Apple Watch Ultra Processor & Storage

The Apple Watch Ultra still uses the same Apple S8 SiP chipset that was used in the Apple Watch Series 8 an Apple Watch SE, a 1.8GHz dual-core 64-bit ordeal built on a 7nm manufacturing node. It's essentially the same chipset as the S7 and S6 ones that powered the Series 7 and Series 6, respectively. That's no biggie, as performance-wise we will hardly ever need anything much faster, but efficiency could probably be improved by a lot in the near future by shrinking the chip die.

Still, the S8 SiP of the Watch Ultra is easily the most adept mobile chipset on a smartwatch these days and is still super-responsive and chewing through apps with a gusto. No lag or any lack of responsiveness were experience during my time with the Apple Watch Ultra.


Apple Watch Ultra Connectivity

The Apple Watch Ultra is only available with cellular and GPS on board, a move away from regular Apple wearables that also come in a more affordable GPS-only version. Some additional connectivity features of the Apple Watch Ultra include dual-frequency L1 and L5 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou, Bluetooth 5.3, and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz. That's a lot of raw specs, but the key takeaway is that the Apple Watch Ultra is a connectivity champ, possibly the best-in-class wearable.

Apple Watch Ultra Audio Quality and Haptics

With dual speakers, the Apple Watch Ultra really does sound louder—and better—than the Apple Watch Series 8. As a result, making phone calls and interacting with Siri are finally pleasant experiences. The three-mic array also means that the Apple Watch Ultra is capable of isolating your voice quite well, even in windy environments, so the other party wouldn't hear you as if you're talking from a 90s landline.

Haptic feedback has been improved a lot in comparison with other Apple Watch models, and it's no competition. See, regular Apple wearables still have excellent taptic engines that produce accurate and strong vibrations, but the Apple Watch Ultra takes things up by a few notches. Its taptic engine feels much stronger and more accurate, delivering excellent feedback. This would definitely come to good use for folks that use it on top of, say, a diving suit, and still need to feel the haptic feedback when ascending. Overall, deeply impressed by this secondary feature!

Apple Watch Ultra Competitors


We definitely have to mention the $450 Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, a smartwatch that is the equivalent to the Apple Watch Ultra but only works with Android devices. It's got mostly similar titanium/sapphire design, but in a more traditional circular case, and with a raised, interactive bezel.

The Galaxy Watch 5 Pro also has a rather impressive roster of health, fitness, and wellness sensors and features on board that definitely match the majority of functionalities that the Apple Watch Ultra has in tow. There's a backtrack feature, for example, and still non-functional skin temperature sensor functionality, but stuff like dive computing, the emergency siren, and dual-frequency GPS are only available on the Apple Watch Ultra.

Of course, the Apple Watch Series 8 (and even Apple Watch Series 7, to some extent) passes as a notable Apple Watch Ultra competitor. Surely, it may lack the rugged and durable design of the 49mm monster, not to mention a smaller battery, but has most of the software features and functionalities on deck, sans the diving functionality. And from $400 for the GPS and $500 for the GPS+cellular versions, it's hard to justify not buying the Apple Watch Series 8.

Finally, if you don't really need a true smartwatch and could do just fine with a less impressive display, Garmin has the Fenix 7/7X series with tons of features and utilities that would suit the adventurous crowd. Battery life over there is measured in weeks rather than days, but the price could be slightly higher, especially if you go for the solar-chargable versions.

Apple Watch Ultra Summary and final verdict


The Apple Watch Ultra is a definite win for Apple. It definitely sets the stage for future follow-ups that will build upon the super-solid hardware and software foundation laid by it. With its great battery life, feature-rich roster of features and utilities, and intuitive interface, this one shines extremely brightly and should at least be considered by anyone on the hunt for a new smartwatch, especially those dwelling in the vast Apple ecosystem.

Still, it's a large wearable that you absolutely shouldn't blind-buy. You will definitely feel it on your wrist at all times due to its heft, and might not necessarily be suitable for your wrist. While I personally had no issues with it, I will most certainly go back to a regular Apple Watch as its more compact size is more practical.

Another thing that irked me is the fact that the Apple Watch Ultra generally lacks enough features to get itself easily differentiated from the rest of Apple's smartwatch lineup. Don't get me wrong, having a larger battery and sturdier case is great, but a slightly more accurate GPS and a diving functionality that few would use aren't the best exclusive features of the wearable. I feel that the Apple Watch Ultra should have had more exclusive features that would better justify its $799 price tag.