Compare Garmin Lily 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025)

Automatic activity detection was consistently useful for walks and casual movement, with reviewers noting reliable walk detection and Garmin Move IQ, though its automatic detail is limited.

Workout auto-detection is broadly useful, with reviewers citing automatic workout detection and reliable walk detection, though manual starts remain better for some activities.

The Lily 2 is constrained as an app platform: reviewers noted no Connect IQ widgets and no native third-party app installation.

The app ecosystem is a strength: reviewers mention many available apps, Google Play access, and expanded usefulness from the extra storage.

Band quality is a clear upgrade, with standard 14mm quick-release bands repeatedly praised for flexibility, comfort, and easy replacement.

Band feedback is mostly positive for comfort, stability, and easy removal, though one reviewer noted dirt collecting in the strap holes.

Battery life was generally strong for a small wearable, usually landing around four to five days, with a few heavier-use reviews seeing closer to three days.

Battery life is one of the clearest strengths, often described as the best in Samsung’s lineup, though heavy GPS or always-on use can reduce it.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through Pulse Ox or SpO2, but one reviewer warned readings could run low, so confidence is moderate rather than excellent.

Blood oxygen tracking is present across the health sensor set, but one long-term reviewer found SpO2 readings routinely low.

Bluetooth-related connectivity is limited: phone pairing and notifications work, but reviewers noted no gym-equipment broadcast, no direct Bluetooth headphone use, and no external HR sensor pairing.

Bluetooth support is present, including Bluetooth 5.3 mentions, but external sensor connections were criticized or described as unavailable.

Brightness drew mixed reactions: one reviewer found direct-sun visibility excellent, while several others wanted a brighter screen through the patterned lens.

Brightness earns strong praise, with reviewers citing high nits, bright AMOLED output, and easy readability.

Build quality improved versus the original Lily, with aluminum, Gorilla Glass, and a more premium feel appearing repeatedly in reviews.

Build quality is consistently praised through the rugged titanium case, durable chassis, and robust construction.

Button controls are a weak point because the Lily 2 depends on touch and a pseudo-button; reviewers wanted real side buttons or easier pause controls.

Button controls are mixed: reviewers like the Quick/action button and programmable shortcuts, but one long-term reviewer disliked accidental presses and limited workout button behavior.

Call handling works best with Android predefined responses, while iPhone users mostly just receive alerts and still need the phone to act.

Call handling is supported through Bluetooth calling, speaker/mic use, and smartwatch features for calls and texts.

Calorie tracking was present but not especially trusted, with direct reviewer evidence saying calories were slightly off or generous.

Calorie tracking is included as part of the activity metrics, but the evidence is limited to feature availability rather than deep accuracy testing.

Charging is functional but not universally convenient: the magnetic or clip-style charger is easy enough, yet proprietary clips and travel cable needs were recurring caveats.

Charging is wireless and reasonably convenient, but one reviewer criticized the missing wall charging block.

Charging speed was mixed, ranging from roughly an hour to full charge in some tests to slower 30-minute gains versus Apple Watch.

Charging speed gets limited but positive evidence, with one review reporting a full charge in about 95 minutes.

Coaching features are useful but limited, including hydration adaptation, timers, alerts, plans, and VO2 Max mentions, while richer recovery guidance is absent.

Coaching features are a real addition, especially Running Coach, with reviewers describing personalized plans and guidance.

Comfort is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly saying the watch is lightweight, barely noticeable, and suitable for day-and-night wear.

Comfort depends on wrist and expectations: some reviewers found it comfortable, while others felt the weight or bulk.

Garmin Connect provides deep data and useful dashboards, but app clarity was split between reviewers who found it intuitive and those who called it clunky or unclear.

The companion app setup is useful but split, with health and smartwatch settings divided between Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable.

Garmin Pay is a useful addition on Classic models, though regional bank support limits how valuable it is for some reviewers.

Contactless payments are supported through Samsung Wallet or Samsung Pay shortcuts.

Cross-platform compatibility is generally good across Android and iPhone, but Android gets more interactive notification and call-response features.

Cross-platform compatibility is limited: reviews say it works with Android but not iPhone, with the best experience tied to Samsung phones.

