The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s first rugged titanium Wear OS watch, launched in July 2024, refreshed in July 2025 with 64GB of storage and a Titanium Blue finish, and succeeded by the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in 2026.
| Manufacturer | Samsung |
|---|---|
| Type | Rugged GPS smartwatch, Wear OS |
| Series | Galaxy Watch Ultra |
| Released | 2025 edition 25 July 2025 (announced 9 July 2025, Galaxy Unpacked). First edition July 2024 |
| Price at launch | £599 UK, $649.99 US, €699.99 Europe (2025 edition) |
| Predecessor | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (2022) |
| Successor | Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 (2026) |
| Sizes | 47mm (large) |
| Variants | Bluetooth and LTE only |
| Colours | Titanium Grey, Titanium Silver, Titanium White, Titanium Blue (2025 edition only) |
Specifications and features as at launch of the 2025 edition. Samsung UK now lists the Galaxy Watch Ultra as no longer available.
Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Comparisons | Quick answers | Further reading
Expert opinion
Who it suits: Best for outdoor adventurers, endurance athletes and frequent trainers who want a rugged smartwatch with advanced activity tracking, more battery capacity and cellular connectivity for use away from their phone.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra combines Wear OS with Samsung’s One UI Watch interface, Samsung Health, sleep coaching, advanced workout tracking, multisport activity support, route-based navigation, downloadable apps and Google Gemini. Its software supports detailed training metrics, heart-rate monitoring, recovery-related health insights and dual-frequency GPS for outdoor activity recording; compatible LTE models can also make calls and access data without a nearby phone, subject to network coverage and a suitable plan. The original Ultra launched in 2024, with a refreshed 2025 version retaining the core platform and adding a new colour option, so specifications should be checked against the exact model being purchased. The 47mm titanium case houses a 1.47-inch Super AMOLED display protected by sapphire crystal, 2GB RAM, 64GB storage and a 590mAh battery. Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, NFC, LTE and multi-constellation dual-frequency GPS provide broad connectivity, while the BioActive sensor supports optical heart-rate measurements, electrical heart signals and body-composition analysis. Samsung rates the Ultra for up to 100 hours in power-saving mode and up to 48 hours in exercise power-saving mode; standard smartwatch use generally requires more frequent charging than those maximum figures might suggest. Its 10ATM water resistance, IP68 rating and MIL-STD-810H testing make it more suitable for demanding outdoor use than the standard Watch 8, although GPS accuracy, heart-rate reliability and battery endurance still depend on conditions and settings.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Rugged titanium sports watch, the original Ultra
RRP $649.99 at launch
£599, €699
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Also sold direct byWhat’s new versus the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro
Hardware
- Grade 4 titanium on the front and back of the frame, up from grade 2
- 3nm processor with five cores, replacing a 5nm two-core chip
- Dual-frequency GPS, L1 and L5, replacing L1 only
- 10 ATM water resistance, up from 5 ATM, with MIL-STD-810H
- Quick Button, for workouts, the multisport tile and an 86 decibel emergency siren
- Cushion design and Dynamic Lug System
- Display brightness up to 3,000 nits, with a night mode on selected watch faces
2025 edition versus the 2024 original
- 64GB of storage, up from 32GB
- Titanium Blue colour added
- One UI 8 Watch on Wear OS 6 out of the box
- Case, display, processor, battery and sensors unchanged
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Type | Super AMOLED, always-on |
| Size | 1.47in |
| Resolution | 480 x 480 |
| Brightness | Up to 3,000 nits |
| Cover | Sapphire crystal |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 47mm (large) |
| Dimensions | 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1mm |
| Weight | 60.5g |
| Case material | Grade 4 titanium on the front and back of the frame, with grade 2 titanium and plastic elsewhere |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM, 100m to ISO 22810. Samsung states it is not suitable for diving or high-pressure water |
| Dust | IP68 |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H. Operating temperature -20C to 55C, altitude to 9,000m |
| Buttons | Home and back buttons, plus the Quick Button |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| Heart rate | Optical heart rate sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG |
| Body composition | Bioelectrical impedance analysis |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic, light, infrared temperature |
| GNSS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou, dual-frequency L1 and L5 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos W1000, 3nm, five cores at 1.6GHz and 1.5GHz |
| Memory and storage | 2GB and 64GB (32GB on the 2024 edition) |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| Cellular | LTE, eSIM, availability varies by country and carrier |
| NFC | Yes |
| Operating system | Wear OS 6 with One UI 8 Watch (2025 edition) |
| Phone compatibility | Android 11 or above with at least 1.5GB of memory. The Galaxy Wearable app does not support iPhone |
Battery life
Samsung quotes up to 60 hours of normal use with the always-on display enabled, 80 hours with it off, and up to 100 hours in power saving mode. Exercise power saving mode records workouts for up to 48 hours with some connectivity turned off. Samsung gives no standard GPS recording figure. The watch has no fast charging.
| Capacity | 590mAh typical |
|---|---|
| Normal use, always-on display enabled | Up to 60 hours |
| Normal use, always-on display disabled | Up to 80 hours |
| Power saving mode | Up to 100 hours |
| Exercise power saving mode | Up to 48 hours |
| Charging | WPC wireless, no fast charging |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
Feature availability depends on the Samsung Health app version, on the country and on the phone. FTP, blood pressure, ECG, sleep apnoea detection and Double Pinch need a Samsung Galaxy phone. Samsung promises four major OS updates.
