Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: Key differences explained (2024)

Samsung has overhauled its Galaxy Watch range in 2024, adding a ruggedized, premium smartwatch to sit above the standard edition for the first time.

While we’ve seen the Korean brand offer slightly buffed versions in the past, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is a clear change of focus – it ensures Android users finally have a direct alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra to consider.

But how does it differ from the standard Galaxy Watch 7, and which is the best pick for you? That’s what we’ll be answering in this comparison guide.

Discover all the major differences in design, features, battery life, and more below, and check out our Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra review and Galaxy Watch 7 impressions for a more in-depth individual take.

Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Galaxy Watch 7: At a glance

Design, build, and display

While, as we say, the Ultra is designed to be more robust, featuring a larger, more rugged design with a cushion-shaped case, the Galaxy Watch 7 instead repeats the same muted look we’ve seen over the last few generations.

The latter is available in either 40mm or 44mm variants – again, much of what we’ve seen before – and is made from an aluminum case. It’s the best fit for those who want something more understated than the bolder Ultra, which, at 47mm, looks out of place on smaller wrists.

You do get excellent build quality whichever model you favor here – on par with the gold standard of Apple and Garmin – and both also share the same impressive Super AMOLED panel for the display.

It’s here where the Ultra has the edge, though, with the bigger 1.5-inch display capable of a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. This extra boost is especially noticeable in harsh sunlight, though the standard Galaxy Watch 7 is still more than bright enough for most conditions.

Samsung hasn’t explicitly stated the Galaxy Watch 7’s peak brightness, but, from our experience, it appears similar to the Galaxy Watch 6’s 2000 nits.

We should also quickly note the navigation situation with both of these watches.

Both have two side buttons – Home and Back – though the Ultra has the advantage of a mappable Quick Button sitting in between these. Neither the Galaxy Watch 7 nor Ultra, sadly, features a physical rotating bezel, which means you’ll be touching the screen a lot to get around the UI.

Features, software, and tracking

Both of these smartwatches boast an improved BioActive sensor (which Samsung claims is 30% more accurate than previous generations), the option of dual-frequency GNSS, new insights like Energy Score and AGEs Index, and the same One UI 6 Watch (Wear OS 5) software skin.

This means there’s very little to split them in this section.

For the most part, the experience on the Galaxy Watch 7 is identical to the more expensive Ultra; you’re getting the same sleep tracking tech, the same health insights (with ECG and blood pressure monitoring limited to Samsung phone owners), and the same GPS and HR performance that excelled in our testing.

Both also offer an identical array of smart features. The most notable here is Double Pinch gesture control for improved one-handed use, sitting alongside returning elements like the touch bezel and staples like Google Play apps, LTE connectivity, and contactless payments.

It’s true of workout logging, sleep monitoring, and health tracking, too.

Exercise-centric additions such as Functional Threshold Power (FTP) are available on both (though we found this a nuisance to use in testing) and a multisport mode for triathletes (though open-water swimming is only really advisable on the Ultra, due to its superior 10ATM water rating).

In testing, we’ve found the health and wellness tracking – including all-day stress monitoring, AGEs Index, and body composition analysis – to be mostly accurate but certainly a step down from top-tier offerings from Whoop 4.0 and Oura Ring Gen 3.

Sleep tracking, at least, is very accurate and comprehensive on both the Galaxy Watch 7 and Ultra, with plenty of graphs, coaching, and scores helping users better understand their rest.

Battery life

While these two Samsung smartwatches are comparable in their features, they differ quite dramatically in the battery department.

The Galaxy Watch 7 even varies depending on the model you choose, with the 40 mm battery unit a relatively small 300mAh and the 44mm packing in a 425mAh equivalent.

We’re still working on our battery life testing – particularly as Samsung responds to complaints from some users reporting a shockingly low 10-12 hours of battery – but, whatever the case, it’s fairly clear both editions will require daily charging with the always-on display enabled.

In our time with the Ultra, the mammoth 590mAh battery ensures this instead stretches to charging every other day. Though the roughly two-day battery life is passable, we found it inconsistent in testing.

Samsung will likely iron out the unpredictability of the battery in future software updates, but it’s definitely something to be aware of if buying at launch.

Verdict: Which is best?

Choosing between the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 depends on your needs and preferences – as well as your budget.

If you’re an Android phone user who’s been enviously looking at the Apple Watch Ultra over the last couple of years while waiting for a similar ruggedized, Wear OS smartwatch, the Ultra is here to answer your prayers.

You’ll pay a premium over the standard Galaxy Watch 7 for that bold, eye-catching design, but this – and the extra day away from the charger – are worth the extra outlay.

The Galaxy Watch 7 range is still absolutely worth considering, though. It may not feature the same kind of design personality as the Ultra, and charging every day may not be to everyone’s taste, but you do still get all the same core tracking and features for much less cash.