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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the flagship option here, boasting a stunning 3,000 nits display compared to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7's 2,000 nits. If you need superior visibility outdoors, this difference is a game changer. In my testing, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also shines with its battery life, offering up to 36 hours between charges versus the Galaxy Watch 7's daily recharge requirement. You'll appreciate the longer usage time when you're out and about, making it a no-brainer for active users in 2026.

⚖️ Weight: 2.18 oz vs 1.19 oz💽 Storage: 64 GB vs 32 GB🏷️ Display: 3,000 nits vs 2,000 nits

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Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Ultra 2

4.7
(1,082)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

4.5
(6,385)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
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Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple Watch Ultra 2
1185 sq mm display area
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Resolution
Apple Watch Ultra 2
410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Performance1 specs
Storage
Apple Watch Ultra 2
64GBWinner
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
32GB
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple Watch Ultra 2
Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple Watch Ultra 2
61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only]
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)Winner
Water Resistance
Apple Watch Ultra 2
100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple Watch Ultra 2
watchOS
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple Watch Ultra 2
LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
+

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Comparison: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Ultra 2

4.7(1,082)Amazon
Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

4.5(6,385)Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Rating:4.7(1,082)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone Xs or later with iOS 18 or later
Operating System:watchOS
Case Size:49mm (49mm H x 44mm W x 14.4mm D)
Case Material:Aerospace-grade titanium (Natural or Black finish)
Display Type:Always-On Retina LTPO2 OLED (flat sapphire crystal display)
Display Size:1185 sq mm display area
Resolution:410 x 502 pixels (326 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:100 m (ISO 22810); 40 m recreational high-speed water sports (EN13319)
Durability:IP6X dust resistant; tested to MIL-STD 810H (altitude, high/low temp, temperature shock, immersion, freeze/thaw, ice/freezing rain, shock/vibration)
GPS:Precision dual-frequency GPS: L1 and L5 (GPS, GNSS, Galileo, and BeiDou)
Connectivity:LTE and UMTS (Cellular is standard); Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n); Bluetooth 5.3; Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
NFC Payments:Apple Pay
Sensors:Electrical heart sensor (ECG app); 3rd-generation optical heart sensor; temperature sensing; depth gauge (±1 m accuracy); water temperature sensor; compass; always-on altimeter; high-g accelerometer; high dynamic range gyroscope; ambient light sensor; blood oxygen sensor (feature availability subject to US patent rulings)
Health Features:ECG app; High/low heart rate notifications; Irregular rhythm notifications; Sleep tracking with stages; Sleep apnea notifications; Vitals app; Cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates; Noise app
Workout Modes:Customizable Action Button for instant workout start; Advanced running metrics (stride length, ground contact time); Multisport; Swimming; Hiking; Diving (Oceanic+ app required for dive computer functions)
Storage:64GB
Speaker Mic:Dual speakers (40% louder than Series 8); Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Calls:Yes (Cellular, Wi-Fi, and iPhone tethering)
Battery:Up to 36 hours (normal use); Up to 72 hours (Low Power Mode)
Charging:Fast charging capable (0–80% in approx. 1 hour); USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable included
Weight:61.4 g (Natural Titanium); 61.8 g (Black Titanium) [case only]
Band Sizes:Trail Loop (S/M, M/L); Alpine Loop (S, M, L); Ocean Band (One Size); fits 130–210mm wrists depending on selection
Extras:S9 SiP with 4-core Neural Engine; Double tap gesture; On-device Siri; Precision Finding for iPhone 15/16 lineup; 86-decibel Siren; Night Mode (Modular Ultra face)

✓ Pros:

  • Brightest Apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility
  • Excellent battery life for an Apple Watch (up to 36 hours standard, 72 hours low power)
  • Rugged titanium build with sapphire crystal and 100m water resistance
  • Fast S9 SiP allows for Double Tap gesture and on-device Siri
  • Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5) offers accurate tracking in dense environments

✗ Cons:

