Apple Watch Ultra Intro

The Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the best smartwatch Apple has come up with, bar none. Its overall feature set is truly impressive, and despite being geared towards active people that would take it to the bottom of the bay or hike up the mountains with it, I could very well see it gracing the wrists of regular everyday people that scoff at the thought of muddying up their shoes. Arguably, it's the best smartwatch that will both track your dive in the reef and let you pay for your margaritas afterwards.

It comes with a posh rugged design that not only looks snazzy but also makes sure the watch will survive a close encounter with Mother Nature and come on top unscathed. It also dials things up to 11 with the new customizable Action button and a better battery life than regular Apple Watches. Finally, there are some rather unique features that put it on the map for those extreme users who have a very specific and demanding set of requirements.

However, even for regular smartwatch users like myself, the Apple Watch Ultra is a perfect fit that shines with its battery life and sturdiness on top of all the software goodies. It's easily the best smartwatch I've used, and unlike some competitors, like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, feels like a finished product.

That said, at $799, the Apple Watch Ultra is definitely on the expensive side. Are its exclusive features over the Apple Watch Series 8 worth the few hundred bucks extra? I'm not exactly convinced. I generally feel that this is by far the best wearable Apple has come up with so far, but it surely lacks enough differentiating features over the Apple Watch Series 8 and even 7 to warrant an upgrade.


What’s new about the device

  • Large 49mm size case
  • Titanium case and sapphire glass
  • Customizable Action button
  • Larger Digital Crown
  • Larger battery
  • 2000-nit display
  • Dive computer with pressure and water temperature monitoring
  • Emergency 86db siren
  • Crash detection
  • Dual-frequency GPS
  • Dual speakers and three-microphone array
  • 100m water resistance
  • New Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean band straps

Table of Contents:

  • Design & display
  • Software & features
  • Battery
  • Connectivity
  • Audio & haptics
  • Summary

Apple Watch Ultra Unboxing


The Apple Watch Ultra comes in a packaging that's slightly different from your regular Apple Watch. The box is wider and shorter than regular, with some additional booklets inside that hint at the Apple Watch Ultra's rugged nature. Aside from the packaging, which is also made of recycled materials, the wearable comes with just a USB-C charging puck and the watch band of your choice. The charging cable is a braided one, a nice touch that complements the Watch Ultra rather well.

Apple Watch Ultra Specs

Specs aren't vital when dealing with wearables, but in any case, we've got to explore the nitty-gritty of what makes the Apple Watch Ultra click and tick. Here is the gist of the Apple Watch Ultra specs: