Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 on Apple’s store, while Samsung sells its 2026 rival, the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, for $699.99 on samsung.com. Amazon has wiped out that gap. It sells the cellular Ultra 4 for $699.99 itself, the same price Samsung charges.
Samsung launched the Ultra2 at Galaxy Unpacked on July 22, according to the Samsung Newsroom, with a Snapdragon Wear Elite chip and an 800 mAh battery that Samsung says holds 35% more than the original Ultra’s. Apple’s specs come from its Ultra 4 tech specs page. One thing settles this before any spec does, though. Neither watch works with the other company’s phone.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 specs and prices from Apple and Samsung
| Spec | Apple Watch Ultra 4 | Galaxy Watch Ultra2 |
|---|---|---|
| Maker’s price | From $799 | $699.99 (47mm LTE) |
| Amazon price (Nov 12) | $699.99, sold by Amazon | $669.99 gray, third-party seller |
| Case | 49mm, Grade 5 titanium, 12mm thick | 47mm, titanium, 10.7mm thick |
| Weight | 63.0 g natural, 63.1 g black | 61.5 g |
| Display | OLED, 422 x 514, 3000 nits peak | 1.5-inch Super AMOLED, 498 x 498, 5,000 nits |
| Battery life | Up to 50 hours, 84 hours in Low Power Mode | Up to 60 hours AOD on, 80 hours AOD off |
| Workout battery | Up to 18 hours outdoor run | Not listed |
| GPS | Precision dual-frequency | Dual-frequency, GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo |
| Cellular | 5G (RedCap) and LTE, plus satellite | 4G LTE |
| Health sensors | ECG, optical heart, blood oxygen, temperature | Electrical heart, optical heart, BIA, temperature |
| Health alerts | Hypertension and sleep apnea notifications | Vitals, Heart Health Score |
| Water and dust | 100m, EN13319 dive to 40m, IP6X | 10ATM, EN13319 dive to 40m, IP69K |
| Phone required | iPhone 11 or later on iOS 27 | Compatible Android phone |
Samsung rates the Ultra2 for 60 to 80 hours, while Apple quotes 50 hours or 84 in Low Power Mode
Samsung’s spec sheet lists up to 60 hours with the always-on display on and up to 80 hours with it off. Apple quotes up to 50 hours of normal use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, plus up to 18 hours of outdoor running with the heart rate sensor on and no iPhone. The companies test differently, so treat this as a rough guide. On paper, Samsung gives you about 10 more hours before Low Power Mode enters the picture.
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Apple wins on recharging. The Ultra 4 reaches 80% in about 45 minutes with the included fast charger and a 20W adapter, and Apple says 15 minutes gives you up to 18 hours of normal use. Samsung doesn’t list a charge time on its spec page.
The Ultra2 has a brighter 5,000-nit screen, the Ultra 4 adds 5G and satellite messaging
Samsung calls the Ultra2’s 5,000-nit display the brightest ever on a Galaxy Watch. That’s well above the Ultra 4’s 3000-nit peak. Samsung’s case is also thinner at 10.7mm against Apple’s 12mm, and Samsung says it’s 12% thinner than the original Galaxy Watch Ultra. Both watches carry the top dust rating, but Samsung’s IP69K also covers high-pressure washdown.
Apple answers with connectivity. The Ultra 4 supports 5G RedCap and LTE, and it can send Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My over satellite, free for two years after activation. Samsung’s spec table lists 3G and 4G LTE bands and no satellite features. Both watches use dual-frequency GPS and both carry EN13319 dive certification to 40 meters. Samsung’s dive mode needs the Mares app, and Apple’s dive computer app needs an App Store subscription.
For health, Apple lists an ECG app for users 22 and older, hypertension notifications and sleep apnea notifications for users 18 and older. Samsung adds a bioelectrical impedance sensor for body composition, plus Vitals and a Heart Health Score. Samsung’s footnotes say some of those features need a Samsung Galaxy phone, not just any Android phone.
Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 or the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 based on the phone in your pocket
Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if you have an iPhone 11 or newer. It’s the only choice of the two for you, since Samsung’s footnotes require a compatible Android phone. Get it from Amazon at $699.99 rather than $799 from Apple, a price we first saw in our Ultra 4 deal coverage. It also suits you if you hike out of cell range and want satellite messaging.
Buy the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 if you carry a Galaxy phone and want the longest rated battery outside Low Power Mode, the brighter 5,000-nit screen and a thinner case. Samsung’s $699.99 price also comes with up to $250 in trade-in credit or $100 in Samsung Credit right now.
Skip both if you don’t dive, hike or run long distances. Our look at whether the Ultra is worth it for everyday use explains where the cheaper models make more sense.
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