How impractical/ridiculous is the Ultra on small wrists?

[RedTheReader]

I’ve got a tiny wrist: only about 150mm. The Ultra still attracts me because it seems so utilitarian thanks mostly to it’s large screen and endurant battery. I’m curious what users here who’ve already got one and are similarly (if not quite as) small think of the practicality of actually wearing this thing?

I don’t want to look too ridiculous, and there’s also the angle of comfort that’s hard to gauge just by trying something on for a few minutes in a store.

 

[jz0309]

read thru here: Look how big Apple Watch Ultra is on a small wrist!

 

[Spike77777]

I like the look of the Ultra but the size is just too big. My wrist is a little larger at around 165mm, have a S4 44mm and just picked up a S7 41mm. The larger display is nice but not planning to read an article or long email on the watch, that's what the phone is for and even then it could be viewed better on an iPad or computer.
I'd consider the Ultra if they made them in a smaller size but seeing some of the small wrists with the Ultra is almost comical.

 

[Pink2]

My wrist is the same as yours and I don’t think it’s too big for my wrist. I find it comfortable and am happy I got it. I think you should try it for yourself.

 

[Mr.C]

If you have an Apple Store near you the best thing is to go try it out. The other option is to buy one from Apple direct and if you’re not happy with it return it within 14 days.

 

[Night Spring]

I’ve got a tiny wrist: only about 150mm.

If 150mm is tiny, what are people like me who have even smaller wrists supposed to call ours? Super-tiny? ultra-tiny?

Apple claims the Ultra fits wrists from 130mm and up. Does it look ridiculous on that small a wrist? That's a subjective judgement. Is it comfortable? Again, that would depend on the person wearing it. For me, the main problem is the thickness -- I can wear loose sleeves with it, but tight sleeves can be a problem. The big screen is a delight, though. The weight I'm actually getting used to. I'll probably be returning the ultra and getting the S8, but I think everyone should try it on, if they are interested.

 

[ivanwi11iams]

This to me, doesn't look good...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-ultra-is-here-first-impressions-and-photos-thread.2361468/post-31608510

 

[imaginex20]

This to me, doesn't look good...

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apple-watch-ultra-is-here-first-impressions-and-photos-thread.2361468/post-31608510

This has got to be a joke. Lol

 

[aurora_sect]

It's an individual decision, but I think Apple should make a smaller size Ultra in the future so people with small wrists have a better fitting option. I think I might find the Ultra a bit too big for much smaller than my ~175mm wrists. Of course there will be a few trade-offs such as with battery life.

 

[Danfango]

This has got to be a joke. Lol

Nah this is what it looks like on tiny wrists.

Quite frankly I was fat as hell a few years back. Went from 130Kg down to 63Kg. There's veins and bones in my wrists and nothing else now. The smaller S7 looks big.

If I put the Ultra on my wrist it'd look like a pip-boy:

I was considering it anyway but bought myself some new walking boots and a new GPS instead...

 

[imaginex20]

Nah this is what it looks like on tiny wrists.

Quite frankly I was fat as hell a few years back. Went from 130Kg down to 63Kg. There's veins and bones in my wrists and nothing else now. The smaller S7 looks big.

If I put the Ultra on my wrist it'd look like a pip-boy:

I was considering it anyway but bought myself some new walking boots and a new GPS instead...

Congrats on your weight loss. That’s a significant drop in weight.

 

[Dealmans]

hope it stays same size, less people wearing then the better, S1-8 is dime a dozen.

 

[davedvdy]

hope it stays same size, less people wearing then the better, S1-8 is dime a dozen.

I do wonder though if that makes the Ultra that much more of a target for thieves.

 

[RedTheReader]

hope it stays same size, less people wearing then the better, S1-8 is dime a dozen.

If you value that then fair enough, but it’s an Apple Watch. It’s always going to be common since it’s a commodity consumer electronic product, like the iPhone.

 

[HDFan]

I don’t want to look too ridiculous

If other peoples' opinion of your watch makes a difference to you, and your wrist is small like post #8, then don't buy it since it will look unusual. If you don't care and want its features then make the purchase.

I had ordered the standard watch since the Ultra is rather ugly, primarily due to its size. After Gurman said that he loved it, due to battery life, changed my mind and returned the regular, good looking, watch. Ultra won't arrive until November 6 or so. Don't particularly care if people stare, although I don't have small wrists.

 

[Howard2k]

hope it stays same size, less people wearing then the better, S1-8 is dime a dozen.

Probably won’t be too many wearing a Pebble these days. Maybe that’s a better fit?

 

[sjperformance]

Small wrist here. I’m amazed how smaller in hand the ultra looks and feel. Been wearing a Rolex for the last 10 years. Overall case with crown even a BLNR with a 40mm wears bigger than a ultra watch. Also the weight is night and day. Don’t bother me to wear a Rolex don’t bother me to wear an ultra watch.

 

[haruhiko]

Ask those who wear premium mechanical explorer or diver watches to office, there are plenty of them!

