Reviews describe auto-detection as reliable for walks and runs and able to recognize many workout types, though one reviewer treats it more as a convenience backup than a substitute for manually choosing the exact workout.
One review describes Garmin’s wellness ecosystem as comprehensive, especially for turning health data into useful summaries.
Reviews highlight lots of available apps, including media and fitness options, and portray the Wear OS app catalog as broad enough to add meaningful utility to the watch.
The silicone band is described positively for comfort and feel.
The band system is easy to swap, stays secure in daily wear, and is described as robust, though one review notes that genuine replacement bands are expensive.
Battery life is widely praised, with most reviews citing around nine days and some testers stretching well beyond a week.
Battery life is consistently one of the watch’s strongest traits, with reviewers reporting anything from roughly 35–36 hours under heavier use to multiple days in lighter real-world use.
Pulse Ox is present and generally viewed positively, with one reviewer calling the SpO2 readings spot-on.
Blood oxygen tracking is widely available as part of the sensor package, but one long-term review says the SpO2 readings tend to run low, so confidence in the metric is mixed.
Bluetooth support is consistently mentioned for sensor links, heart-rate broadcasting, and phone connectivity.
One reviewer said the screen can be hard to read in very bright conditions, even at maximum brightness.
The display’s brightness is a standout strength in the review that directly measures it, with the screen described as exceptionally bright.
The move from a plastic case to a metal case is presented as a quality upgrade.
Reviews describe the chassis as rugged and premium, with a solid case that fits the Ultra’s outdoor positioning.
The new physical buttons are one of the most praised upgrades, especially for workouts and easier navigation.
The Quick button gets positive marks for usefulness and shortcut flexibility, but other reviews dislike the overall button layout or want better workout-time control behavior.
Reviews confirm that the watch supports speaker-and-mic calling, but they focus more on availability and setup than on deep call-quality analysis.
Calorie data is available, but one review said calories burned ran slightly off compared with another watch.
Charging is improved by the standard Garmin cable or simple magnetic setup, and reviewers call the new approach more convenient.
Wireless charging is a plus, but convenience is undercut by Samsung’s decision to omit the wall charging block in the box.
Charging speed is good, with reviewers reporting roughly a full charge in about an hour.
Charging looks decent rather than class-leading, with one review citing about 95 minutes for a full charge and another showing a meaningful top-up during a short morning routine.
Garmin Coach and structured workouts are widely praised for offering guided plans and flexible goal-based training.
Running Coach is the standout coaching feature, with reviews describing personalized plans, helpful guidance, and useful support for improving pace or distance.
Comfort is a standout strength, with reviewers repeatedly saying the watch is light, easy to sleep in, and easy to forget on the wrist.
Comfort is generally good for a large watch thanks to the straps and wrist feel, but reviewers who prefer smaller watches still notice the size and weight.
Garmin Connect gets mixed marks: reviewers praised setup and data usefulness, but one found the app less clear than it could be.
Setup and app integration are smooth, but Samsung’s split between Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health remains a mild annoyance.
Garmin Pay is repeatedly noted as convenient and easy for on-the-go payments.
Samsung Wallet or Pay access is readily available from the watch and is framed as convenient for payments on the go.
One review explicitly says the watch works with both iOS and Android phones.
The watch works with Android phones beyond Samsung, but the best experience is still framed as being inside Samsung’s own ecosystem, and iPhone compatibility is off the table.
Reviews note good customization for watch faces, widgets, data pages, training plans, and notifications, even if flexibility is not unlimited everywhere.
Customization is a major strength, with repeated praise for editable widgets, watch faces, colors, fonts, and shortcut layouts.
The hidden monochrome display earns praise for clarity and contrast, though it remains intentionally simple rather than rich or colorful.
The display is repeatedly described as large, vibrant, detailed, and excellent to look at, making it one of the clearest strengths in the review set.
Durability impressions are mixed, with Gorilla Glass noted positively but aluminum scratch resistance called out as a weakness.
The Ultra’s rugged build and durability are repeated positives, with both spec-focused and long-term reviews reinforcing its tough-watch positioning.
Reviews explicitly note that the Lily 2 Active does not include ECG support.
ECG is supported and easy to access, but Samsung-specific limitations still apply for some advanced health functions.
The compact size and lightweight build earn strong praise for smaller wrists and all-day wear.
Fit is polarizing: larger-wrist users like the substantial case, while others call it bulky or simply too big.
General fitness tracking is reviewed very positively, with performance described as accurate and comparable to pricier Garmin models.
General fitness tracking is reviewed positively overall, with one reviewer saying it matched a Garmin closely, but the scientific review still frames it as good enough rather than class-leading.
GPS is a standout strength, with multiple reviews calling it accurate, fast to connect, and very close to higher-end Garmin devices.
GPS performance is usually described as accurate or very good for normal use, but the scientific review says it is not perfect and trails stronger sports-watch options.
The dedicated scientific review judges the overall health-and-sports tracking package as acceptable rather than elite, with clear room for improvement versus stronger competitors.
Multiple reviews say heart-rate tracking was very solid or spot-on, with only minor lag during quick changes in effort.