Customization is strong for bands and morning reports, with watch-face and patterned-lens customization more limited.

Customization is strong across programmable buttons, widgets, tiles, colors, and watch-face data.

Display quality is intentionally minimalist and readable for many, but several reviewers criticized the basic monochrome LCD and lack of AMOLED vibrancy.

Display quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for the large, vibrant AMOLED display.

Durability looks improved thanks to Gorilla Glass and aluminum construction, though few reviews included long-term abuse testing.

Durability is a standout, backed by titanium construction, MIL-STD claims, scratch protection, and reviewer reports of little damage.

ECG functionality is essentially absent, with reviews explicitly noting no ECG recordings or wishing for newer sensor hardware.

ECG functionality is widely listed as part of the health feature set, though one review notes Samsung-phone pairing requirements for ECG and blood pressure.

Fit was praised for small wrists, snug wear, and a low-profile shape that sits comfortably without bulk.

Fit is polarizing: it can fit some larger wrists well, but reviewers also note the single 47mm size and large wrist footprint.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mostly positive for casual use, especially activity and heart-rate basics, but HIIT and unsupported activities produced caveats.

Fitness tracking accuracy is generally good for everyday and running use, though scientific testing places it below the top alternatives.

GPS accuracy depends on the phone because there is no onboard GPS; connected GPS could work well, but carrying a phone is required for maps and reliable distance.

GPS accuracy is good in several reviewer tests and supports dual-frequency GPS, but scientific testing found some route deviation.

Health tracking accuracy was generally reliable for core metrics like heart rate, steps, sleep, respiration, and wellness trends, with some sleep and SpO2 caveats.

Health tracking is feature-rich but mixed in accuracy, with strong sensor coverage offset by questionable antioxidant, HRV, and some sleep-stage findings.

Heart-rate accuracy was a consistent strength, with several reviewers comparing it favorably to straps, Oura, Apple Watch, or Garmin watches, though intense intervals could wobble.

Heart-rate accuracy is strongest in running evidence, with one reviewer matching a Polar strap closely, while scientific testing calls it good rather than elite.

LTE is a consistent advantage because it is standard or broadly available, though one reviewer notes carrier setup can cost extra.

Navigation support is useful through offline maps, Google Maps routing, and GPS widgets, but one reviewer notes no built-in maps on-watch.

Materials quality improved with aluminum, but one reviewer still viewed aluminum as cheaper and less durable than stainless steel.

Materials quality is strong, centered on titanium, sapphire/robust design references, and corrosion-resistant claims.

Menu navigation was workable and often easy enough, but some reviewers still described learning curves or extra steps.

Menu navigation is mostly straightforward through swipes, app drawers, digital bezel haptics, and simple operation.

Music controls are available for controlling a paired phone, but reviewers consistently distinguished that from true onboard music.

Music features are useful for downloaded Spotify, streaming, media tiles, and larger storage for music.

Onboard music storage is missing, and multiple reviewers explicitly called out no music storage or offline listening.

Onboard storage is a clear 2025 upgrade, repeatedly described as 64GB and useful for music, apps, and offline maps.

The operating system experience is Garmin-centric and lean, optimized for fitness and notifications rather than native Apple or Google app ecosystems.

The operating system experience benefits from One UI 8/Wear OS updates, Gemini, Now Bar, and refreshed interface features.

Outdoor visibility was mostly good to excellent, especially in DC Rainmaker and DesFit testing, though one reviewer found bright sun harder to read.

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

Pairing reliability for connected GPS and phone handoff was much improved, with reviewers reporting quick locks and strong connection maintenance.

Pairing and setup reliability are positive where tested, with instant recognition and quick setup noted.

Recovery insights are a partial win: Body Battery gives readiness-style guidance, but dedicated recovery time and workout benefit features are absent.

Recovery-style insights are mixed: vascular load interests some reviewers, while HRV and related metrics draw skepticism.

Reliability was good in user-level evidence, with reviewers calling tracking reliable and one owner saying it did what they wanted.

Reliability is mostly acceptable but not flawless, with one review noting brief display interruptions and another calling performance not horrible rather than perfect.

