Apple Watch Ultra is here! First impressions and photos thread

[Boardiesboi]

Anyone got a pic of the ocean band on a 45mm watch?

Here you go!

The 45mm feels so small after wearing the ultra for a day haha

 

[powerslave65]

Well the watch did not disappoint! The screen is legible, and bright. All the little details like the crown guard make it look more analog which is a nice throwback.

 

[GorillaHead]

What are the chances of Apple introducing Dynamic Island in the Apple Watch Ultra 2 in 2023?

Practically none bescause it wont get face id and or camera. Camera in apple watch is at least 3 iterations away

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Very nice. And impressive strap collection! I particularly like the Link Bracelet, Milanese Loop, and Leather Link — these all look great with the Ultra.

 

[Sanlitun]

Is anyone finding that the ambient light sensor is making the Ultra too dim at night? It was great this afternoon but after the sun has gone down it's too dim. Even less legible with the same face as my trusty series 6.

Any fixes?

 

[GorillaHead]

Is anyone finding that the ambient light sensor is making the Ultra too dim at night? It was great this afternoon but after the sun has gone down it's too dim. Even less legible with the same face as my trusty series 6.

Any fixes?

Dude that’s crazy I legit just searched this issue like an hour ago. Looks like the ambient sensor is too sensitive. only solution is more ambient light until they tweak it a bit

 

[Sanlitun]

Dude that’s crazy I legit just searched this issue like an hour ago. Looks like the ambient sensor is too sensitive. only solution is more ambient light until they tweak it a bit

Another thing it's doing is that when I turn my wrist the brightness ramps up. Almost a flash and it's really annoying.

I may try a restore tomorrow and see where that goes. The watch being so dim almost a deal breaker.

 

[GorillaHead]

Another thing it's doing is that when I turn my wrist the brightness ramps up. Almost a flash and it's really annoying.

I may try a restore tomorrow and see where that goes. The watch being so dim almost a deal breaker.

That’s normal I believe. if u have always on display it will be very dim. And then if have wake on raise the brightness goes up and should stay the same if u continue Use.

 

[ddsforlife]

I absolutely love my Ultra! I preordered with the blue trail loop and it’s suppose to come in like a month and so I was able to grab one with the orange alpine in the Apple Store today! Also tried with the blue solo loop. 👍🏻 Sweet!

 

[MLVC]

I absolutely love my Ultra! I preordered with the blue trail loop and it’s suppose to come in like a month and so I was able to grab one with the orange alpine in the Apple Store today! Also tried with the blue solo loop. 👍🏻 Sweet!

Think the Alpine band should be attached the other way around. According to Apple though.

 

[garry.gm]

Okay so this is my perspective on the ultra after wearing it for 12 hours. Yes it’s early days but this is my views on the Apple Watch ultra.
I have replaced my watch every year ever since the series 0 came out so I’m used to the annual advances that the Apple Watch has made and this is without a doubt the best watch that Apple have produced.
When I ordered it, I was dubious about the size but having a number of watches from Rolexes to Casios, there is no doubt that this is a man’s watch. It’s not as chunky as some of the traditional mechanical watches but still has a presence and is not as big as the photos suggest. I am an athlete and slim but I have 7.25 inch wrists and it fits my wrist perfectly with space to spare. I have loved all my Apple watches and had a number of stainless steels through to ceramic but being square, they have their place. Yes they look good when going to the office and yes they look good on a night out or on a date with a girl but for every day use when hanging out with the guys at a bar or trips to the coast, the previous watches do look out of place a little bit as they are far too dressy. The ultra watch fits in perfectly for time spent on leisure activities or with out the guys. It also looks good enough to be perfectly acceptable in the office with the right band because it oozes quality. If Apple produced a black version of the watch I would be all over it.
The advantages over the standard series 8 and series 7 make this watch well worthwhile. After wearing it for 11 hours I have lost 7% of battery life and with my Series 7 I would’ve lost 16%. Yes it has a bezel but then so did the series 0 and series 2. I have no doubt that Apple will reduce the basel next year to make the screen even larger. As well as a superior battery life, the screen is bright and I mean really bright and even AOD seems 75%as bright as a series 7 fully lit. The screen is only marginally bigger than the 7/8 but it seems a lot bigger because it’s a flat screen and certainly is easier to read. It’s fast as well and though it doesn’t have a new processor, Apple seems to have tweaked it because it’s lightning fast and responsive. I’m not a huge fan of the new bands and I wore it with a Nike 45 mm band tonight and it looked absolutely great. The crown feels a lot studier then previous watches and is easier to operate and the watch shouts quality. Yes it is thicker than other Apple watches but not distracting or as thick as many mechanical mens watches and it certainly doesn’t look out of place on my wrist and I had a lot of admiring comments from people in a bar tonight. Without meaning to sound sexist this is certainly a man’s watch because of its footprint. The speakers are a lot louder than the previous watches and the microphone is super responsive. Every time I lift my rest and say “hey Siri” it picks up every time and I didn’t have nearly that same level of success with the series 7. The new faces with the options for eight complications is fantastic and every face looks bigger.
As I said, I was dubious about ordering the ultra but this was definitely the right decision for me. It may not be to everybody’s taste but don’t knock it until you try it. It has exceeded all my expectations and although it’s a watch designed for people that are extremely active outdoors and I only spent 10% of my time doing exercise, I think that Apple have got this exactly right and this would suit any casual admirer that is on the shelf about deciding whether to order a series 8 or an ultra.
Everyone in the stands thinks they are an expert but reserve judgment until you have one on your wrist and try it for a few hours. Believe me, for the soothsayers you may well be surprised.

