For the first time, Samsung has released a Galaxy Watch Ultra. It is strikingly similar to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and shares many features with the newly introduced Galaxy Watch 7.
However, there are several differences between the two wearables. This article compares the Galaxy Watch Ultra to the Galaxy Watch 7 — and helps you decide which one to buy.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: specs
| Galaxy Watch Ultra | Galaxy Watch 7 | |
| Display | Sapphire Crystal
47mm: 1.5-inch (37.3mm) 480 x 480 Super AMOLED Full Color Always On Display |
Sapphire Crystal
44mm: 1.5-inch (37.3mm) 480 x 480 Super AMOLED, 40mm: 1.3-inch (33.3mm) 432 x 432 Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display |
| Processor | Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm) | Exynos W1000 (5 Core, 3nm) |
| Durability | 10ATM41 + IP68 | 5ATM + IP68 |
| RAM and Storage | 2GB + 32GB | 2GB + 32GB |
| Software | Wear OS Powered by Samsung (Wear OS 5 ) / One U1 6 Watch
Requires mobile device with Android 11 or higher with more than 1.5GB of memory |
Wear OS Powered by Samsung (Wear OS 5 ) / One U1 6 Watch
Requires mobile device with Android 11 or higher with more than 1.5GB of memory |
| Battery | 590mAh
Faster Charging (WPC-based wireless charging) |
44mm: 425mAh 40mm: 300mAh Faster Charging (WPC-based wireless charging) |
| Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal senor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) Temperature Sensor Accelerometer Barometer Gyro Sensor Geomagnetic Sensor Light Sensor |
Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal senor + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis) Temperature Sensor Accelerometer Barometer Gyro Sensor Geomagnetic Sensor Light Sensor |
| Connectivity | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5Ghz, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo | LTE, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 2.4+5Ghz, NFC, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo |
| Materials and colors | Titanium Silver, Titanium Gray, Titanium White | 44mm: Green, Silver
40mm: Green, Cream |
| Size | 47mm: 47.4 x 47.4 x 12.1mm, 60.5g | 44mm: 44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7mm, 33.8g 40mm: 40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7mm, 28.8g |
| Price | Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/4G LTE: $650 | 44mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: $330
44mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/4G LTE: $380 40mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi: $300 40mm Bluetooth/Wi-Fi/4G LTE: $350 |
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: design and durability
The 47mm Galaxy Watch Ultra has a rounded, square shape and is designed for outdoor use and extreme sports enthusiasts. It is a large and rugged watch with a durable titanium body available in three colors: Titanium Silver, Titanium Gray, and Titanium White. The Galaxy Watch Ultra has a sapphire crystal display that is a Super AMOLED, Full Color Always On Display. It is MIL-STD-810G certified and is expected to survive in water up to 10ATM, equivalent to being submerged 100 meters underwater for a limited time.
The Galaxy Watch 7 comes in 44mm and 40mm. It boasts a sapphire crystal Super AMOLED Full Color Always On Display, similar to the Galaxy Watch Ultra. The watch has a silver frame and is waterproof up to 50 meters. You can buy the 44mm version in Green and Silver, while the 40mm model is available in Green and Cream.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 have two physical buttons for navigation. In addition, the Galaxy Watch Ultra features a Quick Button that you can customize to perform various functions, such as accessing workouts or specific apps. It’s worth noting that, unlike previous Galaxy watches, neither of these models features a rotating bezel. You’ll need to get the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic for this feature.
Finally, the Galaxy Watch Ultra comes in the choice of two bands in different colors. Its Marine band is in Orange, Dark Gray, White, and Green, while its Trail band is in Dark Gray and White Sand. It ships only with Medium/Large bands.
With the Galaxy Watch 7, you have more options. You can select a watch with a Small/Medium or Medium/Large band. There are three band types available for this watch: Fabric (Blue, White, Green), Sports (Silver, Dark Gray, Green), and Athleisure (Silver, Cream, Pink, Sky Blue, Green). Further, while the Galaxy Watch 7 uses standard 20mm watch bands, the Galaxy Watch Ultra uses a new proprietary band system.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: internal hardware
Internally, both watches feature Samsung’s new Exynos W1000 chip that is built on a 3nm process. This advanced chip design is expected to provide greater energy efficiency and improved performance compared to previous generations.
Independent tests will be conducted to precisely quantify the level of performance offered by this new chip. However, Samsung says it offers 2.7x quicker performance than the W930 chip found on the Galaxy Watch 6 series. We’ll be sure to test that in our reviews.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 also come with 32GB of storage and 2GB of RAM, ensuring ample space and memory for various apps and functions.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: battery life
Samsung chose a different battery size for each watch. The Galaxy Watch Ultra, for example, includes a hefty 590mAh battery, while the 44mm Galaxy Watch 7 offers a 425mAh battery. The 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 has a 300mAh battery.
The company says the Galaxy Watch Ultra will offer 100 hours of use in Power Save mode and 48 hours in Exercise Power Save Mode with GPS. This number will drop when consistently using LTE. The Galaxy Watch 7 should work up to 40 hours between charges, regardless of the display size.
Looking at those numbers, we certainly expect the Galaxy Watch Ultra to have the best battery life compared to the Galaxy Watch 7. Once again, though, we’ll determine just how much better it really is during our reviews.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: health and fitness
Regarding health and fitness, both watches are very similar regarding the sensors they are equipped with. However, the Galaxy Watch Ultra truly sets itself apart with its exceptional durability and impressively longer battery life, making it an ideal choice for outdoor training or similar activities.
Moreover, it boasts advanced training features such as tracking complex multi-sport activities and providing extensive training data. Notably, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is the first FDA-approved Galaxy Watch to monitor sleep apnea, a noteworthy advancement in health technology. However, the Galaxy Watch 7 is capable of these things, too.
Both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 offer an extensive array of health-tracking features. These include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring, and automatic workout detection for over 100 different exercises. Both watches also have Samsung’s new BioActive Sensor, which allows you to track your AGEs index to get a better view of your metabolic health.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s more rugged case and bigger battery naturally lend themselves to a better fitness experience. However, when it comes to the actual fitness/health features, the watches are more or less identical.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: price and availability
The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 are available for preorder now. The first preorders will start shipping on July 19. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is priced at $650, regardless of the standard band chosen. It is compatible with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE.
The 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 is priced at $300 for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi model and $350 for the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE version. The 44mm Galaxy Watch 7 is priced at $330 for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi model and $380 for the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4G LTE version.
Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: which should you buy?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch 7 share many similarities. They have the same internals and offer nearly identical health and fitness features. However, the Galaxy Watch Ultra stands out for being more durable and offering a larger battery. The extra Quick Button is also a nice touch.
Those are all nice touches, but do they make the Galaxy Watch Ultra worth an additional $350 compared to the cheapest Galaxy Watch 7? Considering just how similar the watches are, this is where the Ultra becomes a tough sell. Maybe you really do need the more rugged case and the longest possible battery life. If so, the Galaxy Watch Ultra looks like a great package. But for everyone else, it’s difficult not to recommend saving hundreds of dollars and just getting the Galaxy Watch 7 instead.
