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

[Monkswhiskers]

Things that pique my interest about the Ultra.

The 2 band GPS.
Battery life.
The 2xbrighter display.

(These are for sporting endeavours.)

Things I don’t like about the Ultra.

The look…it’s fkin AWFUL to me.
The size…it’s rolling back 10years for me as a sports watch to the days where I would strap on my old Garmin brick and go running, no freaking way I would wear it any other time.

So I remain with the my 5 and to the first points above:-

I can always get a Stryd which is more accurate than gps.

Trying low power mode as we speak and it looks promising.

As for the screen, I’m just gonna have to suck it up (and save £850 in the process).

 

[computerpro3]

Who said he's demeaning? Apple hasn't targeted serious cyclists.

Fixed that for you. I run 50MPW, have a run streak of at least 5k every day for 6 months, play tennis, baseball, and rock climb and the Apple watch plus the WorkOutdoors app is exactly what I want. Don't give a **** about cycling or Ant+.

 

[alongdingdong]

That's exactly what Apple is doing. Check out their website and video.



Interesting. Where exactly does the Ultra lack?

For cyclists? a **** ton.
For runners? a **** ton.
For hikers? a **** ton.

But you dont

Uhoh did i use the wrong pro

 

[beanbaguk]

‘How good is the cellular on the Garmin?

I have cellular on my Apple Watch and aside from when I first bought it and the novelty was there, I’ve never used it. I use my phone.

Plus what’s more, the cellular connectivity doesn’t support roaming so for people that travel it’s useless. As soon as I leave my home country, it’s just like any other smartwatch.

I won’t miss it when I switch to a Garmin watch for my next device.

 

[Indianwin2001]

I have cellular on my Apple Watch and aside from when I first bought it and the novelty was there, I’ve never used it. I use my phone.

Plus what’s more, the cellular connectivity doesn’t support roaming so for people that travel it’s useless. As soon as I leave my home country, it’s just like any other smartwatch.

I won’t miss it when I switch to a Garmin watch for my next device.

I just traded in my Garmin Epix because of faulty software. I don't care what anyone else says, Garmin has WAY to many bugs with their unreliable software. Been that way for years.

 

[alongdingdong]

For cyclists? a **** ton.
For runners? a **** ton.
For hikers? a **** ton.

But you dont

Uhoh did i use the wrong pro

Sorry for my post, my bad.

 

[alongdingdong]

I just traded in my Garmin Epix because of faulty software. I don't care what anyone else says, Garmin has WAY to many bugs with their unreliable software. Been that way for years.

I have the Explore 2 their new navigation bike computer and it is pretty sheit at what it supose to do, i have to jump through hoops at times to get it to start my route. It is super demanding that i start at the exact start spot which is a block away from my house, only then i can start and have it calculate my route. It freezes from time to time and crashes and turns itself off.

Garmin stuff is ****, but it is still one of the best turn by turn navigation computers for bikes lol it is a joke. Paid 300 euro for it.

 

[ukms]

Plus what’s more, the cellular connectivity doesn’t support roaming so for people that travel it’s useless. As soon as I leave my home country, it’s just like any other smartwatch.

Thats about to change this week

 

[ukms]

I won’t miss it when I switch to a Garmin watch for my next device.

Great to hear ........ does that mean you stop complaining on here ?

 

[darngooddesign]

I have cellular on my Apple Watch and aside from when I first bought it and the novelty was there, I’ve never used it. I use my phone.

Plus what’s more, the cellular connectivity doesn’t support roaming so for people that travel it’s useless. As soon as I leave my home country, it’s just like any other smartwatch.

I won’t miss it when I switch to a Garmin watch for my next device.

All Apple-Watches from Series 5 on get International roaming.

 

[The_Interloper]

I just traded in my Garmin Epix because of faulty software. I don't care what anyone else says, Garmin has WAY to many bugs with their unreliable software. Been that way for years.

You keep going on and on about this but in what way? I have a Fenix 6X Pro, Edge Explore+ and my household also has two Instincts, an Edge 720+ and an Edge 1000. No issues with any of them, ever.

I also have a S7 Cellular and the biggest issue with it is the absolutely atrocious battery life when you're not tethered to an iPhone. Tracking an activity while on cellular is likely to give you a few hours of battery life, at best.

 

[paulchiu]

Totally sexist/sizest watch. I have a 6” wrist; where’s the Mini-Ultra???

Same wrist here but I already ordered

 

[NME42]

Thats about to change this week

Not everywhere. I understood this will take time until end of year until it is available everywhere.
But anyhow: great, one of the biggest deficits of cellular AW will be gone.

 

[Indianwin2001]

You keep going on and on about this but in what way? I have a Fenix 6X Pro, Edge Explore+ and my household also has two Instincts, an Edge 720+ and an Edge 1000. No issues with any of them, ever.

I also have a S7 Cellular and the biggest issue with it is the absolutely atrocious battery life when you're not tethered to an iPhone. Tracking an activity while on cellular is likely to give you a few hours of battery life, at best.

Look at my post history. I explained it twice about standing in place, starting a strength activity, and while still standing still, heart rate jumped 60 bpm. Didn't move a muscle. That was on my Fenix 6 pro. On my 245 AND Epix my body battery bottomed out to 5 EVERY day no matter how active my day was. UNTRUSTWORTHY for me.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I have cellular on my Apple Watch and aside from when I first bought it and the novelty was there, I’ve never used it. I use my phone.

