Apple Watch Ultra Reviews: Bigger and Better, But Not a Garmin Killer Yet

[cocky jeremy]

The screen size seems to be almost the same as the 45mm version its a very marginal difference.

Maybe. I need to see one in person. It looks huge in pictures/videos. The added battery life is also a plus too though.

 

[The Game 161]

Battery life is worth it for me alone. Great brightness outside as well ticks all the boxes. I will still likely stick it in the charger each night but be nice to never need to worry

 

[itunexify]

People on this forum are passionate about technology, so I can understand why they want this watch despite they’re not “extreme sportsmen”. New design, big battery life. BUT in the real world, people who don’t do intense sports care about the overall design of what they’re wearing, and this Ultra compared to the classic Series 8 is too huge and tacky. They’ll sell it to tech people and prosumer sportsmen, the others will buy Series 8 and SE

 

[deckard666]

New shell, much bigger battery and more features over the regular watch of the equivalent price if you were going SS, for me it was an instant decision to get one as an upgrade over the 7.

7yrs of the same shell design was getting boring.

Tell that to Tag, Rolex et al.....

 

[GuruZac]

Yes mine says that and has been sitting in Louisville, KY since yesterday evening.

Thanks for the heads up. Curious, how do you know yours is in KY? Are you using a UPS tracking number?

 

[Rogue AI]

Still don't get the "only for extreme users" sentiment. It's a titanium Apple Watch ($50 less than the prior titanium model) with double the battery life, a new button, a larger display, better microphone and speaker, and a new case design, for $50 more than the large stainless steel model. If you are a "normal" Apple Watch user with large enough wrists, there is literally no reason to not go for the Ultra.

"There is literally no reason to not go for the Ultra"

$250 more than the LTE AWS8 45mm + the chunkiness of it. That's why.

 

[Knowimagination]

Maybe. I need to see one in person. It looks huge in pictures/videos. The added battery life is also a plus too though.

For sure, not trying to discourage you just setting expectations it has more pixels but the physical size is quite a small difference.

I am excited to get mine on Friday and see how it looks.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Yes, but is that extra line really necessary? Will that one extra line change your life?

In multiple apps? Yes. the more info I can get at a glance from my watch the better.

 

[alexandr]

It has temperature sensors. It measure the temperature of water when diving.

Which is also nice)

 

[Fozziebear71]

But then they wouldn't be able to reduce the bezels next year.

 

[Rogue AI]

In multiple apps? Yes. the more info I can get at a glance from my watch the better.

That's a stretch.

 

[Momof2.1107]

Thanks for the heads up. Curious, how do you know yours is in KY? Are you using a UPS tracking number?

Yes. I tracked by reference and used my phone number. I was then given the tracking number and tracked it from China to KY.

 

[Fozziebear71]

Screen size alone will eventually wear me down and make my buy one.

But if you already have a 45mm Apple Watch the screen size is essentially the same.

 

[phillypharm]

If you’re really in the sports tech space, you’ll know to wait for DC and Des to post their reviews.

 

[no_idea]

LOL…do ppl really have their head in the sand and forget that android owns over 50% the smartphone market and that Apple Watches do not work on Android? There is no way an Apple Watch will kill garmin given its smaller market share

 

[macsplusmacs]

That's a stretch.

No its not. done with this.

 

[phillypharm]

LOL…do ppl really have their head in the sand and forget that android owns over 50% the smartphone market and that Apple Watches do not work on Android? There is no way an Apple Watch will kill garmin given its smaller market share

Not to mention if you want to use the cellular you can’t use prepaid plans either.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Yes, but is that extra line really necessary? Will that one extra line change your life?

You can say that about any larger verse smaller screen size. The difference here is it's a much much smaller screen. So whilst the difference in size seems minimal, it actually amounts to quite a bit.

 

[sniffies]

The bezels are thick for a practical purpose. The kind of people this is aimed at will choose that over a bigger screen and thinner bezels that will break when they tw-t it against the side of a mountain.

I believe @Kylo83 was talking about bezel as in the black border around the screen, not in the traditional sense of bezel used on analog watches.

Bezel on Apple Watches (or even iPhones, iPads, and Macs) do not play any role in protecting the screen because IT IS essentially screen. The metal frame around the screen is what protects the screen (to some extent), not bezel.

On analog watches, on the other hand, bezel is usually metal and is NOT part of the screen, therefore, it does protect the screen (to some extent).

 

[Knowimagination]

From one of the reviews. Sometimes more is more:

"That larger, powerfully lit screen can show six lines of data versus five lines while using Apple's Workout app."

I would assume this has to do more with the more pixels than the actual physical size of the screen.

 

[DMG35]

How can I trust The Verge's opinion on Apple Watch's form & function when their website design is horrible?

You win the comments. My God their site is atrocious.

 

[GuruZac]

Yes. I tracked by reference and used my phone number. I was then given the tracking number and tracked it from China to KY.

You rock. Last question (you’ve been super helpful!) is what reference number did you use? I haven’t been given anything from Apple other than order number.

 

[highdefjunkie]

This Apple Watch Ultra is the most compelling upgrade. I can’t wait till I get my AW Ultra on Friday.

Couldn't agree more. I cannot remember the last time I was this excited for a Apple product release.

 

[IzzyMandelbaum]

Apple Watch Ultra will start arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 23. Ahead of time, the first reviews of the high-end watch have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.

Inspired by the "most extreme activities" like hiking and scuba diving, the Apple Watch Ultra features a rugged design with a 49mm titanium case, a larger display with a flat sapphire crystal cover, new bands designed for the outdoors, water resistance up to a depth of 100 meters, a customizable bright orange "Action" button, up to 60 hours of battery life with an upcoming low power setting, and more.

We have rounded up both written and video reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra below.

Written Reviews

The Verge's Victoria Song shared her overall impressions:Song said in a week of testing the Apple Watch Ultra, she was "regularly blowing past" the device's advertised 36-hour battery life in standard mode:CNET's Lexy Savvides on pricing vs. the Series 8 and Garmin smartwatches:Savvides pointed out the Apple Watch Ultra's inability to download offline maps:The Wall Street Journal's Nicole Nguyen said the Apple Watch Ultra is "exciting," but "no Garmin killer" since it lacks features like recovery metrics:CNBC's Sofia Pitt said the Apple Watch Ultra's larger speaker is noticeable:TechRadar's Gareth Beavis appreciates the new "Action" button on the Apple Watch Ultra, but wishes it was even more customizable:Men's Journal's Michael Frank said the Apple Watch Ultra's brighter display with up to 2000 nits of brightness makes info easier to read:

Men's Health's Brett Williams on wearing the Apple Watch Ultra:Video Reviews

Article Link: Apple Watch Ultra Reviews: Bigger and Better, But Not a Garmin Killer Yet

Garmin?? Really?? Who uses Garmin anymore?

 

[davidf18]

Screen size alone will eventually wear me down and make my buy one.

Screen size is same as AW7. I was excited because I thought it was 49mm screen, but no.