This Apple Watch is unlike any other you’ve seen before.
The Apple Watch Ultra differs from previous models of the Apple Watch. But with a design and feature set chosen for challenging activities, it is perhaps similar to some of the best sports watches you may have heard of. Consider mountain climbing, diving, trail running, and hiking.
The $799 (AU$1,299) Apple Watch Ultra, Apple’s biggest and most durable smartwatch yet, claims to be your best travel buddy. The Apple Watch Ultra has a particularly robust build, a second action button, a larger digital crown, a safety siren, and a unique range of watch bands. A revamped compass app, which is also available for Apple Watch 8, supports some of the experience.
Therefore, the Apple Watch Ultra is still an Apple Watch; do not misunderstand this. It includes many health tracking features, watchOS 9, and communication capabilities. But if you’re curious in how the Apple Watch 8 and Apple Watch Ultra compare, this hands-on for the Apple Watch Ultra outlines the main distinctions.
Price and accessibility of the Apple Watch Ultra
Costing $799 (or $1,299) is the Apple Watch Ultra. It is a unique model with cellular functionality. In other words, unlike the Apple Watch 8, which starts at $399 (AU$649) for the GPS-only model, cellular connectivity isn’t an option.
Regarding availability, the Apple Watch Ultra is now available for pre-order before going on sale on September 23. If you know how to trade in your Apple Watch, you might be able to earn credit on a less recent device and use it toward the Apple Watch Ultra. However, you are unlikely to discover any Apple Watch bargains on this new wristwatch.
Review of the Apple Watch Ultra: Design
I apologise if I sound repetitious, but the Apple Watch Ultra design is unlike anything we’ve seen from Apple previously. It actually looks like an inventive rendering come to life. The device’s size is undoubtedly impressive, with a titanium case measuring 49 millimetres. During a quick demo, it seemed hefty on my wrist and dwarfed the 45-millimeter Apple Watch Series 7 I’ve been using for the past year.
I’m not sure whether I could get used to having something that big tied to my wrist all the time. This is why I had trouble using the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. Even Nevertheless, size is an apparent benefit for monitoring workout parameters because it provides room for the battery. See more below on that.
Another notable alteration is that the Apple Watch Ultra’s sapphire crystal glass screen is flush with the edge of the casing. Although I couldn’t immediately judge it, the claim that the display is two times brighter than previous Apple Watch displays will be intriguing to test in intense sunshine.
The side button is merged with the digital crown, which has enlarged and been given deeper grooves, on the right side of the device in a jutting ledge. This is designed to make using the buttons while wearing gloves simpler.
The Apple Watch Ultra has an additional action button on the left side that may be set up to launch quickly for a certain function. A speaker grille that can be seen above the new button has two functions: (1) it enhances phone conversation quality even in windy conditions, and (2) it emits an emergency siren of 86 decibels so that your alert can be heard up to 180 metres away. I could feel some relief from the siren anywhere, not only in isolated areas.
The unique watch straps are the last aspect of the Apple Watch Ultra design to be mentioned. The Ultra gives a choice of three straps depending on your chosen outdoor activity, unlike the finest Apple Watch bands.
A G-hook on the Alpine Loop attaches to top loops that have been reinforced. The tubular form of the Ocean Band allows it to fit over a wet suit and keep users secure while participating in fast-paced water sports. The Trail Loop, on the other hand, boasts greater flexibility and a useful tab for making rapid fit adjustments without taking the watch off. It is the thinnest Apple Watch band to date.
Review of the Apple Watch Ultra’s features
I’ll go over the key Apple Watch Ultra features even though they should should be tested in real-world scenarios rather than in an air-conditioned demo space.
The Apple Watch Ultra now has a better compass software, making it a more useful navigational tool. It enables you to save waypoints or particular markers when you are in a location that you want to flag. Additionally, a track back tool allows you to go back and retrace your movements, for example if you get lost.
The Apple Watch Ultra’s GPS is upgraded with the most recent L5 frequency, making it the most precise GPS system available on an Apple Watch. The GPS on the regular Apple Watch has always been decent, but not nearly as accurate as some of the top Garmin watches that target customers who also buy the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Apple Watch Ultra offers an exclusive Wayfinder watch face that condenses all the outdoor sports-related complications into a single face, in addition to all the watchOS 9 capabilities coming to watchOS 9 enabled devices. A red interface with a spy-like appearance enhanced the display for nighttime viewing when I turned the crown.
Finally, I was unable to try the Apple Watch Ultra diving functions (and, to be honest, I doubt I ever will). You can travel twice as deep in the water with the watch than you can with the standard Apple Watch thanks to its new depth app (rating = WR100).
To transform the Apple Watch Ultra into an on-wrist diving computer, Apple is collaborating with Huish Outdoors. Sorry, but Apple is entering a very specialised market with this move, but I’m curious to see how it turns out. Anyone who dives care to collaborate with me on some anecdotes for a comprehensive review?
Review of the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery
Even though I’ve gotten used to it, the 18-hour Apple Watch battery life is something I’ve long bemoaned. Therefore, the 36-hour claimed battery life for the Apple Watch Ultra sounds really impressive. By utilising a new Apple Watch low power mode coming to Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, including the new Apple Watch SE, it appears that the Apple Watch Ultra can last up to 60 hours (2022).
Low power mode extends the Apple Watch’s endurance until you can find a charger by turning off battery-draining features like the Always On Display and automatic working tracking.
I should point out that even at 60 hours, the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery life is still inferior than the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro’s 80-hour guarantee and the week-long (or more) endurance of Garmin watches. For instance, the Garmin Fenix 7 has a 38-day battery life under typical use.
Review of the Apple Watch Ultra: Outlook
I’m unsure yet whether the Apple Watch Ultra will change what I already know about the Apple Watch for the better or worse. On the one hand, I would probably pay $799 for the large display, additional button, safety alarm, and battery life. On the other hand, the watch has a number of functions that are exclusively useful to those who identify as explorers.
I have a history of dabbling in outdoor activities to test gadgets like the Apple Watch Ultra. I’m hoping I’ll get to use this watch as intended and put it to the test to see if Apple has successfully entered a new market.
