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UK Apple Watch Series 8/Ultra Pre-Orders and Dispatch Thread

Gooner4_1998 said:
My take on battery life having had the Ultra since Friday - It’s a vast improvement on my series 7, but not quite as good as expected.

Charged to 100% at 1538 on Friday, died Sunday at 2040 giving a total of 29 hours and 2 mins vs the “expected” 36.

During that time I had 1hr 30mins of GPS usage and just over an hour of constant heart rate monitoring on a static bike workout. It was connected via Bluetooth for the entire time, so the battery wasn’t drained due to cellular usage (which used to batter my series 7). Very minimal app usage but obviously 2 nights of sleep tracking (which I assume to be a fairly low power activity but 🤷🏽‍♂️).

Based on Apple’s claim of 36 hours including 8 hours of GPS + Cellular, I’d have expected to have got closer to their figure or possibly even over.

Will be interested to see how it levels out over a week or so, as I may have been inadvertently checking it more than usual etc.
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I'm the fine print at the bottom of the ultra page Apple give the exact circumstances in which they got 36hrs.

  1. All-day battery life is based on the following use: 180 time checks, 180 notifications, 90 minutes of app use, and a 60-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth, over the course of 36 hours; Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular) usage includes a total of 8 hours of 4G LTE connection and 28 hours of connection to iPhone via Bluetooth over the course of 36 hours. Testing conducted by Apple in August 2022 using pre‑production Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular) paired with an iPhone; all devices tested with pre‑release software. Battery life varies by use, configuration, mobile network, signal strength and many other factors; actual results will vary.
 
Satanic Goat said:
I ordered from EE. Black/Grey Trail loop. Was also told 23/9. Of course nothing arrived. Spoke to someone Friday who said they have no idea when they’re getting stock but that it isn’t coming from apple. My order is just open and it’s wait and see. She offered me to swap for a band they had in stock but the only had alpine green small and white ocean band. My wrist is just under 200mm so thought either would be too small. I may end up swapping to a large alpine if they get them before the trails. No communication from EE at all to say it wouldn’t arrive.
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If you ordered the watch with a trail loop I very much doubt you will get it before November. Even Apple were quoting late October/November for watches with the trail loop. This is a why if you order the band on it’s o n it’s also November and has been since launch.
 
Mr.C said:
If you ordered the watch with a trail loop I very much doubt you will get it before November. Even Apple were quoting late October/November for watches with the trail loop. This is a why if you order the band on it’s o n it’s also November and has been since launch.
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Yeah I get that. But when I placed the order on the phone, I was told it would be with me on the 23rd. Just a bit annoyed I didn’t realise in time to change it to a band that was in stock.
 
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Gooner4_1998 said:
My take on battery life having had the Ultra since Friday - It’s a vast improvement on my series 7, but not quite as good as expected.

Charged to 100% at 1538 on Friday, died Sunday at 2040 giving a total of 29 hours and 2 mins vs the “expected” 36.

During that time I had 1hr 30mins of GPS usage and just over an hour of constant heart rate monitoring on a static bike workout. It was connected via Bluetooth for the entire time, so the battery wasn’t drained due to cellular usage (which used to batter my series 7). Very minimal app usage but obviously 2 nights of sleep tracking (which I assume to be a fairly low power activity but 🤷🏽‍♂️).

Based on Apple’s claim of 36 hours including 8 hours of GPS + Cellular, I’d have expected to have got closer to their figure or possibly even over.

Will be interested to see how it levels out over a week or so, as I may have been inadvertently checking it more than usual etc.
Click to expand...
I fully charged my AWU this time yesterday and after wearing for 24hrs including a Strava cycle of 2.5hrs and a Strava walk of just under an hour + sleep tracking the battery is showing 54% so seems to be doing well. Not sure if there's a difference in heart rate polling between Strava and Apple Workouts though.
 
