GW Ultra because it's LTE and I don't have to drag my phone on trail runs. That said, I still use my old Garmin for HR and GPS tracking on my runs. I"m rural, but not back country, so I don't need offline maps. I love the GW as a smartwatch. Also, I keep trading in my old/beat-up galaxy watches, so I never pay full price.
Altimeters in aircraft still need the atmospheric pressure from weather fronts to be added in. My protrek can be many meters off unless I've adjusted it for the high or low weather pressures. I just dont think unless you have a known position on a map and you adjust for weather every couple of hours they are anygood. But, they are useful for the barometric side if the front is changing to prepare for a weather change. Still a great review.
I own the Garmin Epix Gen 2 and the Samsung Watch Ultra. It's not close. For serious outdoor activities, I'd pick the Garmin every time. For day to day wear, I'd go for the Samsung because I'm in that ecosystem. That's disappointing; I was hoping the Samsung would be close for outdoor activity to the Garmin, but it's not. In fact, despite having dual-band GPS, I don't find it to be any more accurate than my old Samsung Watch 4 Classic which did not have dual-band GPS. Granted, the absolute dog crap for GPS accuracy was the Samsung Watch 5 Pro (though it did have better battery life than the Samsung Watch Ultra). By the way, the Watch 5 Pro did have offline-routing for hiking. I was 2 miles into a hike before the Watch 5 Pro acquired GPS on the trail from Manker to Mt. Baldy; it told me to go 2 miles back to the starting point to start the hike... I haven't tried it on the Samsung Watch 5 Ultra since it's pretty obvious the GPS isn't as good as my Garmin. In all, I think the Samsung Watch 7 Ultra is a poor alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra. I would have gotten one of those, but, again, I'm not in that ecosystem. Samsung REALLY needs to start nailing the basics. It's a fine smartwatch...just not for anything beyond that.
You have to be out of your mind to buy garmin when other companies like samsung with the "ultra" are half the price that can be traded in after years of use and updated....garmin does not support their products nearly as well as samsung. Dont get stuck with a $1000.00 paper weight like I did....garmin customer service is the worst.
@@901pics I've been fortunate enough to not need the Garmin customer service, so I can't speak on that, but the HUGE difference in battery life (16 days for the Garmin as opposed to 3 for the Samsung Watch Ultra) is worth it to me. I've used the Garmin on a day hike of Mt. Whitney and it lasted the entire adventure with battery life to spare. The same cannot be said of the Samsung Watch Ultra. Not to mention the GPS accuracy is much more accurate with the Garmin. I imagine the health metrics are better as well. I still have the Garmin Epic Gen 2 I bought a few years ago and it still works perfectly fine.
Thanks for this review. I always trust you to tell both the good and bad of any product you review. I do have several watches but my go to watch for just about anything is the Garmin Epix Gen 2 (titanium/sapphire) which, other than the flashlight, seems to have everything I need for hiking. I am interested to know whether or not you'll be posting a review of the Amazfit T-Rex 3 in the next few weeks? I believe you said you were going to do a review of that watch. I own the T-Rex 2 but am interested to hear what you have to say about the 3.
Tried in store and didn't like look. Watch is much more massive and thicker than i expected from pictures, like tablet on your wrist. Maybe very cheap samsung fe watch (for calls) on one hand + garmin fenix/epix on other hand is better option.
Thanks Cris! I have an android phone but I'll stick with my Garmin Fenix 6. I love it. I know you're in SoCal and I'm wondering...was that Annie's Canyon in Solana Beach (San Diego County)? If so, awesome! I grew up there and we used to hike and goof around in Annie's Canyon. Except, when we were kids it was called Deadman's Canyon, lol. Anyway, thanks for another great video!
Yes, Annies Canyon in Solana - and you're right, used to be called Deadman's and was covered with graffiti when I first moved here - it's all cleaned up and nice now
@Hikingguy Yes! As kids we wandered back in there and found numerous stolen surfboards and bikes, etc. We took off and didn't go back for years, lol. There was also an old collapsed cabin and a rusted out jeep that sat in there for years and either covered up over time or were removed. Thanks Kris!
Thanks for another great video Cris! & touching on altitude! Any idea if the always on altimeter in the newest Apple Watch Ultra is any more accurate (due to its dual frequency) than in newest Series 10, besides its expanded range? Also, is the Series 10 altimeter any better than Series 7’s?
