aBlogtoWatch is at Apple Park reporting live from Apple’s September 2022 event. In this article, we bring you all the specs and important details of the all-new Apple Watch Ultra. Apple, the undisputed king of smartwatches, has released the Apple Watch Ultra, a tougher, more capable, and more expensive Apple Watch. It’s packed with amazing new features and noteworthy improvements. Read on for all the specs and pricing.
As the name suggests, the Apple Watch Ultra is the biggest, toughest, and most feature-rich Apple Watch for the outdoors to date, but Apple claims that the product is designed for use well beyond casual “outdoor” use. The Apple Watch Ultra comes with three different loops (straps), and their configurations reveal the different scenarios this (G-Shock-rival?) smartwatch is meant to tackle. The tubular shaped elastomer Ocean Band fits over a wetsuit and is the first Apple Watch to comply with the EN13319 international standard for dive computers for recreational scuba diving up to 130 feet. The Trail Loop is designed for endurance athletes and is made from lightweight textile for a comfortable, snug fit, with easy-to-adjust tabs on the thinnest strap ever. The Alpine Loop is “with explorers in mind” and is woven without stitches to be thin and comfortable.
“We’re working on something entirely new,” Apple explained during its “Far Out” event presentation. Apple worked with extreme explorers who traverse the harshest environments, seasoned divers and underwater photographers, and ultramarathon runners to create a new Apple Watch purpose-built for exploration, adventure, and endurance. “This has been years in the making,” we heard, right before watching the bolder, decidedly tougher-looking Apple Watch get crushed by waves, baked red-hot, and blasted with sand.
49mm is the size Apple is quoting for the Watch Ultra, but it’s a square-shaped watch with short lugs, so comparing it to traditional watch industry measurements can be misleading. Stay tuned for our hands-on coverage from Apple Park for wrist photos. The case is crafted using “aerospace-grade titanium,” and the bezel completely surrounds a flat sapphire front crystal for increased scratch resistance.
The side of the case features a new button, the Action button in “high contrast international orange” to control additional user-assigned functions. For use with gloves, the watch is fitted with an oversized crown, protected by a neat-looking crown guard, giving it a real “tool watch” vibe for a moment. A second speaker with increased volume, three microphones, and advanced software are all installed to improve call quality even in windy conditions. In Apple’s presentation video, people marooned on a cliff in a snowstorm are seen calling their base camp and screaming into their Apple Watch. This marks the Apple Watch’s entry into the world of “desk divers,” where watches with excessive features are sought after and admired. In other words, I have yet to see anyone screaming while making a call on their Apple Watch.
Apple touts 100 meters of water resistance for the Apple Watch Ultra, and its rugged exterior and all-around seal protect the largest, brightest display on an Apple Watch, with an incredible 2,000 nits of brightness, making it twice as bright as any Apple Watch display to date.
It also has the largest battery ever in an Apple Watch, because Apple clearly understands that charging your watch in the middle of an ultramarathon or in the middle of a blizzard is a bit of a stretch, especially since the Apple Watch Ultra is used almost exclusively in situations that require GPS and health tracking, which are known to drain a tiny battery quickly. According to Apple, the Apple Watch Ultra has a battery life of 36 hours on a single charge, which can be extended to up to 60 hours with new battery optimization software coming later this fall.
In terms of Ultra-specific features, perhaps the biggest highlight is the aforementioned dive computer functionality with depth gauge. But there’s also a new Wayfinder face that can be customized for mountain, ocean, or trail, a red and black night mode for better visibility in the dark, and enhanced trail tracking with a new Compass app that gives you precision views for orienteering, markable locations, and the ability to retrace your steps. According to Apple, the retrace feature will automatically activate if it detects that the wearer has strayed from a trail, and a built-in 86dB siren can be heard from up to 180 feet away.
The all-new Apple Watch Ultra is available to order today and will be available in stores from September 23. The Apple Watch Ultra is priced at $799. For more information, visit the brand’s website.
