The quick verdict
The original Apple Watch Ultra is the first Apple Watch that has felt genuinely new since the original launched. It is not a variation or a slight enhancement: it is a bigger, tougher, rethought watch with a 49mm titanium case, a flat sapphire display, a brand new Action button, dual speakers, dual-frequency GPS and a battery rated for 36 hours. I picked mine up on launch morning to replace my Series 6, and this first look covers what stands out.
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Size: this is a big watch
There is no getting around it, the Ultra is a big watch. It comes in a single 49mm case size and only in titanium, so the decision-making is limited to the band. Beside my old Series 6 and a smaller Series 7, the jump is obvious, and on my wrist it wears closer to one of my G-Shocks than to a regular Apple Watch. It is a beefier, thicker watch that will not slide under a cuff as easily. Because the case is titanium it weighs only 61.3 grams, so for all the size it is comfortable, and I was used to it quickly. One honest caution: on a very small wrist it can be too much watch. I tried mine on my wife and it was simply too large for her. Mid-sized wrists and up will have no problem pulling it off.
Flat sapphire display behind a protective lip
The display is the largest ever put in an Apple Watch at the time, at 410 by 502 pixels and up to 2000 nits of brightness, double the Series 8, so legibility in bright sun is a non-issue. What I like most is the construction: instead of a rounded screen that bulges out as the most exposed part of the watch, the Ultra has a flat sapphire crystal set into the case with raised edges around it. Sapphire is far more scratch resistant than glass, and the raised lip means the case takes the hit first if you clip a doorframe. It is the right design for a watch meant to be knocked around.
A crown built for gloves, and a guard around it
On the right side, a chunky titanium protrusion wraps around the Digital Crown and side button, protecting both and giving your fingers something substantial to grab. The crown itself has bigger, coarser ridges than the older watches, designed to be usable with gloves on, so the controls are easier to operate than on any previous Apple Watch.
The Action button is the best new idea here
On the left side sits something no Apple Watch had before: an extra button, finished in orange, that Apple calls the Action button. It does not do one fixed thing, it does whatever you assign to it. Out of the box I had it starting a workout with a single press, but it can also fire the flashlight, control smart home scenes, or run anything you can build in the Shortcuts app, from unlocking your house to texting someone. There is a stack of built-in options that need no programming at all, and Shortcuts support means the ceiling is basically your imagination. Every watch should have a button like this.
Wayfinder face and night mode
The Ultra gets an exclusive watch face called Wayfinder that takes full advantage of the big screen: a pile of complications, a live compass built into the face, and readouts for latitude, longitude and elevation. Turn the Digital Crown and the face shifts into night mode, glowing red so it does not wreck your night vision.
Louder speakers, three microphones, and a siren
The Ultra has two speakers instead of one, and Apple rates it about 40 percent louder than the Series 8, which matters if you take calls or listen to voice messages on your wrist. A three-microphone beamforming array with wind noise reduction isolates your voice outdoors, so callers hear you instead of the weather. The speakers also power the built-in 86 decibel emergency siren: hold the Action button and it builds to full volume, audible up to 180 metres away per Apple. If you are hurt or lost on a trail, you will be very glad it exists.
Dual-frequency GPS and Backtrack
Buried in the spec sheet is one of the Ultra’s best upgrades: dual-frequency GPS using both the L1 and L5 bands. At launch you could not get that on any other Apple Watch, or even on the newest iPhone. It delivers noticeably more accurate pace, distance and route tracking, especially in cities and canyons where signals bounce around. Paired with the Compass app’s Backtrack feature, which drops GPS breadcrumbs as you hike so you can retrace your route, the Ultra makes a real case for itself as an outdoor tool, not just a fitness tracker.
Water resistance and dive capability
The case is water resistant to 100 metres, double the regular Apple Watch, and it is a certified dive computer rated for recreational dives to 40 metres, with a depth gauge, a water temperature sensor, and automatic dive detection the moment it senses you have gone under. Most owners will never dive with it, but as a swim and water sports watch it is in a different league from the standard models.
Battery life: the daily-charge habit is over
Apple rates the Ultra at up to 36 hours of real-world use: workouts, calls, music, checking the watch all day. That is roughly double a regular Apple Watch, and early reviewers were already reporting two-plus days with sleep tracking in the mix. The shift matters more than the number: instead of a watch you charge every day, you charge in the morning and it comfortably lasts into the next day. Battery life was one of the headline reasons I bought this watch.
Bands and price
There are three band options, all new: the Alpine Loop for general outdoor use, the Trail Loop for endurance running, and the Ocean Band for diving. I went with the orange Alpine Loop in medium. Its titanium G-hook clasp locks in securely, and the fabric has a surprising amount of stretch, so it wears more like an elastic loop than the rigid strap it appears to be. Retail at launch was C$1,099 before tax; mine came to about C$1,230 all in, expensive enough that I skipped AppleCare.
Pros and cons
Pros
- First genuinely new Apple Watch design in years, not a variation
- Flat sapphire display with a raised protective lip, 2000 nits bright
- Customizable Action button, including full Shortcuts support
- 36 hour battery life doubles the regular Apple Watch
- Dual-frequency GPS, Backtrack, and an 86 dB emergency siren
- WR100 water resistance and a 40 metre dive computer
- Titanium case keeps a big watch light at 61.3 grams
Cons
- One size only: 49mm will overwhelm small wrists
- Thick case does not disappear under a shirt cuff
- Premium price, and most people will never dive or ultrarun with it
- The new Alpine Loop takes a little practice to put on
FAQ
How big is the Apple Watch Ultra?
It comes in one size only: a 49mm titanium case, about 14.4 mm thick and 61.3 grams. It wears more like a G-Shock than a regular Apple Watch, so if you have a small wrist, try one on before you buy.
How long does the Apple Watch Ultra battery last?
Apple rates it for up to 36 hours of typical use with workouts, calls and music in the mix. In practice, many owners get two days out of it, including sleep tracking.
Can you dive with the Apple Watch Ultra?
Yes. It is water resistant to 100 metres and certified as a dive computer for recreational dives to 40 metres, with a depth gauge, water temperature sensor and automatic dive detection.
Final verdict
The Apple Watch Ultra is the upgrade long-time Apple Watch owners have been waiting for: a physically different watch with features the regular models simply do not have, from the Action button and flat sapphire display to the siren and dual-frequency GPS. Yes, it is big, yes, it is expensive, and no, most of us are not ultrarunners or divers. But as a tougher, longer-lasting, more capable Apple Watch for everyday wear, it earns its name.