Apple Watch Ultra

Am super salty about them killing support for the original Apple Watch Ultra. [...] Instead we barely got a new feature over the 4 years since it launched, and now its been killed (from a software support pov) way ahead of schedule of the vast majority of other Apple devices. [...]

[...] I do have to charge it for nearly an hour everyday, though like others have said I would prefer longer battery life (as opposed to getting a bigger and more expensive one like Apple Watch Ultra). [...]

While not directly related to OP's issue, after using Apple Watch Ultra and seeing how buggy and crappy everything about it is for a several months with literally zero fixes (not just me, but several friends who has Ultra too), I'm convinced that QA at Apple is run by primate apes. There is no sensible explanation that a flagship device can be full of bugs and inferior quality to its 3-year older non-flagship counterparts.

[...] I have the Apple Watch Ultra because my Series 6 got water after 3-ish years of swimming and died (while I think it shouldn't have happened, that's OK, I know it hasn't been designed for that much water exposure), I decided to get the "more durable" Ultra as I was getting more serious on my swims. [...] In Ultra, their flagship and most durable watch, it's problematic as I can imagine: the original loop started to wear out in 6 months, the action button sometimes just does nothing, GPS (which should have been more accurate due to more band support etc) goes crazy while swimming (which never happened with S6) and records incorrect data (I see physically impossible "jumps" in recorded swim daya) and most importantly, the screen sometimes goes black (after months of debugging I've realized that it is wrist detection, but no solution other than turning off always on display which for some reason "solves" the problem but I can't have always-on display). Despite all those problems on the most expensive and "durable" watch which I didn't have on any other watch before, Apple support did a diagnostic and told me there is absolutely nothing wrong with the device, and don't offer a replacement. [...]

I've been rocking out a Casio F-91W (Retails new for $23) for about 3 months now - And all the annoyance I had with with my Apple Watch Ultra (16 hour battery, constant annoyance to upgrade, endless and useless notifications) - is gone. The CR2016 battery last 5+ YEARS , replacements are < $2. [...]

After 4 years … I decided to upgrade my phone and watch to iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple Watch Ultra 4!

I guess in my case it makes sense because - I used the Apple Watch Ultra as ... [...] Takes < 1 second to do that on my phone. [...] And - need the phone for the camera - so it's always with me. It's kind of amazing to have a watch with a 7+ year battery. [...]

[...] There is a touch screen but the buttons are simply a better and easier way to interact with it. [...] Over time, you build an emotional relationship with it. I got a Garmin Epix 2 watch 3 years ago as a replacement for the Apple Watch ULtra, which turned out to be a terrible sports watch. The Garmin still has two weeks battery life and gets all the functionality upgrades the newer watches are getting. [...]

[...] I've been using an Apple Watch Ultra with my Pixel using some of the same hacks. [...] (Signal ugh). [...] (This is extensive use across US as well as international travel in Europe and Asia) It really wasn't worth cellular I realized. [...]

[...] — on: One year of using an Apple Watch Ultra as a phone ... [...] You need to either answer on your watch immediately on speakerphone which means its hard to hear the caller and hard for them to hear you, and your conversation is not private. [...] You have to have your phone in the charger for it to forward calls to your watch, so when you put on your airpods, they will likely connect to your phone, so you run to your phone, then your airpods “magically” connect to your watch all the while your caller is shouting “hello” into the void. [...] And again, if you’re out at a bar and meeting someone, you cant really wait to get home to message back, you have to noodle around on the small screen. [...] - You need an iphone to update the watch. This really suck because you never really feel you actually let go of your phone, its a hassle updating over bluetooth, installing apps etc. [...] - You need Siri for many things, like maps.app, searching for certain things etc. [...] - doesnt work well switching from wifi to celluar. [...]

I'm not annoyed that my OG Apple Watch Ultra doesn't get the latest OS. [...] What I am annoyed about, is that I'm stuck with Watch OS 26, which introduced their new workout app, which is so laggy. [...] I really wish they released a .x update to Watch OS26 to fix this.

[...] For heart rate training in general, the gold standard is an ECG-based chest strap. Avoid an optical-based monitor because you get some lag between readings or it even misses readings (this is especially evident during short intense intervals). For a chest strap HR monitor, the main one is Polar H10, for a cheaper monitor you can get a Coospo H808S. Saying that, I mainly use an Apple Watch Ultra 1 because it is convenient, it is good enough and I do not have to hassle with putting on a chest strap - I just have to settle with it taking a few seconds to register the correct heart rate after an intense set.

