Apple Watch Ultra: The Best Apple Watch I Do Not Need [Video] - 9to5Mac

I have been an Apple Watch Ultra user since its release in September 2022. Over the years, I have owned the regular Ultra and currently own the Ultra 2 in Black Titanium, and I have worn it nearly every single day. I wanted the Ultra for the little things: a better battery, a larger display, and better build materials. I just wanted to see what Apple could do with its “best” Apple Watch. After using it for nearly four years, I can confidently say that this is the best Apple Watch Apple has ever made, but it’s also an Apple Watch that I just don’t need. Let me explain.

Be sure to check out our in-depth hands-on video with the Apple Watch Ultra and see what we think.

So what makes the Apple Watch Ultra actually different from the rest of the Apple Watch Series lineup? The Apple Watch Ultra is supposed to be the most premium version of the whole experience from software to hardware. There are a few key differentiators.

Larger and brighter display
Titanium case that feels more rugged and durable
Extra physical controls, like the Action Button
Better battery life than the regular Apple Watch lineup
All Ultras have built-in data connectivity
A design that’s clearly meant for people who want something more “adventure-ready”

Everything else is exactly the same, including the internals. Both the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11 use the same S10 SiP (system-in-package) chip. So if you think the Ultra offers better smoothness and performance than the series 11, it actually doesn’t. This is a common misconception among customers. So you are just getting more battery and more rugged build materials.

But now I want to talk about how I use my Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple markets this watch for extreme sports and athletes. You see commercials and videos of climbers, divers, and hikers in extreme conditions. But it also does all the daily stuff exceptionally well. There are a few key use cases that I use the Ultra for almost daily.

All the fitness and wellness-tracking features are fantastic. The workout tracking is still the #1 reason I keep it on my wrist. I use it for workouts, movement goals, and just keeping myself consistent. It almost feels like a workout wouldn’t count if I didn’t wear the Apple Watch. The same thing goes for the newer sleep and vitals tracking. I wear my watch to sleep every night to see what score I get. It’s great to see trend data, especially as a recent father of 2, the lack of sleep does affect the sleep score. And most recently, the vitals app basically detected that I was getting the Flu a few days early by letting me know my vitals were all out of whack.

I also use the Apple Watch’s ecosystem features. There are things like using the Watch as a viewfinder for your iPhone camera. You can also use your Apple Watch as a biometric unlock replacement for Touch ID and Face ID. Something as simple as the alarm clock, gently waking you up with slowly increasing vibrations that grow more intense. Amazing feature!

All these use cases add up to a great device.

Apple Watch Ultra dilemma

But the more I used my Apple Watch Ultra, the more I realized I didn’t need any of its features. All the use cases I mentioned above are things that any normal Apple Watch Series 11 can do. All of the extreme aspects of the Apple Watch Ultra go relatively untouched. I don’t use the deep sea diving features, I do not take advantage of the wayfinding GPS features while hiking, I have never used the SOS feature, and if I need to, I always have my phone. So, at this point, I have realized that the only “feature” I use is the Apple Watch Ultra’s extended battery life.

While I love the look and the rugged build of the Apple Watch Ultra, I do no need it. So my next Apple Watch will be a Series 11 or Series 12 (when that releases), since it can do everything I need it to.

Final take

To wrap up my long-term thoughts on the Apple Watch Ultra, my experience has honestly been great. It is reliable, the battery life is still excellent, and it handles everything I want from an Apple Watch. Fitness tracking, health features, sleep tracking, and all the little Apple ecosystem conveniences that make it easy to live day to day. But at the same time, I have also learned something important: For most people, the Ultra’s extra features simply do not justify paying nearly double the price.

That being said, right now the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is going for $549 brand new on Amazon, and at that price, we can have a totally different conversation. You are getting all the Ultra features plus cellular for only about $30 more than an Apple Watch Series 11 with cellular.

So I am curious. At $549, does the Apple Watch Ultra actually feel justified to you? Let’s discuss below. 👇