Square 'Gal Watch Ultra' shows fast response speed... Tried wearing it and went to Dobongsan [Review]

First Square Frame on Watch Series
Quick Buttons on the Side for Fast Access to Desired Functions
Weighs 28.8g but Improved Response Speed
Includes Sleep Apnea Measurement and AGEs Features

When you think of the ‘Galaxy Watch Ultra,’ the first thing that comes to mind is the square bezel of the watch display. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is the first in the watch series to feature a round watch face inside a cushion-shaped square bezel. Upon receiving the Titanium Gray color and opening the box, the square bezel was the first thing I noticed. As a user of the round-bezel Galaxy Watch 4, the unfamiliar appearance immediately caught my eye. Additionally, new features such as sleep apnea and advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which were not seen in previous watch series, were added.

I wore the Galaxy Watch Ultra and climbed Dobongsan Mountain. Sitting on Madangbawi Rock, I checked the measured values on the watch, and the screen was clearly visible even under sunlight. Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

To experience how changes in appearance and functions feel in daily life, I wore the Galaxy Watch Ultra all day for a week from the 24th to the 30th of last month. From sleep management and health metric measurements to hiking Dobongsan Mountain, I spent time with the Watch Ultra.

Sturdy but heavy and large... Response speed improved

With triathlon exercise measurement functions included, the design is optimized for outdoor activities. Thinking back to when I used the previous round watch, the bezel almost matched the watch face, and I had broken the tempered glass a few times during daily use, so the risk seems somewhat reduced. The side buttons increased by one compared to previous watch series. There is now a Quick Button. You can quickly execute desired functions with a single or double click, depending on the settings.

The Titanium Gray color of the Galaxy Watch Ultra comes with an orange band. You can detach the band by pressing the button on the back of the display.
Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The Titanium Gray color comes with an orange Marine Band. To attach the strap, press and hold the buttons at both ends on the back of the watch face and insert the strap into the slot. This is much easier than the sliding strap attachment method used in the Watch 4.

The wearing sensation is as heavy as it looks. Adding 28.8g makes the activity feel slightly sluggish compared to the arm without the watch, strongly reminding you that you are wearing a watch. For those with slender wrists, the 44mm watch face covers the entire wrist, making the strap barely visible and giving the impression that the watch is just resting on the wrist. If you have a thin wrist, it might be better to use the Watch 7 40mm model rather than the Watch Ultra.

The response speed of the Galaxy Watch Ultra showed a much-improved performance compared to previous models. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The watch’s response speed has definitely improved. When using the previous Watch 4, there was sometimes a lag when tapping an application (app) or swiping the screen, which was frustrating, but with the Watch Ultra, the input is immediately reflected on the screen.

From sleep apnea measurement to hiking... Your daily health assistant

To measure sleep apnea, the watch must be worn above the wrist, not on the wrist itself. The photo shows a message guiding the use of the sleep apnea function. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

When I tried to measure sleep apnea, which is the first time this feature has been included in the watch series, it required two days of sleep records. The advanced glycation end products index also had to be measured during sleep, so the results were not immediately available. To measure sleep apnea, the watch must be worn higher on the wrist so that the wrist bone does not touch the watch. Although the weight felt lighter than when worn on the wrist, the strong presence of the weight was uncomfortable when lying down and looking at the phone.

Energy score, advanced glycation end products index, and sleep apnea measurement results (from left), measured with Galaxy Watch Ultra / Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The sleep function accurately matched the waking time. After waking, I opened the ‘Samsung Health’ app and saw that blood oxygen, skin temperature, snoring, heart rate, and respiration rate were also measured during sleep. Based on sleep and daily activities, an energy score for the day is generated, which was quite enjoyable to check. Maybe it was just my mood, but the fatigue level felt different depending on the score. The advanced glycation end products index was generally similar, but the day after drinking alcohol at lunch and dinner, the value slightly increased. Sleep apnea results must be checked by opening the ‘Samsung Health Monitor’ app. Since there were no signs of apnea, a simple message saying ‘No signs detected’ appeared.

Hiking climbing record confirmed during Dobongsan ascent / Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

I also climbed Dobongsan Mountain for about an hour while wearing the Watch Ultra. Section records and heart rate zones were measured, allowing detailed activity tracking. Every kilometer, the watch automatically announced exercise time, altitude, and heart rate. Checking the records intermittently, the display was bright enough to be clearly visible even in sunlight.

After completing the Dobongsan hike and ending the hiking function, the achievement emblem appeared.
Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

After finishing the hike, an achievement emblem was awarded. It felt like receiving a compliment sticker. However, the weight of the display was still strongly felt during exercise. Due to humid weather and sweat, the watch slipped down and repeatedly touched the wrist bone, causing discomfort. After using the 1-hour hiking function, the battery dropped by about 5%. Battery drain speed may vary depending on notification settings and other factors.

AI in the watch replies to messages... Snap your thumb and index finger for a photo

Galaxy AI, embedded in the Galaxy Watch Ultra, generated a reply to a KakaoTalk message.
Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

During the hike, a KakaoTalk message arrived, and the Galaxy AI logo appeared. For a friend’s message of ‘ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ,’ reply messages such as ‘ㅋㅋㅋ I almost burst out laughing,’ ‘Don’t laugh lol,’ and ‘ㅋㅋㅋㅋ so funny’ were generated. If the AI provides well-analyzed messages, you can reply without having to open your phone or type on the small display during exercise.

After wearing the Galaxy Watch Ultra, I turned on the gesture function, opened the camera app, and quickly touched my thumb and index finger together twice to take a photo. Photo by Seoyul Hwang chestnut@

The gesture functions available while wearing the watch were also useful. You can enable them in the ‘Buttons and Gestures’ menu in the Samsung Wearable app. Setting the phone at a distance, opening the camera app on the watch, and snapping your thumb and index finger twice triggered a 3-second timer before taking a photo. You can also see the situation being captured on the watch face. This seems very useful for group photos. Functions such as answering calls, dismissing notifications, launching apps, controlling music, and taking photos can be used.