Apple charges faster. The Galaxy Watch 9 has no fast charging and takes 80 or 90 minutes to fill.
- Half an hour on the charger takes an Apple Watch Series 12 to about 80 per cent, and 45 minutes does the same for an Apple Watch Ultra 4.
- Half an hour takes the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to only 40 per cent.
That is not the whole story, because a watch that lasts longer needs less frequent charging. What matters is simpler than percentages: how long does the watch need on the charger before a run or before bed, and can you wear it all night for sleep tracking and still start the morning session with enough battery? This isn’t here to help you choose a brand, because your smartphone has already done that.
The figures for all four watches
| Watch | Quick top-up (maker’s claim) | Time to full | Battery life (maker’s claim) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy Watch 9, 40mm | No fast charging | 80 minutes | Up to 30 hours |
| Galaxy Watch 9, 44mm | No fast charging | 90 minutes | Up to 30 hours |
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | About 40 per cent in 30 minutes | 90 minutes with a 10-watt plug, 190 without | Up to 60 hours |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | About 80 per cent in 30 minutes | About 60 minutes | Up to 24 hours |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | About 80 per cent in 45 minutes | About 75 minutes | Up to 50 hours |
Samsung’s table does not say whether its times run from empty, so I have read them as a full charge. Apple timed its charging with a 20-watt plug.
Full specifications are on the Galaxy Watch 9, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 pages.
How many hours of use you get from ten minutes on the charger
Put another way, “If I charge when I shower and change, how much time will the charge give me?” The table below works that out from each maker’s claims.
| Watch | Hours of use from ten minutes on the charger |
|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | About 12 hours |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | About 8 hours |
| Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 | About 8 hours |
| Galaxy Watch 9, 40mm | Under 4 hours |
| Galaxy Watch 9, 44mm | Just over 3 hours |
The Apple figures come from Apple’s own claim that 15 minutes of charging gives 18 hours of use on the Ultra 4 and 12 on the Series 12. The Ultra 2 figure combines Samsung’s two claims of 40 per cent in half an hour and 60 hours per charge. With the always-on screen off, Samsung claims 80 hours, which lifts the ten-minute figure to nearly 11 hours. The Watch 9 figures are an average across a full charge, because Samsung gives no quick top-up time. Batteries charge faster when nearly empty, so it’s not a precise science and a short top-up from a low battery may do better than the average.
What the EP-OL715 charger is
The EP-OL715 is Samsung’s fast charging puck for the Galaxy Watch. It comes in the box with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and is also sold separately.
| What Samsung says | |
|---|---|
| What you need to plug it into | A USB-C plug of at least 10 watts, which is not included |
| What it does | Takes the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to about 40 per cent in half an hour |
| Which watches it fits | Galaxy Watch 5 onwards, including the Watch 9, the original Ultra and the Ultra 2 |
| How many watts reach the watch | Samsung does not say. The charger itself is rated at 10 watts in and 5 watts out. |
Plug it into anything weaker than 10 watts, and the 90-minute fast charge becomes a 190-minute normal one. yikes!
The fast-charging claim applies only to the Ultra 2, so buying this charger for a Watch 9 will not shorten its 80 or 90 minutes. The Watch 9 comes with the same charger as the Galaxy Watch 7 and 8, and Samsung says older chargers do not work with it.
Samsung’s charging support page warns that the wrong charger can charge slowly, fail, or keep disconnecting. Apple’s rule is simpler: Apple’s fast charge article asks for its fast charging cable and a USB-C plug of 5 watts or more, and says older cables charge at normal speed.
Sleep tracking and the morning session
Both companies’ recovery features need the watch on your wrist overnight, so the question becomes when you charge instead.
Apple says five minutes on the charger buys ten hours of sleep tracking on either watch. On Samsung’s figures, a night’s sleep uses about an eighth of the Ultra 2’s battery, which it replaces in about ten minutes. The same night uses over a quarter of the Watch 9’s battery, which takes roughly 20 minutes to put back at the average rate.
- Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the easiest to live with. One half-hour top-up every day or two covers a night of sleep tracking and a morning run.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4 is much the same, and recovers fastest from a short charge.
- Apple Watch Series 12 needs charging every day, but half an hour while you shower and eat gets it to 80%.
- Galaxy Watch 9 needs daily charging and charges slowly. If you track your sleep and run before work, plan on 40 minutes to an hour on the charger every evening.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 passes the ‘clean your teeth test’. By the time you’ve finished, there’s enough juice to get you through to breakfast. With Samsung you might also need to read a chapter of your book in bed.
Who is ahead
Apple on speed. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 on how rarely you charge. Samsung’s weak spot is the Galaxy Watch 9, which spends the most time on the charger of the four.
For broader comparisons, see Galaxy Watch 9 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra 4, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Series 12. If you own an older Samsung watch, read the Galaxy Watch upgrade guide, Galaxy Watch 9 vs Galaxy Watch 8 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra. How I test is set out in the testing methodology.
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Quick answers
What is the Samsung EP-OL715 charger?
The EP-OL715 is Samsung’s fast charger for the Galaxy Watch, and it’s included in the box with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. It is a magnetic puck on a short USB-C cable, and it needs a separate plug of at least 10 watts to charge fast.
What is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 charging speed?
Samsung claims about 40 per cent in half an hour with the EP-OL715 charger and a plug of at least 10 watts. A full charge takes 90 minutes that way, or 190 minutes with a weaker plug.
What is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 charging wattage?
Samsung does not say how much power the watch draws. It rates the charger at 10 watts in and 5 watts out, and it says fast charging needs a plug of 10 watts or more.
How long does Galaxy Watch 9 take to charge?
80 minutes for the 40mm and 90 minutes for the 44mm, with the charger in the box. Samsung does not list a quick top-up time for either size.
Does Galaxy Watch 9 have fast charging?
No. Samsung’s support page says neither size of Galaxy Watch 9 fast charges. In the 2026 range, only the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 does.
Does the EP-OL715 charger work with older Galaxy Watches?
Yes, from the Galaxy Watch 5 onwards, including the Watch 9 and the original Ultra. But Samsung’s fast-charging claim applies only to the Ultra 2, and it gives no charging times for other watches on this charger.
Is Apple Watch faster to charge than Galaxy Watch?
Yes, on both companies’ figures. The Apple Watch Series 12 reaches about 80 per cent in half an hour, and the Ultra 4 in 45 minutes, compared with about 40 per cent in half an hour for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. But the Ultra 2 lasts longer per charge, so ten minutes on the charger gives about the same eight hours of use on the Ultra 2 as on the Series 12.
Last Updated on 2 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