A1000 said:
I fully charged my AWU this time yesterday and after wearing for 24hrs including a Strava cycle of 2.5hrs and a Strava walk of just under an hour + sleep tracking the battery is showing 54% so seems to be doing well. Not sure if there's a difference in heart rate polling between Strava and Apple Workouts though.
Click to expand...

A1000 said:
realised I’ve had
Click to expand...
A1000 said:
I fully charged my AWU this time yesterday and after wearing for 24hrs including a Strava cycle of 2.5hrs and a Strava walk of just under an hour + sleep tracking the battery is showing 54% so seems to be doing well. Not sure if there's a difference in heart rate polling between Strava and Apple Workouts though.
Click to expand...
Just realised I’ve had a mare with my calculations!

My battery life based on my fully charge to dead time, was 53 hours (I managed to miss an entire day 😆)

This is much more like it as I would have expected more than the 36 hours quoted given limited GPS use and no cellular use!
 
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Gooner4_1998 said:
Just realised I’ve had a mate with my calculations!

My battery life based on my fully charge to dead time, was 53 hours (I managed to miss an entire day 😆)

This is much more like it as I would have expected more than the 36 hours quoted given limited GPS use and no cellular use!
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I did wonder 😂
That’s great though!
 
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leebroath said:
Forgot to mention this yesterday, it’s now been corrected :)

If you go through the normal channel and order it’s now £4.99
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Ah okay. I had already subscribed and it says £5.49 in the App Store/Subscriptions, I guess just a glitch that they will sort.

Man I love this watch (Ultra) ❤️
I had concerns about it being too big, and especially after watching MKBHD review seeing him mention the size.
But it’s perfect, and the materials are so luxurious. Loving the Alpine strap too.

@Jinjin I'll be surprised if you don't want one after seeing one in person

Everybody else still loving there's? @azing
 
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palemonkey said:
Ah okay. I had already subscribed and it says £5.49 in the App Store/Subscriptions, I guess just a glitch that they will sort.

Man I love this watch (Ultra) ❤️
I had concerns about it being too big, and especially after watching MKBHD review seeing him mention the size.
But it’s perfect, and the materials are so luxurious. Loving the Alpine strap too.

@Jinjin I'll be surprised if you don't want one after seeing one in person

Everybody else still loving there's? @azing
Click to expand...

Absolutely loving mine too @palemonkey ! It's deceiving, I think it looked big in reviews online but on my wrist it really doesn't feel big at all. I'm already used to the size.

Used it for a long walk yesterday and by the end of the day I was on 83%, the battery life is incredible!

Just can't wait to get the trail loop delivered. Should be really nice for running although my nike band will be fine for now.

I was worried I wouldn't be able to 'dress it up' but it looks great with my leather loop/Milanese/link bracelet.

Overall, very happy!
 
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palemonkey said:
Ah okay. I had already subscribed and it says £5.49 in the App Store/Subscriptions, I guess just a glitch that they will sort.

Man I love this watch (Ultra)
I had concerns about it being too big, and especially after watching MKBHD review seeing him mention the size.
But it’s perfect, and the materials are so luxurious. Loving the Alpine strap too.

@Jinjin I'll be surprised if you don't want one after seeing one in person

Everybody else still loving there's? @azing
Click to expand...

I needed an appointment to even try it on in store yesterday it was that busy!

I think I’m sticking it out with my Hermes s8 when it arrives and hopefully Apple take some design elements down to the standard watch in a few years
 
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Got mine on Friday. Seems I managed to order the wrong size strap so it’s going back whatever. Can’t decide whether to get another.

I’m disappointed the screen isn’t bigger, some complications appear smaller on the Ultra than they did on my S7 - well to my eyes at least. Obviously the battery is far better than the S7 but it’s not good enough.

I ran for 2 hours yesterday and an hour today. Wore the Ultra for both, started at 100% and it’s now at 28%. Didn’t wear the Ultra at all yesterday afternoon and I’ve not moved the cellular connection from my S7 yet. On the other wrist (literally!) is my Garmin Epix which I charged to 93% on Saturday morning. It’s done the runs and not been off my wrist at all. That’s at 60% now.

