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Apple Watch Ultra is here! First impressions and photos thread
- Thread starter Boardiesboi
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Still "wow." But sounds more like either a hardware problem or some super-rare coincidental failure of hardware and OS combined?
I don't surf either, but my older son (34 yo) does and surfers can be exposed to forces that surprised me. But I think I've read that that band has a little stretch in it (like the other two), and if you had it snugged up I would think it would be very secure.
That's just about the most backhanded way of providing a positive comment on battery life that I've ever read. 😂
Thanks, found that - it doesn't come across very well in the face gallery. Looks stunning on your watch!
Yes I’m curious about the ocean band for surfing. Don’t trust anything with a clasp:anybody surf with it yet?
I prefer the solo loop in a slightly tighter size.
Some more impressions of the watch and bands after a few days now...
1. I returned my extra Starlight Alpine Loop to the Apple Store for a Midnight Ocean Band. I'll keep the Green Alpine Band that came with the Ultra as I kind of like the "military nylon" look of it but the Starlight, and overall the Alpine band, was not attractive enough to want more than one copy of it. I just don't think the lugs look that great on me and the fabric folding over itself at the lugs gives the band a bit of a busy look. Again the green will be a nice change of pace band but that's enough for me. (As I mentioned earlier, I do find it comfortable and I do find it easy to use.)
2. The Ocean Band is what I thought I'd like least after the event but in person it looks and feels great. First off it is a very conventional watch band in that you have a normal pin and tuck the remaining strap under a loop style (like a normal watch, not the Sports Band Apple made famous.) The unique twist is rather than a loop that slides for tucking the tail of the band in, you get an extra titanium loop you can lock at a custom to you position on the band for the tail to tuck into. It's a minor classy touch, but not a big deal to be honest. What makes the band look good is how thick (not wide, this is actually the same width of normal sports loops or solo loops for a 45mm, it's exactly the same to my surprise) the band is with a 3d rolling wave texture formed by hollow tubes all the way around the band. The thickness and 3d texture create a "largeness" to the band that complements the Ultra very nicely. It's obviously easy to put on as a conventional watch strap and is very comfortable to me. I can't help but think this will end up the most popular band once people see it, perhaps only thrown off by the idea of paying $99 for a silicone band (albeit with titanium loops). I do wonder with all these small hollow tubes on the band how it will look after lets say dirt or salt water gets into them... how dirty will it be? You'd almost need a toothpick to ram out dirt particles or salt deposits from the very tiny tubes.
3. I wrote elsewhere I didn't like using my 45mm old bands with the Ultra because they seemed too narrow. I think my opinion is changing. I had tried it with a few Nike bands but something about the holes and width of the band threw me off. When I paired the Ultra to my extensive collection of Solo and Braided Loops I thought all looked amazing. Very clean look paired with the Ultra and I think they looked great. When I got my Ocean Band today I was surprised it was the same width as my 45 Solo and Braided Loops, I had assumed it would be wider like the Alpine Band... but even being less wide the Ocean Band really looks good on the Ultra.
4. Battery life has been very good. I use 1% or less per hour!!!! when in sleep mode with the screen off. During the day the burn goes up quite a bit but I could make 36 to likely 48+ hours with ease. I still charge daily but the extra battery capacity means I no longer have to plan WHEN to charge to avoid multiple charges per day. For example with my old Series 7 I would always charge as late as I could in the evening to give me as close to 100% when I went to bed (I wear it during sleep) so that I could make it almost to the next evening. If I charged too early in the day I would know I would have to charge again before bed OR have to charge immediately the next morning. Realistically I had to always charge TWICE a day to wear the Series 7 at night. I always had to "pay attention" to the battery life of the watch to make it work. Now? I can charge the watch anytime each day, ANYTIME, just once and know it will be good to go.
5. I still love the look and feel of the Ultra. I realize just how much I had tired of the smooth pebble that is Apple Watch after 7 years and this now looks so much more like a watch due to the metal bezels and size. In many ways it looks lower tech than the incredible edge to edge design of Series 7 & 8 but I just wanted a "watch" again.
6. I still have on order a trail band for running that is due in November. I will closely look at how it differs in feel and use from the Sports Loops already available (the ones with nylon and velcro and a lug on one end) as it appears really similar. I hope its at least wider for the Ultra, or softer or something, because if the only difference is a titanium lug I think I'll end up returning it. I plan on using it for long hikes or runs to make adjusting the band on the fly easy... but no way I'll justify $100 for a band if I already own multiple $50 bands that are essentially the same thing. I would have assumed it was wider but since the Ocean Band isn't I'm not sure about the Trail Loop (the Alpine IS wider.)
