I’m glad the Ultra exists for people who want it, but it’s simply not for me. It looks even more like a tech gizmo than the normal Apple Watch. I’m more than ready for a redesign of the regular watch models, but I hope it doesn’t follow the flat screen look of the Ultra.
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No desire for Ultra
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As much of an improvement in some areas as the AW Ultra is, I'm not sure I'd call 36 hours of battery life a blockbuster feature.
But I'm looking forward to taking a look at v2 to see if it can replace my S7/Garmin combo.
Completely agree. It also had one more “blockbuster” feature for me. It can function as an actual dive watch. That’s why I bought it. As the owner of a couple dive watches (not the decorative kind), the biggest frustration is that they can’t be updated to keep up with changes in diving. An Apple Watch can.
I really don’t care if someone who doesn’t do any of what it was built for doesn’t buy one, but also totally get why the non-adventurous crowd likes it. I don’t get the hate and love the watch. I feel an awful lot better spending the extra money on the extra capability versus a silly Hermes wristband.
You're right that making the size smaller would reduce battery life. I do like the flat screen, though, and as several other posters have said, I too would love to see the flat screen come to the smaller Apple watch models, even without the longer battery life.
Some of the people some of the time is probably the best Apple can hope for...
Part of the issue I initially had with the Apple Watch Ultra were the somewhat gimmicky bands with limited color choices. I have one now, and still have a Series 7 and 5. I wear the Ultra more than anything and really like the look and feel of the watch. The Ultra band I got is the grey trail loop, but I am wearing it more often on various Nomad bands, on the Nike olive/grey band, on regular Apple watch sports bands, etc - I think the watch just looks better on these other bands.
It was a blockbuster feature for me. It put me from where I have to charge every day to only having to charge every other day. I was never against having to charge everyday, it just is really nice not having to. This is with wearing the watch non-stop (sleep tracking).
Plus after a couple years, when the battery degrades, I'm hoping that the Ultra will still last a full day so I only have to charge it one time in 24 hrs. My S5 wont last 24hrs, so if I sleep with it on, I have to partially charge it when I wake up and do a full charge in the evening.
From an aesthetic perspective, I find the flat screen to be at least lazy design and at most atrocious. It’s the most basic design somebody could come up with. In comparison the curved screen of the regular AW is almost sensual.
I like both designs, but it's just that I find the flat screen is easier to read.
I don’t understand at all why there is an expectation for AWU to have “blockbuster” features. The regular AW is the blockbuster model while AWU is a more specialized/targeted product for a smaller group of users. If there was a new “blockbuster” feature for wider audience, it would be offered by the regular AW too.
For the job(s) that AWU is designed for, it already offers lots of KILLER hardware features.
If you’re a serious runner, precision start (enabled by action button) and dual-band gps are both KILLER features. I cannot emphasize enough how valuable these AWU-exclusive features are for endurance runners.
For those of us who scuba-dive, water depth and water temperature sensors along with a 3rd physical button are all KILLER features. Compared with regular AW, it’s amazing how much more AWU offers. Although I would like to see support for more than 40meters depth from AWU-2 later this year.
Honestly I cannot really think of any additional new hardware feature that could be supported beyond what is already available for AWU. Maybe, one thing could be solar charging for endurance sports. Besides that, Apple should be working on refining the existing hardware features really.
For the job(s) that AWU is designed for, it already offers lots of KILLER hardware features.
If you’re a serious runner, precision start (enabled by action button) and dual-band gps are both KILLER features. I cannot emphasize enough how valuable these AWU-exclusive features are for endurance runners.
For those of us who scuba-dive, water depth and water temperature sensors along with a 3rd physical button are all KILLER features. Compared with regular AW, it’s amazing how much more AWU offers. Although I would like to see support for more than 40meters depth from AWU-2 later this year.
Honestly I cannot really think of any additional new hardware feature that could be supported beyond what is already available for AWU. Maybe, one thing could be solar charging for endurance sports. Besides that, Apple should be working on refining the existing hardware features really.
I'm so used to the flip phones of yesterday, that last a week before you have to recharge them. Talking about Blockbuster for me, it would be at least five days of battery life. I now have four Apple products that need battery charging most every day with the exception of my MacBook Pro.🤪
I like the look overall, more rugged and masculine....battery life sealed the deal for me.
Buy it or don't buy it. Is a post really needed to publicly justify your case for not buying it?
As someone who has previous models of the AW, I feel like I can no longer go back to them after owning an AWU. I’m a runner but I also work from home. I don’t run in extreme conditions but the battery life, bigger display and the bulk of it that many complain about reeled me in. I got mine back in November and haven’t once thought about returning it after I got it. Seeing that there are rumors that one won’t come out this year makes me want to buy more bands for it.
I didn't order the Ultra since I thought it was ugly. Then I read Gurmans' comment that he loved it even though he didn't need the fitness features. When my standard watch arrived I returned it to Apple and ordered an Ultra. Absolutely love it. The killer feature for me is the activity button which I have set to a timer. Constantly using it all day, particularly when cooking, timing required wait times with Doctor visits, etc. Battery life is also a major improvement as can go maybe two days even while using multiple alarms, timers, stopwatch and sleep apps.
I bought two at Best Buy and when I tried the third, they were going to sell it to me if I agreed to a $45 restocking fee!
Outside of Apple Store employees, I have seen the Ultra only 3 other times and one of those was a Best Buy employee. One of the Apple employees who owns one admits he doesn't like the bands.
As for myself, although I own one, it is clearly too big for my not so big wrists. Might downgrade to the SS 8 or wait and see what the AW 9 has to offer.
BTW, Apple is not yet taking trade ins for the Ultra yet.
As for myself, although I own one, it is clearly too big for my not so big wrists. Might downgrade to the SS 8 or wait and see what the AW 9 has to offer.
BTW, Apple is not yet taking trade ins for the Ultra yet.
Not at all. I own one and it's actually lighter than the SS I have worn. And again, my wrists are technically too small for this watch.
