Apple Watch Ultra is here! First impressions and photos thread

[GDF]

Thanks so much for the informative thread! You must be excited. I am also coming from a Hermes AW 7 to the Ultra. So far if you could only keep one, which do you think you would keep? I really like the Hermes watch faces, but besides that, that is it.

FYI - also have the same wrist size as you too! Lol.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Thanks so much for the informative thread! You must be excited. I am also coming from a Hermes AW 7 to the Ultra. So far if you could only keep one, which do you think you would keep? I really like the Hermes watch faces, but besides that, that is it.

FYI - also have the same wrist size as you too! Lol.

I'm keeping both! Hermes for office or special occasions with the leather bands, and sleep tracking with a sport loop. Then ultra for other every day use.

If you FORCED me to keep one, I'll keep the Hermes S7. Can't beat those beautiful watch faces!

 

[drew0020]

Thanks so much for the informative thread! You must be excited. I am also coming from a Hermes AW 7 to the Ultra. So far if you could only keep one, which do you think you would keep? I really like the Hermes watch faces, but besides that, that is it.

FYI - also have the same wrist size as you too! Lol.

I’m coming from the S7 Hermes also. I like (don’t love) the Hermes watch faces, but they really haven’t been optimized for the S7/8. Not a fan of the new horse face either plus the SS design is about 4 years old now. I do like the S7, but bored with the similar design (and the new Hermes bands this year) so I figured id try something new.

 

[Knowimagination]

Why do people think the bezels will get smaller? The bezels are there to protect the face, I doubt they’re going to change much. The Ultra is, and will likely remain, aimed at function over fashion

I think you are misunderstanding. They are talking about the black border around the screen, not the case.

 

[Al Rukh]

Congrats on getting your AW Ultra! Are you going to use it as a daily driver?

I dig the features and functionality but the size of it is just too big for me. I don’t have the biggest of wrists so I’ll just have to wait for Apple to hopefully make a smaller version of it and it might make me consider getting one for myself.

However I’m really digging the Ultra bands though. Ordered an Ocean Band for my S7.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Congrats on getting your AW Ultra! Are you going to use it as a daily driver?

I dig the features and functionality but the size of it is just too big for me. I don’t have the biggest of wrists so I’ll just have to wait for Apple to hopefully make a smaller version of it and it might make me consider getting one for myself.

However I’m really digging the Ultra bands though. Ordered an Ocean Band for my S7.

Yeh I'll use it daily when I'm not at work or in the office (it definitely won't fit under a shirt sleeve as my S7 won't fit already).

 

[Tokenfreak]

Does it looks good with the stainless steel link band you have? If you can post more pictures with that band on your wrist I’d appreciate it. If not it’s all good. Thanks for your post.

 

[Analog Kid]

I think you are misunderstanding. They are talking about the black border around the screen, not the case.

Why do you think that border is there on the Ultra and not the 8?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I just received delivery of the Apple Watch Ultra with green alpine loop in Sydney Australia. I also bought the orange alpine loop.

@TheYayAreaLiving 🎗 - As promised I made a first impressions thread anyway even though a lot of you lucky Americans have got the watch already!

First impressions:

• Packaging is nice and offers a different, more premium unboxing experience.
• The watch is not as big as I expected. The case is bigger and thicker but it doesn’t feel heavier on the wrist compared to the S7 stainless steel.
• For reference, my wrist size is 155mm and I wear a Size 5 solo loop. The two alpine loops I have are both size small.
• The natural titanium looks and feels premium. I’ve always had stainless steel versions so I’m interested to see what the wear and tear will look like
• The G hook on the alpine loop will take some getting used to. It wasn’t easy to take the watch on and off.
• The flat screen looks and feels amazing to swipe on and it’s a clear differentiator from the standard series.
• Display area is only slightly bigger than my Series 7 and the bezels are noticeable. They’re probably waiting til next year to reduce them and make it an incentive to upgrade.
• Action button is useful for starting workouts. Will need to play around more to see what secondary functions I can assign to it.

Comparison pics are with my Series 7 Hermès.

Band pics include sport band, solo loop, braided solo loop, leather loop, leather link, Milanese loop, steel link bracelet and some Hermès leather single tours.

Happy to take questions!

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Thank you so much @Boardiesboi

Congratulations and Excellent job with the review. There are many of us in America still waiting for the Apple Watch Ultra. Only the AT&T customers got lucky this year.

You even got much high in demand AW bands. Say what!!! Love the photos and comparison you posted. AW Ultra is looking way too good on your wrist. Congrats again!!!⌚️😊🥳🎉👏🍾

 

[F308gt4]

Here you go!

Thanks! That looks great!!!

 

[Fozziebear71]

Why do you think that border is there on the Ultra and not the 8?

