To Ultra or not to Ultra that is the question.

[Stuey3D]

Hi all.

I currently have a very beaten up Apple Watch S6 that is down to about 82% battery capacity. I purchased this on a deal with my carrier that has now finished and I am tempted by the Ultra, however I am a bit concerned it may be a bit overkill for my needs.

I am an outdoor worker and my hands and arms and by extension my Apple Watch go into some very unpleasant places (I work for a water company) and as such my poor Series 6 has acquired scratches and damage from the first week of owning it. Now I’ve watched that YouTube video where that guy tries to destroy an Ultra with not much luck and the screen remained perfect and that has me very interested.

For me the main features of the Ultra are the durability, and the louder speaker and noise cancelling microphones for the few occasions that I don’t have my headphones on my head and someone calls me as the Series 6 can be a bit hard to hear sometimes.

The one major thing that is holding me back is the fact that the S8 SiP is only barely better than the S6 I currently have and it doesn’t have any other health sensors over what I already have other than the body temp sensor which is only used for ovulation tracking, if it did fever warnings too then that would have been useful. Also the fact that I’m not an ultra endurance athlete so a lot of the selling points of the Ultra don’t really apply to me, although the siren may be useful if I were to fall in a field looking for a water meter (trust me some are in some dangerous locations)

I would be purchasing the Ultra on a multi year deal from my mobile carrier again and I’m a bit worried that I’ll get it and next years one will have all sorts of other useful health sensors such as the rumoured blood sugar tracking and blood pressure monitoring.

I also have a question for existing owners and this may be the thing that makes me get the Ultra, how well does the lip around the screen prevent phantom touches from a wet sleeve? There have been lots of times where I’ve been caught in a downpour and my sleeve has gotten wet and then made the Series 6 go haywire on my wrist until I activate water lock, if the lip around the screen reduces this then for me that is a massive upgrade for usability.

The way I see it is I have 2 options.

I stick with my Series 6 save the monthly payment money and when the battery drops to 80% use the Apple Care+ to get the Watch replaced thus giving me a brand new or refurbished to brand new standard Apple Watch.

Or

I get the Ultra as it will probably be decent for me as an outdoor worker and it is worth the upgrade over the 6.

I have attached some photos to show how battered my poor 6 is, as i said before both my S3 and S6 were scratched pretty much the moments I put them on due to my job and general clumsiness.

 

[Stuey3D]

 

[Night Spring]

I also have a question for existing owners and this may be the thing that makes me get the Ultra, how well does the lip around the screen prevent phantom touches from a wet sleeve? There have been lots of times where I’ve been caught in a downpour and my sleeve has gotten wet and then made the Series 6 go haywire on my wrist until I activate water lock, if the lip around the screen reduces this then for me that is a massive upgrade for usability

It does seem to help a bit, but I haven't worn the ultra with wet sleeves, just some long-sleeve spandex shirts. They used to set off my S6 the way you describe, but the ultra was fine without turning on water lock. But again, I have no idea what would happen if the sleeves are wet.

 

[Stuey3D]

It does seem to help a bit, but I haven't worn the ultra with wet sleeves, just some long-sleeve spandex shirts. They used to set off my S6 the way you describe, but the ultra was fine without turning on water lock. But again, I have no idea what would happen if the sleeves are wet.

That sounds promising, my works raincoat has a spandex cuff which is what causes all the issues when it’s even just lightly damp.

That’s the one thing I miss about my old Garmins/Pebble is that you could use them when they are wet as they are button driven not touch screens.

 

[Gsxr750]

I do literally the same job as you. Local municipal water department. Haven’t had an issue yet. Watch still looks new. I do have a sweatband I put over the watch in high risk scenarios though. Also put a screen protector on it. Haven’t had the screen go haywire yet, but almost always use the water lock before doing anything.

 

[PatrickNSF]

I would be purchasing the Ultra on a multi year deal from my mobile carrier again and I’m a bit worried that I’ll get it and next years one will have all sorts of other useful health sensors such as the rumoured blood sugar tracking and blood pressure monitoring.

