Vote: Is the Apple Watch Ultra Ugly as Hell?

[ascender]

And re the Fenix v Ultra feature set, this is Apple’s first version that I guarantee will have some people buying Apple rather than Garmin, but of course there’s going to be some people who can’t/won’t until they make big steps forward on battery life and other features.

 

[tmoerel]

<S>Personally I think the Ultra looks great but it is way way too cheap. At this price the plebs can afford it. Give me watch exclusivity pricing! USD5000+</S>

 

[Supermallet]

Full disclosure: I ordered the Ultra. I believe that I won't keep it because I dislike the design, but I am still, in spite of this, willing to try because of how bought into the Apple ecosystem I am.

I am really looking at Tag Hauer and Garmin so if I return the Ultra that will be where my focus is. The price of the Ultra is really high. This thing is a consumable, so once the battery is degraded it's hard to understand the usefullness of it. I know the Garms and Tags are pricey too though.

You can pay for Apple to replace the battery, just like on an iPhone. I plan on using the Ultra for several years as I have all Apple Watches I’ve owned. The tech is mature enough now that this should last a good long time with one battery swap mid-life.

Go look unless you're willing to buy and return like me. It's a lot of money for what is really just an Apple Watch.

Yes, it’s a lot of money, but I find it odd to single out the Ultra among the Apple Watch lineup as being not worth the money. You can argue that the only AW “worth the money” is the SE as it does everything you need a basic smartwatch to do.

Right now you can order a stainless steel 45mm series 8 with link bracelet for $1049, and that has less features than the Ultra. Stainless steel is heavier and more prone to scratching than the titanium case of the Ultra, battery life is worse, GPS doesn’t include the L5 band, no programmable action button, etc. To me, that seems like a bad deal. Previous Apple Watches that Apple wanted to convince you were as valuable as jewelry were even more expensive. Apple Watch Edition went up to $20k or something?

So I don’t see how you can single out the Ultra as being a bad purchase when it’s lower cost than some models of the series 8, with more functionality and longer battery life, which has long been the number one complaint against Apple Watch as a product. Also you’re drooling over a $2,750 smartwatch from Tag Hauer that lets you control the temperature in your Porsche so I’m extra confused as to why you think the Ultra specifically is overpriced when it’s “really just an Apple Watch”.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I really like the aesthetics of the Ultra. And when not on a wrist, I think it looks really good.

But on most wrists it's simply too big and bulky to look good.

Even just the regular 45 mm Watch is, in my opinion, too much for most wrists.

It's not that I find the Ultra ugly. It's more that it looks like a tool that you're wearing for a certain task/job.

I'm also pretty sure it's so big and vertically protruding (from the wrist) that you'll be constantly banging it into door frames and walls.

Yes, that's also an issue wearers of the regular 41 and 45 mm Watch. But being how rounded and "aerodynamic" those are by comparison to the Ultra, I have to assume this gets way worse for the latter being how square and protruding most of its features are.

Despite the fairly low price and the more durable materials, I wouldn't dare getting it without Apple Care.

 

[Macalway]

Are u adventurous?

As I recall at times dive watches were 'in'. Im thinking this device might just create a fashion statement.

Anyways, I bought one. At $800 it had better 😀

 

[Johnnyseeth]

🤦‍♂️



Yeah, let’s meet back here when you find one with all the features. Ok?

(For starters, the Garmin Fenix drops to a measly 36 hours if you turn the GPS on.)

Yeah, let’s meet back here when you find an Apple Watch with more features than a Garmin Fenix.

 

[Arctic Moose]

Yeah, let’s meet back here when you find an Apple Watch with more features than a Garmin Fenix.

I haven’t claimed “more”, I have claimed “different”.

Unless you can show me a watch that has the same set of features, and also better battery life, there’s no point in the comparison.

Apple chose a specific set of tradeoffs regarding features, sensors, ingress protection, size, weight, screen size, aesthetics and so on.

You may not agree with Apple that these were the correct set of tradeoffs, but nobody is twisting your arm, and there are lots of alternatives.

Personally, I think Apple got it just right.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

You can pay for Apple to replace the battery, just like on an iPhone. I plan on using the Ultra for several years as I have all Apple Watches I’ve owned. The tech is mature enough now that this should last a good long time with one battery swap mid-life.



Yes, it’s a lot of money, but I find it odd to single out the Ultra among the Apple Watch lineup as being not worth the money. You can argue that the only AW “worth the money” is the SE as it does everything you need a basic smartwatch to do.

