The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra Review
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is a feature-packed smartwatch that has the potential to be the ultimate fitness companion, particularly for runners. With the recent boom of AI, Samsung brings a new era of AI-powered health and fitness through Galaxy AI.
Here’s an in-depth look at my experience using the watch:
Design, Build and Comfort:
Athleisure is a thing now, and with a sleek and premium aesthetic, the Galaxy Watch Ultra does not disappoint. It boasts of being able to withstand up to 55°C heat, 9,000m altitude, and 10ATM water pressure, so running with it for long periods of time under the heat of the sun or amidst the pouring rain was no problem at all. With a massive display, it’s larger than most smartwatches, but with its cushion design and dynamic lug system, the watch feels comfortable on the wrist even during intense workouts.
User tip: Samsung offers different straps, I personally liked the Trail Band. It’s lightweight, breathable and the most comfortable.
Display and Interface
I particularly enjoyed the Galaxy Watch Ultra’s huge display. As a runner who doesn’t have the best vision, I can easily see my stats even when I’m running at a higher pace. With a new and powerful 3nm processor, the watch was very responsive and a breeze to navigate. Also, very helpful was a quick “show in phone” button whenever I wanted to view my data in the phone app.
Galaxy AI is here: Your new running coach!
As a beginner runner, the running era can be overwhelming. How do I start? How far and how fast should I run? How much rest should I be getting? The Galaxy Watch Ultra uses Galaxy AI to guide you whether you’re a beginner or an elite athlete. Over the week, here are some of the AI features that I believe can optimize your running journey:
Personalized Heart Rate Zones: HR Zones help you train smarter, not harder. The watch intelligently tracks your workouts and depending on your heart rate data, gives you your personal HR zones. This information ensures you’re working out at the right intensity, whether it’s time for an easy run, or a grueling speed session.
Adaptive Workout Coaching: Galaxy AI learns from your workout history, providing personalized coaching tips based on your progress. After a week of running, since I’ve mostly been running easy, the watch suggested that I do interval training based on my pace trends and stamina levels. AI dynamically adjusts workout suggestions based on your performance, and each session you complete will push you towards your running goals.
Dual-band GPS: The Galaxy Watch Ultra’s dual-band GPS tracking is impressively accurate, aided by Galaxy AI-powered path correction. If you haven’t planned your route and just ran without a specific destination in mind, when you’re ready to head back home, it can navigate you safely with the track back feature.
Intelligent Health Monitoring: Samsung Health has long been doing heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and ECG for years now, but the new Galaxy AI takes it further by offering predictive insights. After seven days of sleep wearing the watch, it identified patterns in my sleep cycle and recommended bedtime adjustments. It even presented breathing exercises to improve sleep quality. As a runner, this helps me focus not only on my workouts and run sessions, but on my overall well-being, making me healthier and stronger.
Advanced Metrics: For runners, AI integrates VO2 max tracking, calculating your optimal recovery times based on workout intensity. It also tells you when you’re overtrained, advising when to take it easy, which is critical to avoid injury, and for long-term endurance. If you’re a data nerd like me, the Galaxy Watch Ultra also offers advanced features like cadence and stride length analysis. This is helpful as I try to improve my running form and efficiency.
Daily Routines and Assistance: The Galaxy Watch Ultra recognizes and adapts to daily patterns. It was a pleasant surprise for me when I was sitting for a long period of time, and the watch tells me it’s “time to move.” These gentle reminders can help you stretch out your limbs and be more active when you tend to be stagnant. It also provides subtle nudges for hydration after intense runs, and curates recommended workouts based on your schedule. It even predicts when you’ll likely need a weather update before a planned outdoor run (as there was a typhoon during my first week with the watch) and provides it ahead of time.
Final Thoughts
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is an amazing watch as it is, but I think Galaxy AI is the game changer. It gives you a literal fitness “companion”. AI makes the watch smarter, more intuitive, and more tailored to individual needs. It learns from your behavior, adjusts features based on your habits, and offers insights that make a tangible difference in both fitness and daily life. It’s a fitness coach, assistant, and friend rolled into one!
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that will guide you towards your running and fitness goals, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is an excellent choice. Its blend of smart adaptability, sleek and premium design, and accurate fitness tracking makes it a standout option for anyone serious about their health and performance. Galaxy AI is here, and it’s only going to get better.
We tested the personalized HR zones of Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. The watch uses advanced AI to analyze your heart rate data and tailors the zones specifically to your fitness level and goals.
Check out the video here:
About The Author
ChicksNiManok
Que Gavan, known as ChicksNiManok in the running community, is the better half of the brains behind Takbo.ph (registered and managed by Runningpeak Event Management and Services). You can also read more of her homeschool family adventures in FilipinoHomeschooler(dot)com.