Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 review: A familiar design with meaningful upgrades

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has taken its time to arrive, and while I would have expected Samsung to introduce some design changes with this generation, the company has largely stuck to its existing formula.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing. The original Galaxy Watch Ultra was already a rugged smartwatch, built to withstand demanding conditions while offering a premium experience. There was very little wrong with its construction, and Samsung seems to have followed the simple philosophy of not fixing something that isn’t broken.

Instead, the company has focused on improving the areas that matter, particularly battery life, display brightness and fitness capabilities. The battery has received a significant upgrade, which I believe is particularly important given the growing fitness culture in India. More people are taking running, cycling, trekking and outdoor fitness seriously, and a smartwatch in this category needs to do more than simply track steps and notifications.


The question, however, is whether these improvements are enough to justify spending Rs 64,999 on a smartwatch.

Price and Availability

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is priced at Rs 64,999 in India and is available in Titanium Silver and Titanium Grey.

Samsung is offering the smartwatch in a single 47mm Bluetooth + LTE variant, which makes the buying decision relatively straightforward.

Design

Samsung has retained the familiar design of the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, and I personally don’t see that as a problem.

The smartwatch continues to feature a titanium case, measuring 47.4 x 47.1 x 10.7mm and weighing 61.5 grams. It is a substantial watch, but the construction feels appropriate for a product designed for outdoor activities.

The watch comes with IP69K and 10 ATM ratings, along with EN13319 dive certification. Samsung has also managed to make the case 12 percent thinner despite accommodating a larger battery.

What I particularly appreciate is that Samsung has managed to maintain a balance between ruggedness and everyday design. Garmin makes some excellent fitness watches, but not everyone wants the distinctly sporty appearance that comes with many of its models. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 offers a more versatile design that can work just as well in a professional setting as it does during a workout.

I would still have liked a rotating crown or bezel, particularly for navigating the interface during workouts. However, Samsung has largely stuck to a design that already worked, and I don’t think that is a bad decision.

Display

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a 1.52-inch Super AMOLED display with a claimed peak brightness of 5,000 nits.

That is a significant number for a smartwatch, particularly one designed for outdoor usage.

Display brightness becomes important when you are running, cycling or trekking under direct sunlight. Having to repeatedly adjust your wrist or shield the display to check your workout metrics can become frustrating.

Samsung’s claimed brightness should help address that problem, although the actual outdoor visibility will depend on how the panel performs under different lighting conditions.

The AMOLED panel should also deliver the vibrant colours and deep blacks that we have come to expect from Samsung’s premium smartwatches.

Software

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 runs Wear OS 7 with Samsung’s One UI 9 Watch interface.

This gives users access to Google’s smartwatch ecosystem alongside Samsung’s own health and fitness features.

One of the advantages of Samsung’s smartwatch ecosystem is that it offers a combination of everyday functionality and fitness tracking. You can use the watch for notifications, calls, applications and payments, while also tracking workouts and health metrics.

However, there is one important limitation.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 does not support iPhones, which means iOS users are completely excluded from the experience.

I believe this is worth highlighting because at Rs 64,999, Samsung is competing in a premium wearable category where buyers may already own devices from different ecosystems.

For Android users, particularly those using Samsung smartphones, the integration makes much more sense.

Performance and Battery

This is perhaps where Samsung has introduced the most meaningful upgrade.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 comes with an 800mAh battery, which is approximately 35 percent larger than the previous generation.

For me, battery life is one of the most important aspects of a premium smartwatch, particularly one designed for fitness enthusiasts.

Over the past few years, India has witnessed a growing interest in running clubs, marathons, cycling and other outdoor activities. More users are also paying attention to their sleep, recovery and overall fitness.

A smartwatch that needs frequent charging can become inconvenient, especially when users want continuous health monitoring alongside GPS-enabled workouts.

The larger battery is therefore a welcome improvement, although its actual advantage will depend on real-world endurance with features such as always-on display, LTE and GPS enabled.

Samsung has also included dual-frequency GPS, which should help improve location tracking in challenging environments, including areas with tall buildings or dense surroundings.

There is LTE connectivity and 64GB of internal storage, giving users the flexibility to use several smartwatch functions without constantly depending on their smartphones.

Samsung has also expanded its fitness capabilities with dedicated trail-running and hydration-tracking features.

These additions make sense for the audience Samsung is targeting. However, the accuracy of GPS tracking, fitness measurements and battery endurance will ultimately determine how useful these improvements are in everyday usage.

The Screenless Wearable Question

There is another interesting trend that the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 arrives alongside: the growing popularity of screenless wearables.

Whoop has gained considerable traction within the fitness community with its screenless approach, while Fitbit has also been part of the broader conversation around discreet health tracking. There have even been reports suggesting that Apple could be exploring a screenless wearable, potentially arriving around 2028, although that timeline remains entirely speculative.

Smart rings have also become an important part of this category. However, I believe there is an equally strong argument for wrist-based devices that can continuously monitor your health without requiring much interaction. You simply strap one on and, for the most part, forget about it.

This thought was further reinforced during a roundtable discussion we had with JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, where the conversation turned towards the future of wearables and preventive healthcare.

“We also want to come up with new wearable devices that will fit in your glasses or wrist, whether it is a ring or watch,” Park said, adding that Samsung continues to study new form factors that can help users monitor their health before illnesses develop.

It is an interesting direction, particularly as wearable technology gradually moves beyond simply displaying notifications and towards continuously monitoring health.

However, personally, I would still choose a screen.

There is something useful about being able to glance at your wrist to check your workout progress, heart rate or notifications without reaching for your smartphone. And that is precisely where devices such as the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 continue to make sense.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a meaningful upgrade without being a complete redesign. The larger battery, brighter display and improved outdoor capabilities make it a compelling option for fitness enthusiasts.

At Rs 64,999, it is certainly not for everyone. However, we recommend it to users who want to stay within the Android ecosystem, take their fitness seriously and don’t want to compromise on everyday design, something they might have to consider with more rugged Garmin watches.

For everyone else, the Galaxy Watch 9 remains a more practical and affordable option.