Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on review: 3 things I love — and one I dislike

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is one titillating timepiece, swooping in to potentially knock the Apple Watch Ultra off its pedestal. Unlike the Apple rival, the Galaxy Watch Ultra offers a blood-oxygen sensor (the Apple Watch used to have one, but er, it's a long story) and a sleep apnea monitor (though some rumors claim the Watch X will have it).

Oh, and did I mention the sleep apnea sensor is FDA-approved, too?

I got to spend a little over an hour with the Galaxy Watch Ultra, and in that short time, I spotted three things I love about it — and one thing that could use some improvement.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hands-on experience

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra costs $729.98, but as of this writing, it'll set you back $649.99 via Samsung's official website. Conversely, the Apple Watch Ultra costs $799.99 on Amazon.

It comes in the 47mm size and offers three colors: Titanium Gray, Titanium White, and Titanium Black.

With the crucial details out of the way, allow me to dive into my short exploration of the Galaxy Watch Ultra.

A smooth display (though smaller than rivals)

Swiping through WearOS 5, the Galaxy Watch Ultra felt smooth and seamless. From the weather app to the ECG utility, the experience felt zippy. (This is likely due to the new Exynos W1000 processor.)

However, as someone who owns an Apple Watch Series 9, the Galaxy Watch Ultra's display is noticeably smaller at 1.5 inches (compared to the Watch Series 9's 1.7-inch display). The second-generation Apple Watch Ultra's display is even larger, coming in at 1.9 inches.

An eye-catching squircle, circular design

When I tried on the Galaxy Watch Ultra for the first time, the first thing I noticed was the intriguing frame that surrounds the watch face.

It's as if Samsung said, "We can't decide whether we want this to be circular or squarish, so let's go with both!" And you know what? I'm obsessed. A round design is classic, but yawn-worthy and boring (it's trite in Android world with the likes of the Google Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch 7). And although no one owns "squircle," this shape would feel too Apple.

Using both seems like a good compromise, and it makes for an eye-catching design that no other popular smartwatch has achieved.

Some have argued that the Galaxy Watch Ultra is an Apple "clone," but I can't get myself to mind too much. You mean I get to walk around with an Apple Watch Ultra-esque smartwatch, but spend $150 less? I'm all for a dupe.

Competition-beating sensors

As mentioned at the outset, there are some sensors that the Galaxy Watch Ultra has that the Apple Watch Ultra doesn't.

I already pointed out the blood-oxygen and sleep apnea sensors, but add let's add a body composition tracker to the list, which isn't found natively on the Apple Watch Ultra.

Here are some other health-tracking features present on the Galaxy Watch Ultra:

• Skin temperature monitoring

• Cycle tracking

• Irregular rhythm notifications

• High or low heart rate notifications

• ECG testing

• Sleep tracking

I tested my ECG right on the spot, and I've got a healthy heart, thank you very much, at 92 beats per minute. Of course, I wasn't able to test the full scope of the Galaxy Watch Ultra's health and exercise sensors. I'll need to give them some time to do a proper testing, particularly since Galaxy AI plays a role in some features like Energy Score and Wellness Tips. The former generates a score for you based on metrics like your physical activity and sleep habits; the latter offers recommendations and suggestions based on your past actions.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, compared to its cheaper Galaxy Watch 7 sibling, is designed for rugged adventurers. It can reportedly handle temperatures between -4 and 131 degrees Fahrenheit, and it can tolerate deep-sea diving and other challenging environments. I haven't visited Antarctica nor strapped it to my wrist while scuba diving just yet, but once I do, I'll let you know how it holds up.

Bands are too tricky to swap

I removed the bands from the Galaxy Watch Ultra by pressing down on two small silver button mechanisms on the back. The bands are not easy to remove. (I almost broke a nail trying to push down on the buttons hard enough to release the band from the watch's grip.)

Reattaching the bands were a pain, too. I just couldn't figure it out.

I haven't seen how Samsung packs the Galaxy Watch Ultra inside the box, but let's hope it ships with the bands attached (like the Galaxy Watch 6). This will save you the headache of snapping the bands together.

Speaking of bands, the Galaxy Watch Ultra comes in three different band styles, including Marine (great for swimming), Trail (breathable and lightweight), and PeakForm (OK for all workouts). Marine is the way to go, according to my short experience with it. It appears easier to clean — and won't collect as much dirt and sweat as the other bands.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra worth it?

It's too early to say whether the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is worth it. I'll have to test it first. I'm particularly interested in the Galaxy Watch Ultra's battery life. On Power Saving Mode, Samsung claims the Galaxy Watch Ultra can last four days. Compare this to the Apple Watch Ultra, which lasts three days on Low Power Mode.

If I don't need to charge my smartwatch for four days, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may have my heart.