- More expensive: price ZDNet notes the Ultra's $650 price is still below the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
- Worse: battery life among premium smartwatches TechRadar says the Galaxy Watch Ultra's battery is better than the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung's best.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) Review
Bottom Line
Choose it for Samsung-first adventure use, LTE, a bright rugged display, and the best Galaxy Watch battery. Skip it if you own the 2024 Ultra, need iPhone support, or want a smaller, cheaper watch.
Best for
Best for Android and especially Samsung-phone users who want LTE, a rugged large-screen smartwatch, longer Samsung battery life, and outdoor-leaning fitness features. It also fits users who will use extra storage for apps, music, or offline maps.
Not for
Not for iPhone users, small-watch fans, or current 2024 Ultra owners who do not need the new color or 64GB storage. Accuracy-focused athletes may also prefer dedicated sports watches or other trackers.
Verdict
Reviewers frame the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 as a strong but conservative flagship. It earns praise for its bright AMOLED display, rugged titanium-focused construction, LTE availability, broad app support, and the longest battery life in Samsung’s watch lineup. Fitness evidence is generally positive for running, auto-tracking, and everyday GPS, though scientific testing finds heart-rate, sleep-stage, and GPS accuracy below the strongest alternatives. The tradeoff is value: several reviewers say the 2025 update is mostly a new color, 64GB storage, and software, while the size, high price, and limited iPhone compatibility make it less universal.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
- Better: GPS tracking in a difficult running area The scientific review says the Apple Watch Ultra 3 seemed to do better in one difficult GPS section.
Galaxy Watch 8 Classic
- Compared: display and battery advantages The unboxing review positions the Ultra as offering a larger display and battery than the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic.
- Compared: rotating bezel, display size, and battery life ZDNet liked the Classic's rotating bezel but did not find its smaller display and battery enough to replace the Ultra.
Feature Scorecards
Pros
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Brightness earns strong praise, with reviewers citing high nits, bright AMOLED output, and easy readability.
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Durability is a standout, backed by titanium construction, MIL-STD claims, scratch protection, and reviewer reports of little damage.
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Outdoor visibility is excellent, with multiple reviewers saying the bright display remains readable in sunlight.
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Watch faces are a strength, with reviewers praising quantity, customization, and Samsung’s polished face designs.
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Water resistance is a strong feature, with reviews citing 5ATM/10ATM ratings, IP68 claims, and pool/rain/snow use.
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Display quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for the large, vibrant AMOLED display.
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Build quality is consistently praised through the rugged titanium case, durable chassis, and robust construction.
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Onboard storage is a clear 2025 upgrade, repeatedly described as 64GB and useful for music, apps, and offline maps.
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Workout variety is strong, with reviewers citing many tracked activities, multisport/triathlon capability, and broad exercise lists.
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Materials quality is strong, centered on titanium, sapphire/robust design references, and corrosion-resistant claims.
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Pairing and setup reliability are positive where tested, with instant recognition and quick setup noted.
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The app ecosystem is a strength: reviewers mention many available apps, Google Play access, and expanded usefulness from the extra storage.
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Contactless payments are supported through Samsung Wallet or Samsung Pay shortcuts.
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Coaching features are a real addition, especially Running Coach, with reviewers describing personalized plans and guidance.
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LTE is a consistent advantage because it is standard or broadly available, though one reviewer notes carrier setup can cost extra.
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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.
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Voice assistant quality is a strength with Gemini, which reviewers describe as convenient, useful, and directly available on the wrist.
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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.
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Customization is strong across programmable buttons, widgets, tiles, colors, and watch-face data.
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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.
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GPS accuracy is good in several reviewer tests and supports dual-frequency GPS, but scientific testing found some route deviation.
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Workout auto-detection is broadly useful, with reviewers citing automatic workout detection and reliable walk detection, though manual starts remain better for some activities.
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The user interface is improved and functional, though some reviewers dislike parts of the visual layout.
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Safety features include fall detection, emergency siren references, sleep apnea alerts, and related health/safety setup options.
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Software smoothness is generally good, with smooth app launches and more functional One UI behavior, despite occasional reliability caveats.
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Touchscreen responsiveness and gesture operation are described as intentional and straightforward in the long-term review evidence.
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Smartphone notifications are well supported, with reviewers noting detailed notification views and suggested replies.
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Menu navigation is mostly straightforward through swipes, app drawers, digital bezel haptics, and simple operation.
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The operating system experience benefits from One UI 8/Wear OS updates, Gemini, Now Bar, and refreshed interface features.
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Music features are useful for downloaded Spotify, streaming, media tiles, and larger storage for music.
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Smartwatch features are broad, including LTE, calls, texts, Gemini, Now Bar, storage, and Samsung’s full watch software stack.
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Charging speed gets limited but positive evidence, with one review reporting a full charge in about 95 minutes.
