I tested the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Samsung just delivered an engineering masterclass

I spent a few days with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to see how Samsung crammed high-end specs into a far more comfortable watch.

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I tested the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: Samsung just delivered an engineering masterclass
The Watch Ultra 2 has a real personality to it | Image by PhoneArena
The new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 feels like a triumph of Samsung engineering. The company has somehow managed to fit a 35% bigger battery in a form factor that is thinner.

At the same time, we still have the cool and unique squircle design that Samsung introduced last year, and finally, a Snapdragon chip inside.

It almost looks like Samsung found everyone's checklist of all the flaws of the Ultra 1 and... fixed them all.

I have now been testing the new watch for a few days, but before I give you my final review, here is a look at the new design, that I think Samsung finally got right.

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The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is made of premium materials: it uses titanium for the front and back of the body, and it uses sapphire crystal.


The Ultra 2 is slightly thinner than before, but that small difference is really noticeable. The lighter and thinner band makes a huge difference for comfort.


There are three buttons on the side. The top button takes you back to the watch face, the middle button is customizable (it defaults to the exercise screen), and the bottom button acts as a back button.


The bezel now has hour markings, but it does NOT rotate (like on the Galaxy Watch Classic series).


With a wrist size of around 170mm, I just could not wear the first-gen Ultra because of its bulky size. The Ultra 2 feels much better, despite still being a large watch.

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I used the Marine watch band. This is a breathable silicone band designed for all day adventure, so it's great for more extreme sports.


Samsung also sells the Peakformband band, which is more suitable for the office or bigger events, like a wedding. This band features a more classic style that mimics leather.


I also really like the fabric Trail band. It's stretchy and light, plus it is easy to adjust and very comfortable, great for all day and night wear.


It's easy to swap bands. Samsung uses a proprietary system here: just press the button to detach a band.


Samsung has also gotten little details right, and the Watch Ultra 2 looks incredibly sturdy.


There seems to be no change in the BioActive sensor, though.


There is a speaker on the left side of the watch. You can, of course, use it to take calls and listen to Gemini responses.


My full review of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is coming next week. Stay tuned to find out how it actually performs and whether that new battery size actually makes a difference.

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