The first thing Apple got right was not to call this product the Apple Watch Pro. Over the last few years, consumer tech companies have rejected the meaning of the term “pro” – which is, of course, an abbreviation for “professional.” With everything bigger and more expensive officially labeled “pro,” Apple felt strongly that this special new version of the Apple Watch needed a more eye-catching name. “Apple Watch Ultra” is exactly that, providing a fitting term for arguably the most significant version of the Apple Watch since the collection began with Series 1 eight years ago.
From the moment I started looking at watch enthusiasts’ feedback on the Apple Watch Ultra, I knew Apple had nailed it in at least some ways. When I first started writing about the Apple Watch eight years ago, few watch collectors wanted to hear about it, much less buy one. Responses to the Apple Watch Ultra ranged from “this has the features I want and the style I desire” to “finally, this is the Apple Watch I want to own.” What did Apple do so perfectly with the Apple Watch Ultra? In a nutshell, the Californian tech company delivered the first version of the now-iconic smartwatch with some serious visual personality (but let’s not forget the original gold Apple Watch).
The Apple Watch Ultra is larger than all previous Apple Watches, measuring 49mm in length (basically lug-to-lug distance) (although the strap size remains the same). This compares to 45mm or 41mm in length for the two sizes of the Apple Watch Series 8. The larger size also comes with a novel case design that is more durable and more suitable for adventures. In addition to fitting boldly on the wrist (which I prefer), the larger case also comes with other benefits, such as a larger and brighter display and a larger battery capacity. With the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple has finally surpassed the one-day mark for battery life under “normal use.” The company claims that the battery life is 36 hours, and up to about 60 hours in extended life mode.
The Apple Watch Ultra’s novel shape is a big focus on adding durability features, like crown and pusher guards on the right side of the case, and a high-walled bezel that helps protect against certain types of impacts. On top of all that, Apple also carved out enough space on the case to include an extra button, the first programmable button on an Apple Watch that can be tailored for different purposes (it launches the exercise tracking feature by default). Not only is the Apple Watch Ultra larger than previous generations of Apple Watches and the Apple Watch Series 8, but it’s also more durable in at least some ways.
First, the Apple Watch Ultra case is water resistant to 100 meters, making it suitable for swimming as well as leisure diving. The watch also has Apple’s first built-in depth gauge and dive log system. The case is also IP6X dust resistant and is designed to meet MIL-STD 810H military equipment certification standards. This is starting to sound like how people talk about traditional tool/military/sports watches, rather than smartwatches. That being said, after more than a decade of research and development, high-performance traditional watches and smartwatches are starting to cross paths. Gadget enthusiasts are no longer inclined to disregard smartwatches as a useful tool for serious trekking and adventure, and Apple has now officially entered the elite and emerging realm of adventure-themed smartwatches. This has naturally made the Apple Watch familiar to many new people who previously hadn’t found a way to incorporate Apple’s popular wrist device into their active lives and sense of style.
One of the things I found interesting when I first picked up the Apple Watch Ultra was how much the hardware resembled a traditional luxury watch. Not only is the visual shape of the Apple Watch Ultra much more interesting and evocative than the relatively bland, smooth, stone look of the standard Apple Watch, but the materials used are also the same as those used in luxury watches. The Apple Watch Ultra has a flat sapphire crystal laid over the screen, the case is made from sandblasted titanium, the back of the case is primarily ceramic, and of course the fit and finish of the Apple Watch Ultra hardware is the pinnacle of current standards in the smartwatch industry.
The Apple Watch Ultra is even easier to read. Apple has doubled the always-on brightness of the screen to 2000 nits, which means the clarity of the watch face is impressive even in the “off state.” This is one of the benefits of the larger battery capacity, and it’s a good thing because if you intend to use many of the new software features Apple has developed for this generation of products, you’ll be staring at the Apple Watch Ultra’s screen. The most interesting features to me concern navigation and directions, especially in the wilderness. Apple has developed a very user-friendly system for tracking your way back to camp (or home or car), and an associated waypoint drop system. These features could be the difference between life and death if they help people avoid getting lost. More importantly, this is a feature we’ve been waiting for Apple to develop. Competitor Garmin offers a functional waypoint system, but it’s not as intuitive or visually friendly as the one Apple has developed.