As a user of both Garmin (and Suunto, Coros, Polar would be in the same category) and Apple Watch Ultra, you'll find one main difference again and again: battery life. The not-Apple-watches will last a week or more before charging, AW will make it a day or two. [...] For instance, setting a timer for my tea is like six button presses on the Garmin, and that's with a shortcut keypress to get to the timer. [...] Or, "Siri, five minutes". [...] And good $DEITY, Garmin's prices are getting ridiculous. [...] I don't care how long the battery lasts, that thing better wax my fucking car. If you want to save a little money, I've heard nothing but good things about Coros.

I’ve had a previous Apple Watch Ultra, it was nice but after playing with it for a while I used it for notifications and working out. I have a Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 51mm that will do 31 days of being just a smartwatch and can track my multi day cycling trips. The real killer feature I didn’t know I needed until I had it is a proper led torch on my watch, the light up screen on the Apple Watch doesn’t compare.

So I have to bring a charger when going camping/multi-day hike etc... [...] (the same as if I had an apple watch ultra)

If only the map rendering wasn't so terribly slow. I often use mapping when cycling and panning or zooming the map is just unbearably slow. I'm now usually taking the Coros Nomad because it has super-fast maps and still a battery life of three weeks. They are really great otherwise and I love my Coros Nomad and Garmin Fenix so much more than the Apple Watch Ultra.

The first gen unibody macbooks had seriously sharp edges, enough to grate a block of parmesan cheese. I suspect Sir Johny Ive is behind this madness. The latest apple watch ultras also seem quiet aggressive, so much so that I am having to sport the lame looking normal apple watch.

[...] Currently have an M1 Max, an iPhone 17 Pro, the iPad Pro, HomePod, Apple TV, and Watch Ultra. [...] Tahoe is so unstable that I now restart the Mac every day, when in the past it happened on software updates only. [...]

[...] Except this doesn't stand up to scrutiny, when you look at Siri. [...] I have no idea what Siri is a "much nicer version" of. Apple can integrate it with hardware and software in a way no other company can. [...] Lest I be called an Apple hater, I have 3 Apple TVs in my home, my daily driver is a M2 Ultra Studio with a ProDisplay XDR, and an iPad Pro that shows my calendar and Slack during the day and comes off at night. iPhone, Apple Watch Ultra. [...]

I use Apple Watch Ultra constantly, it’s extremely worth it to me. The charging is annoying, but otherwise, the watch is amazing. [...] I use it for GPS while hiking and biking. My phone running AllTrails can’t track a 25-mile bike ride through the mountains without dying, but the watch doesn’t even break a sweat. Beyond that, it’s a great backup phone for when I leave my phone on the table or in the other room, etc. I also bind the button on the side to the flashlight feature, which I use almost every day. [...]

I was genuinely sure it’s not a problem, as I personally know quite a few people who do that. But I think they use either FaceTime or regular cellular. That’s sure weird a simple call does work in iPhone 4S (imagine a price for it in 2026), but doesn’t on modern Apple Watch Ultra, which is quite expensive.

[...] The larger sensors in the 13mm and 100mm cameras, along with improvements in processing, should make for a significant upgrade over my current iPhone. [...] I was actually so confused initially by the claim that I had to do some research to figure out if they are doing anything special to claim "optical quality" zoom on a fixed lens. There is some computational photography going on that may muddy the waters a bit, but I'd definitely still call it a digital zoom. [...] Regarding the design - I actually view the orange color as being a nod to the Apple Watch Ultra and its orange accents. [...]

[...] I switched from Apple Watch Ultra to Garmin Fenix and do have a Pixel with GrapheneOS.)

[...] My boyfriend wears the Apple Watch Ultra in public and looks like a complete dork. [...]

For my aging eyes, Apple Watch Ultra is the only watch where I can have time and date and read it comfortably. I used to have a cheap casio that would do the same job, but the digits are getting too small for my eyes. [...]

[...] Garmin needs to fix their software, I am a long time garmin user, from using garmin head units on mountain bikes for the last 30 years, using garmin watches, I have had 4 fenix watches over the years, I swapped to a Apple watch ultra this year, and as a ultra distance trail runner and mountain biker, I could not be happier. Yes, the garmin units are more rugged and can handle more abuse, yes, their battery is light years ahead, but, it does not really matter anymore, the apple watch ultra is tough enough and the battery good enough, and the software is so much better. [...] I struggle to see, how garmin can compete software wise, as a single company battling the army of independant developers out there building iOS/watchOS apps. And more importantly, my ultra never crash, my fenix went through a phase, where it would randomly reboot, until garmin pushed a fix. Bugs happen, I get it, but...it's been happening now for years with garmin.

