Samsung made a surprise announcement at the recent Galaxy Unpacked with the new Watch Ultra (2025). But don’t just go with the name. It’s not a major upgrade over the first-gen model; that is to be expected of the Watch Ultra 2

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 vs Watch Ultra 2024

The new Ultra has the same overall design and internals as last year’s model, opting instead for a handful of modest upgrades focused on software, storage, and a slightly refined user experience.

Yes, it still looks like the Apple Watch Ultra’s squared-off cousin, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s still the most rugged, full-featured smartwatch Samsung sells, and it now comes in a fresh new Titanium Blue colorway. Here’s what’s actually new, and what stays exactly the same.

1. No Major Design Changes, Just a New Color

Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) in Titanium Blue

You’ll need sharp eyes to tell the difference between the new Galaxy Watch Ultra and last year’s model. Both are available on a single 47mm size framed with a titanium squircle chassis and raised circular sapphire glass display. 

The only difference is that the new model comes in a Titanium Blue finish. To pair with it, Samsung has introduced a blue strap. Previous color options for the wearable include Titanium Silver, Gray, and White. 

Everything else about the case remains identical. You get the familiar three-button layout on the right, a customizable orange-accented “Action” button in the center, speaker grills on the left side, and the same BioActive sensor array underneath. 

Both have a 1.5-inch Super AMOLED panel, IP68 water- and dust-resistant, 10ATM waterproofing, and MIL-STD-810H shockproofing. 

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2. Twice the Storage, Same Internals

On the inside, there’s at least one clear upgrade. The Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) doubles internal storage to 64GB from the previous 32GB. That’s helpful if you like to store offline music, maps, or apps directly on your watch for workouts or travel.

But beyond that, things are mostly unchanged. It is powered by the same 3nm Exynos W1000 processor, along with 2GB of RAM. And keeping everything running is a 590mAh cell with expected 10W charging support. 

3. New Software and Smarter Features

Aside from some hardware, the Watch Ultra (2025) also brings a refresh on the software side. It comes pre-installed with Wear OS 5, layered with Samsung’s updated One UI Watch 8 skin. Most of the new tricks are in the interface and AI-powered features.

Among them is the Now Bar feature we’ve seen on the Galaxy phones. It’s a context-aware widget that shows controls like timers and media playback on your watch face for quick access. The new skin also better manages notifications, and you can now pin six favorite apps at the top of the app drawer.

But arguably the biggest upgrade is the integration of Google Gemini, giving you a more useful AI assistant directly on your wrist. Ask it to start a 5K run and play your favorite playlist, and it will do both. 

4. New Health Metrics

Samsung is also rolling out a few new health features, some of which will come to the original Galaxy Watch Ultra via software update.

Among the new ones is Vascular Load, a stat that tries to estimate how much strain your circulatory system is under while you sleep. It uses sleep tracking, stress levels, and exercise patterns to generate insights and recommendations.

Another is Antioxidant Index, which attempts to estimate the accumulation of antioxidants in your skin using sensor data. While it might sound a little out-there, the goal is to offer another layer of wellness feedback, along with tips on how to improve those numbers.

The Bedtime Guidance feature, powered by Galaxy AI, tries to personalize your sleep schedule based on heart rate variability and past sleep patterns. There’s also a new Running Coach mode that provides motivation and real-time training feedback during runs.

Importantly, all of these features are expected to be available on the original Galaxy Watch Ultra once it gets the One UI Watch 8 update, so don’t feel pressured to upgrade just for the software.

5. Final Thoughts: A Minor Refresh, and That’s Okay

Samsung’s 2025 Galaxy Watch Ultra feels like a textbook incremental update. It keeps everything that worked last year, and lightly refreshes the experience with new software, a more polished UI, and some genuinely useful AI features.

The main thing is that there is no increase in price. The refreshed model costs the same–$649.99–as the original Watch Ultra. So, for those thinking of getting Samsung’s top-of-the-line wearable, the newer Watch Ultra (2025) is now an even better deal. 

However, if you already own the original Watch Ultra, there’s no rush to upgrade. You’ll get almost all the new features in a software update, minus the Titanium Blue finish and the extra storage. 

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