Who is the Ultra for? Athletes or Wanto be Athletes?

[Fozziebear71]

I love my Apple Watch. I use it on my runs to listen to music, podcasts, receive text messages, phone calls, etc., so I don't need to take my phone. I can't stand running with my phone. But, I run marathons. I like the new Apple Watch Ultra, but in no way shape or form is it replacing my Garmin Fenix 7X SS for running and training for half and full marathons. Any serious runner knows that.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I’m a bit lost here. I have an SS Apple Watch (for notifications and all non sport life) and an avid runner and cyclist so I use Garmin products like their watch and cycling computer.

This new ultra watch offers a few more needed options like a lap button and longer battery life but lacking so much!

Where is the ant+ support? Programmable metric screens? Etc.

Meanwhile I see this thread with all the couch potatoes putting in orders. Are you guys going on hikes, ultras, marathons, etc or is this really marketed for the want to be athlete ?

The watch is for anyone who wants a big watch with better battery, and some of the other features. One doesn’t have to be a full time athlete in order to use the watch.

 

[DSTOFEL]

If I had gone for the Ultra, this is the only configuration I’d have been interested in. One feature they left out though: No extra large version of this band. My wrist measures 208mm and even though these “sport loop” style bands state the large size fits up to 220mm, it’s not exactly a good fit. The end of the watch band for these sport loop types of bands sit’s on my wrist at the 3 or 9 o’clock position (ie on the side of my wrist). Not a good look. I have a couple of these bands in XL (ie 170-245mm) and a perfect fit (ie end of band sits at the 6 o’clock position). So, for my fellow big wristed comrades…something to keep in mind.

 

[jbachandouris]

I normally opt for the SS AW 45mm and that cost $849 with sport band.

This is $50 cheaper but I think I can barely pull off wearing the 45mm.

 

[tomiwah]

I love my Apple Watch. I use it on my runs to listen to music, podcasts, receive text messages, phone calls, etc., so I don't need to take my phone. I can't stand running with my phone. But, I run marathons. I like the new Apple Watch Ultra, but in no way shape or form is it replacing my Garmin Fenix 7 SS for running and training for half and full marathons. Any serious runner knows that.

And what makes a serious runner? I switched from Garmin to Apple four years ago and my training has not suffered. And I can easily get 4-5 hour trail training runs on it. On roads, my long runs typically are 3 hours or less. Too bad I’m not a serious runner.

 

[ukms]

I’m a bit lost here. I have an SS Apple Watch (for notifications and all non sport life) and an avid runner and cyclist so I use Garmin products like their watch and cycling computer.

This new ultra watch offers a few more needed options like a lap button and longer battery life but lacking so much!

Where is the ant+ support? Programmable metric screens? Etc.

Meanwhile I see this thread with all the couch potatoes putting in orders. Are you guys going on hikes, ultras, marathons, etc or is this really marketed for the want to be athlete ?

Im sure if stats were available for the use of many Garmin devices and the great metrics that garmin offer the same could be said.

How many truly NEED to use a Fenix or the more complex Forerunner devices -v- how many buy them. Where I live I see tons of Fenix devices that are really only used in the gym if that, I suspect the same will apply to the AW Ultra.

I am certainly going to try one as an alternative to the regular AW, if its too big or not comfortable i'll get the S8. I am by no means a 'Couch potato' nor am I a 'wanabee athlete'.... just someone who enjoys daily fitness in various forms.

 

[ColoradoTider]

I’m a bit lost here. I have an SS Apple Watch (for notifications and all non sport life) and an avid runner and cyclist so I use Garmin products like their watch and cycling computer.

This new ultra watch offers a few more needed options like a lap button and longer battery life but lacking so much!

Where is the ant+ support? Programmable metric screens? Etc.

Meanwhile I see this thread with all the couch potatoes putting in orders. Are you guys going on hikes, ultras, marathons, etc or is this really marketed for the want to be athlete ?

So...

You are an avid runner and cyclist.. bravo. Great for you, I am happy for you.

So is this thread to put down the "Couch Potatoes" ? or just to call everyone that orders this watch a: "want to be athlete"?

I am extremely active and constantly on the go: running, skateboarding/snowboarding , gym, hikes but I do not see any need for a Garmin or any of the "Programmable metric screens." you are referring to.

So that makes me a "want to be athlete?" not just someone who would like the features this watch provides without all of the crap a Garmin would give me that I don't want or need?

No trying to be rude but your OP seems a little domineering IMHO and possibly demeaning to others who are not " Avid runners and cyclists."

 

[NME42]

Funny. I know so many Garmin Fenix or 9xx users who I would say are not „true athletes“.