Safety features are a real strength for this class, including incident detection, LiveTrack, emergency contacts, and assistance alerts through a phone.

Safety features include fall detection, emergency siren references, sleep apnea alerts, and related health/safety setup options.

Size options and wrist fit favor small wrists and compact-wearable shoppers, though the product line itself remains very small and style-focused.

Size options are limited by the single large 47mm format, though the band can fit a range of wrists and the screen size appeals to some users.

Sleep tracking was mixed: some reviewers found scores and timing aligned, while others saw missed sleep duration and less useful graphs.

Sleep tracking is useful and improving, but reviewers disagree on sleep stages and awake-time accuracy.

Smartphone notifications arrive reliably, but control is limited, especially on iPhone and when trying to filter app-specific alerts.

Smartphone notifications are well supported, with reviewers noting detailed notification views and suggested replies.

Smartwatch features are useful but lean, including notifications, weather, calendar, Find My Phone, Morning Report, Garmin Pay on Classic, and music controls.

Smartwatch features are broad, including LTE, calls, texts, Gemini, Now Bar, storage, and Samsung’s full watch software stack.

Software smoothness improved over the original Lily, especially gesture wake and connected GPS handoff, though some touch controls remained less fluid.

Software smoothness is generally good, with smooth app launches and more functional One UI behavior, despite occasional reliability caveats.

Step counting was broadly supported and valued, including pool-length and walking evidence, though one user contrasted it with an older inaccurate watch rather than direct lab validation.

Step counting is positive in basic walking tests, but one reviewer notes accuracy drops when arms are not swinging.

Stress tracking was praised as engaging and useful, often linked with Body Battery and daily wellness patterns.

Stress tracking is included in Samsung’s health sensor set, though the reviews provide feature evidence more than accuracy testing.

Style and design were the broadest positive theme, with reviewers repeatedly describing the Lily 2 as elegant, classy, jewelry-like, and more wearable than sporty watches.

Style is divisive: some reviewers like the rugged, colorful, stylish look, while others find it bulky or not pretty.

Third-party app support is limited overall, but manually started workouts can sync to outside services like Strava through Garmin Connect.

Third-party app support is solid through Google Play, fitness apps such as Strava and Map My Run, and a growing Wear OS app selection.

Touchscreen responsiveness was mixed to weak, with several reviewers finding it sluggish, less fluid, or insufficiently refined despite one positive touch-screen comment.

Touchscreen responsiveness and gesture operation are described as intentional and straightforward in the long-term review evidence.

The user interface is usable but not polished; reviewers described it as fine, simple, or learnable, while also noting extra steps and learning curves.

The user interface is improved and functional, though some reviewers dislike parts of the visual layout.

Value is context-dependent: reviewers liked the style, battery, and feature set, but comparisons to cheaper Fitbits or similarly priced Garmin models limited enthusiasm.

Value for money is the main weak point because reviewers repeatedly question the high price and minimal 2025 hardware changes.

Voice assistant quality is a strength with Gemini, which reviewers describe as convenient, useful, and directly available on the wrist.

Watch face quality is basic, with a handful of monochrome options and repeated wishes for more color or more choices.

Watch faces are a strength, with reviewers praising quantity, customization, and Samsung’s polished face designs.

Water resistance is a strength, with 5ATM or 50-meter swim/shower-safe evidence across multiple reviews.

Water resistance is a strong feature, with reviews citing 5ATM/10ATM ratings, IP68 claims, and pool/rain/snow use.

Wellness insights are a standout, especially Body Battery, stress, hydration, sleep score, and Garmin Connect data that help users understand daily energy.

Wellness insights are useful but uneven: sleep coaching and vascular load get interest, while energy score and antioxidant index receive skepticism.

Wi-Fi support is present across connectivity mentions, including LTE/Wi-Fi model references.

Workout variety is good for casual users with 18 profiles and new dance, HIIT, rowing, and meditation options, but missing indoor cycling and some sports frustrates reviewers.

Workout variety is strong, with reviewers citing many tracked activities, multisport/triathlon capability, and broad exercise lists.