If we were to cover all the new software features of the Apple Watch Ultra, this review article would be very long. Most people who have an Apple Watch Ultra (such as those who drive 4×4 SUVs in urban areas) will likely never need to use the various emergency navigation features. That said, these features are very real and knowing they will be useful when needed is enough of a reason for many to choose to wear the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple has further developed several new screens related to the navigation function, such as a digital compass and a “video game map style” (as I call it) mapping and waypoint indicator system. With the various new adventure features of the Apple Watch Ultra, you will see a variety of fascinating new information displays and user interfaces. Personally, I am looking forward to actually wearing the Apple Watch Ultra to dive and see how it performs in that situation. Especially considering how important the world of dive watches is to traditional watch enthusiasts, for comparison.
In this article, I recently discussed the interesting experience of sleeping with the Apple Watch Series 8 on, to evaluate its sleep tracking capabilities as part of the larger Apple Health app and sensor suite that is integral to the Apple Watch experience. With each product (including the Apple Watch Ultra), Apple has the ability to include new body monitoring features that make it difficult to take off the Apple Watch, and tend to ensure that the device knows and tracks the user as intimately as possible. Related to all this, Apple is not only very good at exercise and fitness tracking, but may be better than anything else in the smartwatch class. Nearly all Apple Watches are great at exercise tracking, and the Apple Watch Ultra is no exception. However, I would like to point out that those who are used to exercising with a smaller version of the Apple Watch may need to make some adjustments to wearing the Apple Watch Ultra due to its larger size. Some may prefer the smaller size of other Apple Watch products if their goal is to exercise with a small activity tracking device.
Before I wrap up my rundown of the awesome new Apple Watch Ultra, I want to comment on one of the new straps that Apple is calling the Ocean Band. Visually, the one that catches your eye is the new Alpine Loop strap. While it is certainly more fashionable, the Ocean Band is comfortable and awesome. I would even go so far as to say that most new watches coming out don’t seem to have the same level of engineering effort put into them as the Apple Ocean Band. Made from the same fluoroelastomer material as the Apple Sport Band, the Ocean Band is pliable yet stretchy. However, the Ocean Band is intentionally very stretchy because it is meant to be worn over a wetsuit or additional clothing. This is achieved because there are holes in the strap construction, which allows for a longer “pull length” when you pull on the strap. The hardware on the Ocean Loop band is matched sandblasted titanium, and the best part is the adjustable strap retainer loop. You can pull the loop open and move it to the other hole on the strap to get the perfect position that will hold the strap well. The design and refinement of this little titanium piece is pretty impressive for a product like this, which would cost much more if offered by a premium Swiss watch manufacturer. Apple is also offering another new strap for the Apple Watch Ultra called the Trail Loop, which I’m looking to check out at some point, as it seems perfect for hiking, which is where I like to carry my Apple Watch a lot.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the first Apple Watch that doesn’t need to justify its existence to traditional watch enthusiasts. Apple has finally created a true tool watch version of the popular smartwatch that has the power to captivate the hearts of mechanical watch traditionalists. I knew it was only a matter of time before this would happen, but I applaud Apple for taking this step and creating an Apple Watch that is not only more functional but also more distinctive. Having had a taste of the Ultra, it will be hard for me to go back to the standard Apple Watch. I don’t think I’m alone in this sentiment, and for me, it means that the Apple Watch Ultra is likely part of a larger Apple Watch family that will continue to exist for the foreseeable future. The Apple Watch Ultra will be priced at $799. For more information, visit the Apple Watch website here.