That’s because after Apple Watch Edition sold like dog poop sandwiches, even Apple isn’t going to try and charge $2K for a watch. When I bought the original Apple Watch Ultra at $800, I thought that was pricey. And then Garmin these past few years has said, “hold this…”

A few issues I see with these (and all smart glasses): it cannot replace a phone, battery life will be terrible the first few years and it really doesn't solve the attention problem smartphones cause. I'd rather have an audio only device. I only use my Apple Watch Ultra and one AirPods in for a better (albeit not perfect) solution to limiting screen time. [...]

I have been using an Apple Watch since 2018 (bought for the "superior" swim tracking back then) and I think they are really not that good for sports tracking. There is 3rd party software that makes the deal much better but it's ridiculous that they aren't able to provide the same quality/usefulness natively and it's added costs/frictions in the use experience. [...] For smartwatch purposes, something as expensive (and with such a small life) as an Apple Watch doesn't make a lot of sense. You are spending way too much on some basic functionality and for sports tracking Apple really needs to step up to provide value matching the price. The Apple Watch Ultra is decent but widely overpriced for what it does, even the most ardent Apple fans will say as much (like MKBHD who basically acknowledged that the Ultra primary feature was to be able to show that you had the most expensive watch from Apple).

I switched from a Garmin Instinct (several years ago) after having used Garmin GPS devices and watches while in the military to an Apple Watch Ultra now. [...] On the Garmin side for software, one thing I really appreciated on Garmin was the "body battery", or estimate of your energy, as well as health trends, etc. [...]

The Apple Watch Ultra has worked wonders for me in terms of battery life It's not really playing in the same ballpark, though, is it? 48 hours of battery life is indeed very good for an Apple Watch, but I used to charge my Pebble maybe once a week, and my Withings Scanwatch about once every 3 weeks...

My Garmin has a flashlight, maps with navigation on device, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, GPS and other satellite navigation systems, it tracks pulse, sleep, etc. [...] The form factor is perfect, the watch is light and comfortable. I'm still considering getting a next gen Apple Watch Ultra if the specs are good. [...]

The Apple watch ultra, while expensive, at least has 1.5 to 2 day battery life, which has completely eliminated the issue of charging midday that I used to run into if using gps or fitness tracking for more than a few hours.

For daily use, my Apple Watch Ultra is a much better companion. But when it matters, like doing long distance cycling or backpacking in the back country, I have a Garmin Epix and an InReach that I trust with my life

for a more expensive alternative to limit smartphone use, i bought an apple watch ultra, turned off notifs, and it cut down my phone screen time down by 80% pretty much overnight. basically just keep my phone in another room for most of the day and night (watch works great as an alarm clock)

Battery on the Apple Watch Ultra 4 has been exceptional. I got it on Friday morning, and I’ve just put it on to charge for the second time. [...] That’s been sleep tracking every night, and 3 x 80 minute gym workouts.

lol I got the iPhone 18 Pro Max in Burgundy and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

[...] I got an Apple Watch Ultra primarily for the health apps, especially fall detection, important at my age. [...] Just now I fell rather hard on my bad hip and not a peep from my watch. [...]

For everyday use, Apple Watch Ultra 4 now offers more than two days of battery life, up to 50 hours. This is the reason i don't like these smart watches... I always forget to charge the watch.....

I still don't understand people charging their battery every 2 days or less. [...] My Wear OS watches, even my fancy 2 screen one that got about 4 days or so, eventually ended up in a drawer. [...] put it on charge) and by the time you've got ready it's done. I actually had issues when I got the Apple Watch Ultra and the battery lasted longer. I got out of the charging routine and ran out of battery at inconvenient times.

[...] Price is certainly right, and it does all of the things I'd want out of a Garmin or Apple Watch Ultra. [...] In the Apple Watch use case, a replaceable battery would be nice. But in contrast to Garmin, I've never replaced a Garmin because the battery wouldn't hold charge anymore. I've never broken a screen (if one has a habit of that, Garmin and Apple make watches with raised bezels). [...] USB-C charging would be awesome, instead of Garmin's proprietary plug and a cable that's made from spider silk. I'd prefer, though, wireless charging like Apple. Never once have I pulled an Apple Watch off a charger and said, "WTF? Why didn't it charge?" Garmin, OTOH... [...]

