Samsung galaxy watch ultra 2 review: a marathon on your wrist

Samsung took the wraps off its latest flagship smartwatch, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, promising a device that would finally put an end to battery anxiety. With a massive 800mAh battery, the largest ever on a Galaxy Watch, it's no surprise the Ultra 2 has been generating a lot of buzz.

Early battery life impressions

For this review, I spent 72 hours straight with the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, paired with the new Galaxy Fold 8. Starting with a 50% charge in the morning, I ended the day at 10pm with 30% left, signifying about a 20% drain. This means a full day's use with the always-on display and Info Board watch face would take around 32% of the battery.

After tracking my sleep overnight, I found the watch had depleted to 18% by morning, suggesting sleep tracking accounted for around 12% of the battery life. So, with average use and no GPS workouts, it looks like the Ultra 2 could easily last you three days on a single charge.

However, if you opt for a simpler watch face and turn off always-on, you might squeeze out nearly four days of battery life. But there's a catch - charging time has not improved, with a full top-up still taking around three hours.

While the Ultra 2's battery life is undoubtedly a major win, Samsung's charging speeds still lag behind competitors like Apple and Google. It's a trade-off, but one that may not sit well with those used to quick top-ups.