Samsung just launched the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. The titanium-clad wearable promises three days of battery life, a display visible at 5,000 nits and military-grade toughness. Yet its biggest talking point underwater isn’t the hardware. It’s the paywall.
The new model carries IP69K dust and water resistance plus 10 ATM pressure tolerance. It meets the EN13319 standard for diving equipment. Android Authority reported these specs right after Samsung’s Unpacked event in London on July 22, 2026. The company also announced a software partnership with Italian dive-gear maker Mares. The resulting app turns the watch into a capable dive computer. Full access requires a monthly or annual subscription.
Free users get basic timer mode. Depth. Dive time. Ascent rate alarms. Nothing more. Snorkel mode adds GPS tracking, maps, compass, temperature and heart rate data. That tier costs $2.99 a month according to early details shared with the publication. Scuba mode unlocks the serious tools. Nitrox support up to three gases. Decompression calculations. Safety stops. Air integration. The full package runs $7.99 monthly or $59.99 for the year.
Those figures sit below Mares’ existing iOS pricing. The company charges $8.99 per month or $69.99 annually for its standalone app. A family plan costs even more. Samsung locked the experience to the Ultra 2 for at least two years. No other Wear OS watches will see it during that window. The software won’t ship with the device. Expect it later in 2026.
Industry watchers immediately drew comparisons to Apple. The Yahoo Tech story published one day after the launch laid out the differences. Apple’s Oceanic+ app works with the Ultra 2 and pairs the watch with an iPhone as backup. Its subscription model also gates advanced features. Both companies now treat professional-grade dive data as a recurring revenue stream rather than a one-time hardware unlock.
Divers on social platforms expressed mixed feelings. Some praised the convenience of wearing one device for surface training and underwater logging. Others questioned whether a smartwatch could ever replace dedicated dive computers from brands like Suunto or Shearwater. Those units cost hundreds of dollars upfront but require no subscriptions. They also undergo stricter certification processes in many regions.
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 carries its own credentials. EN13319 certification confirms it meets European norms for dive computers at depths up to 40 meters. Samsung emphasized the 800mAh battery. It should handle multiple dives between charges. The Snapdragon Wear Elite processor powers real-time calculations without draining the cell too fast. Titanium construction and a bright AMOLED screen round out the adventure-ready pitch.
But. The subscription model changes the math. A diver who logs 20 scuba outings a year would spend roughly $96 on the annual scuba plan. Add that to the watch’s $699 starting price and the total outlay climbs quickly. Casual snorkelers face a lighter burden at $36 yearly. Yet even they might hesitate if they already own a dedicated depth gauge or underwater camera rig.
Recent coverage highlights the exclusivity deal. Mares granted Samsung a two-year head start on Android. The partnership gives the Italian firm access to Samsung’s large installed base of fitness enthusiasts who might try diving. Samsung gains credibility in a niche where Apple has already made inroads. Both moves reflect broader trends in wearables. Health tracking, sleep analysis and now dive metrics all migrate behind paywalls.
One day after launch, reaction on X remained mostly promotional. Samsung ambassadors posted about the titanium build, three-day battery and trail-running features alongside the dive capabilities. Few mentioned the recurring fee. Independent accounts asked practical questions. “Would you trust your smartwatch on your next underwater adventure?” one poster wrote, linking to a certification breakdown.
Analysts see the strategy as smart business. Hardware margins on premium watches have shrunk. Services offer higher gross profit and predictable revenue. The two-year exclusivity period protects Samsung’s investment while Mares builds its user base. Future updates could expand Nitrox range, add trimix support or integrate with rebreathers. Each enhancement might justify price increases.
Still. Safety concerns linger. Dive computers provide life-critical information. Decompression sickness risks rise when calculations go wrong. No major dive-training agency has yet endorsed the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 as a primary computer. Users will likely treat it as a backup or recreational tool for shallow profiles. Professional tec divers will stick with proven, non-connected units.
Samsung hasn’t detailed exactly how the Mares app will handle firmware updates or sensor calibration. The watch includes a temperature sensor and barometric pressure gauge already used for altitude tracking. Those feed into the new algorithms. Heart-rate data from the optical sensor could influence surface interval recommendations. Integration sounds impressive on paper. Real-world testing in cold water, strong currents and low visibility will decide its value.
The broader market reaction could influence whether other Android makers follow suit. Google, OnePlus and even Garmin have stayed away from subscription-gated dive modes so far. If Samsung’s approach succeeds, expect copycats. If backlash grows, the company may tweak pricing or offer a perpetual license option down the road.
For now the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 stands alone. It delivers hardware built for extremes. Its software asks users to pay every month to unlock the full potential of that hardware. The decision pits convenience against cost in a sport where mistakes carry real consequences. Early adopters will generate the data points that decide whether this experiment sinks or swims.
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