Home / Technology / Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Instinct 3: City Ride Showdown
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Garmin Instinct 3: City Ride Showdown
11 Aug
Summary
- Both smartwatches accurately tracked distance and speed during an 11-mile city bike ride.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 showed inflated climb data for the third time.
- Heart rate data was perfectly matched between the two tested devices.
A recent cycling test conducted in central Seattle compared the fitness tracking capabilities of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 and the Garmin Instinct 3. The 11-mile ride through urban areas and natural scenery aimed to evaluate their reliability for cyclists.
Data from both smartwatches, along with a Strava app on an iPhone 16 Plus, showed similar results for total distance and speed. The Samsung watch proved slightly more accurate in distance tracking, while the Garmin was marginally better for speed. Heart rate data also aligned perfectly between the two devices.
However, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 exhibited inflated climb data for the third consecutive test, a significant deviation from expected elevation gain for the familiar route. Garmin also showed some elevation gain inflation, though less pronounced. Despite the outlier in climb data, both watches demonstrated strong performance in other metrics, with the reviewer continuing to favor the Garmin Instinct 3 for outdoor activities.
