Returning the Ultra? [MERGED]

[BigMcGuire]

After using the AW3, AW5, AW6, AW7 - I decided to spoil myself this year. I'm not a small person so the Ultra looks pretty good on me. I really love the battery life. I can go days without worrying about charging if I want to (easy to get 3+).

For me the argument about a faster processor just doesn't make sense. What do we do with the Apple Watch that taxes the CPU? But hey, you have a great point - you can get used Apple Watches for great deals - the Ultra is very expensive for just a few pluses - for most people a normal Apple Watch is amazing (I recommend the normal AW to most people).

Apple Watch is amazing. I have family still using S3s as a daily driver - the very watch I used for years. Great stuff!

 

[bigjnyc]

That's great lol, but I feel like you could have come to this conclusion without having to order it and return it. Everything you mentioned was known without having to physically see the watch.

 

[GuruZac]

You did the right thing , with the Apple Watch ultra having a the same processor as a AW6 makes it tough to really upgrade. Unless you want a stronger chassis’s bigger screen

While I don't disagree, the Ultra is more than a larger titanium chassis and bigger display. It's got features and capabilities unique to it, separate from its design. Battery life alone makes it an easily attractive option, no matter what series Apple Watch you're coming from. It lasts easily 2-3 times longer than my Series 5 44mm did when it was new. I get 2-3 days of charge with workouts no problem. Night mode, Action Button, Display brightness, are all really nice features that you cannot get on the Apple Watches that also make it a very appealing watch to me. But the Battery is truly the show stopper for the Ultra. And I still don't understand the problem with the S6 processor being used in the Ultra. It's incredibly snappy and efficient. Performance hasn't been a problem since the Series 4.

 

[GuruZac]

I returned ultra. Easy choice. Didn’t really like the flat screen. Chip is too old. In the end it wasn’t doing anything much better that my S5 wasn’t able to do.

Much better battery, much brighter and larger display, Action button. Chip is irrelevant since the W6 chip offers very snappy performance. How quickly do you need to open an App. Everything is instant on my Ultra with its 2 year old SoC.

 

[TechNutt]

As a dutchie I just love orange

I can see it! 😄

 

[whitby]

Having owned most of the Apple Watches as they were introduced, I find the Ultra to be a nice change.

Because I am an older customer the larger display helps and, although the Ultra display is not that much bigger than the S7 and S8, the fact that it is flat and slightly bigger makes a surprising difference in readability. I always bought the stainless steel versions of the previous models and the titanium Ultra is very light in comparison as well as retaining a good degree of robustness (I do use it in circumstances that can cause damage to less robust cases e.g. working on my car or diy projects in the garage). Bigger buttons etc. also help as older fingers are less precise. The battery life is excellent, a lot better than my S8 which barely lasted 18 to 24 hours. The Ultra will last 2 to 3 days which is excellent and it is easily and quickly recharged when needed. I would also point out that the Ultra is not that much more expensive than the S8 version in stainless steel.

In general for me, although I am not the target audience, the Ultra works extremely well for the following reasons:

1. More readable and larger display (more significant than the dimensions would lead you to believe).
2. Much better battery life (x2 or x3 over my S7 with the same use case).
3. Lighter but as robust as the stainless steel models with the better crystal glass.
4. Larger and easier to use crown and buttons.
5. Better GPS.

Of these the display is the main attraction for me; not needing reading glasses to see messages etc. is really nice, something I could not say about my S7. I would also note there that I consider Apple Watches to be wrist computers and not watches in the classic sense (although they can certainly function as one, but I do not see the point). I have mechanical watches I wear when I need something for those times when I need a classy look (not often these days). Older single function mechanical watches are works of art and more jewelry these days. So for day to day use I wear my Ultra and for those special occasions I wear one of my more special mechanical watches (not Rolex, more Omega, Patek Philippe etc.).

 

[TechNutt]

Having owned most of the Apple Watches as they were introduced, I find the Ultra to be a nice change.

Because I am an older customer the larger display helps and, although the Ultra display is not that much bigger than the S7 and S8, the fact that it is flat and slightly bigger makes a surprising difference in readability. I always bought the stainless steel versions of the previous models and the titanium Ultra is very light in comparison as well as retaining a good degree of robustness (I do use it in circumstances that can cause damage to less robust cases e.g. working on my car or diy projects in the garage). Bigger buttons etc. also help as older fingers are less precise. The battery life is excellent, a lot better than my S8 which barely lasted 18 to 24 hours. The Ultra will last 2 to 3 days which is excellent and it is easily and quickly recharged when needed. I would also point out that the Ultra is not that much more expensive than the S8 version in stainless steel.

In general for me, although I am not the target audience, the Ultra works extremely well for the following reasons:

1. More readable and larger display (more significant than the dimensions would lead you to believe).
2. Much better battery life (x2 or x3 over my S7 with the same use case).
3. Lighter but as robust as the stainless steel models with the better crystal glass.
4. Larger and easier to use crown and buttons.
5. Better GPS.