Well, I am also not one. Though I was using Forerunner 9xx more than a decade and after switching to Apple Watch still do 15-20 hours of sports a week (eg run every day).

Am I eligible to wear an AW Ultra? Who cares?

 

[orionquest]

Wantabe's be snapping this up like crazy...

 

[NME42]

As we say here: if you want to see the best sports equipment, go watch a race. You‘ll find the expensive stuff at the top and the end of the field.

 

[Bacasable]

I can say I’m the target
I’m 30
Preparing a Marathon and a trail at UTMB for next year
I have AirPods, iPad ans iphone, so, well in the ecosystem of apple
I have a gopro that I can manipulate by the Watch,
Do hiking for max 2 days

Well this Watch is for me, no doubt

 

[ascender]

I’m a bit lost here. I have an SS Apple Watch (for notifications and all non sport life) and an avid runner and cyclist so I use Garmin products like their watch and cycling computer.

This new ultra watch offers a few more needed options like a lap button and longer battery life but lacking so much!

Where is the ant+ support? Programmable metric screens? Etc.

Meanwhile I see this thread with all the couch potatoes putting in orders. Are you guys going on hikes, ultras, marathons, etc or is this really marketed for the want to be athlete ?

Part time couch potato here but also like to do ultra marathons, triathlons and hill/mountain running...

I use my current Apple Watch most days for activity tracking, but on hill runs and longer runs I always use a different watch - due to battery life but also useability, particularly in wet weather.

I was about to buy a Garmin to replace my Suunto which I use for longer activities, but can now get down to one watch for everything.

I'm hoping customisable activity screens will come. Less bothered about ant+ though personally. On the road bike I tend to use a separate device, although I can see me using the Ultra for trail and mountain biking.

I'm genuinely surprised by how much Apple leaned in to the potential market for this watch with few compromises and they've clearly done their research in terms of what users like me wanted to see.

 

[KennyJr]

Irrespective of the athletic use aspect, it has a titanium case w/ sapphire crystal w/ LTE. It has a larger display showing showing more complications. It's twice as bright as earlier models and it has 36 hour battery life (60 hours in low power mode). And there's more - lots more. In other words, if bang-for-the-buck is important to you, this is the watch to get. Oh - Forgot to mention - It looks cool.

 

[solideliquid]

I have a 2 year old. I need the ultra to help me navigate the tantrums, survive bath time, and make sure my timepiece is strong enough to survive multiple hugs and cuddles every hour. Survive and endure!

 

[symphony]

As an ultra runner / trail runner I have to agree with the OP that I think this is definitely still a 'want to be athlete' device. If a device is going to die in an event likely to be in the 8-24 hour range plus, the Apple Watch Ultra is definitely not 'ultra', despite the monkier. To be fair to Apple, those of us really in the ultra watch market are a very small segment. There are loads of people hauling around Garmins, yet struggle to even bash out a 5km most weekends.

I'm definitely glad to see more competition in this space as Garmin has largely taken most of the market, leaving smaller pieces to Suunto, Polar and Coros, however Apple is clearly not ready to compete yet in the endurance market. I am however hoping that this new product pushes Garmin and the others to make some more innovations, as our market segment has been suffering 'intel disease' lately, where only incremental improvements have been made each year and vendors largely locking out new features by way of software rather than making genuine hardware improvements.



I'm sorry but from the initial vague specs released, I honestly don't believe the Ultra is really made for 'intense athletes'.

It’s made to withstand on extreme conditions.

 

[douglasf13]

Ultimately, this is really

Irrespective of the athletic use aspect, it has a titanium case w/ sapphire crystal w/ LTE. It has a larger display showing showing more complications. It's twice as bright as earlier models and it has 36 hour battery life (60 hours in low power mode). And there's more - lots more. In other words, if bang-for-the-buck is important to you, this is the watch to get. Oh - Forgot to mention - It looks cool.

Exactly. I loathe running and cycling, but I hike, do weight training, play competitive tennis, golf, frisbee golf, basketball, climb, and walk 5+ miles per day. Is the Ultra necessary for me? Maybe not, outside of hiking usefulness, but the battery life of the Ultra pushed me over the edge. Plus, I think it looks bizarre and kind of cool.

 

[Thirio2]

I like the increased battery life, but it may be too big for my wrist. More rugged is good as long as it really is more rugged. I don’t need the extra features just for my daily walk. I have always gone aluminum in the past since I only keep them for 4 years due to decreasing battery life and wanting new features (the rumored glucose monitor would be nice). I will wait to see what it looks like on my wrist.

 

[seek3r]

Where is the ant+ support?