Heart-rate tracking is solid for running in several reviews, but the scientific review stops short of calling it best-in-class.
LTE availability is a clear Ultra advantage, with reviewers appreciating phone-free use and noting that LTE is standard on this model.
Materials get mixed feedback: Gorilla Glass and aluminum are appreciated, but one reviewer still viewed the aluminum as easier to scratch than pricier materials.
Titanium construction and premium materials are central to the Ultra’s identity and are repeatedly cited as meaningful differentiators.
Menus and widget navigation are generally viewed as straightforward, with swipes and buttons making the watch easier to move around.
Navigation is serviceable and helped by touch and haptics, but several reviews still miss a true rotating control or want better workout-time interactions.
Phone-based music controls work well for basic playback tasks like volume and track skipping.
Music access is integrated into the interface, with reviewers noting Spotify-aware controls and quick access from the watch.
Multiple reviews explicitly say there is no onboard music storage, so you still need your phone for music.
The move to 64GB is one of the clearest 2025 upgrades and is repeatedly framed as useful for storing music, podcasts, or other offline content directly on the watch.
One UI Watch and One UI 8 are portrayed as feature-rich and modern, with newer software bringing visible interface changes and new capabilities.
One review specifically said the screen stayed readable outdoors, even in direct sunlight.
Outdoor readability is a clear strength, with multiple reviews saying the screen stays readable in bright sun.
Pairing is described as easy and dependable for phones and supported external sensors.
Setup is described as immediate and hassle-free in the review that directly covers pairing.
HRV, Body Battery, Training Readiness, and related guidance give useful signals about recovery and when to push or rest.
The recovery-style insight layer exists, but the long-term review says the recommendations often feel off or unhelpful.
One reviewer explicitly described the watch as very reliable during GPS use.
One review notes occasional display interruptions, suggesting that everyday reliability is good but not flawless.
Incident detection, fall alerts, and emergency contact sharing are repeatedly mentioned as reassuring safety features.
Safety-minded setup options and the built-in siren add real appeal for outdoor-focused users.
Multiple reviews call out the lack of size choice, noting that the watch comes only in a single 47mm configuration.
Reviewers consistently said the watch nailed sleep and wake timing and caught wake-ups well, though one review still wanted deeper sleep-stage detail.
Sleep tracking is useful but mixed: some reviews call the stages relatively accurate, while others say certain sleep metrics still miss obvious awake time.
The watch reliably mirrors smartphone notifications, with support for calls, texts, and app alerts.
Notifications are easy to access from the main interface and behave like a normal smartwatch strength.
Core smartwatch basics are here, including notifications, music control, and Garmin Pay, but the feature set stays focused rather than expansive.
The Ultra is consistently described as feature-packed, combining fitness tools with everyday smart features like calls, texts, and assistant access.
One review says day-to-day swiping and opening apps feels smooth.
Day-to-day performance is smooth in the review that directly comments on software behavior, with fast app launches and fluid operation.
One reviewer found step counts close in casual testing, though arm-free walking can still miss steps.
One detailed long-term review found step counts spot-on in normal walking, while also noting that locked-arm situations can reduce accuracy.
Stress tracking is included across reviews and is described as useful for understanding energy and daily load.
Style is one of the biggest selling points, with reviewers consistently praising the fashionable, minimalist look.
Design reactions are mixed: some reviewers like the rugged adventure look and color options, while others find the watch too big or not especially attractive.
Reviews confirm syncing and compatibility with third-party services such as Strava, TrainingPeaks, and similar fitness platforms.
Third-party fitness and media apps are part of the appeal, with examples like Spotify, Strava, Map My Run, and Hole19 explicitly mentioned.
Touch input is the clearest weakness in the reviews, with repeated complaints about touches not registering cleanly.
One reviewer describes the interface as very simple to swipe through and interact with.
The updated UI is generally viewed as more functional and easier to organize, though some reviewers still think Samsung’s visual design language looks odd or over-layered.
Value is mixed but mostly positive: several reviews say the added GPS and upgrades justify the price, while others think rivals offer more for similar money.
Value is the biggest caveat. Reviews repeatedly say the watch is hard to justify at launch price unless you specifically want the Ultra’s rugged build, LTE, or extra storage.
Gemini and voice-assistant access are treated as genuinely useful additions, especially for quick hands-free interactions from the wrist.
Watch face options get mixed feedback: the designs suit the look of the watch, but several reviewers wanted more variety or more color.
Watch faces are a standout strength, with repeated praise for variety, aesthetics, and customization depth.
One review states the watch is water resistant to 5 ATM.
Reviews consistently frame the watch as well-suited to water exposure, with strong resistance credentials and real-world confidence for wet conditions.
Body Battery, sleep scores, hormone guidance, and other wellness summaries are a major strength and frequently described as useful.
Wellness features like Energy Score, guidance, and metric explanations add context, but some reviewers feel parts of the insight layer are generic or gimmicky.
Reviews repeatedly highlight the wide range of sport profiles and workout modes, with the Active adding many more than earlier Lily models.
Workout support is broad, with reviewers describing lots of trackable activities and something for nearly everyone.