Watch Ultra is a good. But I prefer the Series 8 in stainless steel case.
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Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra Buyer's Guide
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I've not yet seen the Ultra in the flesh but for me I bought the Graphite SS series 8. I don't run in desserts, climb mountains or am likely to get lost in a jungle. For me I prefer the SS as it's a little more dressy and will look better for formal occasions and when in the office. That said, and as I say, I've not seen the Ultra yet!
Not that big. But the experience is very different. Example a phone call on this bad boy is loud and crystal clear.
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I can never go back. Once i put on the ultra it is like wao.
But do you think it would look good with the Apple link bracelet? Or the Milanese loop?
It will look good with any band but yes they will look good. But the orange alpine band not only feels good. Feels secure. It looks so good. I will def be picking up the green as well ocean band.
In that picture it looks wider than your wrist. It looks like a nice watch though.
I bought the Graphite SS series 8 but exactly the same as my series 6 so today picked up an Ultra. At least this feels like a new watch.
As long as you like it, that’s all that matters. I don’t like the look or the size of it personally but it’s great there’s choice across the range.
I wasn’t comparing it to the Graphite SS, but the standard AW. I have no interest in either at this point unless I find an S7 on a deal.
Its not stronger or harder generally but is ~40% lighter than high quality SS
AC is up to you, personally I never buy AC and am $1000's ahead for not getting it, YMMV and I always find it contradictory to buying a quality product in the 1st instance
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Me personally, I’m going to make sure I get AppleCare+, in case something happens. I’ll have peace of mind.
Most of the comments here are comparing the Ultra with the Apple Watch 8 Stainless steel, does anyone even buy SS? I would imagine that most punters would buy the aluminium version at well over 400 quid difference. Besides some features that most people will never use and Titanium case, the price is double, the only feature that I would like is the better screen.
I bought a series 8 (aluminium) on Thursday, mainly because I heard how good they are from all the comments on Mac Rumors, I have a Garmin Fenix 7 also, which is excellent, it has it's own browser based user site, always working and viewable heart rate monitor, always on steps monitor and in my opinion, the Garmin is by far the better watch, I may take the series 8 back. (I may be missing something in the settings, I will keep trying it for a week or so though to see if I am missing some tricks and I may be having a negative attitude because it is "different" which also happens) Certainly, if the user interface for the ultra is only watch and phone based it still doesn't beat the Garmin.
The Apple Watch does have facilities that my Fenix doesn't, it can unlock my Mac Book Air M2 and iPhone, it has Apple Pay, (Garmin Pay isn't supported by my bank in the UK), the Apple Watch does look more elegant.
I have a MacBook Air M2, Mac Book Pro (early 2015), iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, Air Pod pro's, iPhone 13 Pro (14 Pro delivered shortly) iPhone XR (wife's phone), and now a Apple Watch 8, so before I am flamed for my above impressions, I could hardly be considered as someone who doesn't like or enjoy Apple products, just giving an opinion through experience. Would I buy a Ultra? probably not, one can get a Fenix 7 cheaper or a Garmin Epix with a better screen than the Fenix for about the same price as the Ultra and would suit most peoples needs better.
I did consider the Ultra when making my decision to buy the Apple Watch 8 but for my use, the extra features and materials used would be wasted for my use.
I bought a series 8 (aluminium) on Thursday, mainly because I heard how good they are from all the comments on Mac Rumors, I have a Garmin Fenix 7 also, which is excellent, it has it's own browser based user site, always working and viewable heart rate monitor, always on steps monitor and in my opinion, the Garmin is by far the better watch, I may take the series 8 back. (I may be missing something in the settings, I will keep trying it for a week or so though to see if I am missing some tricks and I may be having a negative attitude because it is "different" which also happens) Certainly, if the user interface for the ultra is only watch and phone based it still doesn't beat the Garmin.
The Apple Watch does have facilities that my Fenix doesn't, it can unlock my Mac Book Air M2 and iPhone, it has Apple Pay, (Garmin Pay isn't supported by my bank in the UK), the Apple Watch does look more elegant.
I have a MacBook Air M2, Mac Book Pro (early 2015), iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, Air Pod pro's, iPhone 13 Pro (14 Pro delivered shortly) iPhone XR (wife's phone), and now a Apple Watch 8, so before I am flamed for my above impressions, I could hardly be considered as someone who doesn't like or enjoy Apple products, just giving an opinion through experience. Would I buy a Ultra? probably not, one can get a Fenix 7 cheaper or a Garmin Epix with a better screen than the Fenix for about the same price as the Ultra and would suit most peoples needs better.