1. I returned my extra Starlight Alpine Loop to the Apple Store for a Midnight Ocean Band. I'll keep the Green Alpine Band that came with the Ultra as I kind of like the "military nylon" look of it but the Starlight, and overall the Alpine band, was not attractive enough to want more than one copy of it. I just don't think the lugs look that great on me and the fabric folding over itself at the lugs gives the band a bit of a busy look. Again the green will be a nice change of pace band but that's enough for me. (As I mentioned earlier, I do find it comfortable and I do find it easy to use.)
2. The Ocean Band is what I thought I'd like least after the event but in person it looks and feels great. First off it is a very conventional watch band in that you have a normal pin and tuck the remaining strap under a loop style (like a normal watch, not the Sports Band Apple made famous.) The unique twist is rather than a loop that slides for tucking the tail of the band in, you get an extra titanium loop you can lock at a custom to you position on the band for the tail to tuck into. It's a minor classy touch, but not a big deal to be honest. What makes the band look good is how thick (not wide, this is actually the same width of normal sports loops or solo loops for a 45mm, it's exactly the same to my surprise) the band is with a 3d rolling wave texture formed by hollow tubes all the way around the band. The thickness and 3d texture create a "largeness" to the band that complements the Ultra very nicely. It's obviously easy to put on as a conventional watch strap and is very comfortable to me. I can't help but think this will end up the most popular band once people see it, perhaps only thrown off by the idea of paying $99 for a silicone band (albeit with titanium loops). I do wonder with all these small hollow tubes on the band how it will look after lets say dirt or salt water gets into them... how dirty will it be? You'd almost need a toothpick to ram out dirt particles or salt deposits from the very tiny tubes.
3. I wrote elsewhere I didn't like using my 45mm old bands with the Ultra because they seemed too narrow. I think my opinion is changing. I had tried it with a few Nike bands but something about the holes and width of the band threw me off. When I paired the Ultra to my extensive collection of Solo and Braided Loops I thought all looked amazing. Very clean look paired with the Ultra and I think they looked great. When I got my Ocean Band today I was surprised it was the same width as my 45 Solo and Braided Loops, I had assumed it would be wider like the Alpine Band... but even being less wide the Ocean Band really looks good on the Ultra.
4. Battery life has been very good. I use 1% or less per hour!!!! when in sleep mode with the screen off. During the day the burn goes up quite a bit but I could make 36 to likely 48+ hours with ease. I still charge daily but the extra battery capacity means I no longer have to plan WHEN to charge to avoid multiple charges per day. For example with my old Series 7 I would always charge as late as I could in the evening to give me as close to 100% when I went to bed (I wear it during sleep) so that I could make it almost to the next evening. If I charged too early in the day I would know I would have to charge again before bed OR have to charge immediately the next morning. Realistically I had to always charge TWICE a day to wear the Series 7 at night. I always had to "pay attention" to the battery life of the watch to make it work. Now? I can charge the watch anytime each day, ANYTIME, just once and know it will be good to go.
5. I still love the look and feel of the Ultra. I realize just how much I had tired of the smooth pebble that is Apple Watch after 7 years and this now looks so much more like a watch due to the metal bezels and size. In many ways it looks lower tech than the incredible edge to edge design of Series 7 & 8 but I just wanted a "watch" again.
6. I still have on order a trail band for running that is due in November. I will closely look at how it differs in feel and use from the Sports Loops already available (the ones with nylon and velcro and a lug on one end) as it appears really similar. I hope its at least wider for the Ultra, or softer or something, because if the only difference is a titanium lug I think I'll end up returning it. I plan on using it for long hikes or runs to make adjusting the band on the fly easy... but no way I'll justify $100 for a band if I already own multiple $50 bands that are essentially the same thing. I would have assumed it was wider but since the Ocean Band isn't I'm not sure about the Trail Loop (the Alpine IS wider.)
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Love the band, but the ultra kind of screams utilitarian and not fine luxury. Think this watch functions better on the canvas straps or rubber - but as many opinions as people here
A bit like putting leather on a diver watch - some people love it but I think it’s just wrong.
it's a regular watch band with a loop and pin, and then an additional loop for tucking the end of the strap in. just like a normal watch we have all had. the unique twist is the loops lock into the rolling texture on the band created by the hollow tubes that form its structure. the silicone is also very, very thick... probable 3x thicker or more than Solo Loops. I can't see this coming off before your ARM comes off the way it is designed. my bread and butter daily wear Solo Loops have never failed me but there is no doubt in my mind they are far more likely to rip from force or twist to flip your Apple Watch upside down than the Ocean Band would ever unclasp itself (and it just won't rip or twist because of the structure of how it is designed.) I think you are more than good to go with the Ocean Band for ANY activity where you need total watch security.
