Apple Watch Ultra review: a pro watch, an ultra price
The Apple Watch Ultra is a brand new platform for Apple Watch that augments the already impressive sports and activity tracking capabilities of the smartwatch.
Includes updates such as the brightest Apple Watch screen ever for readability in bright sunlight, water resistance up to 100 meters with immersion and extended capabilities certified by EN 13319 (the international standard for dive computers) , and temperature resistance in extreme conditions (between -4 ° C). F and 131 ° F) and an 86 decibel siren that can be activated and heard up to 600 feet away in emergency situations.
Apple Watch Ultra features a redesigned case profile in aerospace-grade titanium and a flat sapphire crystal with an extra-large 49mm diameter .
Outside of size, one of the most significant updates here is the presence of a three-dimensional flank on the right side of the case that houses an extra-large “Digital Crown” and a side control button.
screen on top
A great smartwatch
Efficient dual frequency GPS
Accurate heart rate tracking
Good battery life for an Apple Watch
Compatible with 44mm and 45mm straps[/i2pros][i2cons] Touch too essential for sports use
Underused action button
No integrated mapping
Not made for small wrists
No training analysis
Poor battery life for a sports watch
The price
[/i2cons][/i2pc]
APPLE WATCH ULTRA (2022)TECHNICAL SHEET
| Model | Apple Watch Ultra (2022) |
|---|---|
| Technology | OLED |
| Screen protection | Sapphire Crystal |
| screen format | Rectangular |
| Internal memory | 32 GB |
| Wireless | WiFi 4(n) |
| Dimension | 44mm |
| Weight | 61.3 grams |
| heart rate sensor | Yes |
| Sleep analysis | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient light sensor | Yes |
| Protection sign | IP68 |
| Price | 999 € |
The new digital crown has a larger diameter and deeper grooves than any previous crown, to ensure ease of use when wearing gloves.
On the left side of the case, there is a new customizable ” Action ” in high contrast orange that allows you to enable a more precise start time for your workout and an instant transition between different parts of a race or race. sports session.
Other updates on the Apple Watch Ultra, compared to a standard Apple Watch, include the addition of a second speaker to increase the volume, the longest battery life ever for the Apple Watch with 36 hours of battery life on a single charge, plus 60 hours of eventual battery life extension using a battery optimization setting that Apple says it will announce by the end of fall.
Related: Huawei Experience: We tested the ECG on the Watch GT 3 Pro
The first dual-frequency GPS on an Apple Watch
” Did you drink alcohol for the Apple Watch Series 4 test?” “, even jokes another Internet user, so much the follow-up of the course for this model seems improbable.
During the presentation of the Apple Watch Ultra, the American group insisted on the precision of its dual-frequency GPS, a first on an Apple Watch. The connected watch thus combines the L1 frequency band (1,575.42 MHz) with the L5 band (1,176.45 MHz) to improve the GPS signal, collect more accurate location information, all while consuming less energy. .
The Apple Watch Ultra should therefore do much better than its counterparts in historic centers with narrow streets, as well as on hiking trails.
The mower test
After the release of the first tests of the Apple Watch Ultra , it’s the turn of a Reddit user to test the capabilities of the smartwatch, which was subjected to a test that was original to say the least: the course tracking of ‘a lawnmower.
The test isn’t as far-fetched as you might think: mowing requires going back and forth over a limited area, and it can be a good way to give an idea of accuracy new GPS.
The test author compared the GPS performance of the Apple Watch Ultra to that of the Apple Watch Series 4 by performing the same route with both watches. As you can see in the screenshots below, the results are very different and the Apple Watch Ultra is much more accurate.
DESIGN
The Apple Watch Ultra marks a break in the design of Apple watches. This model is dedicated to adventure, and the brand had to mark the occasion by reviewing the aesthetics of its new toquant. Note two striking visual differences from the Apple Watch SE and Series: the size and the physical buttons .
With its 49 mm case, the Watch Ultra is not made for all wrists, and we will see later that this can affect the quality of heart rate measurements. Remember that the Watch Series 8 and the Watch SE respectively offer 41 mm or 45 mm and 40 mm or 44 mm cases. Remember, however, that a size of 49 mm is anything but abnormal in the landscape of sports watches .
The massive appearance of the Watch Ultra is surely due to its square shape, where competitors adopt the more traditional round shape. On my relatively small wrist, the watch does not go unnoticed. Note that the Apple Watch Ultra is offered in one size and case color .