Right now you can order a stainless steel 45mm series 8 with link bracelet for $1049, and that has less features than the Ultra. Stainless steel is heavier and more prone to scratching than the titanium case of the Ultra, battery life is worse, GPS doesn’t include the L5 band, no programmable action button, etc. To me, that seems like a bad deal. Previous Apple Watches that Apple wanted to convince you were as valuable as jewelry were even more expensive. Apple Watch Edition went up to $20k or something?

So I don’t see how you can single out the Ultra as being a bad purchase when it’s lower cost than some models of the series 8, with more functionality and longer battery life, which has long been the number one complaint against Apple Watch as a product. Also you’re drooling over a $2,750 smartwatch from Tag Hauer that lets you control the temperature in your Porsche so I’m extra confused as to why you think the Ultra specifically is overpriced when it’s “really just an Apple Watch”.

I think it’s overpriced and I think the stainless steel Apple Watch is also overpriced. I also think the Tag is overpriced.

Look at a top end Garmin. Go look at the features of one. It’s mind blowing. We’re not getting a chunk of these features in the Apple Watch Ultra. It’s really not that different from a regular Apple Watch. Sure Apple has some software but so what? Anyone can create Apps for Watch OS. They put some chunks of metal and another button on it…

If it had a Liquid battery in the strap and ceramics and a built in flashlight and even an expedition camera built in then the price starts to be more reasonable. At its current price it costs the same as an iPhone 13.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

I haven’t claimed “more”, I have claimed “different”.

Unless you can show me a watch that has the same set of features, and also better battery life, there’s no point in the comparison.

Apple chose a specific set of tradeoffs regarding features, sensors, ingress protection, size, weight, screen size, aesthetics and so on.

You may not agree with Apple that these were the correct set of tradeoffs, but nobody is twisting your arm, and there are lots of alternatives.

Personally, I think Apple got it just right.

The Garmin can last as long as 173 days. Period. The Apple Watch cannot. Yes that is in watch mode with reduced functionality but the point is it can, under certain conditions, last that long. No argument, full stop. It can last as much as 22 days in smarwatch mode. It can last as long as 40 days in expedition GPS mode. It also has satellite functionality.

 

[mikejfrd]

In addition to the great features that I am excited about, I’m also excited that it’s DIFFERENT! I love my current Apple Watch, but let’s be real, millions and millions of people have had the same exact Apple Watch on their wrist for years. That’s fine, I’ve come to love my Apple Watch and stopped wearing my nicer watches because of it, but to say I’m not excited about something that looks new and different would be a lie. Apple products usually grow on me over time anyway.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

In addition to the great features that I am excited about, I’m also excited that it’s DIFFERENT! I love my current Apple Watch, but let’s be real, millions and millions of people have had the same exact Apple Watch on their wrist for years. That’s fine, I’ve come to love my Apple Watch and stopped wearing my nicer watches because of it, but to say I’m not excited about something that looks new and different would be a lie. Apple products usually grow on me over time anyway.

I stopped wearing an Apple Watch for the following reasons: 1. Design. The rounded rectangle doesn’t work well for me on my wrist. Maybe if it was thinner and more widescreen or round it would be better for me. 2. Very limited real world use. I used hardly any of the Apps. The screen is just so small it’s so limiting. 3. Battery life being terrible. Sick of always having to charge it.

 

[Arctic Moose]

The Garmin can last as long as 173 days.

Nobody is arguing it can’t.

Is 173 days better then the 60 hours offered by the Apple Watch Ultra?

Sure, in absolute numbers. Does the target audience care? I doubt it.

(Besides, how useful is the Garmin during those 173 days compared to the Ultra during the 60 hours?)

I took a quick look at the specs of highest-end Garmin I could find. It is 50% heavier, has a screen with a fourth of the pixels, no dive computer options and no cellular.

It really doesn’t look like a comparable product. (Also, it’s ugly as hell, IMHO.)

I stopped wearing an Apple Watch for the following reasons

But you still ordered an Ultra?

Checks out.

 

[Asiatic Black Hebrew]

But you still ordered an Ultra?

Checks out.

He's just arguing for the sake of arguing at this point.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

Nobody is arguing it can’t.

Is 173 days better then the 60 days offered by the Apple Watch Ultra?

Sure, in absolute numbers. Does the target audience care? I doubt it.

(Besides, how useful is the Garmin during those 173 days compared to the Ultra during the 60?)

I took a quick look at the specs of highest-end Garmin I could find. It is 50% heavier, has a screen with a fourth of the pixels, no dive computer options and no cellular.

It really doesn’t look like a comparable product. (Also, it’s ugly as hell, IMHO.)



But you still ordered an Ultra?

Checks out.

