The Ultimate Guide to Buying the Apple Series Watch Ultra: Discounts and Options
In September 2022, Apple released the Apple Watch Ultra, a premium version of their popular smartwatch designed specifically for athletes and adventure enthusiasts. This high-end device was developed to compete with other fitness-focused smartwatches from companies like Garmin, providing longer battery life and sport-specific performance features.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the largest Apple Watch to date, with a 49mm case made from lightweight aerospace-grade titanium, and features a redesigned digital crown, side button housing, and an additional physical button on the left side called the Action button. This smartwatch boasts an array of impressive features such as a swimproof design, IP6X dust resistance, and MIL-STD 810H certification to withstand extreme outdoor conditions. Along with its durability, the Ultra also includes advanced health and fitness features, safety and security measures, and improved usability. This article will take an in-depth look at the design, features, and price of the Apple Watch Ultra.
Design and Durability
The perfect smartwatch for outdoor enthusiasts. Its large 49mm case, made from aerospace-grade titanium, is thicker and more durable than previous models. The Always-On Retina display is up to 2x brighter than any other Apple Watch display, offering optimal visibility in all lighting conditions. The watch is also swimproof and dust-resistant, making it ideal for activities like climbing, hiking, and diving. With three built-in microphones, the Ultra improves sound quality in voice calls, using advanced algorithms to reduce background noise and wind interference.
To complement the Apple Watch Ultra, three new bands have been introduced. The Trail Loop band is the thinnest Apple Watch band to date, perfect for endurance athletes and runners. The Alpine Loop band is designed for explorers and features a secure attachment with a titanium G-hook fastener. The Ocean Band is ideal for extreme water sports and recreational diving, with a flexible fluoroelastomer material and optional extra-long tail for wearing over a wetsuit. Whether you’re an athlete or an adventurer, the Apple Watch Ultra and its accompanying bands are the perfect companions for your next outdoor excursion.
Features and Use Cases
Apple Watch Ultra is designed to provide the most accurate GPS of any Apple Watch to date, integrating both L1 and L5 frequencies and new positioning algorithms. This makes it an essential tool for endurance athletes or those who want precise distance, pace, and route data for training and competing. The watch includes advanced running metrics, workout views, heart rate zones, custom workouts, and multisport workouts, making it ideal for triathletes and those who participate in swimming, biking, or running. With a long battery life, the watch is perfect for long-course triathlons and other extended activities.
For adventurers and explorers, the Apple Watch Ultra has a rugged design and bigger, brighter display. It includes a completely redesigned Compass app that displays more in-depth information and three distinct views, including a hybrid view that shows both an analog compass dial and a digital view. The app also includes Compass Waypoints and Backtrack for easy navigation and orientation. With an 86-decibel siren, the watch can help draw attention to a location in emergencies. The watch is certified to MIL-STD-810H, used for military equipment and popular among rugged equipment manufacturers, making it ideal for extreme environments from freezing cold mountains to blazing deserts.
The Apple Watch Ultra is also designed for water sports, including extreme activities like kitesurfing and wakeboarding, and recreational scuba diving to 40 meters with the new Oceanic+ app. The watch is certified to WR100 and EN 13319, an internationally recognized standard for dive accessories, including depth gauges. The watch features a Depth app designed with an intuitive user interface, and the Oceanic+ app runs the Bühlmann decompression algorithm and includes dive planning, dive metrics, alerts, and safety guidance. The watch also includes all of the connectivity, activity, and health features that have made Apple Watch the best-selling smartwatch in the world, including temperature-sensing capabilities for women’s health, cycle tracking, and crash detection.
| Features | Use Cases |
|---|---|
| Dual-frequency GPS | Accurate distance, pace, and route data for training and competing |
| Advanced running metrics | Measure performance, stride length, ground contact time, etc. |
| Multisport workouts | Ideal for triathletes and those who participate in multiple sports |
| Rugged design | Perfect for adventurers in extreme environments |
| Compass app | Easy navigation and orientation with Compass Waypoints and Backtrack |
| Water sports capabilities | Ideal for water sports, including scuba diving to 40 meters |
| Temperature-sensing capabilities | Improved period predictions and retrospective ovulation estimates |
| Cycle tracking | Receive notifications for possible health deviations |
| Crash detection | Emergency responders receive device location in emergencies |
Advanced Health and Fitness Features
The Apple Series Watch Ultra is a comprehensive health and wellness companion that includes various apps to monitor and improve your overall well-being.
1. Health Apps
- Blood Oxygen app
- High and low heart rate notifications
- Irregular rhythm notifications
- Temperature sensing
- Advanced cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates
In addition to these health apps, the Apple Watch Ultra also includes various fitness apps to track your workouts and motivate you to stay active.
