I think so, I'm getting a 14 pro max next week, and apple watch ultra, I'm just going to make payments on it. I can afford it. I'm excited for it , I did have a apple watch series 6 45mm in 2021 I also had I phone 12 pro max it felt too delicate and not good battery life. But seriously I have a android now, and switching back to apple .
I chose no, and went for a matte black Apple Watch 8, but in the next gen, I might replace my phone and Watch 8 for an Ultra 2... I am intrigued by using a watch as my only phone, and reducing the number of devices I carry.
@@MorningNapalm I would hope you’re using your current watch to answer/make phone calls as a trial. The Ultra is a bit louder but I would think any lengthy conversation would be difficult and without any semblance of privacy. I wear hearing aides and connect my phone to them with blue tooth. The watch won’t do that but your watch will connect to Apple ear buds. I think. If you wear Apple ear buds all the time, it might work.
@@feversol I have the Watch 8, and I do use it a bit, but to be honest, I just don't telephone that much. If I do ditch my phone, I would definitely start carrying my Earpod Pros everywhere though.
I think you hit the nail on the head. If I am wearing something EVERYDAY for years then spending $400 more for a more enjoyable experience is totally worth it IMO
Just retired my Series 0 yesterday for one of these (purchased in June of 2015, back when you could only buy them at an Apple store). Oddly it still works perfectly and looks nearly new although I've worn it for almost 8 years. Since then I have given Apple watches to friends as gifts, finally the time came for me to get myself something...and this is what I bought myself. So far A+.
This is the second long-term review I’ve seen recently that is pretty much mirrors my experience. At 77, I walk my 2 miles daily and thoroughly enjoy the bright screen that I can see in bright sunlight. Secondly, I have no concern over battery before it goes on the charger nightly. If I get up before 6am and go to bed after midnight, I know I can wear this watch without any concern whether it will be out of battery. The orange button on the side merely saves me one step in selecting my Outside Walk exercise mode. I do quibble with folks who focus on ‘cost’ since it is fifty dollars more than the Series 8 I would have purchased and the same fifty dollars more than the Series 5 I purchased when it came out and replaced with this watch. I think trying to compare the cost with those less expensive models is the wrong approach because I would think those lesser costing watches were purchased because of the price rather than functionality and capability. The aluminum non-cellular models are less than half this watches price. If price is your limiter then this is not your watch. Neither is a $10,000 Rolex.
Thanks for the review. I received the watch yesterday and apart from all the good points you mentioned, it has one huge benefit - my sleeve no longer cover the watch! with my series 7, my sleeve always covered the watch due to the round shape, and I had to constantly pool the sleeve up.
I'm holding off to see what Apple does to the Ultra later in 2023. My 15-year-old Casio G-Shock is still going strong. I'm 70+ years old and am more interested in the health/medical features.
Mileage definitely varies on the battery life. I charge to 90% before sleeping, sleep track, do a 30-60 min workout, and have it on my wrist for 17 waking hours (interacting with it 3-5 times an hour for messages, apps, etc). I use 50-70% battery life depending if I use cellular/music or not. So as a heavy user, its 1.5 day battery. But with my Series 6, I had to charge 2-3 times a day for the same function. So it’s worth it for me.
I got the Ultra, I had the Watch 7 and it got a big scratch on the glass. I have a Seiko titanium watch and the sapphire glass does not have a scratch on it. I liked the look of the flush sapphire glass on the Ultra. I’m not that physical but I try snd ride a bike for 40 minutes a day. I think the Ultra battery will last up to two days without charging compared to the version 7 watch which ran low by the evening. I’m interested in using the map feature on the WatchOS 10. Yah, not keen on the orange button, mine sets a waypoint, like a MOB function. Funny thing is I never use the other button, I just press the crown. I had no choice in the supplied band except for colour, I preferred the woven cloth band, whatever it’s called and I bought another cloth band at enourmous expense AUD$150! I agonised over the decision for months, I like the idea of throwing the band into the wash. I wish Apple give you a better choice of the band when you initially buy the watch.
Enjoyable video, I think you were on point with all your conclusions! I came a little late to the party’s for is purchasing it. I just picked up mine about three weeks ago and I love the heck out of it now. Initially I purchased the series 8 stainless steel and it’s beautiful but end up giving that to my wife to get the ultra.
