Ultra 1 & 2 Owners: Upgrading to Ultra 4?

[Dulcimer]

AI summary of diffs below.

Ultra 4 vs Ultra 2

• Display: LTPO3 + wide-angle OLED; larger active display / thinner borders
• Always-on: 1 Hz → ticking seconds when wrist is down
• Battery: 50h vs 36h; Low Power 84h vs 72h
• Charging: ~45 min vs ~60 min to 80%
• Heart sensing: new Health Sensing System; HR measured every 5 sec
• HRV: measured up to 24× more frequently + new Recovery HRV
• Readiness: new
• GPS: newer/more accurate GPS system
• Chip: S11 vs S9
• 5G: 5G RedCap added
• Satellite: Messages + Find My + Emergency SOS via satellite
• Audio Intelligence: new
• Steps: redesigned ML-based step tracking + Steps complication

Ultra 4 vs Ultra 1

• Display: LTPO3 + wide-angle OLED, 3000 nits vs older OLED, 2000 nits
• Always-on: 1 Hz / ticking seconds vs slower refresh
• Active display: larger screen / thinner borders
• Battery: 50h vs 36h; Low Power 84h vs ~60h
• Charging: ~45 min vs ~60 min to 80%
• Heart sensing: Health Sensing System + 5-sec background HR
• HRV: dramatically more frequent measurements + Recovery HRV
• Readiness: new
• Chip: S11 vs S8
• Storage: 64GB vs 32GB
• GPS: newer/more accurate GPS
• 5G: 5G RedCap vs LTE
• Satellite: two-way messaging/Find My + Emergency SOS
• UWB: 2nd-gen vs 1st-gen
• Precision Finding: yes vs basic Find My
• Double Tap: yes vs no
• Audio Intelligence: new
• Siri: Siri AI / Apple Intelligence vs original Siri
• Step tracking: substantially improved + Steps complication
• Speaker/microphones: newer, more capable audio hardware

 

[CharlesShaw]

My Ultra 1 still has 93% battery health and I'm well served by watchOS 26 which I imagine will receive security updates for at least a couple years. But I'm surprised by the $205 trade in value, which would reduce my purchase price before my local 10% sales tax as I always do trade-ins in store.

And I'm surprised the price of the 4 stayed at $799, so I'm trying to project the future monetary effects of my decision while trying to find a feature or improvement that would feel it was worth upgrading this year.

Not counting sales tax, owning the Ultra for four years was $200 per year. If I get 25% back, I'm wondering if that will still matter to me in a few years, or will a future version make me wish I'd waited.

 

[xxFoxtail]

I have an Ultra 1. And I actually took the opposite approach. I’ve been back and forth on this for a while, but I think these announcements pushed me over to completely abandoning the watch platform altogether.

I read through that privacy report and aware that it's completely secure, and I know I can turn it off, but the idea of the watch constantly listening just kind of creeps me out and makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t like this direction.

And my other issue is, if I do buy an Ultra 4 right now, am I only going to get 3-4 years of major software support like my Ultra 1? I can’t see myself spending another $800 on one, and I don’t want a regular Apple Watch.

Anyway, I unpaired my AW Ultra last night. I didn’t realize the iPhone still tracks steps, distance and estimated calories without the watch. Helps make the decision easier. At the moment I’m still undecided, though leaning heavily toward not using smartwatches again.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I think I’m going to stick with the U1. I was toying with the idea of getting an S12 but I think I like the flat sapphire screen too much. None of the newer ultras offer anything bar extra battery. For recovery Just turn on afib detection to get more hrv readings and use any of the 3rd party recovery apps.

 

[GMShadow]

Yeah, I'm upgrading and ordered mine a few minutes after preorders opened. Sticking with natural titanium and the ocean band. Might see about selling my Ultra 1 rather than doing a trade in.

 

[Monkswhiskers]

I have an Ultra 1. And I actually took the opposite approach. I’ve been back and forth on this for a while, but I think these announcements pushed me over to completely abandoning the watch platform altogether.

I read through that privacy report and aware that it's completely secure, and I know I can turn it off, but the idea of the watch constantly listening just kind of creeps me out and makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t like this direction.

And my other issue is, if I do buy an Ultra 4 right now, am I only going to get 3-4 years of major software support like my Ultra 1? I can’t see myself spending another $800 on one, and I don’t want a regular Apple Watch.

Anyway, I unpaired my AW Ultra last night. I didn’t realize the iPhone still tracks steps, distance and estimated calories without the watch. Helps make the decision easier. At the moment I’m still undecided, though leaning heavily toward not using smartwatches again.

Fear not! If you abandon the watch your phone will still be listening 😂

 

[webbuzz]

Keeping my Ultra 1 for another year.

 

[Und Eser]

For now, the Ultra 2 will have to do.

 

[Starlifter]

Yes. I have an Ultra 1, so it's time. I thought of tossing it in a drawer, but $190.00 trade-in is better than collecting dust. I did order the same natural color though.

 

[kissfan]

U2 here. Ordered a U4 specifically for the heart and health monitoring. Sucks to get old.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I am upgrading even though I don't really need to.

 

[unobtainium]

I’ve been wanting to upgrade my U1 because the battery feels not so great and my favorite ocean band broke. Unfortunately the new ocean bands are ugly, but I may still upgrade anyway.

 

[Toonartist]

U1 Owner. Upgrading to the U4.

Currently, the U1 still has 84% battery health after 4 years and still runs perfectly... but, the new health features and strength stuff... not to mention a very healthy trade in value for the U1 maddest feel a good time to upgrade. The new health sensors and compatibility with the new AI training / Stats etc will be very welcome. Already showing as being ready to dispatch.

Not a fan of the new bands... gone with the white translucent on black watch. I still have the white ocean band that cleans up nicely still from the U1. May look for some genuine ocean bands up for sale.

 

[blaugrana69]

Probably, as I won't be upgrading my iPhone this year (17PM) and I'm on an Ultra 1 with 89% battery health - purchased on the day of release in Sept 2022. Trade in price with apple is £160 - I could perhaps get a little more for it if I put up with the hassle of selling it?
I'll stick with an ocean band but ideally would like to see them in person, maybe the kelp?
That said, I may just decide to squeeze another year out of the U1???

 

[CharlesShaw]

That said, I may just decide to squeeze another year out of the U1???

Yeah, I'm leaning more towards waiting for the next model and letting WatchOS and Siri mature another year.

 

[furbzv1]

Have an UW2- on the fence if i want to update or not. At 88% battery now- I think I should be able to have it for another year maybe?

 

[DR3MCLAREN]

I have an UW2 with 93% battery health. I will likely just stick with it for now. I might consider trading in around the holidays for the dark bronze 12 as that looks stunning to me. I actually kind of miss the light weight and slimness of the standard Apple watch.

 

[bsmr]

I actually kind of miss the light weight and slimness of the standard Apple watch.

That's what I'm thinking about all the time. Staying with a Series watch instead of making the jump to an AWU. I do have an Series 10 and think about going to Series 12 or AWU4...