Samsung skipped a Watch Ultra in 2025 in favor of the Classic, but now it’s the Ultra’s turn to shine and the Classic’s time to wait. Meet the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, the same rugged wearable but better in the most important way: battery life!
Samsung boosted the battery to 800mAh, up from 590mAh—a 35% increase and the largest capacity ever on a Galaxy smartwatch. That’s pretty big compared to most watches. Samsung claims you can get 60 hours out of this larger battery, which is impressive for a Wear OS smartwatch (though laughable compared to something like the Honor Watch 6’s 35 days).
Design and Build Quality
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 retains the same bold, durable design that made its predecessor stand out. The titanium case, sapphire crystal display, and military-grade durability are all here. The rotating bezel is smooth and tactile, perfect for navigating menus without smudging the screen. The watch feels substantial on the wrist—not too heavy, but reassuringly solid.
Display and Screen Technology
The 1.5-inch Super AMOLED display is bright and crisp, with a resolution of 480×480 pixels. Peak brightness reaches 2,000 nits, making it easy to read outdoors even under direct sunlight. The always-on display mode is efficient, and the touch response is snappy. The screen is protected by sapphire crystal, which resists scratches better than Gorilla Glass.
Battery Life: The Star of the Show
The 800mAh battery is the headline feature. In our initial testing, the watch easily lasts over two days with heavy use—GPS tracking, notifications, and heart rate monitoring. With lighter use, you can push it to three days. The 60-hour claim seems realistic for mixed usage. Charging is fast too: 0 to 100% in about 90 minutes using the included magnetic charger.
Power Management Features
Samsung has optimized Wear OS to squeeze every drop of power from the battery. The watch intelligently adjusts screen brightness, GPS refresh rate, and background processes. You can also enable a power-saving mode that extends battery life by limiting features. This is a huge upgrade over the original Watch Ultra, which struggled to last a full day.
Performance and Software
Powered by the Exynos W1000 chipset and 2GB of RAM, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 feels fluid. Apps open quickly, scrolling is smooth, and multitasking is seamless. The watch runs Wear OS 5 with Samsung’s One UI Watch 6.0 skin, which adds useful features like custom watch faces, health tracking tiles, and deep integration with Galaxy phones.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The sensor suite is comprehensive: heart rate, SpO2, body composition, sleep tracking, and stress monitoring. GPS is accurate for outdoor runs and hikes. The watch supports over 100 workout modes, including swimming, cycling, and weightlifting. The BioActive Sensor is improved for more precise readings. Sleep tracking now includes snore detection and sleep coaching.
Comparison with Competitors
Compared to the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offers better battery life and a more open ecosystem with Wear OS. The Honor Watch 6 lasts 35 days, but lacks the app ecosystem and smart features. The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 strikes a balance between smartwatch functionality and battery longevity.
Price and Availability
The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 starts at $649 for the Bluetooth model and $749 for the LTE version. It’s available in three colors: Titanium Gray, Titanium Black, and Titanium Silver. Pre-orders are open now, with general availability starting next week.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is a worthy upgrade, thanks to the massive battery improvement. It keeps everything that made the original great—durability, performance, and health tracking—and adds the one thing users wanted most. If you’re in the market for a premium Wear OS smartwatch, this is the one to beat.