Of these the display is the main attraction for me; not needing reading glasses to see messages etc. is really nice, something I could not say about my S7. I would also note there that I consider Apple Watches to be wrist computers and not watches in the classic sense (although they can certainly function as one, but I do not see the point). I have mechanical watches I wear when I need something for those times when I need a classy look (not often these days). Older single function mechanical watches are works of art and more jewelry these days. So for day to day use I wear my Ultra and for those special occasions I wear one of my more special mechanical watches (not Rolex, more Omega, Patek Philippe etc.).

I love this because everything said is right on point! 🎯

Also, the mics and sound are better, and the functionality of the Quick Action button is sweet! And yes, the S8 in stainless steel is definitely price competitive with the Ultra, indeed. The main points of the display and battery life is the crème de la crème on the Ultra, though.

But note the comment about target audience. Most people I’ve seen interested in the Ultra, including myself, aren’t into extreme sports. An executive version of the Ultra is sorely missing for people who want a ‘Pro Max’ version of the Apple Watch

 

[Danfango]

I am still tempted by an Ultra to replace my S7. I think it looks nice and I've got nothing else to spend money on at the moment which is reason enough. The problem is I have matchsticks for arms.

Will lurk in an Apple store a bit and see how I feel about it.

 

[1800AirTAG]

I upgraded to Ultra from the 4, but even if I had the 7, I would upgrade to it 100% for the 2-3 day battery life alone. To me, that alone is worth it.

 

[fwmireault]

You purchased a device for no reason and returned it because you already have three similar ones. #firstworldproblems

Never understood the relevance of this kind of comment on MR. Literally every topic on MR is first world problems. OP didn’t say that it was a disaster, just let us known their opinion on the Apple Watch Ultra. Many people bought the Ultra already owning a few watches, and I am interested to read their experience.

 

[msackey]

For me the argument about a faster processor just doesn't make sense. What do we do with the Apple Watch that taxes the CPU? But hey, you have a great point - you can get used Apple Watches for great deals - the Ultra is very expensive for just a few pluses - for most people a normal Apple Watch is amazing (I recommend the normal AW to most people).

Yeah, I upgraded from a Series 4 and even for the Series 4, I didn't find any noticeable lag time that made my Series 4 feel slow.

 

[Fruit Stand]

As long as you’re happy. One thing I learned working at an Apple Store not everyone sees value in particular products.

Same! That was something Apple taught us well at the time. What’s right for me is not what’s right for someone else and vice versa.

 

[xDKP]

For me the size was just a tad too big on the first couple of tries on wrist. Not big wrists so my titanium S7 fits perfect both for marathons and in the office - maybe when they make the Ultra in black it will look a bit smaller

 

[dms_91]

Much better battery, much brighter and larger display, Action button. Chip is irrelevant since the W6 chip offers very snappy performance. How quickly do you need to open an App. Everything is instant on my Ultra with its 2 year old SoC.

That’s fine, but what about a few years from now. IMO 2 year old SOC on a device like the Ultra is disappointing and should’ve gotten new SOC

 

[GuruZac]

That’s fine, but what about a few years from now. IMO 2 year old SOC on a device like the Ultra is disappointing and should’ve gotten new SOC

I definitely would been happy to see a newer chip, but the chip in it is so quick, it's hard to imagine something better outside of efficiency gains. The Ultra has a big battery though and Apple has done well optimizing it that without Low Power mode, I'm still able to go 2.5-3 days on a single charge with workouts.

 

[the future]

That’s fine, but what about a few years from now. IMO 2 year old SOC on a device like the Ultra is disappointing and should’ve gotten new SOC

Everyone would like a new CPU of course, but the question is just how much it really matters. Is it worth to keep waiting for it while others already enjoy their never-actually-slow Ultra?

 

[TechNutt]

For me the size was just a tad too big on the first couple of tries on wrist. Not big wrists so my titanium S7 fits perfect both for marathons and in the office - maybe when they make the Ultra in black it will look a bit smaller

I don’t have big wrists, either, and thought the Ultra wore well. Ultimately, I passed since it was too sporty. The next version I won’t do that if it comes in black or ceramic white. I can’t imagine Apple laying an egg on the next iteration.

 

[ufgatorvet]

For me, the way Apple announces products then delays making them available, and then delivered, lost me as a customer for the Ultra. [same thing happened when the MBAM2 was announced]

When it was announced, right away I was drawn to it (new shiny object!!) and ordered one, and if they had been available, and shipped next day, I probably would have gotten it. However, after placing an order it took weeks for some of the configurations to start shipping, and by then I lost interest or, as the OP, realized for my needs, my AW7 already ticks all the boxes. I cancelled the order and have put $700-ish to better use. YMMV.

I do think they look cool, but I cannot afford cool.

