Apple Watch Ultra vs Samsung Watch Ultra – Which Should You Buy?

Choosing the right smartwatch depends on your lifestyle, fitness goals, and tech preferences. For users deciding between premium wearables, the Apple Watch Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra represent the top-tier options from their respective brands. The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for adventurers and athletes who rely on advanced sensors and rugged durability. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra focuses on versatility with deep Android integration and powerful health tracking. This article breaks down the key differences to help you decide which smartwatch fits your needs best.

Side by Side Comparison

Detailed Feature Comparisons

Design and Construction
Both watches feature a titanium case built for durability, but Apple leans more into rugged adventure styling while Samsung balances a sporty yet refined aesthetic. The Apple Watch Ultra is chunkier, with a more prominent side button and crown, designed for use with gloves or during extreme activities. Samsung offers a slightly slimmer form factor with interchangeable bands and customizable faces that may appeal to those who want a balance of form and function.

Display Quality
Apple’s 1.92-inch Retina display is slightly larger and uses LTPO OLED technology, offering excellent power efficiency and always-on capability. Samsung’s 1.5-inch Super AMOLED panel is incredibly vibrant with sharp contrast and matches Apple’s peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Both screens remain visible under direct sunlight and provide smooth interaction with their respective user interfaces.

Battery Life
Samsung clearly takes the lead in endurance, offering up to 100 hours with power saving and around 48 hours in regular use. Apple’s Ultra model provides about 36 hours, or 60 hours with Low Power Mode enabled. While both last longer than standard models in their lineups, Samsung’s advantage in battery life will appeal to multi-day hikers or travelers.

Performance and Processing Power
The Apple Watch Ultra is powered by Apple’s S8 chip, which delivers snappy performance with tight software integration in watchOS. Samsung steps up with its 3nm Exynos W1000 processor, offering strong multitasking and smooth animations in Wear OS. With 2GB RAM, the Galaxy Watch Ultra may feel more responsive when handling apps or widgets, especially in multitasking scenarios.

Software and Compatibility
watchOS delivers a polished, app-rich experience tailored exclusively for iPhone users. It includes deep fitness tracking, smooth handoff with Apple devices, and a wide range of third-party app support. Samsung uses Wear OS enhanced with One UI Watch, offering strong Google ecosystem support and wider Android compatibility. iPhone users should stick to Apple, while Android users will get the best experience from Samsung.

Health and Fitness Features
Both watches offer advanced health monitoring, including heart rate tracking, SpO2, sleep monitoring, ECG, and temperature sensors. The Apple Watch Ultra adds dual-frequency GPS for more accurate tracking in mountainous or urban areas and supports diving features. Samsung also includes temperature tracking and multi-band GPS, along with new AI-powered fitness insights and Galaxy Health integration.

Navigation and Sensors
Apple includes dual-frequency GPS (L1 + L5), a depth gauge, and an 86-decibel siren for emergencies. It also features Backtrack and precision compass routing. Samsung matches this with multi-band GPS and improved route tracking, but lacks the same level of wilderness-specific tools like Apple’s Backtrack. For serious trail runners, hikers, or divers, Apple holds an edge.

Smart Features and Voice Assistants
Apple uses Siri for voice commands, which integrates well with iPhone apps but may feel limited in speed and flexibility. Samsung includes both Bixby and Google Assistant, giving users more control, especially with smart home integration and search queries. Both watches support LTE connectivity, music playback, and notifications, though the experience will feel more complete within each brand’s ecosystem.

FAQ

Can the Apple Watch Ultra be used with Android phones?
No, the Apple Watch Ultra only works with iPhones. You need an iPhone 8 or later running iOS 16 or newer to pair and use it.

Can the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra be used with iPhones?
No, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra is designed exclusively for Android users. It does not support pairing with iPhones.

Which watch has better battery life?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra has better battery life, offering up to 100 hours in power saving mode and about 48 hours in typical use. The Apple Watch Ultra offers up to 36 hours, with up to 60 in Low Power Mode.

Is one better for outdoor sports and adventure?
The Apple Watch Ultra is better suited for extreme outdoor sports with features like a depth gauge, dual-frequency GPS, dive readiness, and an emergency siren. It also meets diving standards with EN13319 certification.

Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra support Google services?
Yes, it runs Wear OS and supports Google Assistant, Google Maps, Gmail, and other Google services directly on the watch.

Which one has more accurate GPS tracking?
Both offer multi-band GPS for high accuracy, but Apple’s implementation with L1 + L5 frequencies and strong navigation tools gives it a slight edge for mountain or city navigation.

How do the voice assistants compare?
Apple uses Siri, which works well for iPhone-based tasks. Samsung allows users to choose between Bixby and Google Assistant, offering more flexibility and generally faster voice responses.

Can I track workouts and health data with both?
Yes, both watches offer comprehensive health tracking, including heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and stress monitoring. Apple also includes advanced features for triathletes and divers.

Are both watches durable enough for tough environments?
Yes, both are built with titanium and rated for rugged environments. Apple is rated WR100 and tested for diving, while Samsung meets military-grade durability standards and offers 10ATM + IP68 water resistance.

Which is better for Android users?
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is clearly the better choice for Android users. It offers broader compatibility, deeper integration with Android apps, and Google services.