The Apple Watch Ultra quickly positioned itself as the ultimate rugged smartwatch, but Samsung has announced its own take on the modern outdoors timepiece in the form of the new Galaxy Watch Ultra.
So, if you prefer to live on the Android side of life or just want an alternative to Apple’s offering, here’s all you need to know about the new star in the Galaxy range.
When will the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra be released?
Samsung pulled back the covers on its new Ultra model at its Unpacked event alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 and many other new devices , which took place on 10 July 2024.
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How much will the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra cost?
There is only one size of Ultra (47mm), although it does come in three colour schemes – Titanium Grey, Titanium White, and Titanium Silver – all of which bear the same £599/$649.99 price.
This makes the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra good value when you compare it to its main rival, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 , which goes for £799/$799. Although we are expecting the arrival of the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 in the coming months, so things may change.
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What are the features and specs of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra?
As befitting a smartwatch designed with avid outdoors types and athletes in mind, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is built to withstand some serious conditions. The 1.5-inch display is protected by something Samsung is calling a ‘cushion design’ – ie the square-ish body around the circular display.
The chassis is also made of Grade 4 Titanium, and has been certified to comply with Military Standard 810H testing, so you know it can take a beating.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
An IP68 waterproof rating means it can remain active up to depths of 1.5 metres for around 30 minutes, while also enduring pressures of up to 10ATM (100 metres). So, swimming, kayaking, torrential rain and other water sports will be no problem for the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Samsung states that the Ultra will also work at altitudes up to 9,000 metres above sea level or even -500 metres, although obviously that won’t be in the water itself. Temperature ranges are also impressive, with the Ultra Watch able to cope with up to 55℃ or -20℃.
There’s a Quick button on the side of the chassis that can be assigned various functions by the user, with multiple options available through a single press, long press or double press.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Straps are attached via a new ‘Dynamic Lug’ system that negates the need to slide the straps into place, instead you just press a button on the bottom of the watch to remove the strap. Simple.
The SuperAMOLED display won’t have any problems being read when outside either, as it tops out at a massive 3,000 nits brightness. When you need more subtle illumination there’s also the Night Mode mode.
With its target-market of sports enthusiasts in mind, the Ultra Watch has some clever software features when it comes to tracking performance. A new Multi-sports tile will allow you to move from one sport to another, say during a triathlon, without having to set up a new session, and with the details of the previous activity shown on the display.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Those wanting to get the most out of their training can use the Functional Threshold Power (FTP) to monitor their performance during activities like cycling. You can also use the Race feature to compete against your own personal bests in activities like running, with a pacesetter shown on the display which represents your previous fastest time.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra looks to be not only a powerful and tough smartwatch, but also one that’s priced competitively in its sector. You can pre-order one from Samsung today, and we’ll have our full review up on the site in the coming days, so be sure to check back for that if you want to know how the Ultra fares when we put it through its paces.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Alternatively, if you don’t need all the rugged features, then Samsung has also just announced its Galaxy Watch 7 , which can deliver plenty of the performance but in a smaller package and at a lower price.
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Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews.
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