I walked over 5,000 steps with the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro — this one won

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Polar Grit X2 Pro are two of the toughest-built smartwatches to debut in 2024; the former is one of the best smartwatches overall. They're also among the priciest new models on the market boasting long-lasting batteries and ample features for hardcore athletes and adventures alike. But which one is more accurate?

Each is capable of tracking complex multisport workouts, including triathlons as well as high-adrenaline activities like alpine skiing and mountain biking. However, you can also use them to keep tabs on less extreme endeavors, including walks and hikes, which is exactly what I did.

To find out which is the more precise tracker, I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Polar Grit X2 Pro on either wrist while embarking on a muggy yet serene urban hike around Seattle, Washington. As always, I carefully manually counted each and every step and compared my results at the end to those recorded by the watches.

Which rugged wearable did the best? Read on.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro: Price and features

The Polar Grit X2 Pro starts at a cool $749 and jumps to $869 for the lighter, titanium Titan edition. The Samsung Galaxy Ultra costs $649.

Both sport fairly large, chunky cases. The Ultra is 47mm while the Grit X2 Pro is closer to 49mm. Screen real estate is also similar, though the Samsung display gets much brighter (3,000 nits) than the Polar (1,050 nits), making it easier to view in direct sunlight.

While the Polar Grit X2 Pro is designed as a dedicated workout/adventure wearable, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is more of a full-featured smartwatch with built-in LTE connectivity — a feature absent on the Polar — and access to a huge library of apps.

Still, either device is a solid option if you want in-depth training tools, advanced workout metrics, sleep and recovery data, precise dual-band GPS and access to offline maps.

You can also swim with either device, thanks to 100 meters of water resistance. That said, Samsung recommends against diving, water skiing and other "high-pressure water activities" with its watch, suggesting that water resistance may not be quite as good as the Polar's.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra: $649
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is sort of like the Android version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Tough-built, large and sporting a super-bright screen, the Ultra is also packed to the gills with wellness tracking tech. Best of all, AI-powered holistic insights and tips are great motivational tools for living your best life. View Deal

Polar Grit X2 Pro: $749
The Grit X2 Pro is Polar's flagship, tough-built outdoor adventure wearable with 100 meters of water resistance, a scratch-resistant AMOLED touchscreen, a metal bezel, accurate GPS tracking, access to offline maps including topographic views and epic battery life. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro: Walk test

For this walk test, I wore the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra on my left wrist and the Polar Grit X2 Pro on my right. Using an old-timey handheld manual tally counter, I clicked once every 100 steps, before starting my manual count again at one.

With ominous skies keeping most folks indoors, I set out into the cool, humid early evening eager to get my steps in and enjoy some fresh air. Weaving my way through a mix of public parks, tree-lined neighborhoods and multi-story urban areas, I ultimately clocked exactly 5,600 steps before heading home.

Here's how data from the Galaxy Watch Ultra and Grit X2 Pro compare.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro: Walk test results

Both devices were within 100 steps of my total which I'd classify as very accurate. However, the Samsung watch was closer than the Polar to my actual count by a super-slim margin of eight steps.

Distance info is essentially a wash between the two and also lines up nicely with the Google Maps data, generated by using the Measure Distance tool to carefully retrace my exact route utilizing those generated by the two devices post-workout as a guide.

This is also the first time I've seen such similar pace data from two wearables while doing one of these challenges. Heart rate data is also a near-match, but what's the deal with the cadence metrics? It appears that Polar is registering a "step" as a left-foot-right-foot affair, while Samsung counts each foot movement individually.

Finally, every smartwatch calculates calories burned differently, so, there's no real surprise here that the data doesn't match up. Of all the metrics these devices capture, this is the one I tend to ignore the most because it seems the least reliable.

Galaxy Watch Ultra vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro: Samsung wins

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra wins this step-count challenge by the smallest of margins, but, as always, this doesn't outright make it a better wearable than the Polar Grit X2 Pro for tracking your own fitness adventures. Either is a great option when it comes to tracking precision.

Moreover, both of these swanky, rugged flagship smartwatches are built for taking on the great outdoors and would make a great companion for your next trip to the mountains, while also helping you rest and recover from your excursion once safely back home.

Can't decide between the two? Ask yourself this: how much do I want to spend and do I want a dedicated adventure watch or a more well-rounded smartwatch?

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