I did consider the Ultra when making my decision to buy the Apple Watch 8 but for my use, the extra features and materials used would be wasted for my use.
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I think most people are buying the £400 aluminium Apple Watch but I suppose mac rumours has more enthusiasts that pay much more on the whole and these people don’t relate the common consumer with themselves. When you see how the finer details of these products are analysed here in a fashion most people wouldn’t dream about, it’s a totally different perception. I’d never pay £700-£900 for an Apple Watch that i’ll only use for 3-4 years. The aluminium models are plenty good enough. I may buy a stainless S7 if there’s a significant discount, but never at full original retail price. I think the Ultra is testament to the strength of Apples brand with its marmite design and bulky design.
Yep, I agree with this. The aluminium watch is (or should be) the consumers choice. I think that when considering the SS against the Ultra at basically the same price, the only difference is, "Which do I like the look of better."
For me it would be the SS S8 as I know I would be able to wear it with almost everything. Plus the Ultra is too big for me anyway as I only have 7” wrists. I do a fair bit of exercise like running but not diving and anything extreme enough to warrant an extreme sports AW. I do think most who buy it will be doing so because they like the bulky look of it though but thankfully there’s plenty of choice across the range.
I have worn big watches before and one gets used to them, it was only when I realised that, other people don't, they look at my wrist and think "That watch is just too big" Lol. I have a similar, if slightly smaller wrist as you and, although I haven't seen the ultra in person, would guess that it would be way too big for me. Having said that, at 47mm, the Fenix 7 doesn't look overly large, it may be the shape and that it looks more like a G shock that I can get away with it.
I preordered a series 8 graphite as with brown leather band and another of the new fabric bands.
The total price with the band upgrade was the same as the ultra and while mine is due for delivery tomorrow I likely won’t open it until I go to an Apple Store and look at the ultra.
I will never use the diving feature. My hiking is urban. I don’t get lost to need a siren.
I am though, 194cm and not a slight fellow, and I’m an ageing nerd. Im also the kid who loved wearing g shocks.
If they added another button to the 8 I probably would give my mature side that says spend the £850 on something you know will work with a suit if you ever start working in an office again, but as it stands, the ultra is probably the blueprint for what’s coming on the 9 to a degree.
One thing that would be useful, but is probably already available in another way, is dropping waypoints when I go out photographing London. While I live here, it’s a big place and I don’t know all of it. Right now I often line up s shot with the iohone and rely on that to come back when the light is right. Sometimes I want to go back the same way I came but frankly have lost track of which route I took. That’s about the closest I can get to justifying the ultra beyond. I want it cool fun new shiny.
I had a series 0 and now I have a series 2.
People saying their series 4/5/6 are beaten down, my battery still lasts 10 hours minimum including sleep tracking, but I do acknowledge I had to remove almost every app because it’s slow. I’ve managed to have one good chunk missing.
Anyway, we will see. The ultra is what my heart wants (assuming it fits as I think it will) while the 8 stainless is what my head says to get as someone getting older fast.
The total price with the band upgrade was the same as the ultra and while mine is due for delivery tomorrow I likely won’t open it until I go to an Apple Store and look at the ultra.
I will never use the diving feature. My hiking is urban. I don’t get lost to need a siren.
I am though, 194cm and not a slight fellow, and I’m an ageing nerd. Im also the kid who loved wearing g shocks.
If they added another button to the 8 I probably would give my mature side that says spend the £850 on something you know will work with a suit if you ever start working in an office again, but as it stands, the ultra is probably the blueprint for what’s coming on the 9 to a degree.
One thing that would be useful, but is probably already available in another way, is dropping waypoints when I go out photographing London. While I live here, it’s a big place and I don’t know all of it. Right now I often line up s shot with the iohone and rely on that to come back when the light is right. Sometimes I want to go back the same way I came but frankly have lost track of which route I took. That’s about the closest I can get to justifying the ultra beyond. I want it cool fun new shiny.
I had a series 0 and now I have a series 2.
People saying their series 4/5/6 are beaten down, my battery still lasts 10 hours minimum including sleep tracking, but I do acknowledge I had to remove almost every app because it’s slow. I’ve managed to have one good chunk missing.
Anyway, we will see. The ultra is what my heart wants (assuming it fits as I think it will) while the 8 stainless is what my head says to get as someone getting older fast.
Yes for me. Why buy insurance???? Just in case right?
Don’t you already have insurance on personal processions then? I insure my house and everything in it and have cover on items like mobile phones and personal possessions (up to £20k) outside the home for a little more than a single AppleCare plan costs.