The flat screen still sets the Watch Ultra apart a bit more from other Apple Watches, but the signature Apple Watch appearance is still there: a square smartwatch . It is above all its thickness that will disconcert those accustomed to classic connected watches. Here we compare the 1.44cm thick of the Watch Ultra to the 1.07cm of the Watch Series 4.
In terms of mass, the watch weighs just under 63 grams on the scale , not including the strap – 74 grams with the Alpine buckle that we are testing. That’s more than other Apple Watches, but again, nothing surprising for a product like this.
For comparison and counting the bracelet of the two watches, it is 4 grams more than a Garmin Epix 2 (Sapphire) – the case of the latter is also 16 grams lighter than that of the Watch Ultra. The bulk of the Watch Ultra left me in relative pain the day after a somewhat hectic three-hour gravel bike ride.
Let’s go to the buttons. On the right, we find the famous rotating crown and the side button , which are here immured in a kind of growth. The idea is to be able to use the crown in all situations, with gloves in the mountains for example. It’s good. What is less is that once the bracelet is a little tight, the crown often tends to get stuck in the skin of the wrist.
On the left, a new button has appeared. The latter is orange and is for once integrated into the case. Apple being Apple, this button is entitled to a name: the Action Button . It is up to the user to choose which action will be triggered, among the few options offered. Note that this button is orange, as are the contours of the crown.
The box also features two speakers and three microphones , a dual-frequency GPS antenna and a siren capable of reaching 86 decibels. For once, this is not a feature found on sports watches. Others, like the Garmin fēnix 7X , incorporate LED flashlights.
APPLE WATCH ULTRA (2022)HEALTH FEATURES
It was well worth showing us explorers deep in Alaska in the launch video.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a bunch of sensors:
- blood oxygen level sensor (SpO2);
- electrical heart rate sensor;
- 3rd generation optical heart rate sensor (like the Watch Series 8);
- temperature sensor
- altimeter;
- High precision dual frequency GNSS (L1 and L5);
- gyro;
- depth gauge and water temperature sensor.
WATCH OS 9
Overall, what’s new in watchOS 9 shouldn’t be received as a major breakthrough when it comes to the Watch Ultra. These are basic features, but essential for a sports watch.
Let’s start with heart rate zones. It was about time, especially since Apple Watches are known for their excellent heart rate tracking. Now, one of the watch face views during your activity displays the zone you are in via a gauge and specifies the time spent in said zone, as well as your current and average heart rate.
The zones are automatically calculated according to the resting and maximum heart rate captured by the watch. Yes, the calculation method used by Apple is that of the reserve heart rate – Karvonen formula. The watch does not leave the choice on the method of calculation, and so much the better since the calculations generally applied by default do not take into account the frequency at rest, and are technically less relevant.
APPLE WATCH ULTRA PRICE AND WHERE TO BUY IT
The final product also meets MIL-STD-810, a general-purpose military standard that highlights the quality and durability of the Apple Watch Ultra. It costs 1,009 euros, can be ordered through Apple and is available from 23 September 2022 also on Amazon
APPLE WATCH ULTRA OPINIONS
Apple highlighted in the keynote presentation the amount of time it took to develop the Apple Watch Ultra, which involved them working closely with serious athletes and explorers like sub Nadia Aly and runner Scott Jurek.
Eventually, people buy and wear an Apple Watch (Ultra) for different reasons than their Rolex Submariner or Omega Seamaster .
The previous generation of Apple Watch models proved that these watches can coexist, not only within the market but also for the same wearer. Those who follow me know that I wear an Apple Watch on the right, as a work and sports tool, but I never give up my classic timepiece on the left.
The Apple Watch Ultra is something we’ve been asking for since day one: a proper fitness tracking device from Apple, and that’s definitely what we have.
However, the general feeling, just like with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro, that this isn’t a suite of fitness facilities good enough to compete with the immense power of more dedicated running watches.
But that doesn’t really look like the market Apple is looking for – it doesn’t need a Garmin rival because hardcore ultra runners will still gravitate towards high-end gear.
The Watch Ultra is designed to extend the appeal of the Apple Watch to more users, those who are more serious about their fitness but don’t get up at 4:30 am to run exactly 14 x 400m intervals with a heart rate of zone 4.
However, if you want a watch that offers some cellular connectivity – and all models will – in inhospitable conditions, monitors your health or allows you to quickly call emergency services, then that’s where it excels. It’s the watch for those who want power on their wrist but still love the idea that it’s also a small iPhone.
