Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely is on sale for $650 in 4 shade choices.
- Its show is vibrant and huge, the battery lasts by a few days, and LTE is supplied at no further price.
- It is available in a single 47mm dimension, gesture help is proscribed, and exterior sensor connections are usually not supported.
Final yr’s Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely was my favourite Google WearOS smartwatch, so after I noticed the 2025 Watch Ultra with its new blue and orange shade scheme that matches my USCG navy service colours, I had to purchase it.
It seems that the brand new shade scheme (and twice the interior storage quantity) are the one {hardware} variations between the 2024 and 2025 Watch Extremely fashions, so if you do not have a burning need for the colour then search for the 2024 mannequin that could be accessible at a reduced worth.
Additionally: Why I recommend this Samsung Galaxy Watch over competing Androids
That being mentioned, there are a handful of latest software program options with Samsung’s new One UI 8 replace, together with Running Coach, Google Gemini (accessible with a press and maintain of a button), antioxidant measurements from the center fee sensor, and vascular load help.
Simply be aware that none of those software program options are restricted to the 2025 Galaxy Watch Extremely, so there are usually not many compelling causes to buy the newest mannequin.
Nonetheless, for those who’re searching for extra storage, increasing from 32GB to the brand new mannequin’s 64GB could also be essential sufficient for some individuals to spring for the brand new watch.
One motive I just like the Watch Extremely is the built-in LTE service so I can run safely with out my cellphone and I additionally use the watch to retailer downloaded Spotify music to get pleasure from with bone conduction headsets. With the 2025 Watch Extremely I can now load it up with a large assortment of media content material to inspire me to maneuver.
With the addition of so many new apps for the Watch Extremely, that further cupboard space is perhaps extra helpful than you’d first assume. For instance, media playback apps like Spotify are a should for a lot of, whereas health monitoring apps like Strava, Map My Run, or Hole19 are among the most downloaded.
All of those take up house, and the advantage of that further storage finally means extra decisions. That is particularly helpful with my new Z Fold 7 that serves as a mini pill whereas the Watch Extremely serves as my communication triage system.
I get pleasure from working and after a few weeks, I discovered the Samsung Running Coach to satisfy my humble wants. I’m not going to win any races, however I just like the audible steering and personalised teaching that this characteristic gives, particularly when it takes me two weeks to finish per week of a coaching plan. The Working Coach would not strain me to run extra usually, however is there to slot in with my schedule and help my efforts to enhance my efficiency and practice with some variable routines.
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Whereas it’s good that each years of the Galaxy Watch Extremely help the antioxidant index, I’ve but to see any end result apart from “Low”, which leaves me to query the utility of this metric. Even after I spend a day consuming salads and fruit, my index worth would not change, and I’m not getting any worth out of this take a look at.
Vascular load is attention-grabbing to me since I’m now 56 and coronary heart well being is extra essential now than up to now. Samsung does a greater job than others at offering you with data on what every metric means and methods in which you’ll be able to enhance for higher well being.
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When evaluating this watch to others, I attempted out the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic for a few weeks and whereas I like the fluid rotating bezel, the small show and restricted battery life didn’t fulfill me sufficient to surrender the Galaxy Watch Extremely. Samsung made this large look ahead to individuals like me and the $650 worth remains to be $150 lower than the Apple Watch Extremely 2.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Due to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, I’m again to utilizing an Android as my main smartphone and with that transfer, the 2025 Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the proper companion.
The lengthy battery life, correct GPS monitoring and coronary heart fee measurements whereas working, and massive watch that matches my wrist effectively implies that I’ve a mixture to cowl all of my adventures. I do know that the colour of one thing might not be an enormous deal to many individuals, however the truth that I can showcase my faculty and navy service colours results in conversations concerning the USCG and wearable expertise.