Not sure if it's better than the 7 but it's good. When you are connected to cellular, WiFi, etc it will look at different factors like the DEM map, GPS elevation, barometer, etc. to give an elevation, usually pretty good.
Were you using a Samsung phone? or were you using that weird satellite phone or maybe the Pixel with satellite? I know you said the Samsung health app worked with all OEMs, but I imagine Samsung phone with Samsung watch has some advantages.
This smartwatch should have an app where you can utilize push-to-talk, walkie-talkie feature for communication purposes. It should also be a “stand alone” smartwatch where you don’t need your smartphone. I’ll wait when this change. But for now, my 💳 stays hidden until then.
Garmin customer service is the worst. My $1000.00 watch screen failed prematurely and they did nothing to help. Worse yet, their policy is to string along disappointed customers using extremely deception verbiage saying they will "exchange" your watch if it meets certain but REALLY "exchange" means you send in your watch and you pay full retail with a meaningless discount. Scam alert!!!!
For you WearOS folks, what are your favorite apps? Has anyone switched from a Garmin/Polar/etc to an Android smartwatch?
GW Ultra because it's LTE and I don't have to drag my phone on trail runs. That said, I still use my old Garmin for HR and GPS tracking on my runs. I"m rural, but not back country, so I don't need offline maps. I love the GW as a smartwatch. Also, I keep trading in my old/beat-up galaxy watches, so I never pay full price.
Thank you from Belgium, very interesting content!
Excellent review! Thank you very much
Great review. I just picked up that watch for about $185. Just wish you had a physical rotating pusher or bezel, but for 185 hard to turn down
Where did you find it for 185?
~
Altimeters in aircraft still need the atmospheric pressure from weather fronts to be added in. My protrek can be many meters off unless I've adjusted it for the high or low weather pressures. I just dont think unless you have a known position on a map and you adjust for weather every couple of hours they are anygood. But, they are useful for the barometric side if the front is changing to prepare for a weather change.
Still a great review.
I own the Garmin Epix Gen 2 and the Samsung Watch Ultra. It's not close. For serious outdoor activities, I'd pick the Garmin every time. For day to day wear, I'd go for the Samsung because I'm in that ecosystem. That's disappointing; I was hoping the Samsung would be close for outdoor activity to the Garmin, but it's not. In fact, despite having dual-band GPS, I don't find it to be any more accurate than my old Samsung Watch 4 Classic which did not have dual-band GPS. Granted, the absolute dog crap for GPS accuracy was the Samsung Watch 5 Pro (though it did have better battery life than the Samsung Watch Ultra). By the way, the Watch 5 Pro did have offline-routing for hiking. I was 2 miles into a hike before the Watch 5 Pro acquired GPS on the trail from Manker to Mt. Baldy; it told me to go 2 miles back to the starting point to start the hike... I haven't tried it on the Samsung Watch 5 Ultra since it's pretty obvious the GPS isn't as good as my Garmin. In all, I think the Samsung Watch 7 Ultra is a poor alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra. I would have gotten one of those, but, again, I'm not in that ecosystem. Samsung REALLY needs to start nailing the basics. It's a fine smartwatch...just not for anything beyond that.
You have to be out of your mind to buy garmin when other companies like samsung with the "ultra" are half the price that can be traded in after years of use and updated....garmin does not support their products nearly as well as samsung. Dont get stuck with a $1000.00 paper weight like I did....garmin customer service is the worst.
@@901pics I've been fortunate enough to not need the Garmin customer service, so I can't speak on that, but the HUGE difference in battery life (16 days for the Garmin as opposed to 3 for the Samsung Watch Ultra) is worth it to me. I've used the Garmin on a day hike of Mt. Whitney and it lasted the entire adventure with battery life to spare. The same cannot be said of the Samsung Watch Ultra. Not to mention the GPS accuracy is much more accurate with the Garmin. I imagine the health metrics are better as well. I still have the Garmin Epic Gen 2 I bought a few years ago and it still works perfectly fine.
@@901pics if you buy cheaply, you pay dearly. It's a nonsense to buy half priced watch with such limited capabilities...
Thanks for this review. I always trust you to tell both the good and bad of any product you review. I do have several watches but my go to watch for just about anything is the Garmin Epix Gen 2 (titanium/sapphire) which, other than the flashlight, seems to have everything I need for hiking.