I really like your review. I’m an athletic build and have tiny wrists but the watch looks much better in person than you can glean from pictures. I can feel my Y chromosome gaining +10 points. Which has never ever happened before.

I have always had a SS Apple Watch (0,2,4,6,7) in different colours. They are sleek and professional looking. I have a a fairly huge strap collection, so pretty invested but wanted to give this a try as I have never dared use my AW for open water sports.

The ultra is a bit more sporty, and I’m not keen on some of the original straps with it. But it’s a solid piece. Definitely looks good enough to move between active, day and office. But I’d probably use my 7 for night/special occasions etc. There isn’t any reason you couldn’t use the ultra though, that’s just a preference decision.

Really like it. Love the alpine loop (green and orange).

Some of the full screen watch faces (contour, pride, unity) look less slick, due to the styling/borders (where the effect is to melt around the edges or look infinite) but most work great.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

I really like your review. I’m an athletic build and have tiny wrists but the watch looks much better in person than you can glean from pictures. I can feel my Y chromosome gaining +10 points. Which has never ever happened before.

I have always had a SS Apple Watch (0,2,4,6,7) in different colours. They are sleek and professional looking. I have a a fairly huge strap collection, so pretty invested but wanted to give this a try as I have never dared use my AW for open water sports.

The ultra is a bit more sporty, and I’m not keen on some of the original straps with it. But it’s a solid piece. Definitely looks good enough to move between active, day and office. But I’d probably use my 7 for night/special occasions etc. There isn’t any reason you couldn’t use the ultra though, that’s just a preference decision.

Really like it. Love the alpine loop (green and orange).

Some of the full screen watch faces (contour, pride, unity) look less slick, due to the styling/borders (where the effect is to melt around the edges or look infinite) but most work great.

Yep great points you make and photos can be deceiving. As soon as I put it in my wrist it felt right and a perfect fit with my old watch bands

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Great perspective but how in the world you lose only 7% in 11 hours? That would mean that watch would last you 150 hours!! Please tell us a secret or is that a typo?

No seriously, that wasn’t a typo. Very light use though. What I have found with the watches is that they stay on 100% for a couple of hours and then start to loose charge at around 3 to 4% an hour so I could squeeze around 25 hours out of previous gen watches with light use. I think I could get the 36 hours that apple quote from this watch

 

[Fried_Gold]

Here you go!

The 45mm feels so small after wearing the ultra for a day haha
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Looks awesome, thanks! Might pick one up so if I do end up getting the ultra I all ready have one of the bands.

 

[cambookpro]

For anyone coming from a 44/45mm watch with a Solo Loop - does the increase in the size of the Ultra mean the loops no longer fit you properly (imagining they may be too loose)? Or are the lugs recessed deeper in the Ultra, so the change is more minimal? Thanks!

 

[richardtekel]

165 mm wrist here (6.5 inches). Still not decided if S8 or Ultra 🙂 Want upgrade from S4.

 

[GuruZac]

Do you find rotating the top and bottom part of the strap fits differently? I tried both and I still find it a little hard for my hand to slip through

Yeah, but I think in my case I ordered a small, instead of a medium which would have worked better and made putting on the Watch strap a little easier.

 

[GuruZac]

165 mm wrist here (6.5 inches). Still not decided if S8 or Ultra 🙂 Want upgrade from S4.

There’s only one way to go-Ultra. 😉

 

[RPhoto]

For anyone coming from a 44/45mm watch with a Solo Loop - does the increase in the size of the Ultra mean the loops no longer fit you properly (imagining they may be too loose)? Or are the lugs recessed deeper in the Ultra, so the change is more minimal? Thanks!

The casing is 4 or 5mm longer, so any loops that can’t be adjusted, won’t fit as snug as before.

 

[GrandeLatte]

165 mm wrist here (6.5 inches). Still not decided if S8 or Ultra 🙂 Want upgrade from S4.

Ultra looks better on you.

 

[daystar]

Ultra with NOMAD Titanium band 😍

 

[Bazooka-joe]

Ultra with NOMAD Titanium band 😍
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That looks classy

 

[xxBlack]

Quick ride with the ultra. I lost 10% in 2:30h with AOD off and polar h10 chest strap

 

[Kylo83]

Here you go!

The 45mm feels so small after wearing the ultra for a day haha
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The 45mm has the same display if not more space

 

[Kylo83]

After 24 hours wearing the ultra I went back to series 7 45mm and it feels amazing so much nicer and better display apart from brightness, just my opinion but the ultra is annoying sharp edges dust goes between screen and case the crown is harder to use and the rounded corners make images and text smaller