I think absent a design change with the Series 9, we’re at the point where we’re only going to see incremental changes year after year with the Apple Watch.

 

[Stuey3D]

I think absent a design change with the Series 9, we’re at the point where we’re only going to see incremental changes year after year with the Apple Watch.

Yeah that is my thinking too, every year the rumour of the blood glucose monitor and blood pressure monitor gets bandied about but then it’s always in the next 5 years.

For me the Ultra looks decent and looks like it should survive me beating it up better than my poor S6 which other than looking worse for wear is working fine.

I do literally the same job as you. Local municipal water department. Haven’t had an issue yet. Watch still looks new. I do have a sweatband I put over the watch in high risk scenarios though. Also put a screen protector on it. Haven’t had the screen go haywire yet, but almost always use the water lock before doing anything.

Ahh I can get away without the water lock most of the time, it’s only when it rains and my cuff gets wet that causes the screen to go nuts but the issue is I don’t realise it’s going nuts until it pauses my music or something. I would also rather not have to use the water lock so that I can quickly swipe to check a notification or answer the phone if I’m not wearing my headphones so if the Ultra can handle the wet sleeve better than the S6 that may be ultimately what decides if I get the Ultra or not as minor of a reason that is to most people.

 

[T5BRICK]

I went with the ultra, but for your usage I think a stainless Apple Watch with the sapphire crystal might be the way to go. The sapphire on either the SS AW or AWU will resist scratches much better than the Ion-X glass and the stainless body will handle abuse better than the aluminum or Ti on the AWU.

 

[AndrewC89]

I always put cases on my watches. Yes, it adds a little bulk but it prevents disasters on a daily basis and when I go to sell/upgrade they always look brand new:

https://a.co/d/gTaLvNo

 

[Stuey3D]

I always put cases on my watches. Yes, it adds a little bulk but it prevents disasters on a daily basis and when I go to sell/upgrade it looks brand new:

https://a.co/d/gTaLvNo

I tried a few cases before on my Series 3 when I first got it but they made my wrist all red and irritated so I’ve had to go naked, which is why the Ultra looks interesting to me.

I went with the ultra, but for your usage I think a stainless Apple Watch with the sapphire crystal might be the way to go. The sapphire on either the SS AW or AWU will resist scratches much better than the Ion-X glass and the stainless body will handle abuse better than the aluminum or Ti on the AWU.

If they hadn’t have released the Ultra than I was considering a Stainless to replace it, however I’m not so fussed about the body as long as the screen is good and I just feel the flat ever so slightly recessed screen fills me with more confidence, plus the improved speakerphone in the wind would get use. Plus the ultra is only £50 more than the stainless for the extra features you get which is why the ultra is the only consideration at the moment.

 

[sjperformance]

In your case I would get the Ultra. I believe the people buying the Ultra watch aren't those who this watch was supposedly made for. Last apple watch I used was series 1. Used it for 1 week and returned it. I never thought I would be interested in the ultra. I love this watch. Feels different. Looks different. Battery is awesome. I charge it every 2-3 days. BTW I'm a 40 year father of 4. I have a dog. I run a family business from 2 warehouses (16,000sq building and other 80,000sq) I'm always on the go. I run 60% of the daily operations. My kids play sports (basketball/baseball/soccer/football) I practice with them. Ultra is a keeper for me. Love this watch. I like the fact when I take the kids to park for practice I leave my phone at home. I'm able to focus on them and should something come up I know I can rely on my ultra. Yes I know I can do this with many other cheaper apple watches but those never got my attention. I like the look and feel of this watch. Much better battery. Bigger screen. Looks great on wrist. I did get AppleCare+ ($4.99 a month) I believe I'll remove it in a couple of months. I don't use screen protectors on my iPhone. I'm not using one on my ultra.