2. Fitness Apps
- Activity app: tracks daily movement, exercise, and standing time, and encourages you to close your activity rings
- Workout app: supports various workout types and allows you to track progress and set personalized goals
- Heart Rate app: monitors heart rate throughout the day and sends notifications for high and low heart rates and irregular rhythms
3. Other apps included with the Apple Watch Ultra include
- ECG app: allows you to take an electrocardiogram directly from your watch to detect potential heart conditions
- Sleep app: tracks sleep duration and quality to help establish a healthy sleep routine
- Noise app: monitors ambient noise levels and sends alerts if the noise reaches levels that could harm your hearing
- Breathe app: guides you through mindful breathing exercises to reduce stress and improve focus
- Cycle Tracking app: allows users to monitor menstrual cycles, predict periods, and estimate ovulation and fertility windows.
Safety and Security
The Apple Watch Ultra includes several safety and security features that can be helpful in emergency situations. Users can create a Medical ID that appears on the lock screen, providing essential details such as age, blood type, medical conditions, and allergies to assist those attending them. The watch also allows users to contact emergency services through the side button, Siri, or Messages and to add emergency contacts to alert friends and family. With Fall Detection and Crash Detection turned on, the watch can detect and alert emergency services in case of a severe car crash or a hard fall. Additionally, the watch has an 86-decibel siren to attract attention in emergencies.
The Apple Watch Ultra’s safety and security features make it an excellent choice for individuals who engage in high-risk activities. Whether you are an athlete or an adventurer, the watch provides peace of mind, knowing that you have quick and easy access to emergency services and that your essential medical information is readily available. With its advanced safety features, the Apple Watch Ultra can help ensure your safety and well-being, no matter where your adventures take you.
Action Button and Usability
The Apple Watch Ultra’s Action Button is a unique feature that simplifies the process of starting workouts, toggling between functions, and accessing other essential features with just a quick press. This intuitive design streamlines the user experience and makes the watch an excellent choice for those who lead active lifestyles. As you set up the watch, you can choose a function for the Action Button, including Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut. You can also assign a Siri Shortcut to the button, providing quick access to your favorite features.
The Dock on the Apple Watch Ultra allows you to access your most recently used apps or up to 10 of your favorite apps. You can customize the Dock by opening the Settings app on your watch or the Apple Watch app on your iPhone. You can remove apps from the Dock by pressing the side button, turning the Digital Crown to the app you want to remove, swiping left on the app, and tapping X. With the Action Button and customizable Dock, the Apple Watch Ultra provides quick and easy access to your favorite apps and features, making it the ultimate smartwatch for active lifestyles.
| Click Action | Press |
|---|---|
| Workout | First press: Open the Workout app or start a workout Second press: Dependent on chosen workout |
| Stopwatch | First press: Start Second press: Mark lap |
| Waypoint | Press: Drop a Compass Waypoint |
| Backtrack | Press: Start |
| Dive | Press: Start |
| Flashlight | First press: On Second press: Off |
| Shortcut | Press: Start shortcut |
Price and Availability
The Apple Watch Ultra starts at $799, making it tailored for those who require a rugged, outdoor-centric wearable that doesn’t compromise on features and performance. The Ultra is available for purchase from Apple’s website and other retailers.
| Store | Product | Details | Item price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | Apple Watch Ultra [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Smart Watch w/Rugged Titanium Case & Orange Alpine Loop Medium. Fitness Tracker, Precision GPS, Action | Free delivery ·30-day returns | $779.99 | Visit Site | |
| Apple | Apple Watch Ultra GPS + Cellular, 49mm Titanium Case with Yellow/Beige Trail Loop - M/L | Free delivery by Apr 26 Free 14-day returns | $799.00 | Visit Site | |
| Best Buy | Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular) 49mm Titanium Case with Midnight Ocean Band - Titanium | Free delivery Apr 28 – May 2 Free 14-day returns | $799.00 | Visit Site | |
| T-Mobile | Apple Watch Ultra 49mm - Titanium - Midnight Ocean (with 24 monthly payments) - Smartwatch | Free delivery ·20-day returns | $0 down +$33.33 for 24 mo | Visit Site | |
| Verizon | Apple Watch Ultra 49mm Titanium Case with Green Alpine Loop - S, Adult Unisex, Silver with installment | Free delivery | $0 down +$22.22 for 36 mo | Visit Site | |
| target.com | Apple Watch Ultra GPS + Cellular Titanium Case with Ocean Band | 90-day returns | $799.99 | Visit Site | |
| Staples | Apple Watch Ultra Bluetooth Smart, Gray/Green, 2" (MQEW3LL/A) | Free delivery Apr 27 – May 3 | $799.00 | Visit Site | |
| UScellular | Apple Watch Ultra 49mm, GPS + Cellular, Titanium Case Black/Gray Trail Loop-M/L | UScellular | Free delivery ·15-day returns | $799.99 | Visit Site | |
| AT&T | Apple Watch Ultra - 49mm - Titanium Yellow Beige Trail Loop M-L | Free delivery ·14-day returns | $0 down +$22.23 for 36 mo | Visit Site |
Overall, the Apple Watch Ultra is the ultimate smartwatch for serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. With its durable design, advanced health and fitness features, safety and security features, and intuitive usability, the Ultra is an excellent choice for those who engage in specialized activities like climbing, off-trail hiking, and diving. While the Ultra comes with a high price tag, its impressive features and performance make it worth the investment for those who demand the best from their smartwatch.