 

[Johnly]

The only thing impractical/ridiculous is caring so much about what someone else things that it affects your ability to choose what makes you happy. Be true to you, nothing else matters at all, especially all this “that watch is to big for your wrist folks” like they even care lol, the fact someone takes time out of their day to tell someone else why they made an incorrect purchase really is carrying the weight of the issue on their shoulder 100%. Don’t worry be happy.

 

[iStorm]

The Ultra still attracts me because it seems so utilitarian thanks mostly to it’s large screen and endurant battery.

Maybe you’re already aware, but the Ultra’s screen size really isn’t much bigger than the 45mm’s screen (only by 14x18 pixels). If the screen size is your most important factor, you could potentially get the 45mm watch for basically the same screen size in a smaller body and smaller bezel, though you miss out on the utilitarian look and endurant battery. Plus, there’s also the debate if the 45mm looks okay on a smaller wrist. My wrist is 165mm, and I went with the 41mm last year. I really wanted to like the 45mm, but it was just a tad too big and not as comfortable.

As for the Ultra, I think it could go either way. If you’re using it for its intended/primary market, then I’d say who cares how it looks, it’s being used as a tool. On the other hand, if you’re using it as an everyday watch, then you may want to take the size into consideration…but also at the same time, don’t worry so much about what others think.

If you have an Apple Store near you the best thing is to go try it out. The other option is to buy one from Apple direct and if you’re not happy with it return it within 14 days.

Or wait until retailers start their extended holiday return periods. This is what I did last year when trying to decide between the 41mm and 45mm watch. I bought them from Best Buy late October and had until January to try them out and return the one I didn’t want. Best Buy’s extended return period started October 18th last year, so it should be starting soon. Amazon’s extended return period already started (have until the end of January to return).

 

[BenGoren]

My wrist is on the small side for a man, at 165 mm; close to the average woman’s wrist. Whether or not it’s officially fashionably acceptable, I like the way my Ultra fits; my wife likes it; I’ve gotten a couple other random compliments; and absolutely nobody has even remotely hinted at anything negative.

And I’m a middle-aged guy who’s on an university campus four days a week, so there’s plenty of opportunity for somebody to say something.

To be honest, for the most part … nobody even notices, let alone gives a damn, what you have on your wrist. If you care what other people think, chances are excellent that there’s one or more specific other people, and their opinions are the only ones that would matter. So why not ask them?

But, you know what?

In the run-up to pre-order day, I found myself paying attention to other people’s watches. And I noticed more than one undergraduate guy with an absolutely outrageously oversized analog watch, substantially wider than the wrist. Clearly fashion statements, clearly not to my personal taste … but they also didn’t look bad, and certainly didn’t look out of place.

So, unless you have a specific dress code that applies, don’t even think about whether or not the Ultra is fashionably suitable. As the most expensive watch from the hottest watch maker on the market, it is absolutely suitable for anybody and everybody — again, excepting specific dress codes. Like … if you’re a junior salescritter for a Fortune 500 company whose suit choice is dark blue with a dark blue tie or midnight blue with a dark blue tie, there are probably at most three Rolexes you can choose from; however, your boss’s boss can wear the Ultra if he damn well pleases.

As far as practicality? The Ultra doesn’t get in my way. I’d prefer if it didn’t stand so far above my wrist, but it hasn’t caught on anything and I haven’t banged it on stuff any more than I did the S4.

And one last data point: proportionally, the Ultra looks almost exactly as big on my wrist as my wife’s 40mm S4 does on hers. Her watch in no way looks oversized; it looks just perfect.

b&

 

[Spike77777]

Just seen this on a reddit post. 🤣

 

[sjperformance]

Ultra and the BLNR…

 

[shr631]

If you value that then fair enough, but it’s an Apple Watch. It’s always going to be common since it’s a commodity consumer electronic product, like the iPhone.

This is my take as well. It’s only going to get more common, as it should since is a sought after mass market tech product. They’re popping up in stock pretty regularly nowadays.

 

[papbot]

I’ve got a tiny wrist: only about 150mm. The Ultra still attracts me because it seems so utilitarian thanks mostly to it’s large screen and endurant battery. I’m curious what users here who’ve already got one and are similarly (if not quite as) small think of the practicality of actually wearing this thing?

I don’t want to look too ridiculous, and there’s also the angle of comfort that’s hard to gauge just by trying something on for a few minutes in a store.

My wrist goes about 160mm max. I went through the same conundrum. But like some of the others I had previously worn a large Rolex (Sea Dweller) for years and am used to the size and weight of a larger watch. But I would mention one consideration. The size and weight of the Ultra is always going to be noticed by you, unlike larger standard watches which have somewhat curved cases such as my Rolex, the perfectly flat rectangular Ultra will present some issues on smaller wrists. It’s even possible that the sensors underneath will not make adequate skin contact as the watch will shift around on your wrist. The weight and size will also make it more prone to sliding down your arm and wrist depending on the band. The rubberized sport band will minimize that issue. I’ve ordered a Nomad sport band which I’ve used on previous Apple Watches and because of its rubber-like texture it sticks in place on my arm better than almost all other available bands. I’d highly recommend taking a look at those. But whatever you do take a serious look at the available bands, on smaller wrists they will make a big difference.