Samsung · Reviewed by Lexy Savvides · Published 2026-07-23
Based on a review by Lexy Savvides (accessed 2026-07-23).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about thinner and more comfortable for everyday wear and sleep tracking than the original ultra — just accept charging time is slow, taking well over an hour from 15-20% to 100%.
The reviewer concludes that the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 brings a lot of good changes compared to its predecessor. She highlights its improved comfort, exceptional display brightness, enhanced performance from the new chipset, and useful new features like real-time hydration guidance and hands-free Gemini as significant improvements, despite some early observations about slow charging.
This video provides a first impressions review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 after one week of testing. The reviewer examines its design, display brightness, performance, initial battery life, charging speed, and new fitness features like the exclusive trail run mode with real-time hydration guidance. It also covers smartwatch functionalities such as the hands-free Gemini assistant and updates to the user interface and Samsung Health app.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering notable improvements for both everyday wear and intense activities. It feels much nicer and thinner on the wrist compared to the original Ultra, enhancing comfort for sleep tracking. The display's brightness reaches an astounding 5,000 nits, ensuring visibility in all conditions, which is 2,000 nits brighter than the Apple Watch Ultra 3. The primary drawback is its slow charging speed, taking over an hour to reach 100% from 15-20%. If you prioritize extreme display brightness, improved comfort, and advanced outdoor fitness features like real-time hydration guidance, this watch is an excellent choice. However, if fast charging is a critical requirement for your daily routine, you might find its charge time frustrating.
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hands_on_demopositivet=00:46–00:54
The reviewer states the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 feels much nicer to wear on the wrist than the original Ultra. It is thinner, which makes it better for everyday wear and sleep tracking.
specification_claimpositivet=00:54–01:03
The display receives a huge upgrade, now reaching 5,000 nits, which is compared to the brightness of an outdoor billboard.
comparisonneutralt=01:03–01:10
For comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the regular Galaxy Watch 9 both reach 3,000 nits, making the Ultra 2 significantly brighter.
reviewer_claimpositivet=01:17–01:25
The reviewer assures that the display will be visible in all weather conditions, and notes that the display angles and off-axis viewing are "pretty good."
hands_on_demoneutralt=01:26–01:36
The watch retains the Samsung touch bezel, allowing users to navigate the interface and change volume by running a finger around the screen's rim.
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An action button on the side can be programmed to launch any app, function as a siren in emergencies, or perform various actions during a workout.
hands_on_demopositivet=01:54–02:02
The reviewer demonstrates that bands from the original Ultra can be used on the new watch due to the same dynamic lug system.
reviewer_claimpositivet=02:02–02:18
The shift from Exynos to Snapdragon Wear chipset has resulted in noticeable performance improvements, including faster startup times and a more responsive interface.
measurement_testpositivet=02:30–02:42
Over a few days of testing, the reviewer achieved a maximum of two full days or 48 hours of use on a single charge, with the always-on display active, one or two GPS workouts, and sleep tracking.
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A notable downside is the slow charging time; even with a fast wall charger, it takes well over an hour to charge to 100% from 15-20% remaining.
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The watch features a large battery capacity of 800 milliampere hours, which is significant compared to the original Ultra.
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The Ultra 2 offers an exclusive trail run mode within the workout app, enabling GPX route imports, real-time elevation tracking, and turn-by-turn navigation.
hands_on_demopositivet=03:34–03:55
The watch provides new real-time hydration guidance during a trail run, notifying the user to rehydrate based on sweat loss. The reviewer received an alert in her ears during a run, confirming it works.
hands_on_demopositivet=03:59–04:26
Gemini now works by simply raising the wrist, requiring no wake word or button presses. It is fast, responsive, and particularly useful when hands are full, similar to the Pixel Watch 4.
visual_inspectionpositivet=04:32–04:47
The reviewer states that the visual interface is the nicest Galaxy Watch interface she's tried, blending Android's Material 3 with Samsung's One UI. The Samsung Health app also received a significant visual redesign, making it easier to read.
The reviewer states the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 feels much nicer and is thinner than the original Ultra, making it better for daily wear and sleep tracking due to its reduced bulk.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features a display that goes up to 5,000 nits, which is a significant upgrade. This is brighter than the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the regular Galaxy Watch 9, both at 3,000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility in all weather conditions and good off-axis viewing.
The reviewer confirms that bands from the original Galaxy Watch Ultra are compatible with the new Ultra 2, as it utilizes the same dynamic lug system. She demonstrates this compatibility in the video.
The reviewer is excited about the shift from an Exynos to a Snapdragon Wear chipset, noting significant performance improvements in areas like startup time and overall interface responsiveness during her week of testing.
In early testing, the reviewer achieved up to 48 hours of total use on a single charge. This included having the always-on display active, one or two GPS workouts, and sleep tracking. She notes that full battery calibration takes time, and more testing with cellular use is pending.
The Ultra 2 introduces an exclusive trail run mode that supports GPX route imports, real-time elevation tracking, and turn-by-turn navigation. It also includes a new real-time hydration guidance feature that alerts users to rehydrate based on sweat loss during a run, which the reviewer successfully tested.
Gemini on the Ultra 2 can be activated simply by raising your wrist, eliminating the need for a wake word or button presses. The reviewer notes it is fast and responsive, similar to the Pixel Watch 4, and particularly useful when hands are full for tasks like sending messages or changing music.
85/100 source quality
Lexy Savvides offers her initial thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 following a week of use, noting several key upgrades. The watch is described as thinner and more comfortable, boasting a 5,000-nit display for superior visibility in all conditions. Performance is improved thanks to the new Snapdragon Wear chipset. New features include an exclusive trail run mode with real-time hydration guidance and a hands-free Gemini voice assistant. While early battery tests show up to two days of use, the charging speed is noted as slow, with a full battery review pending.
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This page converts Lexy Savvides's review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
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