Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Rugged Smartwatch Review and Battery Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a rugged smartwatch designed for Android users, offering a competitive alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra. After three weeks of testing, the reviewer noted that the watch features a 590 mAh battery, which initially provided around 30-40 hours of usage. However, with adjustments, battery life improved significantly to over 60 hours on a single charge. The watch is equipped with advanced health sensors, including three times more heart sensors than its predecessor, allowing for an AGEs score to track health trends. Despite its strengths, the watch's sleep apnea detection feature raised concerns due to inconsistent results. The reviewer experienced difficulties in obtaining reliable data, which led to doubts about the accuracy of the sleep apnea diagnosis. While the watch is FDA-approved, the reviewer suggested that better AI integration could enhance its functionality by prompting users to monitor their sleep health more effectively. The design of the watch is described as having a unique squared-circle aesthetic, and it is waterproof with a rating of 10TM41 + IP68, making it suitable for ocean swimming. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra runs on WearOS 5.0, providing a robust app experience for users. However, the on-device software was noted to be just average, which may deter some potential buyers. Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra represents a significant advancement in rugged smartwatches for Android users, combining long battery life with extensive health tracking capabilities, despite some shortcomings in software and specific health features.