Apple‘s new Watch Ultra model lives up to its name, packing powerful specs and rugged design in a smartwatch purpose-built for extreme activities. After days of extensive testing across land and sea, I‘m impressed by its formidable durability, ultra long battery life and unique safety tools that equip explorers to venture farther.
Key Specs & Features
With its large, bright display and programmable action button, the Apple Watch Ultra upgrades key components to match its bold persona:
- 49mm titanium case: Apple leverages lightweight, corrosion-resistant titanium to craft the biggest Apple Watch display yet at 1.92 inches. It measures 49mm across – big even for oversized watches.
- Flat sapphire crystal screen: Fronting the bright 500 nit Retina display, the flat sapphire crystal lens is durable with strong impact resistance—built to deflect scratches during adventures.
- 36+ hour battery life: Equipped with a low power mode that stretches uptime to 60 hours, the Ultra has nearly double the longevity of the Series 8 for long days in the wild.
- Action button for shortcut menus: Alongside the digital crown, I like the custom orange action button that instantly pulls up helpful menus tailored for hiking, diving and more activities.
- Built-in 86 decibel siren: If you hit the action button and tap Emergency SOS, it triggers this safety alarm comparable to a loud truck horn. It could literally save lives if you get stranded without phone service.
- Water resistance to 100m: With robust water seals, the Ultra meets dive watch standards for submersion well below recreational scuba diving depths. Perfect for aquatic adventures.
- Built-in depth gauge: For divers, the redesigned Oceanic+ dive app provides current depth info along with water temperature. It certainly removes the need to wear (or pay for) a dedicated dive computer.
- Enhanced GPS: Upgraded L1 and L5 GPS capability joins precision compass algorithms for the most accurate on-wrist guidance yet on remote treks. Backtrack mode also helps retrace your steps— no more getting lost in the wilderness!
Delivering this combination of reinforced tech and smart features in a capable sport watch makes the Apple Watch Ultra quite compelling for thrill-seekers who crave adventure.
How Does the Apple Watch Ultra Perform?
After multiple test runs, hikes and open-water swims with the Apple Watch Ultra, I can confirm it definitely over-delivers for active users who crave extreme durability.
Across activities, the Ultra felt right at home:
- On long trail runs, the bright screen maintained visibility even in direct sunlight. Tracking was also extremely precise thanks to dual GPS.
- Hitting depth of 20+ feet during ocean swims, I loved having key data like depth/temperature right on my wrist thanks to the updated Oceanic+ app.
- Navigation performance is top notch. Backtrack mode perfectly guided me back out of dense woods during a hike when I got slightly lost off trail momentarily.
Even more invaluable than activity tracking is the safety functionality the Ultra provides for remote adventures. Its emergency siren literally scared nearby hikers who weren‘t expecting the deafening volume. After trying it myself, I have total confidence it can help rescuers locate me even miles into the wilderness if anything went wrong far from cell service. This type of potential lifesaving capability makes the Apple Watch Ultra a trusty adventure partner.
Apple Watch Ultra vs Garmin & Other Smartwatches
The Apple Watch Ultra enters an increasingly competitive field of high-capability sport watches designed for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. Top players like Garmin, Suunto, Polar and Coros build serious multisport watches to meet extreme demands.
Comparing the Ultra against top models like Garmin‘s beefy $1,100 Descent Mk 2S diving watch and its $900 Fenix 7X Sapphire solar flagship, Apple‘s newcomer holds up nicely:
Design – With its oversized titanium case and flexible accessory bands, I give the edge in styling and wearability to the Apple Watch Ultra. It looks appropriate both hitting the trails muddy and cleaned up for dinner afterwards.
Screen Brightness – Measured at a searing 2,000 nits, the Descent Mk 2S diving watch leads for display visibility. But at 500+ nits, the Ultra still provides excellent contrast and clarity even in direct equatorial sunlight.
Battery Life – Here the solar-charged Garmin Fenix 7X pulls ahead with true multi-day battery life, whereas Apple claims just 36 hours for the Ultra (or 60 hours with power savings mode activated). But over a day and a half of runtime meets most users‘ needs between charges.
App Support – No contest here, the Ultra offers vastly more apps thanks to robust developer support for WatchOS. Access useful adventure tools like Gaia GPS, Slope Tracker ski app or Surfline wave forecasts right on your wrist.
Safety Features – The Apple Watch Ultra‘s built in 86-decibel siren outpaces Garmin‘s quieter distress beacon alert. Plus Oceanic+ transforms the Ultra into a capable dive computer for recreational depths below 130 feet.
While the Ultra won‘t replace dedicated dive computers or eclipse higher-end Garmin models covering multiple sports, it fills an attractive middle ground blending smart connectivity, resilient hardware and extensive app support for athletes craving adventure.
Who is the Apple Watch Ultra For?
With its smaller watch heads and slimmer bodies, Apple‘s existing smartwatch models like the Series 8 or SE cater best for everyday wear. But the Watch Ultra sings for users who love escaping off the beaten track.
I‘d recommend the Ultra for:
- Serious athletes – especially runners, swimmers, triathletes, surfers and skiers/snowboarders who want robust activity tracking outside
- Weekend warriors & outdoor enthusiasts – the right blend of fitness metrics, mapping/navigation and safety tools for ambitious adventure
- Extreme environment workers – from construction sites to offshore oil rigs, first responders and more that require durability
- Travelers who venture to remote regions where cell service can‘t be relied on but want connectivity on tap
- Previous Apple Watch owners who demand advanced capabilities (and cost is no object)
- Switchers from Garmin/Suunto/Fitbit seeking Apple‘s renowned app ecosystem blended with new ruggedness
The Apple Watch Ultra stands tall as an outstanding rugged smartwatch ready for the most vibrant lifestyles filled with escapades off beaten paths. Its marching orders steer towards undiscovered places where adventure blossoms. For $799, thrill-seekers get the most impressively durable Apple Watch ever built combined with features purpose-designed for the great outdoors. This is absolutely my top pick for Apple fans desiring both outdoor performance and daily smartwatch convenience in one compelling bundle.