The border is glass. It’s not protecting anything. The original Apple Watch had a thick border like that and everytime they “increased” the screen size all they did was decrease the border size. It has nothing to do with protecting the screen because it is a part of it. Definitely in a year or two they will increase the screen size. Without a doubt.

 

[ndouglas]

////Love the photos and comparison you posted. AW Ultra is looking way too good on your wrist. Congrats again!!! 😊🥳🎉👏🍾
////


Agree 100% —-^ great pics and info. Enjoy the new purchase, it looks awesome!

 

[NonSoft]

The border is glass. It’s not protecting anything. The original Apple Watch had a thick border like that and everytime they “increased” the screen size all they did was decrease the border size. It has nothing to do with protecting the screen because it is a part of it. Definitely in a year or two they will increase the screen size. Without a doubt.

You may be right, they may slim down the bezel to increase the screen size, but the current Ultra should absolutely reduce protect the glass.
Taking the photos from this thread, it’s clear to see on the non-ultra model that the glass is more exposed whereas on the ultra it’s protected by titanium. I don’t see how that wouldn’t increase protection of the glass.

 

[Fozziebear71]

You may be right, they may slim down the bezel to increase the screen size, but the current Ultra should absolutely reduce protect the glass.
Taking the photos from this thread, it’s clear to see on the non-ultra model that the glass is more exposed whereas on the ultra it’s protected by titanium. I don’t see how that wouldn’t increase protection of the glass.

You are talking about the case/housing of the watch. Not the bezel of the screen. Two different things.

 

[BaddAdvice]

Looking good! Thanks for the quick review - it's making the wait for tomorrow even harder for us folks in the States!

 

[NonSoft]

You are talking about the case/housing of the watch. Not the bezel of the screen. Two different things.

That makes sense but then they didn’t just decrease the border size in previous generations for a larger screen size as they were increasing the case size as well.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Does it looks good with the stainless steel link band you have? If you can post more pictures with that band on your wrist I’d appreciate it. If not it’s all good. Thanks for your post.

It looks surprisingly good. The material isn’t exactly the same but they go well together. Might have to wear this combo more

 

[An-apple-a-day]

I thought I had small wrists (170mm)... it's reassuring to know that it won't totally look like a 1982 Sony color TV strapped to my wrist.

Regarding straps, if you want the sensors (particularly the heart rate sensor) to be consistently accurate (and far more so than the competition -- even the Garmin watches) during running or mountain biking, then the watch has to rest more tightly against the wrist during such activity, otherwise it will rhythmically bounce away from a position of good contact. The bigger the watch, the more this is applicable. Therefore, when choosing a strap for the Ultra, the relative ease of quick adjustments should be taken into account.

 

[Coreymac84]

Looks unique. It’s definitely not for me… that is simply way too big. I hope it was everything you hoped for though congrats on the purchase

 

[Analog Kid]

The border is glass. It’s not protecting anything. The original Apple Watch had a thick border like that and everytime they “increased” the screen size all they did was decrease the border size. It has nothing to do with protecting the screen because it is a part of it. Definitely in a year or two they will increase the screen size. Without a doubt.

I think there's some loose language making the conversation a little hard to follow.

The bezel is the metal rim around the cover glass. Your first comment was that the bezel will get smaller. My question later was why people think bezels will get smaller.

Now you’re using border in two different ways. You're saying the border is glass, but they shrunk the border to make the screen larger. I don't think they reduced the glass to make the screen larger. I think they reduced the unused area under the glass to make the screen larger.

I'm not trying to be pedantic, but just don't want to chase language around.

Whether we're talking bezels, borders or whatever, I don't think it changes my question. What I’m trying to figure out is why people think the additional border, which I'll define as the space between the active pixels and the outer edge of the bezel, is there on the Ultra and not the 8.

 

[Tokenfreak]

It looks surprisingly good. The material isn’t exactly the same but they go well together. Might have to wear this combo more

It does look nice with that combo. That might be my go to combo when I get mine. Thanks for the pictures. You’re awesome!

 

[jgibbs1685]

My wrist is 178 mm and ordered a large alpine loop. Apple says a large band fits 165 mm to 210 mm… I’m starting to wonder if I should have gone with a medium now.

 

[calstanford]

Honestly it looks way too big on you. Sorry mate.

 

[aamoren3]

Honestly it looks way too big on you. Sorry mate.

A matter of taste? I have similar sized wrists as OP and I think it looks dope!

 

[Boardiesboi]

A matter of taste? I have similar sized wrists as OP and I think it looks dope!

No one's opinion matter other than your own.

If you like it then rock it. If you think it's too big on your wrist and it's cumbersome and gaudy, return it.

Life is too short and I've learnt to enjoy what pleases me the most.