Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Review: Bigger Battery, Snapdragon Wear Elite and Pro‑Level Dive Tracking

When Samsung first teased the next‑gen Galaxy Watch Ultra, the buzz centered on its titanium chassis and that familiar orange action button. The final product, unveiled on 21 July 2026, lives up to the hype – and then some.

At first glance the Ultra 2 feels familiar: a 47 mm round case in titanium‑gray or titanium‑silver, the rotating orange ring on the crown, and a sleek silicone sport band that’s 1.9 mm thinner and about a quarter lighter than its predecessor. But underneath the polished exterior Samsung has made three big moves that could change how you think about a smartwatch.

More juice, slimmer profile. The battery jumps from 590 mAh to 800 mAh – roughly a 35 % increase – while the watch actually gets 12 % thinner, now sitting at 10.7 mm. In everyday use that translates to an extra few hours of GPS‑heavy workouts and, frankly, less anxiety about scrambling for a charger after a day on the trail.

Snapdragon Wear Elite. Samsung finally parts with its own Exynos W‑series and adopts Qualcomm’s 3 nm Snapdragon Wear Elite (SW6100). Samsung claims a 32 % uplift in CPU performance and 19 % more GPU horsepower. In real‑world terms the UI feels snappier, animation smoother, and the new health algorithms – especially the Vitals early‑warning system – respond faster.

Professional dive tracking. Thanks to a two‑year exclusivity deal with Mares, the Ultra 2 can function as a bona‑fide dive computer. Depth, water temperature and dive time are displayed in real time, but you’ll need the separate Mares app for the full suite of features. The watch also carries an IP69K rating, 10 ATM pressure resistance and EN 13319 certification, meaning it’s built to the same standards as dedicated diving gear.

Beyond the headline specs Samsung has layered a raft of niche features. The Vitals system monitors heart rate, HRV, skin temperature, SpO₂ and respiratory rate, using a seven‑night sleep calibration to generate early‑warning alerts – not a medical diagnostic tool, but handy for spotting trends. The Fitness Index scores you across five domains (body composition, cardio, strength, flexibility, endurance) and dishes out weekly training suggestions.

Trail runners will appreciate the new route‑tracking mode, complete with turn‑by‑turn cues, elevation data and a hydration‑alert that estimates fluid loss. The feature only works on Android 13+ paired with Samsung Health 7.0 or newer, but for those who log miles it’s a thoughtful addition.

Price‑wise the LTE version starts at €749 in Europe, which puts it squarely in the premium bracket. The higher‑capacity battery and rugged certifications justify much of the cost, especially if you’re a diver or an outdoor enthusiast who can actually use the specialized functions.

All things considered, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 feels less like a modest upgrade and more like a purposeful redesign. Bigger battery, faster chip, professional‑grade dive tracking – Samsung is clearly aiming to stake its claim in the high‑end wear‑ables arena, and it does so with a device that feels both familiar and freshly capable.