Over 5000 nits - Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2

Samsung does not provide information about the smartwatch’s carbon footprint. However, the packaging is plastic-free. The manufacturer also promises software updates until July 2031.

The division between the apps extends to how the watch is operated. Settings for the display, notifications, or app overview are configured in the Wear app. Settings for workouts and health measurements, on the other hand, are configured in the Samsung Health app. An additional app, Samsung Health Monitor, is required to use the ECG and blood pressure features. Samsung offers a wide selection of free watch faces that can be customized. 

Thanks to Wear OS, the app selection is huge. There are map providers, well-known music streaming services, apps for smart home control, and much more. This is a clear advantage over other smartwatches in the Android camp. The smartwatch can play music through its built-in speakers, but can also connect to headphones without a smartphone. Thanks to eSIM, data connections are possible without a paired smartphone nearby.

The Health app offers an overview page with tiles for all features. The categories are also arranged as tabs for a better overview. 

Samsung continues to rely on its own voice assistant, Bixby. It has been significantly upgraded. Samsung intends it to access device functions, but it can also search the internet for information. Answers are displayed on the screen and spoken aloud. 

Despite the improvements, Bixby is nowhere near matching the range of features offered by Google Gemini, which is also installed. Gemini can access various services, such as Calendar or Google Maps. Those who use the relevant services get a seamless overall experience. It understands even long and complicated prompts, and response times are short. 

ChatGPT, Claude, and Alexa are not available on Wear OS, or are only offered through third parties.

Health and fitness information is available in the Samsung Health app. Samsung focuses on the central Energy Score. This is a number between 1 and 100, supplemented by a word rating. The score is made up of various parameters: average sleep duration, sleep schedule consistency, sleep regularity, sleep duration, activity on the previous day, activity consistency, sleep heart rate, sleep HRV, and skin temperature during sleep.

The score is intended to help assess performance during the day. After a poor night’s sleep or a hard workout the day before, a break is recommended. The Health app provides an overview of vital signs and lists the normal range as a reference. Unlike many other smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 can also measure noise exposure and issue warnings before hearing damage occurs.

The Samsung Health app provides an overview of vascular strain. Sleep time, Active time, and stress measurements are included in this index. The antioxidant index is still in beta. It is intended to measure free radicals in the metabolic process that are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits.

In addition to simply measuring stress, users can also keep a mood journal. The software also offers meditation exercises and breathing training.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 offers extensive options for measuring health metrics. As usual, it can measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. To record an ECG and measure blood pressure, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 must be connected to a Samsung smartphone. It’s a shame that Samsung continues to keep these features so exclusive. The smartwatch also has to be calibrated using a blood pressure monitor before measuring blood pressure—and this needs to be done regularly. It is more of an estimate. Only the Huawei Watch D series can take a true measurement without calibration.

To better assess the Galaxy Watch Ultra2’s readings, we compare them with those from reference devices. We have compiled in this article what you need to bear in mind when measuring with smartwatches in general.

A Polar H10 chest strap serves as the reference device for heart rate measurements. The two devices differ by just one beat per minute when measuring resting heart rate, an error of 1.82 percent. We measure exercise heart rate at three different times. Averaged across three measurements, the error is 0.25 percent. The largest error in a single measurement is one beat per minute. 

A Braun Pulse Oximeter 1 serves as the reference device for measuring blood oxygen saturation. Averaged across three measurements, the error is 0.7 percent. The largest error in a single measurement is three percentage points.

The blood pressure readings are similarly impressive. Averaged across three measurements, the systolic reading has an error of 0.28 percent, while the diastolic reading has an error of just 0.01 percent. The largest error in a single measurement is two mmHg.

The sleep tracking on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is very comprehensive. The many details are brought together in a sleep score. The numerical score is supplemented by a word rating and a correspondingly colored cloud. The score is influenced by actual sleep duration, the proportions of the sleep stages, and sleep latency. 

Times for the sleep stages are provided and compared with typical ranges. The data is supplemented with heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, skin temperature, and respiratory rate. When paired with a smartphone, the software is also supposed to detect snoring.

The app offers tips for improving sleep, creates sleep logs, and recommends bedtimes. In combination with a questionnaire, the software creates a sleep profile - a sleep animal. The Samsung smartwatch does not include a smart alarm.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 supports all common satellite connections in dual-band. Routes are recorded reliably and accurately. Workout routes can be exported as GPX files. Routes can also be imported and followed during workouts.

Workouts also support backtracking, even without a data connection.

Navigation with Google Maps works smoothly in everyday use. In our test, the satellite connection was established quickly and remained stable throughout.

Samsung equips the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 with a larger 800 mAh battery and advertises a battery life of up to 60 hours. That is a very good figure for a smartwatch with WearOS. In our test, we enable all measurements, use the always-on display, and automatic workout detection. The smartwatch was worn 24/7, including during workouts. We simply did not use an eSIM.

Depending on how intensively we use it, we get two nights and two to three days of use on a single charge. 48 hours are also possible with short phone calls and workouts before the smartwatch has to be put back on the charger. If the smartwatch is used only with an eSIM and without a paired smartphone, battery life will be significantly shorter.

Charging is wireless, although the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 refuses various Qi charging pads and, in our test, would only charge on the included charging pad. In 30 minutes, the smartwatch charges from 10 to 40 percent. After 75 minutes, it reaches 85 percent. The smartwatch takes about 90 minutes to fully charge. In our test, we use an Anker 335 power adapter.

While charging, the time, charge level, and remaining charging time are displayed.