Just showered with the alpine loop for the first time. (TMI?)
It's still a little wet but nothing annoying.
Solo loop would be dry pretty much imediately.
It's still a little wet but nothing annoying.
Solo loop would be dry pretty much imediately.
Still one of my favourite faces. How does Contour look on the Ultra?
It's fine but it looks much better on my Series 7 due to going further to the edges and curving vs. the flat display on the Ultra. In particular it looks maybe a bit strange when in its dimmed state because of the increased bezels.
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yeah definitely loses its impact. thanks for the photos, was curious of this.
can we see it if it goes to the edge? forgot to try this watch face out when I played with one for two minutes at the store the other day
I am upgrading from the Series 4. I don't think it came with that watch.
When contour looks like this on the ultra, why can’t we get it on series 6 and below?
make sure you look at BOTH of my pictures. when you view the Contour watch face it expands outwards to the edge of the display... the problem is there is a significant black bezel on the Ultra that doesn't exist on the Series 7/8 and there is no curve. When the Contour face goes dim (ie. you aren't looking at the watch) it contracts away from the edges of the display (even on the Series 7/8) and that makes the bezel issue on the Ultra even worse. I have pictures of both states to see what I mean, but my pictures are absolutely representative of what I'm seeing with my own eyes looking at my Ultra. Believe me I far prefer the Ultra and its overall look, its just this one particular face I feel is nicer on the Series 7/8.
For real. I have always went with the larger screen, not that the s8 is bad by any means, I just like bigger screens period. It’s a good thing the s8 has a smaller screen or I would have been torn a little lol. I put to much stock in having the biggest screen. Always PRO, MAX, ULTRA, Bigger, better, brighter, tougher, stronger, longer. I just keeps going and going, the list continues. It’s not for everyone considering the price, and a midrange model will get the job done for many. I am surprised people even thought there wouldn’t be a bezel. Where does that come from, lol. To each their own. If I did choose an s8 it would have to be a non-aluminum and have sapphire glass. But I do get hung up on having the larger screen on the AWU. My text reads aok, my settings are correct.👍
Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification I see what you mean
Yeah wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, not my favorite watch face, but I do put it on sometimes on my s7 and dont mind it
nice to be reminded of being on new-ish hardware haha
I have to be missing something. All of Apple Watches have a black bezel. Here is the bezel on the s8. Is it the “design“ of the ultra that people don’t like? Maybe they prefer the pebble glass. I can see how the design with the titanium around the watch adding some extra “watch“ on the sides, but the bezel on the s8 is definitely there too. I keep running across this argument if you will, on different threads about the “bezel” and I have deduced it to the design. In all honesty there isn’t much difference between the screens and bezels on the ultra and s8, but the design adds a decent amount of hardware and flattens the screen around what would almost be identical if the titanium were removed and the ultras glass/bezel were “pebbled down“ on the edges. pardon me, I am just trying to figure out what it actually is that makes the argument about screen size come down to the bezel. All of apples watches have a decent black bezel don’t they? Is it just the s7 watch face? ya, that looks funky on apples “non pebble“ ultra, but is still available for people that have the s7 and s8. Maybe I will just rock that watch face for awhile and see if I can get annoyed enough about it to understand lol.
According to Apple's drawings:
On the Ultra, the distance from the "active area" to edge of glass is 2.0 mm, and the distance from the edge of glass to edge of watch is 3.0 mm, for a total edge distance of 5.0 mm. (Excluding the crown and crown bump out.)
On the S7/S8, the distance from the "active area" to edge of glass is 1.7 mm, and the distance from the edge of glass to edge of watch is 1.8 mm, for a total edge distance of 3.5 mm.
On the Ultra, the distance from the "active area" to edge of glass is 2.0 mm, and the distance from the edge of glass to edge of watch is 3.0 mm, for a total edge distance of 5.0 mm. (Excluding the crown and crown bump out.)
On the S7/S8, the distance from the "active area" to edge of glass is 1.7 mm, and the distance from the edge of glass to edge of watch is 1.8 mm, for a total edge distance of 3.5 mm.
