The new Apple Watch Ultra delivers a dizzying array of fitness and adventure features—but it does have a few quirks.
to begin with , I ’d planned on essay out the brand - newApple watch over Ultrawhile hiking through the surreal landscape of Cappadocia or trek the jungle of Vietnam , both of which predominate on the horizon of my never - ending itinerary . The Ultra was specifically plan for outdoor fitness and adventure use , after all , represent Apple ’s attack to rival similar product fromGarminor Polar . Then I found out that I ’d only have a few days to give it a whirl , and this test window would come while I happened to be in Amsterdam — which is about as far from backcountry hiking as one can get . So the Ultra end up accompanying me along the city ’s abundant alleys and canals , up and down the steps of the Rijksmuseum , and through its sprawling Vondelpark .
Having thus tested the Ultra , I ’ve concluded that it is — for all visionary design — a loosely outstanding smartwatch . I say “ visionary ” because most of its potentially too - many feature article are completely useless for the average watch wearer . But if you happen to be a dedicated fitness oroutdoor enthusiastwith an rich budget ( for it certainly is n’t cheap ) , the Apple Watch Ultra delivers an staggering assortment of functions . It could use a better battery , though .
What Is the Apple Watch Ultra?
The Watch Ultra is a major stone’s throw forward for Apple ’s sentinel designing . In recent years , Garmin has gone unchallenged as the leader of the premium seaworthiness picket segment , and the Ultra is Apple ’s attack to give them a run for their money . And for the most part , the Ultra come after at this finish — with just a couple of celebrated missteps that we ’ll look at in a moment .
Speaking of running for the money , this fitness scout exacts no minor toll from runners , hikers , and other seaworthiness folk see to maximize their trailing crusade . Priced at $ 799 , the Ultra by all odds is n’t cheap . For that price , however , you wreak home a mind - boggling collection of feature in a parcel that extend more durability , a dependable screen , and more accurate GPS trailing than any previous Apple Watch loop .
The Outdoor Upgrades
Arguably the most notable improver to the Ultra ( among a plethora of notable additions ) is the inclusion of several subprogram pitch toward outside adventure . These let in a topnotch - gimcrack distress siren and a Backtrack programme to aid lead you back along your route if you incidentally lose your way . This can be lifesaving at the most and helpful at the least if you ’re out hiking and take a ill-timed turn of events — or if you ’re wandering the streets of Amsterdam without mark off Google Maps and all the street start to take care the same after a while . The Ultra also has a Wayfinder picket case , which will always point back toward a pre - selected waypoint , such as your car or hotel .
These features are bolster by improved GPS capability . Unlike premature Apple Watch releases , the Ultra includes two GPS bands rather than one . In the yesteryear , Watches only had an L1 band , which lean to glitch if you ’re fence by tall buildings . The addition of an L5 band greatly better its GPS capacity . It ’s strange that Apple has n’t include onscreen GPS function , however , which have become jolly received among Garmin and a few other competitor . underwater diver will appreciate the accession of a new astuteness function , which flip-flop on automatically when the Ultra is submerged . This show data such as depth , time underwater , and water temperature . What ’s more , the Ultra iswater resistantdown to an impressive 100 meters .
So Many Fitness Functions
The Watch Ultra offers physical fitness and wellness functions that even the most die - hard of fitness fanatics could take account . You know what they are : calories burned vs. consumed , footfall , inwardness pace , workout tracking , ECG , fall detection , rakehell oxygen monitoring , laps , etc . As far as I can state , the fitness tracking is fairly accurate — which is a major improvement , as inaccuracy plagued previous Watch releases — and what ’s more , it ’s capable of tracking and exchange between multiple workout activity on the fly . The Ultra was specifically designed for endurance jock , who might take to leap between monitoring dissimilar bodily function when training for their next marathon or whatever . But you don’thaveto be juggling several activities at once . The Ultra is utterly suitable for tracking a square gymnasium session .
The Ultra also has crash detection , which means that in the event that you pass over out on your bike or wreck your car , it will automatically dial emergency avail .
Sleek Looks, Solid Smarts
in general speaking , the Watch Ultra is an all - around solid smartwatch . It looks great , with a bright display that is well-off to register . It can hold songs , photos , and so off , can be used to encounter content and other notification , and makes and receives calls that sound just as frizzy as a top - of - the - bloodline telephone verbaliser . Basically , it delivers all the key smartwatch features that you ’d expect from an almost $ 800 vigil . It also let in three band options ( dark-green , orange , and ointment , though there seem to be more colorsavailable at Best Buy ) , all of which are well-to-do and attractive .
That Battery, Though…
Without a uncertainty , the largest drawback to the Watch Ultra is the battery life , which top out at around 36 hour if you use minimum function . That ’s nothing compared to Garmin , Polar , or Coros , each of which makes watches with batteries that can last up to and even past a hebdomad . Most significantly cheaper Fitbits would also outlast the Ultra .
This would n’t be a openhanded deal if it was a normal smartwatch that you could dispatch and charge on a regular basis , but it ’s not a normal smartwatch : It aims to be the ultimate fitness andoutdoor lookout man . If you require to make the most of wellness and seaworthiness trailing , you need to systematically wear down it to continually accumulate information — you ca n’t do that if you have to plug away it in every day . And if you ’re fall back and hoping that the Ultra will hold start the day , you ’ve got at most a day to be found or receive your manner back — after that , you ’re out of luck .
Final Verdict: A Great, If Flawed, Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker
In the end , it ’s hard not to hold that the Ultra is an awesome smartwatch . It ’s all - around impressive , boasting capacity that are almost superior in every way . I say “ almost ” because of the barrage and the price . For $ 799 , I simply do n’t sympathize how they could n’t have worked in a higher - capacity shelling . Sure , all those features working at once suck up a lot of juice , but Garmin makes vigil that offer more or less comparable functionality and will last for days on remnant while go full blast . If the Ultra had a better battery , it would be darn near perfect .
But if you ’re an Apple aficionado , outdoor / fitness enthusiast , and can afford the price tatter , the Watch Ultra is emphatically deserving consideration .
Design by Maggie Rossetti for Thrillist
Design by Maggie Rossetti for Thrillist