There are many models of Garmin, some of which do have LTE Cellular. and some of the highest end Garmins have Satellite functionality, because… a cellular connection is going to be so useful in the middle of nowhere.

And no the Ultra does not have 60 days of battery life, it’s up to 60 hours in low power mode.

 

[mikejfrd]

…and if another brands features are better for your needs; buy a different brand. I personally don’t need 30 days of battery life for any device I own, but everyone’s needs vary. There’s always give and take for desired features and experience. Good news for us is that we have the choice to purchase whichever one we want.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

…and if another brands features are better for your needs; buy a different brand. I personally don’t need 30 days of battery life for any device I own, but everyone’s needs vary. There’s always give and take for desired features and experience. Good news for us is that we have the choice to purchase whichever one we want.

What a revelation. Thanks.

 

[mikejfrd]

NP. I’m available all weekend 😉

 

[azhava]

Hilarious. So I am the only one that thinks the Apple Watch missed the mark because it's a product that is designed for extreme activities/expeditions and barely has 2.5 days of battery life? Or the fact that this poll shows that I'm by far not alone in my dislike of its design...

Ok.

Glad it makes you feel better that around 1 in 4 people agree with your opinion, lol.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

Glad it makes you feel better that around 1 in 4 people agree with your opinion, lol.

It doesn't make me feel much of anything. What I have felt is a slight taste of low level vomit in mouth when I look at the Ultra. We'll see if that subsides when I get it. I'm fairly certain it's not only waterproof but vomit proof, so if I puke all over it I'm sure it won't cause any issues. 🤮

 

[ukms]

I stopped wearing an Apple Watch for the following reasons: 1. Design. The rounded rectangle doesn’t work well for me on my wrist. Maybe if it was thinner and more widescreen or round it would be better for me. 2. Very limited real world use. I used hardly any of the Apps. The screen is just so small it’s so limiting. 3. Battery life being terrible. Sick of always having to charge it.

You started a thread about the ‘look’ of the Ultra. Having found that a large percentage disagree, you move on to running down almost every other aspect.

In light of your comments above about why you stopped wearing an AW … the rounded rectangle shape and wanting it thinner…. You don’t use many apps, screen so small, battery life, charging etc ……… why on earth have you purchased an ultra ? Most of those issues still remain with the ultra don’t they ?

It doesn't make me feel much of anything. What I have felt is a slight taste of low level vomit in mouth when I look at the Ultra. We'll see if that subsides when I get it. I'm fairly certain it's not only waterproof but vomit proof, so if I puke all over it I'm sure it won't cause any issues. 🤮

Bizarre comments above ……. I presume you are back at school on Monday ?

 

[Lynxpoint]

When I first saw it, I thought it was hideous, but after seeing it next to a regular series 8 watch, I realized how much I really do not like the look of the Apple watch, as I find the Ultra to be decent looking compared to regular AW.

 

[cannono]

The trap of round smartwatch design? Lol

A lot of people online prefer the round face to the rounded rectangle. It’s not to say it’s better but it is functional and preferred by a chunk of consumers. Certainly not a trap.

I’m not calling all round shapes a trap. I’m saying it falls into the trap of some unflattering design conventions when translating a round Watch into a smartwatch, in my opinion. There are some beautiful round smart watches on the market and I’d be open to Apple trying it someday.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

You started a thread about the ‘look’ of the Ultra. Having found that a large percentage disagree, you move on to running down almost every other aspect.

In light of your comments above about why you stopped wearing an AW … the rounded rectangle shape and wanting it thinner…. You don’t use many apps, screen so small, battery life, charging etc ……… why on earth have you purchased an ultra ? Most of those issues still remain with the ultra don’t they ?



Bizarre comments above ……. I presume you are back at school on Monday ?

First, I'm surprised on Macrumors that so many people actually agree with me.

Why have I bought an Ultra? Because starting this summer I have been back in the bush a lot roughing it every weekend and that will continue to scale up. I'm in places up north in Canada where there is no cellular service and more extreme conditions. Now that this is clear...

Even though I bought it there is a good chance I will return it but I am reserving a decision on that obviously until I've had it and tested it out.

I will see you in class, I think you and me have the same days on as one another.

 

[Johnnyseeth]

When I first saw it, I thought it was hideous, but after seeing it next to a regular series 8 watch, I realized how much I really do not like the look of the Apple watch, as I find the Ultra to be decent looking compared to regular AW.

That's funny. I also dislike the regular Apple Watch design.

 

[Itinj24]

I love the Ultra. Most beautiful smart watch I’ve ever seen. I’m no cross country runner or mountain climber or biker or diver.

I ordered it for no reason other than the aesthetics. Can’t wait to get it.