structure.

Value was a recurring concern because the Ultra costs far more than Watch 7 while sharing many features, despite its rugged advantages.

Value for money is the strongest consensus attribute, with reviewers repeatedly saying the SE 3 offers near-Series functionality at a much lower price.

Voice assistant quality improves with on-device Siri and the S10 chip, making requests faster and more useful than earlier SE models.

Watch faces were praised for attractiveness, customization, complications, and useful at-a-glance information.

Watch face quality is praised through attractive, high-quality options and watchOS 26 face support.

Water resistance was stronger than standard Galaxy Watches and good for swimming/open water, but reviewers noted it is not a true dive-sports watch.

Water resistance is solid for typical use, with reviewers noting 50-meter or 164-foot resistance and swim tracking, but not advanced dive sensors.

Wellness insights were promising but mixed: Energy Score and Wellness Tips helped some reviewers, while AGEs and score sensitivity drew criticism.

Wellness insights are useful for mainstream users through sleep score, sleep apnea alerts, wrist temperature, Vitals, and heart-rate notifications.

Wi-Fi setup and connectivity were supported through the Galaxy Wearable flow, but review evidence was limited to basic connection behavior.

Wi-Fi is adequate but not premium, with reviewers noting 2.4GHz-only or Wi-Fi 4 support rather than dual-band.

Workout variety was strong, covering multisport, triathlon, gym machines, runs, hikes, swims, rides, and many activity profiles.

Workout tracking variety is strong, covering many sports, workouts, running metrics, swimming, and common gym activities.