Galaxy Watch Ultra Titanium Gray
Dubai - UAE
(This is a Subjective Personal Experience Review/Thoughts)
Now that I had the watch for 12 days, I will yet again like the past 6 watches/years, go through what I liked and didn’t like about it.
Since it’s an Ultra Model, which is a new category for Samsung Watches, the most fair and logical apple to an apple (no pun intended) comparison, should be to its older sibling, the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, as they are both the durable, tough, outdoorsy models, that are rugged and made for the adventurous people.
Before we begin, in case you missed it, here’s a link to my Initial thoughts on the Galaxy Watch Ultra:
My 6 days review of the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic:
My Galaxy Watch 5 Pro review:
Right off the bat, let me spare you some time,it’s my favorite looking/owned watch. I love how it looks, the shape of it, the body, the titanium, and how it looks in the dark/black strap. When it’s in the orange one, it’s very sporty and makes it in my opinion look cheaper, but it completely transforms when you replace that. I believe Samsung found a middle ground between the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro and the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, by reviving the Galaxy Gear Sport shape in this one.
What I liked:
- Design and Size: As I mentioned in my initial thoughs above, design, size, material used, the hint of orange, all if it, it’s my favourite one, and when I wear the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic now, I get bored of how it looks.
- OS: The Android wear continues to improve, with OneUI married to it. I have not faced any slowness or errors so far except the watch locking whenever it moves on my wrist, as if I removed it and worn it again.
- Haptic Feedback: This is one of the best improvements in the watch, like no other model from Samsung before, you can choose from so many different ones and different intensities, and it is completely a new feeling, so far the best I experienced in the past 6 watches I owned.
- New Health App Features: Maybe these should be included with the OS section, but the health app is definitely improved with better tracking due to the sensors.
- The Quick/Action Button: It doesn’t have a lot of apps to map to it, but for me, the screen lock, for when I shower, is the best use case for it, and not only for showering or swimming, this quick access is so helpful.
- Speaker: Better looking, louder, crispier.
- Strap: New design, new models, new fabrics, it has a One-Click button for quick release, transforms the looks of the watch.
What I didn’t Like:
- Strap: Yes I liked it, but I also didn’t like they introduced a new one after the one introduced last year, we should not be buying new proprietary straps for each watch. What I also did not like is they made us get preset straps on the different models, instead of letting us choose like in other market. One thing worth noting, the one I’m wearing has to be dried after shower or swimming, check out my photos below, I found embarrassing spots while in the taxi at first, and took me a second to realize my strap was soaked wet and I needed to dry it first. It also leaves markings on the skin due to the texture it has, keep in mind it doesn't bother, you don't feel pressure, but it's always marking my wrist.
- No Physical Rotating Bezel: Samsung listened before, brought it back to the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, it was there on the original model 6+ years ago (Check Galaxy Gear Sports in my initial thoughts link), I have no clue why they skipped it this year, I promise you it would have taken the watch to another level. It's a shame the Quick/Action button is not used a replacement dial of the bezel.
- Markings On the Bezel: I covered this in my initial thoughts, since people will wear the watch on different hands and in different orientations, 2 arrows instead of one would have been better, to cover all preferences.
- Battery Life: Probably the 2nd biggest disappointment in the watch after the no physical rotating bezel. The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro has the same battery size, but lasts easily 1 to 1.5 days more. The most I got was 2 days and 12 hours, one time with 10% left and another with 5% left, and this with a new supposedly more efficient chip. My settings are 40% brightness, HR sensors off, AOD off, Assistant disabled, and native WhatsApp uninstalled (Last 2 eat the battery up) A 3 days battery would have been fair, but it is what it is, I’ll take that as a win over the GW6 Classic, but a definite Loss over the GW5 Pro. Keep in mind that the 1st 3 days, it might last only 1.5 days, but that's just normal as it would be in the Learning Battery Pattern mode, so don't quickly judge it.
- AI: I mean it’s there, but only for the sleep tracking and workout features. I don’t usually exercise as you’d think, I wish the features are extended to other things besides the workout/sleeping features, very meh at best, nothing special.
- Charging: Still at 10W, I accidently told someone on the forum it’s 15W, but it’s only 10W, and it goes fast charging until 45% in just 30 minutes, but after that, it automatically slows down to 4.5W, which is a protection for the battery to prevent any “Accidents”. The other not so good thing is that you cannot charge it on the back of your phone using reverse wireless charging, due to the new sensor shape and size and technology used, this year’s model skipped that feature. It will take 1 hour 36 minutes to charge it to full from 5% using the original charger at 10W.
Final Verdict:
I love it, definitely better than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, minus the battery life, better than the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic in terms of hardware (normal for a new watch) looks, features, and has more battery life. I am enjoying it a lot, I’m rarely wearing my GW5 and GW6 now, unless I’m charging this one!
This watch is not for everyone, I’m not going to recommend it to anyone just because I have it or for the sake of recommending it. It has its own audience, own budget, you need to like how it looks, and what it’s for, it will call you.
It is 95% the same as the Galaxy Watch 7 on the inside, same Chipset, same Hardware, same Health sensors, same OS, except again the minor things like Size, Body Material , GPS and Battery size, but for double the price. If it’s not within your budget, or don’t care about how it looks, get the Watch 7 which is also an amazing good performing model.
For me personally, best watch I bought from Samsung, and I already bought 6, I change watches on yearly basis, so regardless of the state of it, I will give credit where due and remarks where I should.
I still did not receive my last item which is the additional strap i bought, it's probably still out of stock, no news or updates from Samsung on this, will follow up soon.
[EDIT] I received today an alert that the strap is on the way😍
Let me know if you have any specific questions, thank you for taking the time to read. Cheers!
J.
