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I’ve never seen one either. I even got asked about mine today. A girl wearing an Apple Watch asked what it was. She was curious because the display looked just as good as Apple. 🤣
Someone at work asked me if mine was an Amazon knockoff.
 
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I literally have not even noticed if anyone is wearing any watch. Or anything else, unless Packer clothing.
 
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Not seen an AWU in the wild and have only ever seen 2 APM's in the wild and they have been out for a couple of years now (this is in the UK).
 
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Outside of the Apple Store, of course. I have not seen a single person sport the Ultra, even at the gym or at mass gatherings like the mall. I thought that the Ultra was popular? That seems kind of odd.

I see Ultra's everywhere. In the bar I frequent every night there's 6 different people with them and those are just the people I know. Others I don't know stream in and out too.

I also have seen them in the gym, grocery stores, movie theaters, and restaurants.
 
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I've seen three people besides me wearing Ultras. One was on a flight from New Zealand to Hawai'i. Another was on my return flight from Hawai'i to New Zealand. The third I saw this past Monday — this hulking powerlifter-looking dude of a bartender was wearing an Ultra, and you better believe this big-ass watch looked right at home on his wrist.

One thing I have never seen in the wild is anyone else wearing the same graphite stainless steel Apple Watch that I used to wear and gave to my partner last year. I've seen one or two people wearing standard stainless steel watches, and I even saw a gold SS one a couple years ago, but never once have I seen anyone wearing graphite or Space Black.

The overwhelming majority of people I see wearing Apple Watches have either Space Grey or standard aluminium cases, which makes sense.
 
I've seen three people besides me wearing Ultras. One was on a flight from New Zealand to Hawai'i. Another was on my return flight from Hawai'i to New Zealand. The third I saw this past Monday — this hulking powerlifter-looking dude of a bartender was wearing an Ultra, and you better believe this big-ass watch looked right at home on his wrist.

One thing I have never seen in the wild is anyone else wearing the same graphite stainless steel Apple Watch that I used to wear and gave to my partner last year. I've seen one or two people wearing standard stainless steel watches, and I even saw a gold SS one a couple years ago, but never once have I seen anyone wearing graphite or Space Black.

The overwhelming majority of people I see wearing Apple Watches have either Space Grey or standard aluminium cases, which makes sense.
I’m quite certain you’re right. I bet 95% of Apple Watches are aluminum. Most people, myself included, don’t want to spend the extra money on tech that goes obsolete fast, especially when the cheaper models did all the same things the expensive ones did. Honestly, the only reason I bought an Ultra was because my trusty old Suunto dive computer finally died. The cost of a new dive computer and a Series 8 was more than the Ultra. I also really like the idea of one watch doing everything.
 
I might be damaged by my mechanical watch interest, but I'm just like you. I see peoples wrist instantly of pure interest. I love watches and they say something about the wearer and what he/she values in the choice they have made
Yup! And as for Apple Watches - what sort of face/band/AOD. Part of the reason it took me so long to get one was I needed the size of the ultra, and an AOD that made it look like a nice watch. The black square with a silicon band, or the standard workout rings face just don’t do it for me.

Shoes and hair as well.
 
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I meet quite a few people each day at my work, 50-50 male-female, and have noticed more females wearing the AWU than males (2 to 1). Not sure if that is representative of the sales in whole, but thought this was unexpected.
 
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I haven’t seen one yet either I have to be honest. I work in an office environment most of the time and it’s more a sports watch I suppose. Plus it’s an £849 smartwatch so the attraction is going to be more limited than the standard Apple Watch one would assume.
 
Tbh I don't like the look of it , prefer my watches more subtle with less bling and as for the orange stuff smh

That’s probably an unpopular opinion on here for those that have them but yes, it’s not a watch that appeals to everybody in regards to looks. The standard AW is quite plain looking and will suit most people who wear it, whereas the Ultra is a chunky sports watch with a design that is very utility and outdoors. When you factor in the size, price and aesthetics, it’s no wonder we probably see far fewer of them worn in public.
 
I've seen a few, my doctor was wearing one recently lol. He had the black Ocean band on, looked super good and now I want to pick one up. I picked up a Series 8 but went into the store to see if I should return it and get an Ultra instead.

For me I'm going to continue buying the regular Series watch instead of the Ultra unless the Ultra starts to offer something substantial that the Series 8 doesn't have. As of right now I don't need:
  1. The extra battery life. Fast charging every morning and evening serves this purpose for me and I already end the day with over 60% of battery life on my Series 8.
  2. The bigger screen. To my eyes the screen is smaller than the Series 8 despite the actual measurement being a tiny bit bigger. Why? Because the screen to bezel ratio on the Ultra is massive. I prefer the ratio on the Series 8 and how the screen seemingly spills over onto my wrist.
  3. The extra bulk and weight. I have big wrists so I'm not concerned about aesthetics but I already find wearing an Apple Watch a bit irritating in certain scenarios as it is, especially when sleep tracking, cooking, or exercising. Otherwise I kinda like the Ultra aesthetic and weight for everyday wear.
  4. The LTE/better GPS. I never go anywhere without my phone so this year I went with a GPS only model for the first time. I don't *need* LTE but will maybe get it again for the Series 9 because I guess it can be useful to have in case you lose your phone.
So for my use case (and I think many others), unless you really need extra battery life, the Ultra is basically a regular LTE watch but with a different bulkier case. Not really useful for 90% of what I use my Watch for and somewhat more irritating for some scenarios like sleep tracking.