It’s a nice toy but I’m really not sure, that for me, the Ultra offers enough over the S7 to justify the cost.
 
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I’m loving mine over the s7 but I think as per that you tuber who smashed the watch with a hammer, that orange alpine band is going to get dirty quickly. The loop material looks like it’ll attract dirt.
I’m back to wearing mine with a sport loop 😂 extra brightness and the fact I’ve turned the font up to “big” meant I could actually just about read my pool laps this morning.
I need to pick a more muted band than he current yellow one though as I’ve got a customer meeting in the office this week….
 
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palemonkey said:
Ah okay. I had already subscribed and it says £5.49 in the App Store/Subscriptions, I guess just a glitch that they will sort.

Man I love this watch (Ultra) ❤️
I had concerns about it being too big, and especially after watching MKBHD review seeing him mention the size.
But it’s perfect, and the materials are so luxurious. Loving the Alpine strap too.

@Jinjin I'll be surprised if you don't want one after seeing one in person

Everybody else still loving there's? @azing
Click to expand...
I've got a support case open for the price difference, the 2 support agents I spoke to this morning weren't able to resolve it so it has been escalated - she thinks we are being charged for the Hermes AppleCare cover.
 
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Satanic Goat said:
Yeah I get that. But when I placed the order on the phone, I was told it would be with me on the 23rd. Just a bit annoyed I didn’t realise in time to change it to a band that was in stock.
Click to expand...
Ive just called EE, They have absolutely no idea when anything is coming into stock.
They did have White and Yellow Ocean bands in stock for dispatch today, Delivery tomorrow, so Trail loop cancelled and Ocean Band ordered.
 
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n14agp said:
Ive just called EE, They have absolutely no idea when anything is coming into stock.
They did have White and Yellow Ocean bands in stock for dispatch today, Delivery tomorrow, so Trail loop cancelled and Ocean Band ordered.
Click to expand...
Trail loops will take forever to arrive... November!
 
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n14agp said:
Ive just called EE, They have absolutely no idea when anything is coming into stock.
They did have White and Yellow Ocean bands in stock for dispatch today, Delivery tomorrow, so Trail loop cancelled and Ocean Band ordered.
Click to expand...
Will be interested to see what you think of it - is that a band on its own or with the watch?
 
I ordered an S8, and it's taking forever to ship. I think they didn't make many of the cell version of the silver 41mm because there aren't any available in store in the Boston area, only Wi-Fi ones. It is supposed to be here by friday - here is to hoping!
 
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My S8 is scheduled for delivery tomorrow (while I'm at work). Hopefully I won't have to put in another 13 hour day like today. I really want to set up the watch and wear it Wednesday.
 
Gooner4_1998 said:
Just realised I’ve had a mare with my calculations!

My battery life based on my fully charge to dead time, was 53 hours (I managed to miss an entire day 😆)

This is much more like it as I would have expected more than the 36 hours quoted given limited GPS use and no cellular use!
Click to expand...
Interesting, after my first full charge my AWU has just tripped 10% and low power mode after 52 hours (being worn continuously and including 2.5hr Strava cycle + 1hr Strava walk + 30min concept 2 workout)o_O
 
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blaugrana69 said:
Trying out low power mode on the Ultra. 36 hrs after I took it off charge at 100% and it’s at 66% 😁
Click to expand...
What gets disabled in this again? If you start a workout does it track gps and HR as normal?
Just put mine back on to charge. Last charged 22:09 Sunday: 2x50 mins swims on cellular (and the pool is in a black hole signal-wise), 1 call on cellular on AirPods for about 30 mins, 1 walk of about 20 mins listening to Apple Music on cellular, usual teams notifications, texts, faceache messages, the latter two often replied to on the watch keyboard. All good so far!
 
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