The Apple Watch Ultra 4 launches against the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, bringing a clash of premium rugged smartwatches defined by strict smartphone ecosystems, advanced sensor arrays, and distinct performance chips, according to reports from Trusted Reviews, Gadgets and Wearables, and Digit.
Price, Availability, and Ecosystem Lock-In
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 costs $799 or £749, with pre-orders open ahead of a September 18 launch, according to Trusted Reviews. It works exclusively with iOS devices, specifically requiring an iPhone 11 or later or an iPhone SE second-generation or later running iOS 27 or later, as noted by Gadgets and Wearables. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 carries a lower starting price of £649 or $699 and is available to buy now. While it pairs with most Android phones running Android 10 or later, unlocking features like ECG, sleep apnea notifications, and blood pressure monitoring requires pairing the watch with a Samsung Galaxy handset, according to Trusted Reviews.
Display, Design, and Durability
Digit reports that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a 1.52-inch Super AMOLED display with a 498 x 498 resolution and a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits. Its physical build includes a Grade 4 titanium frame, sapphire crystal glass, IP68 and IP69K certifications, a 10 ATM rating, MIL-STD-810H testing, and EN13319 dive certification. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 sports a 49mm Always-On Retina display using OLED and LTPO3 technology, offering a 422 x 514 resolution, 326 ppi, and up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness, according to Digit. Apple protects the screen with a Grade 5 titanium case and sapphire crystal glass, alongside IP6X dust resistance, WR100 water resistance, MIL-STD-810H testing, and EN13319 certification.
Performance and Processor Specs
Under the hood, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 runs on a 3nm Snapdragon SW6100 Wear Elite chipset paired with 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, according to Digit. Samsung states this processor enables faster app launches and smoother interactions, while also providing access to Google Gemini. On the other side, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 runs on the Apple S11 chip featuring a 64-bit dual-core processor and a 4-core Neural Engine, backed by 64GB of internal storage, as reported by Gadgets and Wearables and Digit. Apple utilizes the S11 processor to power upcoming Audio Intelligence features slated for later in the year, which include loud noise detection, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap.
Health, Fitness, and Sensor Capabilities
Apple equips the Watch Ultra 4 with a new Health Sensing System featuring larger LEDs that measure heart rate every five seconds, which Apple claims provides the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable based on a study of over 1,000 participants. Trusted Reviews notes that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 also introduces a personalized health age based on VO2 Max levels and a readiness score via a revamped Apple Health app. Digit adds that Apple’s sensor suite includes ECG, heart-rate tracking, HRV, Recovery HRV, blood oxygen, sleep tracking, sleep-apnea notifications, hypertension notifications, Training Load, and workout tracking. For Samsung, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a BioActive sensor system supporting ECG, heart-rate tracking, blood oxygen, body and water temperature sensors, a barometer, altimeter, compass, accelerometer, and gyroscope, alongside a Vitals section in the Samsung Health app, according to Digit.
Battery Life and Connectivity
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 delivers up to 50 hours of normal use, up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode, according to Trusted Reviews and Digit. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features an 800mAh battery that provides up to 60 hours of use, alongside fast charging and 10W wireless charging support, according to Digit and Trusted Reviews. For connectivity, Digit reports that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 supports 5G and LTE cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi 4, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-frequency GPS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou, and second-generation Ultra Wideband. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 supports LTE, eSIM, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and GPS.
Pro Tip: Before purchasing either rugged smartwatch, check your smartphone’s operating system. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 requires an iPhone, whereas the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 requires an Android device and needs a Samsung Galaxy handset to access advanced health measurements like blood pressure monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Apple Watch Ultra 4 with an Android phone?
No. According to Trusted Reviews, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is only compatible with iOS.
Does the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 work with non-Samsung Android devices?
Yes, the watch works with most phones running Android 10 or later, but pairing it with a Samsung Galaxy phone is required to unlock specific health tools like blood pressure monitoring and ECG, as reported by Trusted Reviews.
What is the battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
Trusted Reviews notes that the Apple Watch Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours of normal use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode.
What processor powers the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
According to Digit, the watch runs on the 3nm Snapdragon SW6100 Wear Elite chipset.
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