Samsung let me down with the Galaxy Watch Ultra

I used to be one of many few Samsung Galaxy Extremely defenders earlier than its launch. The early leaked photos had some protecting their kids’s eyes, however I gazed on, intrigued by the quirky styling. In my authentic opinion piece, I said that Samsung’s “chunky and brutish styling” might theoretically enable extra room to innovate. Nonetheless, the brand new ultra-expensive Samsung wearable hasn’t finished a lot to maximise its divisive design. And if something, I’ve been left disillusioned by an overpriced smartwatch that doesn’t deliver something revolutionary to my wrist.

A number of weeks earlier than its debut, I wrote that Samsung’s thrilling new design and thicker physique might enable for extra progressive packaging, together with area for a bigger battery and a number of further package. After all, this was nicely earlier than any tangible particulars of the system had been accessible. Nonetheless, Samsung has opted for a extra conservative strategy than I had hoped, which doesn’t maximize the design’s potential.

Regardless of its revised design, it makes use of the identical dimension battery because the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional and the identical dimension show because the Galaxy Watch 6 Basic — two older, cheaper, and extra approachable smartwatches.

Samsung would argue that the brand new Extremely design permits for a theoretically indestructible smartwatch because of its grade 4 titanium shell and protecting show bumpers. Except you propose a trek up Everest or a dive alongside the Nice Barrier Reef, you’ll by no means check the watch’s 10ATM sturdiness or altitude/temperature credentials. If something, the extra excessive customers this watch is attempting to draw will seemingly go for specialised tools. The shortage of a significant battery capability improve and broader show to match the bigger dial disappoints basic customers like me.

Past its divisive pores and skin, many of the Galaxy Watch Extremely’s core new options are software-based, making the {hardware} largely redundant. Granted, it contains a third button, an emergency siren, extra LEDs for higher well being monitoring, and a brand new strap fastening system. Nonetheless, most customers will achieve extra tangible advantages from Put on OS 5, which is able to land on Samsung’s older watches in the end.

Moreover, it shares its internals with the cheaper Galaxy Watch 7. Most new options, together with Vitality Rating, sleep apnea monitoring, and Galaxy AI-powered options, will nonetheless require a Galaxy smartphone, making upgrading a fruitless prospect for different Android telephone customers.

Extra importantly — and because the most obvious strike in opposition to the Extremely — its upgrades aren’t definitely worth the steep asking value. At $649, the Galaxy Watch Extremely is the costliest Samsung smartwatch, dwarfing its predecessors by a whole bunch of {dollars}.

In case you can’t quantify that quantity, right here’s a extra tangible comparability. You should buy two Galaxy Watch 7 fashions for $50 lower than one Galaxy Watch Extremely. You can even buy the Galaxy Ring and one Galaxy Watch 7 for simply $50 greater than the Extremely. And right here’s the actual kicker: I should buy a Galaxy S24 Plus in South Africa for a similar value because the Galaxy Watch Extremely. This received’t be true in each area, nevertheless it demonstrates how inflated the smartwatch’s value is.

The Galaxy Watch 7 ought to present the identical core expertise, with the identical chipset, the identical software program and health monitoring smarts, and the identical Galaxy AI options at a a lot lower cost. The 44mm mannequin additionally shares its show with the Galaxy Watch Extremely. I’d even argue that the important thing variations between the 2 fashions, specifically the titanium construct, the bigger battery, and the third button, aren’t that vital both.

In order for you a rugged Samsung smartwatch, seize a Galaxy Watch 7 and slap a case on it. You’ll save a whole bunch. Satirically, looking numerous boards this week, I’ve seen so many customers shrouding their Galaxy Watch Extremely in a case anyway.

I’ve argued that the Galaxy Watch 5 Professional can be a a lot smarter funding in the event you’re on the lookout for an outside smartwatch with extra endurance and sturdiness. Though it’s two years older and has dated {hardware}, the wearable makes much more monetary sense.

This brings me to my remaining level: the Galaxy Watch Extremely lacks a transparent identification.

Regardless of its sturdiness badges, it isn’t an excessive outside watch or an easy-wear smartwatch. It sits in an ungainly center floor between the 2. It’s competing with the Apple Watch Extremely however can’t pair with iPhones. It’s adopted stylings from Garmin, however it may’t maintain a candle to its health monitoring metrics or battery life.

Samsung markets the Extremely as a troublesome, impact-ready smartwatch with Galaxy AI smarts, however all meaning is it’s a Galaxy Watch 7 in an armored shell. Sure, the smartwatch options give the Galaxy Extremely a leg up in opposition to its Apple and Garmin rivals. Nonetheless, these options aren’t distinctive to the Samsung smartwatch line.

Not like its Extremely smartphone line, Samsung’s Extremely watch doesn’t stretch the boundaries of options and design as I hoped it will. I wish to imagine that Samsung is planning sweeping upgrades sooner or later and that this iterative improve is just a part of its bigger plan. Maybe I anticipated an excessive amount of and noticed a putting design with massive prospects. Both means, what Samsung is promoting has left me wanting extra or demanding a extra cheap value.