Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Early Reviews Are In: Should You Pre-Order at $699? (2026)
Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 at Unpacked two days ago, and the first wave of reviews is in. The consensus is remarkable: publications from T3 to Trusted Reviews to The Shortcut are calling it Samsung's best smartwatch ever — and a genuine threat to the Apple Watch Ultra 3. But at $699, it's also the most expensive Samsung watch ever made. Here's what reviewers found, what the pre-order deals look like, and whether you should commit now or wait.
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
$699, 5,000 nits, Snapdragon Wear Elite, 800mAh battery. Pre-order now, ships Aug 7.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
From $640 on Amazon. 3,000 nits, S10 chip, satellite SOS.
Our Take
The best Android smartwatch ever made. Pre-order with deals to bring the effective price under $500.
What Do Early Reviews Say About the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
Every major review highlights the same three improvements: it's thinner, brighter, and faster. The Ultra 2 is 12% thinner at 10.7mm and 26% lighterthan the original Ultra, making it significantly more comfortable for all-day and overnight wear. T3 called the weight reduction “immediately noticeable” in hand.
The 5,000-nit peak brightness is the headline spec, and reviewers confirm it's transformative outdoors. The Shortcut noted it's “brighter than even your smartphone and even your TV,” making maps, workout data, and notifications effortlessly readable in direct sunlight. For comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 maxes out at 3,000 nits.
The Snapdragon Wear Elitechip gets universal praise. Built on a 3nm process with a dedicated NPU, it delivers noticeably faster app launches and smoother multitasking. The Shortcut called it “the biggest wearable chip upgrade we've seen in three years.” The dedicated Hexagon NPU powers Samsung's on-device AI features without draining the battery.
How Does It Compare to the Apple Watch Ultra 3?
Reviewers specifically note the Ultra 2 “finally stands toe-to-toe with the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and in some key areas, outright surpasses it.” Here's how they compare:
- Display: Ultra 2 wins — 5,000 nits vs 3,000 nits
- Battery: Ultra 2's 800mAh is 35% larger, with early testers reporting multi-day life
- Health sensors: Ultra 2 has three experimental sensors (AGEs, Antioxidant, Vascular Load) Apple can't match
- Connectivity: Ultra 2 has 5G RedCap; Apple Watch Ultra 3 has LTE and satellite SOS
- Chip: Snapdragon Wear Elite vs Apple S10 — both are excellent, different architectures
- Ecosystem: Apple Watch is better for iPhone users; Ultra 2 is better for Android/Samsung users
- Price: Ultra 2 at $699 vs Ultra 3 at $640 on Amazon — $60 more for Samsung
What Are the Best Pre-Order Deals?
The $699 sticker price is steep, but pre-order deals can cut it significantly:
- Samsung.com: Up to $250 in instant trade-in credit + $100 instant credit without trade-in. With a good trade-in, the Ultra 2 can drop to ~$449.
- Amazon: Pre-order includes a $100 gift card, bringing the effective price to $599.
- Bundle deal: Adding a Galaxy Z Fold 8 to the same Samsung cart saves up to $300 on the Ultra 2.
If you don't need the Ultra's rugged design, the Galaxy Watch 9 at $379.99has the same Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and Galaxy AI health features in a more compact package. It ships August 5 — two days before the Ultra 2.
Should You Pre-Order or Wait?
Pre-order now if:You're an Android user who wants the absolute best smartwatch available, you want the experimental health sensors, you value outdoor visibility (5,000 nits), or you have a trade-in that brings the price under $500. The pre-order deals are the best pricing you'll see until Black Friday.
Wait if: You're an iPhone user (get the Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead), you want to see 4–8 week battery and health sensor accuracy reviews, or you're considering the Apple Watch Ultra 4 expected in September.
Our recommendation:The early reviews are strong enough to pre-order with confidence. Samsung clearly addressed the original Ultra's two biggest criticisms — thickness and weight — while adding a generational chip upgrade and unmatched health sensors. At the effective post-deal price of $449–$599, the Ultra 2 is competitive with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and offers more hardware innovation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 worth $699?
Based on early reviews, yes — if you're an Android user who wants the most advanced smartwatch available. The 5,000-nit display, Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, experimental health sensors, and 5G connectivity offer features no other smartwatch matches. With pre-order deals, the effective price can drop to $449–$599. If you don't need the rugged design or experimental sensors, the Galaxy Watch 9 at $379.99 is a better value.
How does the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 compare to Apple Watch Ultra 3?
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 beats the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in display brightness (5,000 vs 3,000 nits), has three experimental health sensors Apple doesn't offer (AGEs, Antioxidant, Vascular Load), includes 5G RedCap connectivity, and has a larger 800mAh battery. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has better iPhone integration, satellite SOS, a more mature app ecosystem, and is $60 cheaper at $640 on Amazon.
When does the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 ship?
Pre-orders are open now. Shipping begins August 7, 2026. Samsung, Amazon, and Best Buy are all accepting pre-orders with various deals and bundle discounts.
What pre-order deals are available for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
Samsung offers up to $250 in trade-in credit plus a $100 instant credit without trade-in. Amazon includes a $100 gift card. Bundling with a Galaxy Z Fold 8 pre-order can save up to $300. These deals can bring the effective price as low as $449 with a good trade-in.
Does the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 work with iPhone?
No. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 requires an Android phone running Android 11 or later with the Galaxy Wearable app. It does not support iPhone pairing. iPhone users should consider the Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead.