Samsung has introduced a new contender in the smartwatch market with the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. This new addition to the Galaxy lineup is clearly designed to compete with Apple’s highly regarded Apple Watch Ultra.. Alongside the Ultra, Samsung also revealed the refreshed Galaxy Watch 7 and the budget-friendly Galaxy Watch FE.
A New Premium Choice: Galaxy Watch Ultra
The Galaxy Watch Ultra, priced at $649.99, steps in to replace the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro as Samsung’s top-tier smartwatch. It caters specifically to outdoor athletes and adventurers, mirroring many features seen in the Apple Watch Ultra. The similarities are not just in functionality but in name and design as well. Samsung claims this is their most durable watch to date, boasting 10ATM water resistance, an IP68 rating, a titanium case, and a sapphire crystal lens.
A striking new feature is the orange Quick Button, which provides quick access to the workout app, flashlight, water lock, and other shortcuts. The watch also features a new lug system for attaching straps, reminiscent of Apple’s design, and comes with a variety of strap options tailored for runners, hikers, and swimmers.
Enhanced Features for Active Users
The Galaxy Watch Ultra stands out with its impressive screen brightness of up to 3,000 nits, dual-frequency GPS, and new multisport activity profiles. Whether you’re diving or simply tracking your daily runs, this watch has you covered. It also includes a Night Mode that turns the display red for easier readability in low light conditions and offers new power-saving modes that extend battery life up to 100 hours overall and 48 hours of active use.
Cyclists will appreciate the new Functional Threshold Power metric, while runners can benefit from the Race feature, allowing them to compare current and past performance. Additionally, the watch includes an 85dB emergency siren for safety during outdoor activities.
Samsung’s Unique Touch
Despite the many similarities with the Apple Watch Ultra, the Galaxy Watch Ultra brings its own unique flavor. The 47mm titanium case has a distinctive squircle shape, giving it a chunkier look compared to its Apple counterpart. While the physical rotating bezel is missed by some users, Samsung retains its signature digital touch bezel, providing a familiar navigation experience.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra is equipped with Samsung’s new Exynos W1000 chip, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. Both the Ultra and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 run on Wear OS 5 and One UI 6 Watch, ensuring a smooth and efficient user experience.
Galaxy Watch 7: An Iterative Update
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, priced at $299.99, doesn’t introduce many changes from its predecessor, except for new strap colors. The design, battery sizes, and overall form factor remain the same. However, it shares many internal hardware and software updates with the Ultra, including the new Exynos W1000 chip, LTE capabilities, fast charging, and dual-frequency GPS.
Both watches feature an upgraded Samsung BioActive Sensor for improved heart rate monitoring, EKG, and body composition analysis. This new sensor also introduces the Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) Index metric, which Samsung claims provides insights into your biological aging process based on diet and lifestyle.
FDA De Novo Clearance: A Game-Changer for Sleep Apnea Detection
One of the standout features this year is the FDA De Novo clearance for sleep apnea detection. This is a first in the industry, allowing the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra to monitor sleep disruptions indicative of moderate to severe sleep apnea. While not intended as a diagnostic tool, this feature provides valuable data that users can share with their healthcare providers.
Availability and Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra will be available starting July 24th, with preorders already open at Amazon, Best Buy, and Samsung’s official website. While the new releases may not introduce groundbreaking innovations, they fill a significant gap in the Android smartwatch market, providing a robust alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra.
In summary, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 offer compelling options for Android users seeking advanced features and durability in their smartwatches. The Ultra, in particular, stands out with its rugged design and extensive functionality, making it a worthy competitor in the premium smartwatch segment.
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