I am interested to know whether or not you'll be posting a review of the Amazfit T-Rex 3 in the next few weeks? I believe you said you were going to do a review of that watch. I own the T-Rex 2 but am interested to hear what you have to say about the 3.
Yes, working on the TRex now, want to make sure I try it for a while before a verdict, so far it's decent.
@@Hikingguy Thank you for the reply. I'll be looking at your upcoming review of the T-Rex 3 for only two things: GPS accuracy and maps.
Have you tried to Amazfit T Rex 3
Working on review now
Tried in store and didn't like look. Watch is much more massive and thicker than i expected from pictures, like tablet on your wrist. Maybe very cheap samsung fe watch (for calls) on one hand + garmin fenix/epix on other hand is better option.
You can check out Huawei GT 5, very well built and stylish, long battery, but map navigation is not very usable
Thanks Cris! I have an android phone but I'll stick with my Garmin Fenix 6. I love it.
I know you're in SoCal and I'm wondering...was that Annie's Canyon in Solana Beach (San Diego County)? If so, awesome! I grew up there and we used to hike and goof around in Annie's Canyon. Except, when we were kids it was called Deadman's Canyon, lol. Anyway, thanks for another great video!
Yes, Annies Canyon in Solana - and you're right, used to be called Deadman's and was covered with graffiti when I first moved here - it's all cleaned up and nice now
@Hikingguy Yes! As kids we wandered back in there and found numerous stolen surfboards and bikes, etc. We took off and didn't go back for years, lol. There was also an old collapsed cabin and a rusted out jeep that sat in there for years and either covered up over time or were removed. Thanks Kris!
Hello, do you have the link or model if the band you purchased for the Galaxy Ultra? Thank you!!!
Jason
Yup, here you go: amzn.to/3Z1amDt
Thanks Chris!
Thanks for another great video Cris! & touching on altitude! Any idea if the always on altimeter in the newest Apple Watch Ultra is any more accurate (due to its dual frequency) than in newest Series 10, besides its expanded range? Also, is the Series 10 altimeter any better than Series 7’s?
Not sure if it's better than the 7 but it's good. When you are connected to cellular, WiFi, etc it will look at different factors like the DEM map, GPS elevation, barometer, etc. to give an elevation, usually pretty good.
@ Oh ok. Right. Many thanks!
What do you pick ? Garmin Epix Pro or Samsung ??
I use a Garmin
Thanks!
Does the battery last at least 18 hours when hiking with the outdooractive app?
no map page always on burns battery quicker on any device
@Hikingguy ok, but it should last at least 10 hours on a day hike
Were you using a Samsung phone? or were you using that weird satellite phone or maybe the Pixel with satellite? I know you said the Samsung health app worked with all OEMs, but I imagine Samsung phone with Samsung watch has some advantages.
Pixel 9 - with Samsung phone you get Health AI, which doesn't affect anything discussed here
Nice one! I’d love to test this out, need to find myself a Samsung first. Can the watch be used with an iPhone? 🙈
No need to use this unless you're looking for a WearOS watch specifically,, I'd stick with the Garmin or Apple Watch
@ cheers mate! 👊🏽 Just abit of FOMO really, and I like the design of it ha
Looks like the galaxay was 550 feet off the others in total hiking?
Yea sometimes it was a few hundred feet off
Fenix 8 is boss if you're an outdoors person.
guess ill stick with Garmin 😆
This smartwatch should have an app where you can utilize push-to-talk, walkie-talkie feature for communication purposes. It should also be a “stand alone” smartwatch where you don’t need your smartphone. I’ll wait when this change. But for now, my 💳 stays hidden until then.
Garmin customer service is the worst. My $1000.00 watch screen failed prematurely and they did nothing to help. Worse yet, their policy is to string along disappointed customers using extremely deception verbiage saying they will "exchange" your watch if it meets certain but REALLY "exchange" means you send in your watch and you pay full retail with a meaningless discount. Scam alert!!!!
The ticwatch atlas is the best
No matter whether I watch Apple or Samsung Watch videos by hiking/outdoor enthusiasts, but the top comments always say “I have the Garmin ____…” 😂
In DC Rainmaker’s review he said the Galaxy Ultra is a ‘dumpster fire’
He calls the sensor-pairing functionality "a proper dumpster fire," not the whole watch.