I’m not a huge proponent of smartwatches. I love my analog watches, and it takes a lot to pull my favorites off my wrist.
However, I’m aware of the benefits smartwatches provide, and I miss some features when I’m not wearing one.
I recently tested my Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and identified ways it can be useful for people who are not interested in health and fitness tracking.
It turns out there are quite a few reasons you’d want one on your wrist, but it was the phone I had it paired with that made the case.
If you’re a Galaxy Z Flip 7 owner, here’s why a smartwatch isn’t optional for the best experience.
Flip phones are fantastic, but there are limitations
I bought a clamshell foldable for fewer distractions
The Galaxy Z Flip 7 is an excellent device, but it’s not exceptional at handling notifications.
I don’t buy a flip phone just to unfold it 100 times a day. I also don’t want to constantly unlock the device and swipe on the cover screen just to see my messages.
Even if you swap out the orange notification dot on the cover display for tiny icons, it’s next to impossible to see what needs your attention.
My Galaxy Watch Ultra makes that a little easier and completes the user experience.
Instead of fumbling for my Z Flip 7 every few minutes, I’m able to triage messages that come in without being completely distracted.
If Samsung’s cover screen software were better, I might not feel the need to use a smartwatch, but with the Z Flip 7, my Galaxy Watch Ultra is an essential part of the package.
I need a smartwatch for the constant barrage of messages
No one wants to keep pulling out their phone
I could never stand sending back canned responses to messages, but I don’t have to settle for that on the Galaxy Watch Ultra.
Typing isn’t an awful experience, even though I don’t have small fingers. I can type a full-bodied response in Google Messages or WhatsApp and send it without opening my phone.
I wouldn’t type a novel on my smartwatch, and I certainly don’t want to pound out long emails, but for quick responses, it’s fine.
Not only is it annoying to unflip my phone or even pull it out of my pocket for a quick response, but it’s potentially distracting.
It’s never just enough to respond to a message, as I’ll often look at other notifications or give Instagram a scroll.
That doesn’t happen on my smartwatch, and I’m able to figure out what messages need a response quickly and leave the rest for when I’m at my desk or ready to respond.
Media controls are much easier
Calendar updates are also a breeze
Samsung’s done an excellent job with the Now Bar, and it’s a fantastic way to control media on the lock screen.
However, I’ve grown to enjoy controlling Spotify from my Galaxy Watch Ultra. It’s a breeze to scroll through tracks while I’m cleaning and working, and I avoid the temptations to scan social media that I mentioned earlier.
Nothing beats glancing at your wrist and getting to the song you want. It makes my flip phone experience more enjoyable.
Google Maps is a fantastic experience while driving, but I also enjoy getting calendar notifications on my wrist.
Meeting reminders are helpful, and I find that my Galaxy Watch Ultra fills in the gaps for my Z Flip 7.
I’m just relieved to build out uses for my Galaxy Watch that don’t revolve around fitness.
I want the complete experience on my Galaxy Z Flip 7
The Galaxy Watch appears to fit wonderfully with the Galaxy Z Flip 7. It corrects the few things the phone doesn’t do well, and makes the device more useful.
I first discovered the magic of smartwatches paired with folding phones on the Microsoft Surface Duo. Without an external screen, it was difficult to use the Surface Duo without a smartwatch, unless you wanted to flip it open every two minutes.
Using the Galaxy Z Flip 7 isn’t that extreme, but it still has limitations, especially on the cover display.
While I wouldn’t feel a regular smartphone needs a smartwatch, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 absolutely benefits if you slap a Galaxy Watch Ultra on your wrist.
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- Case Material
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Titanium
- Case size
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47mm
- Colors
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Titanium Silver; Titanium Gray; Titanium White
- Display
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1.5″ AMOLED
- CPU
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Samsung Exynos W1000
- RAM
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2GB
At a starting price of $650, the Galaxy Watch Ultra is Samsung’s most premium wearable to date. It’s made for outdoor athletes, offering a huge battery, durable materials, and quick access to exercise tracking.
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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
- SoC
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Exynos 2500
- RAM
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12GB
- Storage
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256GB/12GB
- Battery
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4300mAh
- Operating System
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Android 16 with One UI 8
- Front camera
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10MP
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 is a compact, pocket-sized AI phone featuring the largest-ever 4.1-inch, edge-to-edge FlexWindow and the slimmest design in the series yet. It packs a flagship-level 50MP camera and the largest battery ever in a Galaxy Z Flip, delivering powerful performance and enhanced AI functionality directly from the cover screen.
