ApplevsSamsung
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring: comparison
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring using the data from our reviews: score, who each one is for, and their strengths and weaknesses.
Summary of both reviews
| Apple Watch Ultra 3 | Samsung Galaxy Ring | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 82/100 | 78/100 |
| Who it is for | iPhone users who train outdoors and want a watch with accurate GPS, ECG and health alerts with FDA clearance, with no monthly fee and no need for more than two days of battery. | Android users who want a ring to keep an eye on sleep and recovery without paying a monthly fee to see their data. |
| Skip it if | You do not have an iPhone, you do ultras or multi-day outings without charging, or you want a daily recovery score (none was found in Apple's documentation for this model). | You use an iPhone, because the ring only works with Android phones, or you need a ring with at least one published accuracy study on the device itself. |
| Check price | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
Each score comes from its full review, with its sources and criteria. The two scores are only comparable within the same type of product.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Pros
- • Very accurate GPS in one specialist outlet test (exactly 2.0 miles on a 2-mile reference loop) and heart rate within ±1 bpm of a Polar H10 chest strap on average.
- • ECG, hypertension alert and apnea alert with FDA clearance (Apple lists them as available in Spain, although it does not detail which clearance supports them in the EU); the ECG also has a clinical trial from Apple (98.3% sensitivity for atrial fibrillation and 99.6% specificity in sinus rhythm, in classifiable readings).
- • No mandatory fee: data and health features are viewed in the iPhone Health app.
Cons
- • Short battery for an adventure watch: Apple states 42 hours and a specialist outlet measured 16 hours of continuous GPS.
- • Works only with iPhone, and the sleep, HRV and temperature features have no published validation for this model.
- • It is the previous generation: the Ultra 4 is already on sale with a higher stated battery life and renewed sensors.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Pros
- • No subscription: Samsung's official page mentions no paid subscription for the ring's features.
- • Very light: between 2.3 g (size 5) and 3.0 g (sizes 12 and 13), 7 mm wide and 2.6 mm thick, according to Samsung.
- • Official battery life of up to 6 days (sizes 5 to 11) and up to 7 days (sizes 12 and 13), with a charging case that shows the battery level.
Cons
- • Only works with Android phones (the Spanish product page states Android 11 or later); there is no official iPhone compatibility.
- • No published studies have been found that validate its sleep, HRV or temperature readings.
- • There are user reports of sharp battery loss and a high-profile case of a swollen battery, with no confirmed cause.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
What the Apple Watch Ultra 3 measures, which health features have FDA clearance, how long its battery really lasts and who it suits compared with the Ultra 4.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
What the Samsung Galaxy Ring measures, how well its accuracy is backed, how long it lasts, which phones it supports and how much you save versus Oura's fee.