The first reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra praise the large display. And there’s a debate whether the wearable is too big – there’s no agreement on this. The GPS and battery life are definitely better
Anyone considering whether Apple’s rugged, sports-oriented smartwatch is right for them should read on.
Feels smaller than expected
Photo: Apple
The Apple Watch Ultra is undeniably a hefty device. But several reviewers says is not too large.
“In photos, the Watch Ultra dwarfs my wrist. In person, it feels smaller than some of the 45mm to 47mm round watches I’ve tested,” said The Verge review.
“When taking the Ultra out of the box for the first time, I thought it was going to be too large and heavy for my wrist. But it’s deceptively light to wear, thanks to its titanium construction,” noted the Cnet reviewer.
Not everyone agrees. “The 49mm titanium watch face looks ridiculously large on my wrist,” the CNBC reviewer says. “I realize the big size is the tradeoff for a longer-lasting battery, but the Ultra just doesn’t feel like it was created for a woman’s wrist.”
Even the reviews with positive comments on the size also noted that the device will be too large for some people.
Super-size screen
As noted, the Apple Watch Ultra’s screen is 49mm in height. That’s the largest Watch screen Apple has ever made… part of the reason the wearable is so bulky.
“The display has increased to nearly two inches across and is far brighter, so the extra information you can see is beautifully legible,” notes TechRadar.
“The larger screen is great for readability,” says The Verge. “I’ve got bad eyesight, and a big screen means I can crank up the font size so it’s easier to read.
Multi-day battery life
A large smartwatch makes room for extra battery, and the Apple Watch Ultra provides longer times between recharges.
“The Ultra’s 36-hour battery estimate is also a bit conservative; if you’re not partaking in a triathlon, you’re likely going to get closer to 48 hours. And that’s without low-power mode enabled,” said The Verge review.
Many reviewers didn’t do battery life testing, just quoting Apple’s estimate.
For extremophiles
Image: Apple
The features covered up until now would help any users, including those planning to wear the device to meetings. But that’s not the target audience of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple’s video preview has people climbing mountains and running through deserts using the wearable.
It features dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS for more accurate location tracking. TechRadar tested it in a dense, urban environment. “While there were a few moments where apparently we plunged through buildings, most of the time it tracked us to sidewalks even under heavy tree cover, or spotted us changing sides of the road.”
The Compass app allows users to mark waypoints they want to remember the location of. Backtrack can be used to return on the same route.
The Verge tested these features during a hike in the mountains. “I dropped Waypoints in the area where we parked, the state park visitor center, and several restrooms, and the Compass app showed the distance and direction back to each,” notes its reviewer. “I mostly didn’t need Backtrack — which helps you retrace your exact route — but I was happy to have it when we briefly got lost.”
But this is Apple’s first attempt at a Watch for extreme athletes, and it’s not yet ready to go toe-to-toe with companies with years of experience.
“The Ultra might not match the sports and mapping features on a higher-end Garmin, Coros or Polar watch, but the tight integration with iPhone might be worth more to you,” said Cnet.
Video reviews
Marques Brownlee got more than two days and two nights of use out of the Ultra. He talks about this and more in his video review.
Apple Watch Ultra available now
The Ultra starts at $799, and can be preordered now from the online Apple store. The only version has a 49mm display, is made of titanium and has built-on LTE wireless networking.
Shipments are scheduled to begin September 23, bout Apple has sold out of its pre-launch supply and an order placed Sept. 21 won’t arrive before the week of Nov 3 through Nov 10.
