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Engadget compares Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 on durability, displays and features

Engadget compares Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 on builds, displays, chips, battery and health tracking.

AI News Feed · 2026-09-18 22:44

According to Engadget, both watches use titanium bodies. Samsung offers gray or silver options, while Apple comes in black or natural hues. Both companies sell neutral and colorful bands in different materials. Engadget notes that Apple's ongoing collaboration with Hermés brings a titanium band and a pair of ocean-themed watch faces to the Ultra 4.

The two devices also have similar durability claims. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 has an IP6X dust resistance rating, can be submerged up to 100 meters and has an EN13319 depth gauge rating. Samsung's watch has the same EN13319 rating and 100-meter submersion, plus IP69K dust and water resistance. Engadget says either watch is a valid option for serious swimmers and divers.

Inside, the watches use different platforms. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 has a Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and is packaged with Google Gemini AI assistant. It has 64GB of storage and 2GB of memory. Apple uses its S11 chip and the new Siri, and Engadget says the watch will support the controversial Audio Intelligence features that are also coming to the Watch Series 12. It includes 64GB of storage.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is 10.7mm thick and has a 1.52-inch display. Its display is fractionally larger than the prior Galaxy Watch Ultra, and the watch has slimmed down more in depth than before. Its design is similar to the original Ultra, with a circular Super AMOLED screen set in a rounded-off square frame. Apple's watch is larger all around, with a depth of 12mm and a rectangular display that is 49mm tall and 44mm wide, or about 1.9 inches by 1.7 inches. Apple has stuck with its Retina technology on a wide-angle OLED LTPO3 screen. One of the clearer display differences is maximum brightness: the Galaxy option tops out at 5,000 nits, compared with a peak of 3,000 nits for Apple's watch. Engadget says the higher cap on the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could help people who struggle to read a smartwatch display in bright sunlight.

Apple says the Watch Ultra 4 can deliver up to 50 hours of battery life, or as many as 84 hours in Low Power Mode. The watch also has an Extended Workout Mode that offers 25 hours of battery during continual GPS and heart rate readings. Samsung has emphasized the size of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 battery rather than its performance in most of its messaging. Engadget notes that an 800mAh battery is massive, but that the figure does not necessarily equate to longer life. Samsung promises up to 60 hours of use. On fast charging, Samsung says the watch can reach 40 percent battery in about half an hour, while Apple promises up to 18 hours of extra battery life on 15 minutes of fast charging.

Apple has updated the Watch Ultra 4 with a new sensor system that brings more tracking options. Engadget says the highlight is more accurate heart rate sensing with measurements taken every five seconds. There is also a new pedometer that Apple says should bring more accuracy to step tracking. The Ultra 4 can use Apple's new Readiness app, which aggregates health stats such as recent activity and sleep score to gauge how prepared the wearer is for that day's actions. A new Health app from Apple is slated for release later this year. Samsung has also recently overhauled the data available in its Samsung Health app. The Vitals menu offers daily reads on key biomarkers to better alert the wearer to deviations from their baseline. Samsung offers several options for monitoring heart health, including daily blood pressure estimates and a Heart Health Score.

Editor's Summary

Engadget's comparison places the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 in the same premium, activity-focused category, with both using titanium bodies and offering 100-meter water resistance. The article contrasts Samsung's 5,000-nit display, Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and 800mAh battery claims with Apple's 3,000-nit display, S11 chip and 50-hour battery claim. It also notes each company's health software updates, including Apple's Readiness app and Samsung's Vitals and Heart Health features.