 

[Kitkat52]

I have small wrists. I bought the Ultra shortly after release and returned it because of size. I changed my mind six weeks later and rebought on Amazon. I love this watch. Yeah, it’s monstrous big on these skinny 70 year women arms. But I don’t give a flying you know what. The screen size is great, it no longer feels heavy, the battery is wonderful, it looks good with all my watch bands and in general, it’s cool - for me. I’m keeping this watch…for sure!

 

[BigMcGuire]

I have small wrists. I bought the Ultra shortly after release and returned it because of size. I changed my mind six weeks later and rebought on Amazon. I love this watch. Yeah, it’s monstrous big on these skinny 70 year women arms. But I don’t give a flying you know what. The screen size is great, it no longer feels heavy, the battery is wonderful, it looks good with all my watch bands and in general, it’s cool - for me. I’m keeping this watch…for sure!

Yeah this watch is amazing. I've always been a fan of the Apple Watch - but the Ultra is great. I agree, it wasn't too long after I first put it on that the size/weight felt normal to me. Definitely going to be keeping this watch for several years. I imagine with the larger battery the watch should last quite a bit longer too (I start feeling battery life going south after 2-3 years with a normal Apple Watch).

 

[TechNutt]

Yeah this watch is amazing. I've always been a fan of the Apple Watch - but the Ultra is great. I agree, it wasn't too long after I first put it on that the size/weight felt normal to me. Definitely going to be keeping this watch for several years. I imagine with the larger battery the watch should last quite a bit longer too (I start feeling battery life going south after 2-3 years with a normal Apple Watch).

Major difference between the regular Apple Watches and the Ultra. After trying it on and going through a few spins, I didn’t want to look back. Felt and looked significantly better, even after trying on the S8 afterwards.

I’m still getting the new aluminum SE, if nothing else for gym purposes.

 

[Rainshadow]

You did the right thing , with the Apple Watch ultra having a the same processor as a AW6 makes it tough to really upgrade. Unless you want a stronger chassis’s bigger screen

Are you serious? The battery life alone… ignore the speaker, extra button, durability, brightness, and you still have a device that is massively upgraded.

The processor means nothing. You must not have used one for any length of time. It’s a new category.

 

[xDKP]

I have small wrists. I bought the Ultra shortly after release and returned it because of size. I changed my mind six weeks later and rebought on Amazon. I love this watch. Yeah, it’s monstrous big on these skinny 70 year women arms. But I don’t give a flying you know what. The screen size is great, it no longer feels heavy, the battery is wonderful, it looks good with all my watch bands and in general, it’s cool - for me. I’m keeping this watch…for sure!

This is what it's all about - use what you feel is great and feels great! Don't worry if other people think it's too big, if you don't!

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I just got off chat with Apple for a couple of issues I’ve been having. Relayed some feedback, and one of the topics was the Ultra watch. Most people who purchased it are not into sports from what I’ve seen. Once Apple sees and targets this ‘pro’ version towards business professionals, that thing is really going to take off. Yes, the ceramic was close, but the tech wasn’t there yet. It is now.

imo, Apple should make a ‘Pro’ for business folks and ‘Sports’ version for athletes. Shouldn’t have to flip the watch upside down either to avoid inadvertent ‘quick action’ button presses

Also, I didn’t really like the orange choice with the matte starlight casing. It does look good with the olive green band, and the display itself is gorgeous! I’m sure we’ll have more choices in the future, so can’t wait to see what’s in the pipeline for the next version.

Ideally, I’d like to see an Apple Watch Executive with a larger screen and a longer battery life between charges in a nice Titanium Black or Ceramic White color scheme.

As of now, my choice this year as a gift to myself is either the SE or Series 8. Still undecided. Hopefully I can trade up for next year’s ‘pro’ whatever that may be. Not sure if that’s an option currently.

People who wear shirts and suits for work don’t tend to wear chunky smartwatches though. Apple already cater to this market with the standard Apple Watch don’t they? The Ultra is bulky and not the prettiest Watch too so that tends to ensure it’s market is more sports oriented.

 

[bcalvanese]

I've been using the Garmin fenix series since they first came out. My last one was a fenix 7x sapphire solar. I'm just an old guy (65 now) just trying to stay healthy, and have tried a few apple watches up to the S7, but I have always found the native fitness features on the AW too basic, and always went back to the Garmin's. On the other hand, I always found the Garmin fitness features too advanced for my needs because Garmin's seem to be geared for more advanced athletes, and I'm just a regular person who wants to get my 30 to 60 minutes of exercise in every day, and track my health.

I got the Ultra recently, and have been very impressed so far. Battery lasts a little over 2 days, larger sapphire display, titanium body, extra button to start workouts, SOS siren, better speakers, double the screen brightness, and dual band GPS. I would say those are more than just a couple upgrades compared to any other apple watch.

All this in combination with the more advanced fitness features with the software updates, makes this my preferred choice now, and I have already sold my fenix 7x sapphire solar to a friend.