I’ve owned a lot of Gopro cameras, having done video capture for a variety of motorsports, and they just got too expensive for what you get. Sounds very similar to another US company - Garmin. They are still popular, but have been raising prices a lot every generation, because for a long time there was no real competition [1]. At this point, Garmin watches that have mapping support have an introduction price of 600 Euro. Even at that price point, zooming or panning maps is excruciatingly slow (sometimes taking up to 10 seconds to re-render) because they have used the same CPU/MCU for multiple generations while increasing screen resolution. [...] Also, in contrast to Garmin, they seem to be using modern microcontrollers, so panning or zooming a map is insanely fast in comparison, while still having 20 days of battery for daily use. [1] Of the traditional competitors, Apple Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra have gotten closer, but are nowhere near the battery life, robustness, mapping support, mapping + workout support, etc.

[...] the Fenix line has 5 buttons and you can do pretty much everything with the buttons. So much handier than fooling around on small touch screens when you are e.g. on a bike or hiking (it does have a touch screen too). Also, the battery lasts up to several weeks (depending on the model), so you don't have to worry about it. [...] I also have an Apple Watch Ultra. My feeling has always been that Apple Watch Ultra is a smartwatch first, sports watch second. [...] In the end I only used it for notifications for two apps (Signal and WhatsApp), sometimes for calling my wife when I'm on a bike, and contactless payments. [...]

On the other hand, I just use my cheap Timex (with years of battery life) unless I need/want the more advanced features of the Apple Watch Ultra. [...] For more day to day stuff I mostly have notifications turned off and I rarely get legit phone calls when my phone isn't handy.

[...] The problem I have is I really like my Apple Watch Ultra. [...] Actually caring about building a great product the way Apple does. [...] They don’t seem to exist because they really care about building the very best watch, or phone, or whatever and at any point they might just cancel the effort.

[...] That thing was probably under half the thickness and half the weight of my Apple Watch Ultra and yet it had 3x the battery life! [...] The only practical improvement from my Apple Watch Ultra is the fitness tracking / health tracking sensor suite… which is great, but I miss having a good smartwatch, not just a fitness tracker.

[...] I stopped liking the iOS look & feel when the home button got removed. [...] Get possessed by Steve Jobs, pause presentation, order new iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra for self-pickup, finish watching the presentation, drive to pick up my new phone and watch. [...] Android (Pixel) Pros: - back button, the thing I knew I will miss a lot - all pixel exclusive features like call screening - I prefer stock android control center - sideloading (i've made my own reddit client for android tv and used it for loooong time) - kotlin objc (irrelevant since swift) - fingerprint scanner on the back of a phone was a genius decision Android (Pixel) Cons: - google inconsistent web interfaces - apps have much lower quality - Google wants you to use Chrome Cast, so you can connect your phone to a monitor - Most non-stock android makes me want to vomit, specially Samsung - Google didn't know how to position Pixel (is it a flagship? [...] wtf was pixel 5?) - Watch experience is meh - under screen fingerprint scanners suck - Wired Android Auto sent me to therapy a few times (jk, but it was frustrating) iPhone Pros: - Apps better quality - Better watch integration - iMessage (won't elaborate) - AirPods switching experience is near damn perfect - idk just look and feel subjectively better - Wireless Car Play easier to find than Wireless Android Auto iPhone Cons: - control center, so many times I've turned off wifi or bt instead of what I wanted to d

[...] I tried Garmin watches, and they're certainly better as "exercise tracking devices" than anything Apple offers, but they weren't tightly enough integrated with my iPhone to make it "worth it" to me to wear them all the time. An Apple Watch Ultra - on the other hand - is a poorer exercise tracking device, but gives me enough "integrated with my iPhone" benefit to become the first watch I've worn consistently in 30+ years. [...]

I already use an apple watch ultra, and it has improved my life in many ways. [...] I have some ideas for social interaction apps that I am hoping to build, just the current choices of focusing on health tracking right now seems limiting to me. At a gig, why can't I use my watch to find my mate? Why can't I play corporate wide pandemic zombie survival with my watch? [...] Why can't I unlock and open my house with my watch? Why can't I use my watch NFC to bump myself in at work? [...]

i have had a long night. just got back from the Apple Store—finally—after picking up my Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Burgundy iPhone 18 Pro Max. [...]