Plus what’s more, the cellular connectivity doesn’t support roaming so for people that travel it’s useless. As soon as I leave my home country, it’s just like any other smartwatch.

I won’t miss it when I switch to a Garmin watch for my next device.

We all hope you enjoy your garmin and we will miss you! 😘

 

[The_Interloper]

Look at my post history. I explained it twice about standing in place, starting a strength activity, and while still standing still, heart rate jumped 60 bpm. Didn't move a muscle. That was on my Fenix 6 pro. On my 245 AND Epix my body battery bottomed out to 5 EVERY day no matter how active my day was. UNTRUSTWORTHY for me.

If it doesn't work for you, that's fine. Maybe Garmin's sensors don't get on with your skin type or something. I've had no such issues, so it's all anecdotal.

 

[John-F]

Look at my post history. I explained it twice about standing in place, starting a strength activity, and while still standing still, heart rate jumped 60 bpm. Didn't move a muscle. That was on my Fenix 6 pro. On my 245 AND Epix my body battery bottomed out to 5 EVERY day no matter how active my day was. UNTRUSTWORTHY for me.

I've had several Garmin and Apple watches, currently the Epix Gen 2 and the AW Series 7. As I posted earlier in the thread, they both have their strengths. I can't comment on overall SW issues with Garmin, but I can say I use the HR functions extensively, including when doing intense intervals which tax the sensors to accurately note changes. I find both the Epix 2 and the AW excellent. Never had any problems with either.

 

[Zelegorm]

The heart rate sensor on any Garmin is bad. Same for sleep tracking. The problem is: All their stuff is based on those bad messurements.
Same for oxy measurements. I have 88% on my Garmin. In real I have 98%. My AppleWatch is accurate.

That's the point: Garmin = crap in : crap out

 

[BaddAdvice]

How many G-Shocks are out there? Millions? How many are used to the extent they are designed for? I'd suspect a tiny fraction. Same deal for the Ultra. People will buy them and use them as a timepiece. Not everyone who buys one needs to climb a mountain, run an ultra marathon, or dive to the deepest depths of the ocean. It's a watch, folks, and people can wear and use them any way they want.

 

[John-F]

The heart rate sensor on any Garmin is bad. Same for sleep tracking. The problem is: All their stuff is based on those bad messurements.
Same for oxy measurements. Ich have 88% for a Garmin. In real I have 98%. My AppleWatch is accurate.

That's the point: Garmin = crap in : crap out

Maybe any of your Garmins but not any of mine. Whenever someone makes a general, sweeping statement I wonder if they have an ax to grind. I was going to suggest you send yours in for repair if it is defective, but I'm positive that would not satisfy you.

 

[Zelegorm]

I know many people with Garmin's out there. Everyone bought a heart rate strap because the sensor is bad. Same for none workouts. Sorry. No one is trusting the Garmin sensors around me.

Even this guy is not so satisfied about the "Garmin" accuracy:

 

[John-F]

No use carrying this further. There are many people/athletes very satisfied with Garmin watches, with and without HR straps. There are also many people very satisfied with Apple watches. In both cases, and probably the case with any brand, there is a highly vocal dissatisfied minority. If your opinion and that of the "many" who you know were common, Garmin would not be the highly successful company it is. Same applies to the excellent Apple watches. (BTW - You can find YouTube videos and articles to make any point you want.)

BTW - For anyone interested in excellent, in-depth reviews, dcrainmaker (Ray) is an excellent source.

 

[NME42]

BTW - For anyone interested in excellent, in-depth reviews, dcrainmaker (Ray) is an excellent source.

Yes, and he has written an excellent article on Garmin's software problems.

Garmin’s Biggest Competitor Is Their Own Software Instability

Not much has changed since 2019 sadly.

 

[Supermallet]

First, just because Apple markets a watch a certain way doesn’t mean that’s the only way the watch can be used. For users with more accessibility needs this is now THE Apple Watch to get (brighter screen, bigger crown, extra programmable button, better battery life). And even if you don’t have a specific need for the Ultra in particular, it’s fine to just like it and want it and get it.

Second, the Ultra isn’t just a product, it’s a platform. I don’t know how robust the third party app options are for the other sport smart watches, but you can bet Apple has them all beat in that area. There’s a reason the diving section featured a third party developer—Apple isn’t asking you to rely on only their built in apps alone. Many people here have already mentioned how much more you can get from WorkOutDoors, and the more weight Apple puts behind the Ultra as a sports watch, the more support you’ll see from third party devs.

I also think this is a preview of where the regular Watch line will go. The action button is far too useful to remain on a single model, it’s going to come to the main watch line. People are making a mistake viewing the Ultra in isolation. It’s an opening move, not the endgame.

Anyway, if you like one, buy one. If anyone gives you guff for it, just imagine how miserable they must be that they have to rain on other people’s parades.

 

[Cromulent]

I thought briefly about getting an Ultra, but I rarely leave the house. The main reason I wanted an Apple Watch was for Apple Fitness+, and the Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen seemed to support all of the required features that I needed, and the price was very tempting. I can always upgrade to one later if I change my mind.