Does anyone else wish there was something between the Apple Watch and Ultra?

[PeytonT123]

I've worn an Apple Watch since 2018, got it for running and daily use. Started with the Series 4 (Space Grey), and then started running full marathons...the battery was in bad shape after a few years so I then got a Series 8 (Silver) in 2022. I loved it, but after WatchOS10...the battery took a nose dive after only 2 years. I'd wear it with a full charge on a 20 mile training run, and it would only have 5% battery left at the end.

I'm running a marathon soon and didn't feel confident enough in the battery life (even though I should be done in just under 3 hours), and the battery health was 81% so I couldn't get it swapped....so I just traded in for a Series 10 Jet Black. Which I already love, it's gorgeous and looks like one of the previous ceramic models for a fraction of the price (and I love that it's flatter/less bulky). But it got me thinking....this is going to happen again in 2 years, isn't it? I thought about getting an Ultra, but that price tag is a steep jump from the Series 10.

Has anyone else run into similar issues and wish there was some sort of medium between the 2 miles? I don't need a lot of the extreme features of the Ultra, I'm not going hiking for days in the wilderness. I just want a battery life that can make it through 3 hour races for more than 2 years. And I'm aware that it will likely not make it through the rest of the day after a race like that, but I just need to have some confidence that my watch will make it through the race itself with music playing.

 

[BillGates1969]

I think the issue Apple have is that they appeal to the masses. Both variants are compromises to attract as many customers as possible. A marathon runner is pretty niche and a watch with 2-3 days battery life (without compromising on features) just isn't possible with current battery technology.

I have both a S7 and an Ultra 2 and both have their place. The Ultra for the battery life (and I love the flat screen) and the S7 for the days I feel like a bit of Luxury (it is a Hermes edition). I agree we need an in between though, a series watch with a lot better battery. That though will detract from Ultra sales as that is the biggest selling point to be fair as people are willing to get past the 'tech on a wrist' look for the better battery.

 

[cubodado]

This year I am really undecided between S10 and Ultra2 if I upgrade, my battery does not give me full confidence to last a full marathon.

 

[PaladinGuy]

The biggest issue with the Series watches, in my opinion, isn’t the initial battery life when new. It’s after a year or 2. It starts at barely acceptable battery life. After that time and degradation, it’s unacceptable.

To be fair, every company emphasizes battery life when the device is new. The problem is that so many of these things aren’t easy or possible to swap batteries. The smaller things get, the bigger the issue here. I like AirPods and smart rings, but they are on a journey to a landfill instantly.

Back to your question. I can only tell you that after going to an Ultra from every series but the Series 6, I won’t go back until they improve battery life. My reason is above. It’s a personal choice though, obviously.

 

[Night Spring]

Me, I don't need better battery life (if it lasts 24 hours, that's good enough for me), but I want the flat screen of the Ultra in a thinner, lighter body.

 

[Adelphos33]

I post this regularly, and people give me crap for it. But if you are concerned about the longevity of the watches, the difference in style between the Ultra and the regular series, etc… The obvious answer is to own both.

1) If you own both watches, and rotate them equally - the batteries last twice as long! So you can go twice as long between upgrading!
2) There are situations where an Ultra may be more appropriate than a Series 10, and vice versa - owning both gives you optionality
3) Apple Watches can be found on sale pretty consistently. And if you have the Ultra, you can also save money by just going with the aluminum on the Series 10, especially this year. Amazon, Best Buy, etc will be selling aluminum Apple Watch Series 10 models for 10-15% off pretty regularly throughout the year. This year is an especially good year because the jet black color looks so premium .

 

[Night Spring]

I post this regularly, and people give me crap for it. But if you are concerned about the longevity of the watches, the difference in style between the Ultra and the regular series, etc… The obvious answer is to own both.

1) If you own both watches, and rotate them equally - the batteries last twice as long! So you can go twice as long between upgrading!
2) There are situations where an Ultra may be more appropriate than a Series 10, and vice versa - owning both gives you optionality
3) Apple Watches can be found on sale pretty consistently. And if you have the Ultra, you can also save money by just going with the aluminum on the Series 10, especially this year. Amazon, Best Buy, etc will be selling aluminum Apple Watch Series 10 models for 10-15% off pretty regularly throughout the year. This year is an especially good year because the jet black color looks so premium .

If you buy an Ultra and an aluminum, it's $800+$400=$1200. If together, they last you 4 years, that's $300/year.

If you buy an aluminum, and upgrade after 2 years, that's $800 for 4 years, or $200 a year. If you trade in your old watch when you upgrade, you get about $100 back, so the yearly cost is even less.

Some people may find the extra cost of owning 2 watches is worth it for the benefit of being able to switch up styles. But if your goal is to minimize cost, buying Ultra and a regular watch doesn't make sense.

 

[Adelphos33]

If you buy an Ultra and an aluminum, it's $800+$400=$1200. If together, they last you 4 years, that's $300/year.

If you buy an aluminum, and upgrade after 2 years, that's $800 for 4 years, or $200 a year. If you trade in your old watch when you upgrade, you get about $100 back, so the yearly cost is even less.