 

[AndrewC89]

I tried a few cases before on my Series 3 when I first got it but they made my wrist all red and irritated so I’ve had to go naked, which is why the Ultra looks interesting to me.

I would try once more honestly. This brand doesn’t make contact with my wrist at all. Maybe if you have hairy arms I can see how it would be an issue to take on/off but the benefits it provides outweigh any negatives IMO

 

[Night Spring]

I would try once more honestly. This brand doesn’t make contact with my wrist at all. Maybe if you have hairy arms I can see how it would be an issue to take on/off but the benefits it provides outweigh any negatives IMO

Does it ever pop off inadvertently?

 

[BenGoren]

Yours is practically the ideal use case for the Ultra.

Forget all the marketing hype about “extreme athletes” that’s making you think you don’t “need” all these “extra” “features.” That same marketing is telling you that the Ultra is the perfect watch for free climbers, scuba divers, triathletes, arctic explorers, and desert runners. How many people do you really think fit into all those categories? Doesn’t that imply that the scuba features are “wasted” on the marathoners who don’t even swim? Or is the Ultra “too much watch” for a “mere” marathoner?

You’ve already identified quite a number of features of the Ultra that make it a significant improvement for you over the standard models.

Unless there’s a specific reason to think that there’s a certain feature that will come with a new watch released at a particular date, it doesn’t make sense to hold out for vaguely-rumored hypothesized new features. Just look at the new temperature measurement, and extrapolate to blood pressure. Of course, if Apple could offer on-demand core body temperature measurements, they would; all they could pull off was cycle tracking (which, of course, is a big freakin’ deal!). Blood pressure could wind up being the same: no ability to give you on-demand readings, but overnight monitoring of trends might be very useful for those with diagnosed heart conditions, or stress management, or the like.

Just go for it. As I noted at the top, this thing was made for you.

b&

 

[AndrewC89]

Does it ever pop off inadvertently?

Nope, it takes some effort to remove. Once you get used to it you can pop it on/off in two seconds to clean it and remove any dust, moisture, etc. Definitely a must have IMO. I’ve broken several of these while doing things like washing my hands in a tight sink or walking by a protruding doorknob and the watch face was always perfectly intact underneath. I always buy apple care plus for my watches but after using these cases I feel like I honestly don’t need it.

 

[BenGoren]

… and a case for the Ultra is utterly pointless.

Seriously.

See the video where they drag the thing behind a car for a mile or three, sparks flying. The display is perfect at the end. The case has a couple small nicks, but nothing distracting.

I guarantee you, any case on the market would have disintegrated and done nothing whatsoever to “protect” the Ultra.

If there’s a case you like for aesthetic reasons, go for it, of course. But for protection? It’d be like putting a sports car bra on your bulldozer’s blade.

b&

 

[AndrewC89]

… and a case for the Ultra is utterly pointless.

Seriously.

See the video where they drag the thing behind a car for a mile or three, sparks flying. The display is perfect at the end. The case has a couple small nicks, but nothing distracting.

I guarantee you, any case on the market would have disintegrated and done nothing whatsoever to “protect” the Ultra.

If there’s a case you like for aesthetic reasons, go for it, of course. But for protection? It’d be like putting a sports car bra on your bulldozer’s blade.

b&

I have an aluminum series 7 so a case is a must have for me. If the ultra really is that robust then I’m looking forward to buying one and not using a case on it.

 

[Stuey3D]

I would try once more honestly. This brand doesn’t make contact with my wrist at all. Maybe if you have hairy arms I can see how it would be an issue to take on/off but the benefits it provides outweigh any negatives IMO

If I decide to stick with the Series 6 I’ll try a case if I exchange it under Apple Care for a new battery as then I’ll have a shiny new watch, no point sticking a case on a watch that already looks like its been in a warzone haha.

 

[Stuey3D]

Yours is practically the ideal use case for the Ultra.