Training and navigation
- Multisport tile on the Quick Button for triathlon, duathlon, aquathlon or a custom sequence, with transitions
- Personalised FTP, estimated from a power meter paired with a Samsung Galaxy phone
- Route guidance from imported GPX files for hiking and cycling, with altitude, and Track Back to the start
- Race, pacing an outdoor run or ride against a record from the last 14 days on the same route
- Running Coach with a running level test and a three to five week guided plan
- Personalised heart rate zones and VO2 max estimate
- Water Lock for swimming and water sports
Safety
- 86 decibel siren, audible up to 180m, from a five-second hold of the Quick Button
- Fall detection and Emergency SOS, with medical information on the watch
- Night mode, switching selected watch faces automatically after dark
Health and recovery
- Energy Score, a daily readiness rating from sleep, heart signals and activity
- Sleep tracking with stages, snoring detection, sleep score and Sleep Coaching
- Sleep apnoea risk detection, CE marked, for users aged 22 and over
- Vascular Load, measured overnight, a Labs feature
- Blood pressure, requiring calibration against a cuff every four weeks, with availability limited by country
- ECG and irregular heart rhythm notification through the Samsung Health Monitor app
- AGEs index, measured overnight
- Body composition through bioelectrical impedance analysis
Smartwatch and platform
- Wear OS with One UI Watch and the Google Play Store
- Google Gemini voice assistant
- Double Pinch gesture control
- NFC payments with Samsung Pay
Activity profiles
The following are the exercise types predefined in Samsung Health, the platform the Galaxy Watch Ultra runs on, plus the multisport options on the Quick Button. The selectable set on any given watch depends on the model, the region and the software version.
Multisport
- Triathlon
- Duathlon
- Aquathlon
- Custom multisport
Walking and running
- Walking
- Running
Ball and team sports
- Baseball
- Softball
- Cricket
- Hockey
- Rugby
- Basketball
- Football (soccer)
- Handball
- American football
- Volleyball
- Beach volleyball
Golf and bowling
- Golf
- Bowling
Racket sports
- Squash
- Tennis
- Badminton
- Table tennis
- Racquetball
Combat sports
- Boxing
- Martial arts
Dance
- Ballet
- Dancing
- Ballroom dancing
Mind and body
- Pilates
- Yoga
- Stretching
Strength and conditioning
- Jump rope
- Hula-hooping
- Push-ups
- Pull-ups
- Sit-ups
- Circuit training
- Mountain climbers
- Jumping jacks
- Burpee
- Bench press
- Squats
- Lunges
- Leg presses
- Leg extensions
- Leg curls
- Back extensions
- Lat pull-downs
- Deadlifts
- Shoulder presses
- Front raises
- Lateral raises
- Crunches
- Leg raises
- Plank
- Arm curls
- Arm extensions
Outdoor and adventure
- Cycling
- Mountain biking
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Rock climbing
- Orienteering
- Horseback riding
- Archery
- Hang gliding
- Flying disc
- Inline skating
- Roller skating
- Aerobics
Water sports
- Swimming
- Aquarobics
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Rafting
- Sailing
- Yachting
- Windsurfing
- Kitesurfing
- Water skiing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkeling
Gym machines
- Treadmill
- Exercise bike
- Elliptical trainer
- Rowing machine
- Step machine
- Weight machine
Winter sports
- Alpine skiing
- Skiing (downhill)
- Cross-country skiing
- Snowboarding
- Snowshoeing
- Ice skating
- Ice dancing
- Ice hockey
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
Rugged titanium sports watch, the original Ultra
RRP $649.99 at launch
£599, €699
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Also sold direct byComparisons and upgrade guides
- Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Galaxy Watch Ultra, what’s new
- Galaxy Watch vs Apple Watch charging speed, who is ahead
Quick answers
When was the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra released?
Samsung launched the first Galaxy Watch Ultra in July 2024. The 2025 edition was announced on 9 July 2025 and released on 25 July 2025, at a launch price of GBP 599 or USD 649.99.
Is the Galaxy Watch Ultra waterproof?
Galaxy Watch Ultra has a 10 ATM water rating, 100m to ISO 22810, and an IP68 dust rating. Samsung states it is not suitable for diving or high-pressure water.
Does the Galaxy Watch Ultra have LTE?
Yes, Galaxy Watch Ultra is sold only in a Bluetooth and LTE version, using an eSIM. Availability varies by country and carrier.
What size and weight is the Galaxy Watch Ultra?
Galaxy Watch Ultra comes in a single 47mm case size, measures 47.4 x 47.1 x 12.1mm and weighs 60.5g. It has a 1.47 inch Super AMOLED display.
What is the Galaxy Watch Ultra battery life?
Samsung quotes up to 60 hours of normal use with the always-on display enabled, 80 hours with it off and up to 100 hours in power saving mode. Exercise power saving mode records workouts for up to 48 hours.
Does the Galaxy Watch Ultra work with iPhone?
No, the Galaxy Wearable app does not support iPhone. Galaxy Watch Ultra needs an Android 11 or above phone with at least 1.5GB of memory.
Further reading
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: leaked renders and specs
- Samsung watch specifications
- Release Radar
Related watches
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 replaced the Ultra in 2026, adding an 800mAh battery, fast charging, a 5,000-nit display, diving to 40m and direct power meter pairing.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Rugged GPS adventure watch
RRP from $699.99
£649, €749
- use code:
Get it nowOrder now – Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Also sold direct bySmall 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.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. 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.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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