Ultra versus Ultra: Which is the more accurate device for tracking basic outdoor workouts, like walks, runs, and hikes, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra? I tossed one on either wrist and hit the pavement to find out. Spoiler: Ultimately, one came out on top.
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra are the longest-lasting, toughest-built premium smartwatch models from two industry titans. Not only are these two of the best smartwatches you can buy today, but both models have proven themselves to be accurate fitness trackers in numerous prior tests.
Yet somehow, I've never directly compared the fitness-tracking performance of the Apple Watch Ultra 3 against the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra. So, let's change that. Read on to find out which Ultra is the ultimate Ultra in today's step-count showdown.
Walk test ground rules
Before jumping into the walk test results, let's cover some ground rules for this comparison. The primary metric we're going to use to determine a winner today is step count. While step count isn't necessarily the most crucial metric for measuring the intensity of a walking workout, it's the easiest one to manually track as a control.
To help keep a precise tally, I only took odd-numbered steps with my left foot and even-numbered ones with my right. I also recorded every hundred steps taken with a click of my ol' reliable manual tally counter. A pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones keeps things distraction-free (don't worry, I'm extra careful crossing streets).
When analyzing step count data from any smartwatch or fitness tracker, for a roughly one-hour walk, my golden rule is that any tally within roughly one hundred steps of my actual manual count is considered to be outstanding and well within a reasonable margin for error.
Tallies that are within 200 steps of my actual count are still considered acceptably accurate. However, if the device is more than 300 steps off from my actual step count, we may have an issue.
In addition to step count, we'll also compare distance, pace, and elevation gain data against Strava (running on my iPhone 16 Plus), which has proven itself to be a remarkably reliable fitness tracking tool, even if you opt for the free version (like me).
With that cleared, on to the walk test!
I walked 6,500 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
With the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra on my left wrist and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on my right wrist, I embarked on my 6,500-step walk, determined to enjoy the lovely Seattle spring day as I strolled. With flowers popping off and azure skies overhead, my mission was ultimately successful.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: Walk test results
Control |
Apple Watch Ultra 3 |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Step count |
6,500 steps (manual count) |
6,455 steps |
6,565 steps |
Distance |
3.52 miles (Strava) |
3.46 miles |
3.49 miles |
Elevation gain |
246 feet (Strava) |
282 feet |
250 feet |
Average pace |
16 mins 56 secs per mile (Strava) |
17 mins 02 secs per mile |
16 mins 33 secs per mile |
Average heart rate |
n/a |
138 bpm |
139 bpm |
Max heart rate |
n/a |
163 bpm |
162 bpm |
Total calories burned |
n/a |
509 calories |
392 calories |
Device battery usage |
n/a |
< 1% |
8% |
Before getting into specifics, it's worth calling out that both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra noted step count totals that are well within 100 steps of my actual count, which is to say, performance here is outstanding.
However, with a tally that's 45 steps under versus 65 steps over, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 beats the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra by a teeny, tiny margin.
That said, the Galaxy Watch Ultra proved more accurate at tracking my elevation gain — Apple Watches across the board have a tendency to inflate this metric — and distance.
Apple's pace data is a little closer to Strava's, but Samsung's isn't too far off either. Reassuringly, both wearables recorded nearly the same average and max heart rate for my walk, while the Ultra 3 noted a greater calorie burn during my roughly one-hour walk.
Finally, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 was still showing 100% battery at the end of the test, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra burned through 8% battery.
Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: And the winner is...
This is another super-close comparison where both devices performed admirably and well within an acceptable margin of accuracy across the board.
But a winner must be declared, dear reader. So, with a step count total that's 20 steps nearer to my actual count, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 wins this showdown against the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Which smartwatches should I test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.
More from Tom's Guide
- Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Pixel Watch 4 XL — I walked 6,000 steps, and the winner is clear
- 10 Apple Watch innovations that changed the game — from Fall Detection to Hypertension Alerts
- I walked 5,000 steps with the Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 — and the winner was nearly too close to call
