After switching from a basic fitness band (Mi Band…if anyone is interested to know) to the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, the leap in functionality is undeniable — but it does come with some compromises.

Design & Display

The 47mm titanium build with a sapphire crystal display exudes premium durability. The 1.5-inch Super AMOLED screen is impressively sharp and vibrant, and the highly customisable watch face options let you truly make it your own. It’s a robust, stylish companion whether you’re heading into a meeting or a mountain trail.

Battery Life & Charging

Battery life is one of the biggest adjustments if you’re coming from a simpler device like a Mi Band. While the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers significantly more features, the need to charge every 3 days is a clear trade-off. But then this still fares better than the Apple Watch.

What’s even more frustrating is the lack of direct low-battery alerts on the watch — notifications only appear in the app, which isn’t always practical or timely. And unlike the Mi Band, which gives you multiple reminders at 10%, 5%, and 1%, the Watch Ultra simply powers off without a final warning. It’s a small but meaningful oversight, especially when you’re relying on it as an all-day fitness tracker or sleep monitor.

Health & Fitness Tracking

This is where the Watch Ultra truly shines.

The sleep tracking is holistic and actionable, providing deep insights alongside recommended habits to improve your sleep hygiene.
The auto workout detection works well — it picks up walks longer than 5 minutes without needing to manually start an activity.
And for more advanced users, features like ECG, SpO2 monitoring, and body composition analysis offer valuable health data that goes far beyond step counting.

If you’re into cycling, the watch even supports Functional Threshold Power (FTP) calculations when paired with the right sensors — a nice bonus for serious athletes.

Some of the error messages we got when not paired with a Samsung phone

Ecosystem & Compatibility

Here’s where the experience varies depending on what phone you use.

If you’re part of the Samsung ecosystem, the Watch Ultra is a seamless extension of your smartphone. But for non-Samsung users, the experience is a bit clunkier:

You’ll likely need to install multiple Samsung apps to enable and manage all the watch’s functions, which can feel unnecessarily fragmented.
Some features like ECG readings only work when paired with a Samsung device — limiting functionality for others.
You can forget using this with an iPhone. It just doesn’t.

It’s not unusable, but the overall integration just isn’t as smooth and it seemed to reset itself every day, which resulted in us having to borrow a Samsung phone just to ensure that we could properly review the watch.

Performance & Features

Powered by the Exynos W1000 processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, the watch handles apps and navigation effortlessly.

Key highlights include:

A customisable Quick Button for one-touch access to your favourite functions.
An 85dB emergency siren for safety — especially useful if you hike or run alone.
Military-grade durability and 10 ATM water resistance, making it reliable in harsh conditions.

The Verdict

The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a feature-rich powerhouse — sleek, sturdy, and packed with health and fitness tools that go far beyond what a basic band can offer. But its limited iOS compatibility, lack of on-watch battery alerts, and heavier reliance on the Samsung ecosystem mean it’s not the most universal option out there.

Pros	Cons
✔️ Beautiful, durable design ✔️ Excellent sleep and health tracking with actionable insights ✔️ Accurate auto workout detection ✔️ Watch face is highly customisable ✔️ Smooth performance with loads of storage ✔️ Great for outdoor and multisport users	❌ Needs charging every 3 days ❌ No low battery alerts on the watch itself ❌ Doesn’t give a final shutdown warning ❌ Clunky experience for non-Samsung phone users ❌ Requires multiple Samsung apps for full functionality (if you’re not using a Samsung phone)

Final Thoughts

If you’re already using a Samsung phone and want a premium health-focused wearable, the Galaxy Watch Ultra won’t disappoint. But if you’re coming from simpler bands or using a different Android device, just be ready for some growing pains — and pack your charger.

Images: Samsung and The Wellness Insider