Might buy my Dad one though because he uses his watch for outdoor run tracking and doesn't take his phone with him. The better GPS, siren, and battery life will surely come in useful for him.
 
Examples
Tag Monaco LS

Citizen Sky Haw

Garmin Fenix 5x

Only smaller watch is Omega Speedmaster

Yeah I don't disagree that there are bigger watches out there but the thing about those is that their geometries and overall aesthetic are so much more dynamic and pleasing vs. the Ultra. The Ultra looks good when you're wearing one and actively using it yourself but when you see it on someone else's wrist it looks like an awkward black flat blob surrounded by grey metal, even moreso than the regular watches do.

I know everyone's going to tell me "people wear watches for themselves not for others, I don't care what other people think about my watch and neither should you" and I get where you're coming from, in fact I agree to an extent... but the ordinary person looking at how awkward these things look on other people's wrists absolutely factors into whether or not they want to buy one. Sorry, I think that's just the reality whether or not we all agree on it.
 
Oddly enough I think the opposite. I had the series 7 and was out for a work trip. Three people had the Ultra and I liked the look of it so much I went and bought it while on the trip. It seems very popular and looks great.

It's super context specific. My doctor's watch looked awesome and that half tempted me to stop by the Apple Store on the way back from the hospital 👀 but literally every other time I've spotted one it looks so awkward. I think the large black screen surrounded by the light color bezel really damages the overall look for me when I see it on another person's wrist.
 
I've seen a few, my doctor was wearing one recently lol. He had the black Ocean band on, looked super good and now I want to pick one up. I picked up a Series 8 but went into the store to see if I should return it and get an Ultra instead.

For me I'm going to continue buying the regular Series watch instead of the Ultra unless the Ultra starts to offer something substantial that the Series 8 doesn't have. As of right now I don't need:
  1. The extra battery life. Fast charging every morning and evening serves this purpose for me and I already end the day with over 60% of battery life on my Series 8.
  2. The bigger screen. To my eyes the screen is smaller than the Series 8 despite the actual measurement being a tiny bit bigger. Why? Because the screen to bezel ratio on the Ultra is massive. I prefer the ratio on the Series 8 and how the screen seemingly spills over onto my wrist.
  3. The extra bulk and weight. I have big wrists so I'm not concerned about aesthetics but I already find wearing an Apple Watch a bit irritating in certain scenarios as it is, especially when sleep tracking, cooking, or exercising. Otherwise I kinda like the Ultra aesthetic and weight for everyday wear.
  4. The LTE/better GPS. I never go anywhere without my phone so this year I went with a GPS only model for the first time. I don't *need* LTE but will maybe get it again for the Series 9 because I guess it can be useful to have in case you lose your phone.
So for my use case (and I think many others), unless you really need extra battery life, the Ultra is basically a regular LTE watch but with a different bulkier case. Not really useful for 90% of what I use my Watch for and somewhat more irritating for some scenarios like sleep tracking.

Might buy my Dad one though because he uses his watch for outdoor run tracking and doesn't take his phone with him. The better GPS, siren, and battery life will surely come in useful for him.

I had it just like you when they launched it. Had a Space Black Titanium S7 and felt it was the best of both worlds - awesome titanium and lightweight for my running, but sleek and stylish.... But damn as time went by, I have just come to completely love the Ultra. For some reason it feels way more like wearing my "real watches" (Have a Omega Speedmaster and Rolex Explorer) than the S7 did.

I have upped my running quite considerably as well, so the new updated battery is just awesome
 
So for my use case (and I think many others), unless you really need extra battery life, the Ultra is basically a regular LTE watch but with a different bulkier case.

Don‘t forget that the screen also gets dramatically brighter (and more legible) in bright light outdoors. Everyone can profit from that.

IMG_2646.png


but the ordinary person looking at how awkward these things look on other people's wrists absolutely factors into whether or not they want to buy one. Sorry, I think that's just the reality whether or not we all agree on it.

Then how come the Apple Watch is so popular?

literally every other time I've spotted one it looks so awkward. I think the large black screen surrounded by the light color bezel really damages the overall look for me when I see it on another person's wrist.

Do all these people have the always-on display off? It makes a massive difference in the “black hole“ vs. „real watch“ department.
 
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