Rumours of a larger Apple Watch have been circulating, but the Apple Watch Ultra’s unveiling on 7 September during Apple’s presentation came as a surprise. This brand-new Apple Watch, as the name suggests, is the most advanced and robust model to date. This blog outlines what you can expect from the Apple Watch Ultra.
An Apple Watch for Serious Athletes
The Apple Watch Ultra is tailored for hardcore athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s extra durable, extra large (for extended battery life), and comes with a special strap for sports. In short, if you lead an active lifestyle, the Apple Watch Ultra is designed for you.
This type of watch is familiar from brands like Garmin, Polar, and Suunto—true sports watches. Until now, the Apple Watch has been more of a general smartwatch, not fully focused on sports or activities. With the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple aims to enter this market.
Design
The design of the Apple Watch Ultra is entirely sports-focused. It’s extra durable thanks to a titanium case and includes special straps for underwater or mountainous use.
The case is made of titanium, which is lighter and stronger than the aluminium and stainless steel typically used in Apple Watches. The case is also slightly thicker to accommodate the new screen.
The new side of the Apple Watch Ultra with a larger, more robust Digital Crown.
This new screen is completely flat and made of scratch-resistant sapphire glass. The case extends slightly above the glass for added protection. Apple claims this is ‘the largest and brightest Apple Watch display ever’, ensuring usability in bright sunlight.
For nighttime adventures, the Apple Watch Ultra features a special night mode, activated by rotating the Digital Crown. The screen glows a bright red, aiding navigation with the compass at night.
The night mode, a unique feature on the Apple Watch Ultra.
The Digital Crown has been upgraded for greater durability. It’s now larger with deeper grooves, making it easier to operate during sports or while wearing gloves. The side button is also enlarged and now sits with the Digital Crown on a protruding block.
The Apple Watch Ultra is significantly larger than most Apple Watches, measuring 49mm compared to the 41mm and 45mm of the standard Apple Watch 8.
Battery Life - Up to Twice as Long?
The primary reason the Watch Ultra is larger than the standard Apple Watch 8 is to enhance battery life, allowing longer adventures without recharging.
Apple promises 36 hours with normal use, compared to 18 hours for the standard Apple Watch. This suggests the Ultra could last twice as long.
With the low power mode, the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery can last up to 60 hours, while the standard model reaches a maximum of 36 hours in low power mode.
New Sensors
The Apple Watch Ultra includes several new sensors to meet the needs of athletes and adventurers, such as an enhanced Dual-Frequency GPS for more accurate location tracking, even in the wilderness.
The Watch Ultra supports diving up to 40 meters, a feature unavailable on most smartwatches or the standard Apple Watch. For this, it includes a depth gauge up to 40 meters and a water temperature sensor.
Both the Apple Watch Ultra and standard Apple Watch offer an SOS feature, but the Ultra adds a built-in siren. This 86-decibel siren can be activated in emergencies, like getting lost, alerting help up to 180 meters away.
The new display on the Apple Watch Ultra is brighter, with a rating of 2000 nits compared to 1000 nits on the standard model, ensuring readability in bright sunlight during sports or hikes.
Apple Watch Ultra Straps
The Apple Watch Ultra comes with three new straps, each designed for specific sports. The Alpine band is for outdoor adventurers, offering comfort and durability with a unique hook closure.
The Trail band is for athletes, being lightweight and stretchy, featuring a traditional nylon design with a Velcro closure.
The Ocean band is tailored for water sports and diving, with a ‘tubular structure’ that stretches easily and fits over wetsuits, according to Apple.
Looking for a different Apple Watch Ultra strap? Check out our range.
Apple Watch Ultra Price
The Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate Apple watch, coming with an Ultra price. The new Apple Watch Ultra is available for pre-order from £999.00. This is significantly more expensive than the standard Apple Watch. If you’re not an extreme athlete, a regular Apple Watch might suffice.
- Apple Watch Ultra: £999.00
- Apple Watch 8 41mm: £499.00
- Apple Watch 8 45mm: £539.00
Apple Watch Ultra Release Date
The Apple Watch Ultra is available for pre-order from 7 September, with availability from 23 September 2022. This is slightly later than the standard Apple Watch, which becomes available from 16 September 2022.
- Apple Watch Ultra: 23 September 2022
- Apple Watch 8: 16 September 2022
Conclusion
The Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate Apple sports watch for serious athletes, adventurers, and outdoor enthusiasts. It’s extra durable with new features making it better suited for outdoor life than the standard Apple Watch. However, it comes with a significantly higher price tag. Available from 23 September 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Apple Watch Ultra use regular Apple Watch straps?
Yes, all straps for the larger Apple Watch sizes (42/44/45mm) fit the Apple Watch Ultra. You can identify the model by checking the "About" or "Device Information" section in the watch settings, or by viewing the model details in the Watch app on your phone.
Does the Apple Watch Ultra have an ECG?
Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra includes an ECG and can perform heart rhythm recordings.
How big is the Apple Watch Ultra screen?
The Apple Watch Ultra has a 49mm case size with a resolution of 420 x 502 pixels.
Can you swim with the Apple Watch Ultra?
The Apple Watch Ultra is specifically designed to support swimming, water sports, and diving up to 40 meters.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.