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Step counting is positive in basic walking tests, but one reviewer notes accuracy drops when arms are not swinging.
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Call handling is supported through Bluetooth calling, speaker/mic use, and smartwatch features for calls and texts.
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Band feedback is mostly positive for comfort, stability, and easy removal, though one reviewer noted dirt collecting in the strap holes.
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Fitness tracking accuracy is generally good for everyday and running use, though scientific testing places it below the top alternatives.
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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.
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Stress tracking is included in Samsung’s health sensor set, though the reviews provide feature evidence more than accuracy testing.
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Wi-Fi support is present across connectivity mentions, including LTE/Wi-Fi model references.
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Calorie tracking is included as part of the activity metrics, but the evidence is limited to feature availability rather than deep accuracy testing.
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Style is divisive: some reviewers like the rugged, colorful, stylish look, while others find it bulky or not pretty.
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Navigation support is useful through offline maps, Google Maps routing, and GPS widgets, but one reviewer notes no built-in maps on-watch.
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Blood oxygen tracking is present across the health sensor set, but one long-term reviewer found SpO2 readings routinely low.
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Comfort depends on wrist and expectations: some reviewers found it comfortable, while others felt the weight or bulk.
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Wellness insights are useful but uneven: sleep coaching and vascular load get interest, while energy score and antioxidant index receive skepticism.
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Charging is wireless and reasonably convenient, but one reviewer criticized the missing wall charging block.
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Fit is polarizing: it can fit some larger wrists well, but reviewers also note the single 47mm size and large wrist footprint.
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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.
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Health tracking is feature-rich but mixed in accuracy, with strong sensor coverage offset by questionable antioxidant, HRV, and some sleep-stage findings.
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Sleep tracking is useful and improving, but reviewers disagree on sleep stages and awake-time accuracy.
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Recovery-style insights are mixed: vascular load interests some reviewers, while HRV and related metrics draw skepticism.
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The companion app setup is useful but split, with health and smartwatch settings divided between Samsung Health and Galaxy Wearable.
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Reliability is mostly acceptable but not flawless, with one review noting brief display interruptions and another calling performance not horrible rather than perfect.
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Bluetooth support is present, including Bluetooth 5.3 mentions, but external sensor connections were criticized or described as unavailable.
Cons
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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.
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Value for money is the main weak point because reviewers repeatedly question the high price and minimal 2025 hardware changes.
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Cross-platform compatibility is limited: reviews say it works with Android but not iPhone, with the best experience tied to Samsung phones.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smart Watch, this product is above average in LTE connectivity, onboard music storage, voice assistant quality, below average in cross-platform compatibility.
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTE connectivity | 4.5 | 1.9 | +2.6 |
| onboard music storage | 4.6 | 2.8 | +1.8 |
| voice assistant quality | 4.4 | 2.6 | +1.8 |
| ECG functionality | 4.1 | 2.3 | +1.8 |
| contactless payments | 4.5 | 2.8 | +1.7 |
| cross-platform compatibility | 2.4 | 3.8 | -1.4 |
| third-party app support | 4.5 | 3.1 | +1.3 |
| call handling | 4.2 | 3.1 | +1.1 |
FAQ
Is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 a major upgrade over the 2024 model?
No. Reviewers repeatedly describe the 2025 version as mostly the same hardware, with a new color, 64GB storage, and updated software as the main changes.
How good is the battery life?
Battery life is one of the strongest points in the reviews. Some reviewers call it Samsung's best watch battery, though real-world results vary with always-on display, GPS, LTE, and brightness settings.
Is it good for fitness tracking?
Yes for many users, especially runners and Samsung-phone owners. Reviews praise auto-tracking, workout variety, Running Coach, and running heart-rate/GPS results, but the scientific review finds it below top alternatives for peak accuracy.
Does it work with iPhone?
The review evidence says current Samsung watches do not work with iPhone. They work with Android phones, with the best experience coming from pairing with a Samsung phone.
Is the watch too big?
It depends on your wrist and style preference. Several reviewers note the single 47mm size and bulky feel, while others like the larger display and say it fits larger wrists well.
Are the health features accurate?
They are broad, but accuracy is mixed. Reviews mention heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, sleep, vascular load, and antioxidant tracking, while some reviewers question sleep stages, SpO2, antioxidant index, HRV, and GPS precision.
Consider This Instead
If you want better cross-platform compatibility
Choose Suunto Vertical 2. It scores 5.0 vs 2.4 for cross-platform compatibility, with a 3.8 overall score.
If you want better value for money
Choose Apple Watch SE 3. It scores 4.8 vs 3.3 for value for money, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better size options
Choose Garmin Approach S70. It scores 4.7 vs 3.4 for size options, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better health tracking accuracy
Choose Google Pixel Watch 3. It scores 4.8 vs 3.7 for health tracking accuracy, with a 4.2 overall score.
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