Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025: A Minimalist Refresh That Tests Buyer Loyalty

When Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025, tech enthusiasts anticipated meaningful evolution in the premium wearable segment. Instead, as ZDNET's Matthew Miller discovered through firsthand experience, the latest iteration delivers what might be the most incremental update in recent Samsung wearable history—prompting serious buyer's remorse among early adopters.

The Hardware Reality Check

The 2025 model introduces just two tangible hardware changes: doubled storage capacity (64GB versus 32GB) and new military-inspired color options including blue and orange. Beyond these surface-level adjustments, the watch retains the same 47mm titanium case, vibrant display, multi-day battery life, and integrated LTE connectivity that defined its 2024 predecessor.

"If you don't have a burning desire for the color," Miller notes, "then look for the 2024 model that may be available at a discounted price."

This minimal hardware differentiation strategy is particularly striking given the Ultra's premium $650 price point—positioning it squarely against Apple's Watch Ultra 2 while offering fewer substantive upgrades year-over-year.

Software Parity Undercuts Upgrade Urgency

The Watch Ultra 2025 launches with Samsung's One UI 8 software, featuring:
- Running Coach with adaptive training plans
- Google Gemini integration (accessible via button press)
- Advanced health metrics like antioxidant measurements and vascular load analysis

Crucially, these software enhancements aren't exclusive to the new hardware. They'll roll out to previous-generation compatible devices, eliminating a key incentive for upgrading. Miller observed limited practical value in some new health metrics during testing: "I have yet to see any antioxidant result other than 'Low'... I'm not getting any value out of this test."

The Storage Exception

The expanded 64GB storage emerges as the sole compelling technical differentiator. For power users leveraging the Ultra as a standalone media device—streaming via LTE or storing offline Spotify playlists for workouts—the extra space provides tangible utility. As Miller explains while describing his fitness routine: "I can now load it up with a massive collection of media content to motivate me to move."

Competitive Context

When compared to Samsung's own Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, the Ultra maintains advantages in battery life and display size despite the Classic's beloved rotating bezel. Against Apple's ecosystem, the $150 price differential versus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 remains a strategic advantage. Yet these competitive positions were established by the 2024 model, further diminishing the 2025 edition's value proposition.

The Verdict: Calculated Consumption

Samsung's approach signals a broader wearables trend: As smartwatch hardware matures, manufacturers face pressure to justify annual upgrades. The 2025 Ultra serves loyal Samsung ecosystem users—especially those pairing it with devices like the Z Fold 7—but offers insufficient innovation to attract new buyers or convince existing owners to upgrade.

As Miller concludes: "The long battery life, accurate GPS tracking and heart rate measurements while running, and big watch that fits my wrist well means that I have a combination to cover all of my adventures." For most, however, the adventure doesn't require a new watch when last year's model delivers nearly identical performance at potentially discounted prices.

Source: Adapted from Matthew Miller's hands-on review for ZDNET