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The Apple Watch has evolved consistently since its debut in 2015, but the Apple Watch Ultra, announced alongside the Apple Watch Series 8 at Apple’s Far Out product event, may be the biggest change of all. The watch arrives Sept. 23, a week after the Watch Series 8. And it’s most definitely not a look (or a price) for everyone.
Apple’s watch lineup has been slowly expanding, much like the iPhone line did. Apple used to only launch one watch a year, but the Apple Watch SE introduced a more affordable model to the mix. The Apple Watch Ultra goes in the opposite direction: It’s more expensive, but unlike previous fashion-driven Edition watches, the Ultra is aiming for function… and endurance. Also, it’s by far the biggest Apple Watch of the lineup.
Next to the Apple Watch SE and Watch Series 8, the Ultra is like the Apple version of a Casio G-Shock. The new design pushes its crown and side button into an extended side part that, alongside the new watch’s bigger case and curved-with-flat-display contours, make it seem more James Cameron than any previous Apple Watch.
The new watch has a titanium case, sapphire flat front crystal, and 49mm case size with a brighter display (2,000 nits). There’s a new dedicated second button, an improved speaker and a clear, ruggedized design. Cellular is also the only model it comes in. It’s a lot of new features.
The Ultra’s biggest new feature, a significantly larger battery, is something the Apple Watch hasn’t had since it debuted. The typical Apple Watch battery life is about a day and a half; the Ultra promises more: 36 hours to 70 hours.