Forget all the marketing hype about “extreme athletes” that’s making you think you don’t “need” all these “extra” “features.” That same marketing is telling you that the Ultra is the perfect watch for free climbers, scuba divers, triathletes, arctic explorers, and desert runners. How many people do you really think fit into all those categories? Doesn’t that imply that the scuba features are “wasted” on the marathoners who don’t even swim? Or is the Ultra “too much watch” for a “mere” marathoner?

You’ve already identified quite a number of features of the Ultra that make it a significant improvement for you over the standard models.

Unless there’s a specific reason to think that there’s a certain feature that will come with a new watch released at a particular date, it doesn’t make sense to hold out for vaguely-rumored hypothesized new features. Just look at the new temperature measurement, and extrapolate to blood pressure. Of course, if Apple could offer on-demand core body temperature measurements, they would; all they could pull off was cycle tracking (which, of course, is a big freakin’ deal!). Blood pressure could wind up being the same: no ability to give you on-demand readings, but overnight monitoring of trends might be very useful for those with diagnosed heart conditions, or stress management, or the like.

Just go for it. As I noted at the top, this thing was made for you.

b&

I have to admit on top of the features I’ve already mentioned the more I think about it the more i realise the car crash detection would be useful for those odd occasions that I have to drive down narrow single lane country roads in the middle of nowhere, and the siren would be useful for if I were to get stuck in a field somewhere.

 

[BenGoren]

I have to admit on top of the features I’ve already mentioned the more I think about it the more i realise the car crash detection would be useful for those odd occasions that I have to drive down narrow single lane country roads in the middle of nowhere, and the siren would be useful for if I were to get stuck in a field somewhere.

If that’s a concern … also consider: all Apple Watches have the same emergency contact features, but which watches are likely to survive whatever it is that puts you in a position where you need to use it?

A young lawyer who commutes to Wall Street via subway from her Manhattan apartment isn’t going to be worried about the physical condition of her watch in her most likely emergency situations. But if you’re worried about a car crash or other calamity in the middle of nowhere, you have to consider whether or not the watch is going to get smashed up in the process.

Also, I was going to mention earlier: the Ultra is rated for deep scuba dives. You’re not diving in your job, of course, but you do work with high-pressure dynamic water. It’s guaranteed that the Ultra is going to have better odds of surviving if you get the full blast of a burst water main than any other Apple Watch will. Whether or not your wrist will survive … you’d know better about that than I would.

b&

 

[BenGoren]

I have an aluminum series 7 so a case is a must have for me. If the ultra really is that robust then I’m looking forward to buying one and not using a case on it.

After seeing this video review, you should be convinced:

Anything you do in real life that damages the Ultra, the damage done to the Ultra will be the least of your worries.

I’m not saying it’s indestructible. But whatever destroys the Ultra is going to take your arm off with it.

b&

 

[Stuey3D]

After seeing this video review, you should be convinced:

Anything you do in real life that damages the Ultra, the damage done to the Ultra will be the least of your worries.

I’m not saying it’s indestructible. But whatever destroys the Ultra is going to take your arm off with it.

b&

That’s the video I was referring to in my original post, makes a pretty good sales pitch for the ultra.

 

[AndrewC89]

After seeing this video review, you should be convinced:

Anything you do in real life that damages the Ultra, the damage done to the Ultra will be the least of your worries.

I’m not saying it’s indestructible. But whatever destroys the Ultra is going to take your arm off with it.

b&

Wow, that’s insane! 100% buying one now and super happy it won’t need a case since it’s already pretty bulky (in comparison to my s7)

 

[sjperformance]

Wow, that’s insane! 100% buying one now and super happy it won’t need a case since it’s already pretty bulky (in comparison to my s7)

You will like it.

 

[aurora_sect]

Forget all the marketing hype about “extreme athletes” that’s making you think you don’t “need” all these “extra” “features.”

A million times this. It's mostly just a sturdier and better looking Apple Watch. I bought mine in large part because I think it would survive the drop that scattered my SE's screen.