I'd bet Apple will be trying to push for BTLE accessories rather than adopt Garmin's ecosystem

 

[ascNYC]

I think the release of the Ultra is not too much of departure from what the watch industry has seen for decades.

Mechanical and quartz watch companies have created lifestyle personas for their watches for over a century with Rolex probably being the most famous. The Submariner has always been marketed as a watch that can dive deep into the ocean (1000 ft) with ease, the Sea Dweller (designed for commercial divers) even more so going to over 12K feet deep (a depth few can or will ever go). Their Daytona is marketed for the race car driver who aspires to time their laps as they zip around the track at 150+ mph, the Explorer for those who climb the highest mountains on earth, so on and so forth. Omega makes the Moon Watch for those aspiring astronauts who are planning their next trip to space. Breitling will sell you their Navitimer which is a useless tool for modern day airplane pilots to track their flights over land and ocean.

Apple is following a tried and true playbook by saying the Ultra is made for the toughest atheletes doing the most extream activities. In reality, most users will likely not push the watch to its limits but who cares? It's more of the potential of the watch (or for that matter, the car, the sneaker, the computer, etc.) and what it can do versus what most users will do with it.

IMHO, I think the Ultra will be a hit based on what many others have said in this thread. In the end it's another option for consumers who want to be in the Apple ecosystem.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Divers, athletes or those who want a really ugly looking smartwatch

 

[Roadster Lewis]

In theory, I am the target audience for this watch, I mountain bike and spend a lot of time outdoors. However, my Watch 3 has been fine for the last 5 years, so not sure why I need any more than the SE.

I used to wear GShocks, I still have them, but tend to prefer lower profile watches - I still have some nice slim mechanical watches, that barely get worn since getting an Apple Watch.

I did look at the Garmin watches, mainly for MTB features, but I have got too used to using my Watch to unlock my macs and don't think I could give up that functionality.

 

[GMShadow]

I think the release of the Ultra is not too much of departure from what the watch industry has seen for decades.

Mechanical and quartz watch companies have created lifestyle personas for their watches for over a century with Rolex probably being the most famous. The Submariner has always been marketed as a watch that can dive deep into the ocean (1000 ft) with ease, the Sea Dweller (designed for commercial divers) even more so going to over 12K feet deep (a depth few can or will ever go). Their Daytona is marketed for the race car driver who aspires to time their laps as they zip around the track at 150+ mph, the Explorer for those who climb the highest mountains on earth, so on and so forth. Omega makes the Moon Watch for those aspiring astronauts who are planning their next trip to space. Breitling will sell you their Navitimer which is a useless tool for modern day airplane pilots to track their flights over land and ocean.

Apple is following a tried and true playbook by saying the Ultra is made for the toughest atheletes doing the most extream activities. In reality, most users will likely not push the watch to its limits but who cares? It's more of the potential of the watch (or for that matter, the car, the sneaker, the computer, etc.) and what it can do versus what most users will do with it.

IMHO, I think the Ultra will be a hit based on what many others have said in this thread. In the end it's another option for consumers who want to be in the Apple ecosystem.

Correct. I mean hell, I wear a Seiko dive watch most of the time. Take a wild guess how often I go diving.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Correct. I mean hell, I wear a Seiko dive watch most of the time. Take a wild guess how often I go diving.

Seiko dive watches are iconic by design and most people who have owned them over the last 55 years probably never wore them diving. Desk diver was born from that theory lol. The ultra is a dive computer though in some part and nowhere near as stylish as many of the classic dive watches of the past. The Seiko turtle dive watch is a cult classic and one of the most iconic timepieces in history

 

[thirteen1031]

Meanwhile I see this thread with all the couch potatoes putting in orders. Are you guys going on hikes, ultras, marathons, etc or is this really marketed for the want to be athlete ?

The marketing is geared for the athlete (triathlon, marathon, etc.) and "adventurer"—who doesn't have to be an athlete, by the by. Are avid scuba divers athletes? Are people who, as mentioned in another post, love the great outdoors (and could benefit from features like that back-track compass) athletes?

That said, I see no reason to label those buying the watch for other reasons "Wanna-be-athletes" as most of them have been very straightforward about why they want the watch. NOT because they have fantasies of getting off the couch and winning a triathlon, but because they love the Ultra's big screen and long lasting battery.

 

[Fozziebear71]

And what makes a serious runner? I switched from Garmin to Apple four years ago and my training has not suffered. And I can easily get 4-5 hour trail training runs on it. On roads, my long runs typically are 3 hours or less. Too bad I’m not a serious runner.

Am I supposed to apologize that you had to find out this way? I'm confused.