Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7: First Impressions & Hands-On

Both the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Watch 7 made their grand debut at the Samsung Unpacked event in Paris, perfectly timed with the upcoming Summer Olympics. Editorji attended the mega event and got a first look at these much-anticipated wearables. Here's how they stack up against each other.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Price and availability

The Galaxy Watch Ultra, designed as a premium wearable, is priced at around $700. It's a solid $100 less than the Apple Watch Ultra 2, but quite a bit more than the standard Galaxy Watch, which starts at $229 for the smaller, Bluetooth-only version.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Design

Now, let's talk design. The Galaxy Watch Ultra sports a square case with rounded corners, a circular display protected by sapphire glass, and a titanium front. It’s been almost a decade since Samsung did anything square, and this feels like a fresh, bold move. It's rugged yet stylish – definitely an eye-catcher.

The Galaxy Watch 7 keeps it classic with a circular design and an aluminum armor front. The Ultra comes in one size – a hefty 47mm, available in titanium gray, silver, and white. Meanwhile, the Watch 7 sticks to the traditional 40mm and 44mm sizes, with some cool colors like green, cream, and silver.

Both models have right-side controls with two buttons sandwiching a crown, which makes navigation super intuitive.
For durability, the Watch 7 features 5ATM + IP68 water resistance and MIL-STD-810H certification. The Ultra takes it further with 10ATM + IP68 water resistance, MIL-STD-810H certification, and is suitable for ocean swimming. It also guarantees operation in extreme temperatures and altitudes.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Display and battery life

Both watches boast Super AMOLED screens. The Ultra's 1.5-inch display is the same size as the 44mm Watch 7's, while the 40mm Watch 7 has a slightly smaller 1.3-inch screen but with a higher pixel density of 330 ppi, compared to the Ultra's 327 ppi. The screens are vibrant and sharp – perfect for any outdoor or indoor use.

Under the hood, these babies are powered by the new Exynos W1000 chipset, promising faster processing and longer battery life. The 40mm Watch 7 packs a 300 mAh battery, the 44mm version has a 425 mAh cell, and the Ultra takes it up a notch with a 590 mAh battery. I heard it could last up to 100 hours on a single charge! We will try to test that in our upcoming Galaxy Watch Ultra review.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Features

Both models come with Wear OS 5 and Samsung's One UI Watch 6, based on Android 14. They're the first wearables to feature this new OS. Plus, they offer Sleep apnea detection which sounds amazing.

The new OS brings nifty improvements like a pinch gesture, faster horizontal scrolling, and better health tracking. Custom workout routines and new screen wake-up modes are also on board. These features are available across both watches – no exclusives for the Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Samsung Galaxy Ring compatibility

We also got a peek at the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which is designed to work hand-in-hand with the new watches. This ring tracks heart rate, sleep quality, blood flow, and blood oxygen saturation. It integrates seamlessly with the watches, providing a comprehensive health tracking experience.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: First impressions

Our first impressions of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra are mostly positive. Its rugged, premium design and advanced features make it a standout in the market. If these initial experiences hold up, the Galaxy Watch Ultra could be a game-changer. Long-term use will reveal its true potential, but for now, it's off to a fantastic start.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 offers a familiar yet refined experience. Initial hands-on experiences suggest that Samsung could have another hit with the Watch 7. Time and daily use will ultimately determine its success, but the outlook is very promising.

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