Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2 review
Design and build
Looks-wise, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 isn't much different from its predecessor. In fact, nearly all design traits have been ported to the newer Ultra, including the somewhat divisive "squirkle" design language. You get a perfect circle for the display, but it sits atop a square-ish body with oval corners.
The highlight feature of this year's design is the chassis' thickness. It's now down from 12.1mm to 10.7mm. It may sound trivial on paper, but the watch feels way more compact now. And that's despite the generous 35% increase in battery capacity. Even the weight stays relatively the same - 61.5 grams.
No changes to the high-quality build itself, though. The Watch Ultra2 has a sapphire crystal front panel, a back panel made of ceramic and sapphire and a grade 4 titanium frame. And although there's no rotating ring, the static bezel around the display is slightly protruding, which protects the display from minor scrapes when you bump into random objects. That's not a given with today's smartwatch designs.
In addition to the premium materials, the watch now bags a few extra standards. The Watch Ultra2 now complies not just with the IP69 and 10ATM standards, but with the IP69K as well. The 40-meter swimproof EN13319 is a novelty and complements the already existing MIL-STD-810H military standard.
EN13319 is a European standard that ensures the device will remain functional, not just survive, at a depth of at least 40 meters. Samsung has made sure the watch can function as a standalone dive computer by taking accurate depth and pressure measurements. The display remains readable underwater, and all sensors and buttons remain functional.
Enough about ratings, let's talk style. Unlike the original Galaxy Watch Ultra, the Ultra2 comes only in two color options - Titanium Silver and Titanium Gray. The one you see in our pictures is the Silver option.
When it comes to bands, Samsung has worked on those, too. The default Marine band is softer and 25% lighter than before. It also has a titanium buckle. However, despite its sub-2.0 mm thickness, the band felt somewhat rough and tight no matter how loose we tied it. The older soft-touch silicone band was nicer.
Luckily, Samsung ships the watch with two other styles - Peakform and Trail. The former is made of soft-touch fabric and rubber (feels and looks a lot like the Galaxy Watch8 Classic's default band), while the Trail variant is entirely made of fabric. It can be granularly adjusted.
Of course, all bands are available in various colors.
Speaking of the straps, the chassis has a dynamic lug system that seamlessly integrates the band into the chassis. With the press of a small button, you can release the strap and change it. It's an easy and convenient way to swap out straps, but it comes at a cost - standard straps won't fit here. The strap is 22mm in width, but the attachment to the watch is entirely custom. Maybe third-party strap adapters will become available, or maybe not.
We had no issues when it comes to controls and navigation. We do miss the rotating bezel at times, but Samsung provides a "touch bezel" functionality, which allows you to navigate by swiping your finger around the edge of the display. It's convenient at times, but your fingertip will often get in the way of the contents on the screen, defeating the purpose of having a rotating bezel for navigation.
Admittedly, the haptic motor provides excellent feedback, and it's almost as if you are rotating a real wheel around the screen. It's just not as precise, and you can easily overcompensate sometimes when navigating. The hardware "click" provides better precision and feedback.
Anyway, we digress. Not all of us here at GSMArena miss the Galaxy Watch Classic's rotating bezel; you are free to choose your side as you please.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra tries to make up for the lack of hardware bezel with an additional button called Quick Button. It debuted with the previous Ultra. It's designed to make a quick action or start a workout without having to touch the display at all. Switching between activities is also made easier.
The Quick Button is flanked by the standard Home and Back buttons, but we feel they are crammed up too close to the Quick Button. You might notice that your finger naturally reaches for the corner of the frame, missing the Home or the Back buttons, which are directly placed on the side.
