Samsung’s answer to the Apple Watch Ultra series, the uniquely named Galaxy Watch Ultra, debuted almost two years ago exactly, and if recent Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 rumors prove to be true, we should get our first look at its successor in just a few weeks; Samsung has a Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for July 22nd.
The original Galaxy Watch Ultra remains one of the best smartwatches for Android users in 2026. It’s the leader of the pack in display size, battery life, and durability, but there is room for improvement.
I’ve tested both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 3 extensively, including in a head-to-head fitness-tracking showdown. OS and holistic tech aside, I prefer the design of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to the Galaxy Watch Ultra for several key reasons.
With that in mind, here are three improvements that would make the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 more competitive against — and even beat — the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
1. Slim down the case size
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is one chunky smartwatch. While the specs would lead you to believe it’s essentially the same thickness as the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (~12 mm), that official measurement isn’t telling the whole story.
Sure, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is about 12 mm thick at the very edge of the case; I just measured it using a caliper. However, at the center of the case, where the sensor array protrudes, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is closer to 16 mm thick. The Apple Watch Ultra 3, meanwhile, measures a little over 14 mm thick at the center of the case.
Both watches weigh about the same, but the Galaxy Watch Ultra wears significantly larger on my 6.5-inch wrist. This is not only due to the extra ~2 mm of thickness but also to its square case shape, which makes it roughly 3 mm wider than the Ultra 3. That said, the Apple is a little taller.
Ultimately, a slimmer, narrower case design would go a long way toward convincing me to consider the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 over the Apple Watch Ultra 3; shave off a little weight, and I’m even more sold.
2. Bump up battery life to three days or more
In full smartwatch mode (i.e., with no battery-saving options enabled), the Galaxy Watch Ultra lasts roughly two days per charge in our testing. The Apple Watch Ultra 3, on the other hand, lasts about 42 hours per charge, on average, just under the two-day mark.
For the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, Samsung would be wise to double down on its battery life advantage and push the advertised rating to three days or more per charge. After all, Apple Watch Ultra 4 rumors also hint at a potential battery life bump, though we don't know for certain if such a model will debut this fall or not.
3. Improve water resistance for diving
Whether you’re a hardcore watersport enthusiast or not, the fact that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rated for scuba diving, with all sorts of tools to boot, definitely gives users some unique bragging rights.
Sadly, despite having the same 100-meter water-resistance rating, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is explicitly not designed for extended underwater use. This means deep-sea diving and even snorkeling are out of the question.
It also means that high-impact water sports, like water skiing or riding jet skis, are also ill-advised. Bummer!
There is, of course, only one way to correct course: Samsung needs the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 to be fully dive-ready, water-resistance-wise, while also including a set of comprehensive dive-friendly tools equal to or better than Apple's.
What are your thoughts on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2? Is there one feature or upgrade in particular you’re hoping for the most? Let me know in the poll or comments below.
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