Galaxy Watch Ultra 2: a clear break from previous Ultra models
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 marks a clear departure from earlier Ultra models: brighter, more enduring and more rugged, it combines several hardware and software upgrades that set it apart from the 2025 Ultra despite a similar design.
Key gains vs. the original Ultra
– Brighter, slightly larger display: 5,000 nits vs. 3,000 nits and 1.52″ vs. 1.50″.
– New SoC: Snapdragon Wear Elite SW6100 replacing the Exynos W1000.
– Much bigger battery: 800 mAh silicon‑carbon cell vs. 590 mAh Li‑Ion.
Together these changes yield a watch that is more powerful, more readable in sunlight and built for longer endurance.
Display, performance and battery
The Ultra 2 raises peak brightness to 5,000 nits, improving outdoor legibility, and adds a marginal 0.02‑inch increase in diagonal. The switch to the Snapdragon Wear Elite promises a meaningful performance uplift over the Exynos W1000. Battery capacity jumps from 590 mAh to 800 mAh using a silicon‑carbon cell — a hardware choice that should deliver noticeable runtime gains, though Samsung has not specified exact hours of use.
Design and increased durability
Visually close to its predecessor, the Ultra 2 is nevertheless slimmer (10.7 mm vs. 12.1 mm). The included strap is updated to a softer “Marine Band” that’s 26% lighter and 1 mm thinner. Protection is stepped up as well: IP69K versus the older model’s IP68, plus EN13319 certification that makes the watch “dive‑ready” — a first for the Ultra line.
Connectivity, OS and health features
The watch adopts newer radio standards — Wi‑Fi 6 and Bluetooth 6 compared with Wi‑Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.3 on the 2025 Ultra. It ships with Wear OS 7 and One UI Watch 9; the 2025 model will get One UI Watch 9 via OTA but is unlikely to receive the same length of platform support (Ultra 2 promises five major OS updates vs. four for the earlier unit). Samsung Health is also expanding: Trail Run is coming, and a diving app developed with Mares will arrive later in the year.
Pricing, formats and availability
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is offered in a single size (47 mm) and a single connectivity option (LTE). Preorders opened on July 22 at $699 / €749 before trade‑ins and promotions — roughly $50 more than the 2025 model.
Bottom line
By combining a brighter screen, a new chip, a larger battery, tougher certification and modernized connectivity, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is a tangible upgrade over the previous Ultra: targeted improvements that reinforce its premium positioning without overturning the established design.
