Which Ultra Watch Wins? Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

Jennifer Moore · 2026-09-11

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 is being called the "ultimate sports and adventure watch," but how does it stack up against the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2? We've already praised the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as a "refined, rugged Android smartwatch," so the Apple Watch Ultra 4 has big shoes to fill. While we haven't reviewed the Apple Watch Ultra 4 yet, we've compared the specs to see which one might come out on top. ### Price and Availability The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will set you back $799 and is available for pre-order now, with a launch date of September 18. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is available now and starts at $699, making it slightly more affordable. ### Compatibility: iPhone vs. Android One of the biggest factors in choosing between these two is your smartphone. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 only works with iPhones, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is designed for Android phones. However, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 works best with a Samsung Galaxy phone—pairing it with a Samsung handset unlocks features like ECG, sleep apnea notifications, and blood pressure monitoring. If you have a different Android phone, you might want to explore other smartwatch options. ### Heart Rate Accuracy: Apple's Big Claim Apple claims the Watch Ultra 4 offers the "most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable," thanks to a new Health Sensing System with larger LEDs that measure heart rate every five seconds. They backed this up with a study of over 1,000 participants, where the Apple Watch outperformed other leading wearables in accuracy. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 also monitors heart rate and adds a Heart Health Score that combines activity, sleep, weight, and vascular load into an easy-to-understand metric. ### Performance: S11 Chip vs. Snapdragon Wear Elite The Apple Watch Ultra 4 runs on the S11 chip, which Apple calls its "most powerful wearable chip." It powers new Audio Intelligence features coming later this year, including: - Loud noise detection (sirens, doorbells, baby crying) - Live Rewind (go back 15 seconds in a conversation) - Siri Recap (overview of your day's conversations) The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is powered by the Snapdragon Wear Elite chip, which also delivers smooth performance and efficient power usage. ### The Verdict Both watches are impressive, but your choice ultimately depends on your phone and what you value most. If you're an iPhone user who wants the most accurate heart rate tracking and innovative audio features, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is worth the extra $100. If you're on Android—especially Samsung—the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 offers a rugged, feature-packed experience for less. Stay tuned for our full review of the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to see if it lives up to the hype.