Apple Watch Ultra review: Ultimate smartwatch isn’t for everyone

It’s been a long time coming but we finally have an all-new Apple Watch to strap to our wrists. Whilst the Series 8 and new SE have both received fairly minor upgrades, the Ultra gets a completely refreshed look, tougher design and a swathe of other useful features that really sets it apart from its siblings.

The big question is… is it really worth £849 of your hard-earned cash, can it compete with its rugged rivals and should you invest in one?

Express.co.uk has been testing out the new Watch Ultra and here is our full review.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a big, bold and beefed-up wearable that definitely won’t suit dainty wrists. This device has been created for people who want something really rugged strapped to their arm and if you’re an after elegant wearable to accessorise your dinner jacket we’d look elsewhere.

We really like the chunky design of the Ultra with its aerospace-grade aluminium not only offering improved durability but also making things look super premium.

The square edges, flat display and industrial look really set it apart from Apple’s other watches and we hope the firm takes some inspiration from the Ultra and applies it to its standard smartwatch ranges in the future. As you can read in our full Apple Watch Series 8 review and Apple Watch SE review, we feel these devices are starting to look a little tired and in need of a reboot.

The Ultra’s new design also includes a bigger Digital Crown which makes it much easier to grab and twist when wearing gloves plus there’s now the brilliant Action Button on the left side of the case.

This can be set to take you straight to favourite features such as Workout tracking, starting the stopwatch, setting waypoints or even turning on the screen’s flashlight function. It’s a really nice touch that Apple must include on all future Watch models.

There is another bonus of the Ultra’s big design as it means Apple has managed to cram a much larger Retina display into the 49mm case. It doesn’t take long to get used to the extra space which makes viewing messages or checking exercise stats so much easier. The screen is also much brighter than anything Apple has made before so there are no problems checking notifications in the hot midday sun.

We’ve not been hiking up the Alps or gone diving 50 meters under the sea but the Ultra has been built to survive some pretty extreme conditions with Apple promising it can cope with temperatures well below freezing and sea depths of over 50 metres.

If you want something sleek and elegant to wear then Watch Ultra isn’t worth considering but for those seeking a bit of adventure, it’s definitely worth trying for size.

The Watch Ultra promises an abundance of extra features including that new Action Button, improved GPS for pinpoint accuracy and better microphones for when you want to make calls from your wrist.

The inbuilt speakers are also louder and will now belt out an SOS alarm if you’re ever in need of help.

We’ve tested this ear-piercing emergency siren and it’s certainly noisy enough to be heard from some distance away.

Another bonus of the Ultra is that it will instantly launch a depth gauge the minute you submerge it into water. It’s really neat as you see information such as temperature, your duration under the water and an alert when you’ve hit a certain depth. Thanks to its improved water resistance this Ultra is certainly worth checking out if you like recreational diving and there’s a new app launching soon that will transform this device into a mini dive computer so watch out for that one.

If you enjoy heading off the beaten track, Apple has now included a better compass app and an exclusive Wayfinder function on the Ultra. This allows you to switch between a live compass or the time by simply tapping the dial on the screen.

At night, you can also spin the Digital Crown with the screen then switching over to a Night Mode which turns the data red to make it easier to great in low light.

Finally, there’s the clever Backtrack feature to help you return to where you came from should you get lost.

Backtrack uses pinpoint accurate GPS data to create a path of where you’ve been. It becomes available automatically if you’re off the grid away from any Wi-Fi sources or known locations. A mini-map on the screen then helps you get back on track.

There’s no question that the Watch Ultra has the best battery life of any Apple wearable. We’ve been easily getting through two full days and nights without going near a plug. There’s also a Low Power mode that will help boost this to over 50 hours – although it does reduce the feature list once switched on.

That’s a big step in the right direction and we welcome the extra power. However, will true adventurers think this is enough?

For most people, a two-day battery will be fine but it’s worth noting that the Ultra still can’t come close to matching the epic battery of devices made by firms such as Garmin. Some of these wearables can last a month thanks to low-powered displays and clever solar charging which gives the device a mini battery boost during the day.

We guess it’s really down to preference and what your ambitions are when wearing a smartwatch.

There’s no question that the Ultra’s battery is way better than anything Apple has made before but don’t think for one minute you’ll be heading away for a week and won’t need to pack the charger.

When things do run out you can get back to around 80 percent with an hour of refilling. 

Although this new device has the Ultra name don’t expect any extra power over the Series 8 (or Series 7 for that matter) as it’s driven by the same S8 chip found in many of Apple’s other watches.

This processor is still fast and you won’t find the Ultra struggling with any day-to-day tasks but it’s a bit of a shame this ultimate wearable hasn’t got a bit of extra oomph.

Just like the new Series 8, the Ultra features Crash Detection which will automatically call the emergency services after a car accident and there’s the ability to track body temperature at night.

Other extras worth a mention include heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring along with being able to take an instant ECG from your wrist which can be used to check for conditions including Atrial Fibullation.

Sadly, just like all of Apple’s previous wearables, there’s no recovery time data after exercise. For those trying to push themselves and their fitness to the next level, this is a vital metric that rival devices have offered for a while. Whether Apple can release a software update in the future remains to be seen but it’s a shame recovery time isn’t available at launch.

The Watch Ultra arrives with exclusive straps that have been created to deal with activities such as long-distance running, climbing and diving.

When buying the Watch Ultra you get a choice of one strap which includes the Trail Loop (running), Alpine Loop (adventure) and Ocean Band (diving).

Make sure you pick the correct band as buying a replacement will set you back a whopping £99.

It’s worth noting that Apple hasn’t changed the quick-release connection on the Watch Ultra which means all straps you might already own will fit this bigger device.

There’s no hiding the fact that the Watch Ultra is ludicrously expensive. In the UK, those wanting to own one will need to fork out £849 which makes it twice the price of the new Apple Watch Series 8.

It’s a lot of money although you do get a vast array of features that certainly justify some of that higher cost. If you’re going to wear it night and day and get plenty of use from its upgrades it’s actually pretty good value.

Our only concern is Apple is bound to improve the Watch Ultra over time and next year there could be something even better on the market  – we guess that’s always a risk when buying new technology. 

If money isn’t a concern and you want the ultimate Apple Watch the Ultra comes highly recommended. However, if you’ve never tried a wearable before we’d suggest trying out the Apple Watch SE first before considering making the jump to the Ultra.

The Apple Watch Ultra is a seriously impressive smartwatch. This device features a striking new design that’s made of tough stuff plus there’s that stunning screen and brilliant Action Button for instant access to favourite features.

The boost to the Digital Crown makes it easier to grab and it can survive more extreme temperatures and greater depths when diving under the sea. We also like that SOS alarm, the longer battery life and the exclusive Waypoint watch face that not only looks great but is also packed with useful data.

When we first strapped the Ultra onto our wrist we wondered if it would be too big, too heavy and all a bit over-the-top. In fact, we had a sneaky suspicion that we might instantly want to go back to the more sleek Series 8. However, that’s simply not been the case and we’re totally smitten by the Ultra. Not only does it look great but that large display makes it so much easier to use, especially when out for a run and wanting to check timing stats and heart rate.

The Ultra isn’t perfect. The two-day battery life is miles from matching some of its rivals, it’s very expensive and there’s still no way to track the all-important recovery time after a run. Its chunky size will also put some people off.

If you think you’ll get maximum use out of all of its features, want something big on your wrist and already love the Apple Watch then the Ultra comes highly recommended. It was about time Apple offered a bold update to its wearables and this is definitely now our go-to choice when heading out for some adventure.