Samsung has accomplished something I thought was impossible: they’ve created a watch face that I genuinely want to use all the time and have no intention of changing. After years of offering the same old, uninspired watch faces, the Galaxy Watch Ultra introduces the smartest, most stylish, most useful, and most attractive watch face I’ve seen on a Samsung smartwatch. It’s called the Ultra Analog, and it’s truly fantastic.
Before diving into what makes the Ultra Analog so great, it’s crucial to acknowledge the shortcomings of past Samsung watch faces. While “bad” might be too harsh a term, the vast majority of existing smartwatch faces on Samsung devices lack inspiration. There are multiple variations of the same themes, whether it’s large, colorful numbers or overly complex dashboards. And if you don’t like one, chances are you won’t like any of them. At first glance, the selection might seem vast, but upon closer inspection, the choices quickly dwindle. I rarely find a Samsung watch face I like enough to use consistently. In contrast, on most other smartwatches, I pick one face and stick with it. But Samsung’s collection of digital faces, outdated designs, childish animated characters, and boring analog dials never inspired me. My requirements are simple: I want to quickly see the time and battery level, and that’s it. Anything beyond that feels superfluous, either getting lost in the clutter or defeating the purpose of a glanceable screen on my wrist. I want it to look like a traditional watch face, not a computer, but I also appreciate a fun watch face, which is why I use the Snoopy watch face on my Apple Watch Series 9. It’s a delightful creation, brimming with memorable, fun, and amusing animated antics from Snoopy and Woodstock. It also has real horological history behind it, which appeals to me as a watch enthusiast. I can overlook the lack of complications because of its charm.
So, what makes the Ultra Analog watch face so special? As the name suggests, it’s analog, featuring two hands, a second hand, and numerals around the dial to indicate the time. It’s a busy face, offering multiple complications that can be customized to your liking. I’ve kept it relatively standard, with the three sub-dials showing heart rate, temperature and weather, and battery remaining. There’s also another complication displaying the day and date. What sets it apart from other analog watch faces is the animated compass that runs around the edge of the dial and the ability to change the color of the dial itself. Choosing the color is important, as some options are quite hideous and immediately detract from the watch face. However, I’ve found one of the blue and gold colors to look particularly stunning on the Watch Ultra, especially with the orange band.
While the Ultra Analog is my personal favorite, there’s a second version available for those who find it too busy. The aptly named Simple Analog removes the compass in the bezel and turns it into a complication. It enlarges the numerals for easier viewing, and I find it looks best when using the Night mode, where the entire watch face glows red. Both faces suit the Galaxy Watch Ultra, but the Ultra Analog makes the most of the new case design.
It’s worth noting that the Ultra Analog is exclusive to the Galaxy Watch Ultra. Anyone with the Galaxy Watch 7 or older smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is out of luck. Or are they? The Ultra Analog is actually the second watch face Samsung has created that I truly enjoy. On other Samsung smartwatches, I’ve settled on the Perpetual watch face, which lacks the same functionality as the Ultra Analog. However, it compensates with its unique calendar that runs around the edge of the dial. I think it looks great on the Watch 6 Classic and Watch 7, but it’s not as well-rounded, multifunctional, or as cool as the Ultra Analog.
Some individuals are willing to pay for watch faces through third-party apps. While I appreciate this option, I believe smartwatch manufacturers should provide a variety of free, varied, and professionally designed watch faces that complement the watch’s design. Until now, Samsung, unlike Apple, has not consistently achieved this. But the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Ultra Analog watch face have changed the game. I hope this trend continues, as I’d love to see a brand-new watch face that’s as successful as the Ultra Analog for the Watch 7 as well.