Some people may find the extra cost of owning 2 watches is worth it for the benefit of being able to switch up styles. But if your goal is to minimize cost, buying Ultra and a regular watch doesn't make sense.

1) The OP appears to have specific use case (marathon running) that can justify owning a longer battery life model like an Ultra - so it could be worth it

2) An aluminum AW can be had for $370 or maybe even $350 on sale. You can buy the Ultra on sale as well.

3) Owning and rotating Apple Watches gives you a better experience IMO in the form of longer battery life (both on a daily basis in terms of the longevity of the watch) and optionality.

 

[Night Spring]

1) The OP appears to have specific use case (marathon running) that can justify owning a longer battery life model like an Ultra - so it could be worth it

2) An aluminum AW can be had for $370 or maybe even $350 on sale. You can buy the Ultra on sale as well.

3) Owning and rotating Apple Watches gives you a better experience IMO in the form of longer battery life (both on a daily basis in terms of the longevity of the watch) and optionality.

Hopefully, we'll hear back from the OP and get to hear what they think, but they were hesitant to move to the Ultra because of the extra cost. 2 watches is even more of a cost increase.

Actually, 2 aluminum watches may be the solution for someone who wants to guarantee that their watch lasts through a marathon, and wants to keep the cost down. Wear one watch just for training/marathon, and the other for regular times?

 

[HouseLannister]

If Apple were to make another model, it wouldn't be another aluminum + ion-x glass. They view that as their low-cost device and don't want to mess that up. So what would the price point be of a semi pro watch? The titanium series 10 and ultra 2 are so close already that there is little room for another device. I think it is unlikely to happen unless the Ultra 3 or 4 starts to dramatically increase in price.

 

[blairh]

I wish Apple would bring features of the Ultra to the Series line. (Specifically the flat screen, screen guard, and sapphire display.)

I've used an Apple Watch since they debuted and I just traded in my Ultra (after two years) for an S10. I strongly prefer the slimness and weight of my S10. But I do miss the flat screen as it is far less reflective outdoors. The screen guard is a no brainer bonus. And the sapphire display should be standard at this point. All Samsung smartwatches come with it standard and the Ion-X glass is a scratch magnet sadly.

Do I think this will happen? Probably not. Apple will want the Ultra to stand out. But it is a shame as I now view the non-sapphire AWs as pretty flawed devices.

 

[PatrickNSF]

One suggestion to extend battery life during a marathon is to wear a separate heart rate strap. It’s useful during long runs anyway as sometimes optical wrist-based sensors drop. I always wore when one I had my Ultra (it dropped often) and wear one during intervals now with my Garmin. I also wear one with my S10.

I know people who are able to train and race with chest straps, but I use a Polar arm strap and forget it’s on. The COROS strap also gets good reviews. I don’t know exactly how much extra time it will buy you but my understanding is that HR readings during workouts burns through the battery.

The other suggestion I’d make (though it’s not a popular one) is to have a separate, basic Garmin or COROS for running workouts, at least your long runs and races. After I sold my AWU 2 this summer and wore my S7 full time I wore my Garmin during runs and my three-year old S7 was more or less able to make it though the day.

So if I was starting from scratch I’d get a COROS HR strap and/or a cheap COROS Pace 3 and use that during long runs and races to supplement my S10 and extend its battery life.

 

[MisterSavage]

Give me the Modular Ultra watch face (or a scaled down version of it) and the series 10 and I'd be good.

 

[PeteBurgh]

a cheap COROS Pace 3 and use that during long runs and races to supplement my S10 and extend its battery life.

Agreed - I think the COROS Pace 3 is an excellent option. It's really good value - I see it sold for £219 in the UK, sometimes on sale for less.

I'm currently only running half-marathon distances, and the S10 is ideal for that.

I hope to starting training for marathons and ultras next year. When I reach that point, I will probably get a COROS or a cheap Garmin. Different tools for different jobs!

 

[PeytonT123]

1) The OP appears to have specific use case (marathon running) that can justify owning a longer battery life model like an Ultra - so it could be worth it

2) An aluminum AW can be had for $370 or maybe even $350 on sale. You can buy the Ultra on sale as well.

3) Owning and rotating Apple Watches gives you a better experience IMO in the form of longer battery life (both on a daily basis in terms of the longevity of the watch) and optionality.

If I could, I totally would. But budget wise, that's unfortunately over what I can currently do. Even just getting one Ultra was pushing it for me, which is why I went for the Series 10 for about half the price, which I think will at least get me through a couple of marathons in the next couple of years.

There are many features of the Ultra that I don't need, I don't even need cellular service on it; I just wish there was a better battery life than what the Series watches offer. I get from Apple's viewpoint that it would take away sales from the Ultra, but it's a bit frustrating from a consumer standpoint.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I switched from the first-gen Ultra to S10 this year. The longer battery life is nice, sure, but it is so ridiculously bulky to the point where I was finding it uncomfortable. Sleep tracking especially could be rough with that thing on.

S10 is much flatter, thankfully! I'm no longer knocking on door frames with it or getting it caught on my sleeve. It even looks nicer than Ultra in my opinion.

 

[papbot]

Anybody ever watch the SyFy show The Ark? I want something between an Ultra and those communicators. Hoping an Ultra 3 or 4 will go in that direction.