The top diving features of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are said to come at an additional cost.
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A recent report outlines three subscription levels for Mares' forthcoming Diving app, with only the highest tier providing genuine dive tools.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends
At its Unpacked event in London, Samsung unveiled the latest iteration of its premier smartwatch. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 features numerous enhancements, including a larger 800mAh battery, a brighter display, and the new Snapdragon Wear Elite chip. It also boasts improved diving features, such as a 10 ATM water resistance rating, an IP69K certification, and a new collaboration with the dive brand Mares for an exclusive Diving app. If the Diving app is a significant factor behind your desire to pre-order the Watch Ultra 2, you may want to reconsider, as reports indicate that the app's most practical features will not be available for free.
What is included and what is not for free
While Samsung has not provided detailed information, a report from Android Authority indicates that when the Diving app is launched later this year, it will feature three subscription tiers, with only the most expensive one offering capabilities that are essential for divers. The basic, free tier will include minimal functionality, such as depth, dive time, and an ascent rate alarm—sufficient for a shallow swim but lacking the features required for actual dives.
Nadeem Sarwar / DigitalTrends
The mid-tier subscription, likely priced at $2.99 per month, is expected to provide GPS route tracking, a compass, and heart rate monitoring—features more appropriate for snorkeling than for serious diving. The top tier is rumored to offer support for nitrox, a selection of algorithms for calculating decompression needs, safety stop alerts, and other crucial tools that divers rely on underwater. This tier is said to cost $7.99 monthly or $59.99 annually.
How the pricing compares to Mares’ Apple Watch Ultra app
Mares already has a version of this app for the Apple Watch Ultra, which gives some insight into what might be available for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. On watchOS, Mares charges $8.99 per month for complete access, or $69.99 for a yearly subscription, with a family plan priced at $119.99 for multiple divers.
If the rumored pricing for the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is accurate, customers would spend less for the same access tier. However, because the figures are not confirmed, Samsung and Mares might still modify the pricing before the Diving app is released later this year.
Having subscriptions linked to hardware features isn’t altogether new, but they take on a different implication for a $699.99 watch already promoted for its diving abilities. If the free tier can only assist with shallow pool dives, the diving certification that Samsung is marketing seems more like a selling proposition than an actual feature you can use right away.
Pranob is an experienced technology journalist with over eight years in the consumer technology field. His work has been...
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The top diving features of the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 are said to come at an additional cost.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is now designed for diving, but a recent report indicates that the app required to access advanced diving features will require a subscription.