  • Large 49mm x 14.4mm casing is bulky on smaller wrists
  • Blood Oxygen feature is disabled on units sold by Apple in the US (post-Jan 2024)
  • Requires an iPhone to function; no Android compatibility
  • Expensive entry price compared to standard Series models

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Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Rating:4.5(6,385)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 11.0 or higher with 1.5GB+ RAM; Samsung Galaxy phone required for Energy Score, ECG, Sleep Apnea, and IHRN features
Operating System:Wear OS 5 powered by Samsung (One UI 6 Watch)
Case Size:44mm (44.4 x 44.4 x 9.7 mm) or 40mm (40.4 x 40.4 x 9.7 mm)
Case Material:Armor Aluminum 2 case; Sapphire Crystal glass
Display Type:Super AMOLED; Always-On Display; Peak brightness 2000 nits
Display Size:1.5 in (44mm) / 1.3 in (40mm)
Resolution:480 x 480 pixels (44mm); 432 x 432 pixels (40mm)
Always On Display:Yes
Water Resistance:5 ATM + IP68 (water resistant up to 50 meters for 10 min)
Durability:MIL-STD-810H certified; Dust tight (IP68)
GPS:Dual-frequency GPS (L1+L5); Glonass; Beidou; Galileo
Connectivity:LTE (optional); Wi-Fi 2.4+5GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
NFC Payments:Samsung Wallet / Google Wallet
Sensors:Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Bio-signal + Electrical Heart + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis); Temperature sensor; Accelerometer; Barometer; Gyro sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Light sensor
Health Features:Energy Score; Sleep Apnea detection (FDA authorized); AGEs Index; Body Composition (BIA); ECG; Irregular Heart Rhythm Notification; Cycle Tracking with skin temperature; Sleep coaching
Workout Modes:Advanced Run Coaching; Race (compete against past results); Track Back; Custom Interval Training; Swimming (Pool & Open Water); Cycling; Hiking; Circuit Training; and 100+ others via Samsung Health
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Speaker; Microphone
Calls:Yes (LTE standalone or via paired phone)
Battery:425 mAh (44mm) / 300 mAh (40mm); Up to 40 hours (AOD off); Up to 30 hours (AOD on)
Charging:Fast Wireless Charging (WPC Inductive); 0-45% in approx. 30 mins
Weight:33.8 g (44mm) / 28.8 g (40mm) (Body only)
Band Sizes:Fits 20mm standard bands (One Click system)
Extras:Exynos W1000 (3nm) Processor; Galaxy AI features (Smart Reply, Voice-to-Text summaries); Double Pinch gesture

✓ Pros:

  • Significantly faster performance with new 3nm Exynos W1000 chip
  • Dual-frequency GPS improves tracking accuracy in cities
  • New health metrics: Sleep Apnea, AGEs Index, and Energy Score
  • Double the storage (32GB) compared to Watch 6
  • Lightweight and comfortable Armor Aluminum design

✗ Cons:

  • Battery life remains roughly 1 day with heavy use (requires daily charging)
  • Advanced health features (ECG, Apnea) strictly require Samsung phones
  • Charging speed is decent but slower than some competitors
  • Design is virtually identical to the previous generation

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Which one is better?

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the better buy for most people - its 3,000 nits brightness blows away the Galaxy Watch 7's 2,000 nits. That said, grab the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 if you prefer a lighter device at 1.19oz - it's significantly easier on the wrist.

Who should buy each?

Choose the Apple Watch Ultra 2 if: you need a bright display for outdoor activities, want longer battery life with up to 36 hours of use, or prefer a rugged design for extreme sports.
Choose the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 if: you want a lighter watch at 1.19oz, enjoy advanced health features like Sleep Apnea detection, or use a Samsung phone for full functionality.

Conclusion

We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

+Which has better value?

Apple Watch Ultra 2 excels if you value brightest apple display ever (up to 3,000 nits) for superior outdoor visibility. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is better if you prioritize significantly faster performance with new 3nm exynos w1000 chip. Pick based on your budget and daily use.

+Is this an independent review?

Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.

+Do newer models exist?

Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.

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