Comparing the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7: Initial Impressions

The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 have finally arrived! After spending 48 hours with Samsung’s newest offerings, it’s time to dive into some early impressions and key details. Let’s explore the design, features, and initial hands-on experiences with these two intriguing smartwatches.

Design and Fit 🤔

The Galaxy Watch Ultra marks Samsung’s first foray into the ultra-series for their Galaxy Watch lineup, and its design has certainly sparked diverse opinions.

• Galaxy Watch Ultra: Often described as polarizing, the Ultra sports a cushion case design. This “squirkle” shape, which blends square and circle elements, might not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, it surprisingly looks better in person than in photos or videos. The white variant stands out, but the version I reviewed is the titanium gray with the orange Marine band.
• Galaxy Watch 7: On the other hand, the smaller 40mm Galaxy Watch 7 fits more comfortably, especially for activities like sleep tracking. Although it doesn’t offer the rugged construction or larger battery of the Ultra, its elegant, compact design makes it a more suitable everyday wear for those with smaller wrists.

Size Comparisons 📏

* Galaxy Watch Ultra: Felt quite big on a 152 mm wrist.
* Galaxy Watch 7: Fits better and is more comfortable due to its smaller size.

Display and Usability 🖥️

Both watches showcase Samsung’s dedication to usability and display quality, although there are some distinct differences.

• Always-On Display: A unique feature on both watches is the ability to interact with the always-on display without activating the entire screen. This means you can simply tap on the item you want to launch, making for a seamless interaction experience.
• Night Mode: Available on both models, night mode can be set to stay on all the time or activate automatically, enhancing usability in dark environments.

Button Functionality 🔘

The quick button, located on the side, doesn’t rotate like a crown. Instead, it operates as a standard button. By default, it’s set to launch the workout menu, but customization options are plentiful:
* Stopwatch
* Flashlight
* Water Lock

You can also long-press to access the siren and modify actions for other buttons for personalized functionality. For instance, changing the top button from the Bixby default to activate the power-off menu is a welcome customization.

Advanced Features and Fitness Tracking 🏃‍♂️

Samsung continues to expand its array of health and fitness tracking features with these new watches.

Sleep Apnea Detection 💤

One of the significant new features is sleep apnea detection. To utilize this, you’ll need the Samsung Health Monitor app, which is currently exclusive to Galaxy phones.

• Requires a minimum of two nights of sleep data to start working.
• Sends notifications if abnormal breathing patterns are detected.

Energy Score 🔋

The new energy score feature evaluates your activity and sleep data to provide an overall energy score, although AI recommendations and wellness tips will require more extended usage to fine-tune.

Functional Threshold Power for Cycling 🚴‍♂️

The Galaxy Watch Ultra introduces a new functional threshold power feature for cyclists:
* Can calculate your maximum power in just 4 minutes.
* Requires connection to a power meter on your bike.
* Simplifies what usually takes 20 minutes to an hour with traditional methods.

Battery Life and Charging 🔋

Battery Performance 🔋

The Ultra boasts the largest battery capacity among Galaxy Watches, promising extended usage:
* Takes several days to a week to calibrate based on usage habits, with real-world performance yet to be fully tested.

Charging Setbacks ⚡

However, there’s a drawback to consider:
* Reverse wireless charging from Samsung phones has been removed due to the redesign of the bioactive sensor.
* This impacts the ability to charge the watch on the go using a phone, a feature many users appreciated.

Conclusion 🎉

The Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 both bring noteworthy advancements and some polarizing changes to Samsung’s smartwatch lineup. Each model has its strengths and nuances, catering to different user preferences, from the adventurous, rugged needs met by the Ultra to the everyday practicality and comfort of the Watch 7.

Stay tuned for a comprehensive review as more extended use and data collection will reveal deeper insights into battery life, performance, and the efficacy of new features like sleep apnea detection and functional threshold power for cycling.