I also jumped on it this January - so a bit late, but damn it’s cool. I’m a marathoner and run over 60 km. a week, so for me the battery life and the design is the two top features I just love! When summer arrives, I’m sure I will love the snorkelling screen with temperature etc. as well
I just bought the AW Ultra. Upgraded from AW gen4, so it was a reasonable jump. The price in Denmark, where I live, is 1130 dollars. I don´t think it´s anywhere near worth it but still a nice upgrade. My favourite points are the better and bigger screen. The new look is much nicer. And the titanium casing and saphire glass gives a great feeling of durability.
About the same price in the UK. Apple products appear to be aimed at the US market with most of the rest of the world paying significantly more making them less appealing. To note, few other manufacturers apply this same approach to pricing.. shame.
Not that I’m defending Apple’s pricing because it’s clearly very expensive, but it should be noted that the cost of goods in a country and its currency is generally tied to the cost of living and earning there. That is to say, it might seem like you’re paying a lot more than an American, but what you earn for a living and how much things cost in your country might translate to similar buying power in real terms. So you often see this ‘it’s more in the UK’ with products, which can be down to import costs etc (lol brexit), but is often also just down to differences in cost of living.
I’ve always gotten the stainless steel Apple Watches. $50 more you can get the ultra so I would definitely get it. Only thing that put me off about it is the color of the watch.
Great review! I think you have sold me into it. I’ve had 2 stainless steel version, my current is a series 4 and I still prefer the look of it over titanium but I only get about 20 hours max on battery life. I wear it to track my sleep, then for my workout and playing music over BT headphones. So battery life is what’s selling it for me. I know if I would get the series 8 I wouldn’t get as much battery time. Thanks for your review!
I’ve always used the stainless steel version in all Apple Watch I’ve owned so it’s about the same amount to me and what I love about the ultra is that unlike the stainless steel where most people can’t tell how much you spent on it because they assume it’s the regular Apple Watch or aluminum the ultra is one of a kind and has the price tag written on it.
It’s one of a kind, compared to the other watches… but you will have the same thing everyone else has. With the stainless, you get to be a little different in what color you choose. Gloss gold? Maybe silver? Or the beautiful graphite?certainly for dressing up the stainless models are the better choice
I consider upgrading to Garmin Tactix from my AW series 4, as it offers offline mapping and huge battery life. But then I start to think about all those little perks that come with an AW (instant Apple Pay, MacBook auto unlock, menu design and built in apps, Nomad charging accessories that fit my room perfectly, focus settings etc) and it stops me from dropping AW product line. I am still not sold on 3-4 days battery life, but definitely will keep an eye on the AW Ultra line. With next iterations it promises to become a perfect watch for Apple ecosystem user with a casual/adventure lifestyle. Great video BTW, greetings from Ukraine!
Incredible how I am almost hundred percent in line with what you said!! Had an AW6, been for a year with an Epix2 and hated the ultra initially, ended up with the ultra 2. I’m so happy with it. It really feels premium. and being all in the ecosystem, makes it an incredible overall experience. and finally, I think the titanium is kind of neat. Vs black finish.
3.5 to 4 days easily??? realy??? how? I have gone through every batter configuration and most I can get is 2.5 days (about 50+change hours). Please share your 4 days configuration. you haved a usage very similar to my usage
Well I bought mine maybe 2 weeks ago. This is my first proper smart watch and I love it. I've had iPhones for a while now and I wanted an Apple Watch, but what I hated is that every single watch looked the same. So I said, when they change the design I'm getting it right away. And I'm glad I did, I'll be wearing it for some time so I don't think price is too big of an issue, and everybody notices the Ultra. Everyone says it looks really cool and rugged and they prefer it over the regular Series #. I'm not some crazy fitness person but I like tracking my sleep, my heart rate and my steps, everything else is kind of secondary but I don't mind having it. As I said, the only downside is the price but think about how much you'll wear that watch, I know for sure it will be on my wrist at least 355 out of 365 days a year. Cheers BTW in my country its $1050, I wish it was $800 😬
Great review. I love my AWU. Traded in my Product Red S7. I have way more band options now, better battery, durability, & more complications (8 on the WayFinder)
I did buy it for the design first, then the battery life. Coming from android to iOS I like the seamless switching of my airpods from phone to watch. I personally did not like the design of the previous apple watches. It also seems like there are more apps for the apple watch then wear OS.
I get three days easy from mine But I’ve found myself just chucking it on charge when I have a shower and topping it up it’s never full it’s never flat lol But comeing from android and Samsung watch’s the watch ultra is a breath of fresh air Everything just works well and seamless I wear it day in day out Abuse it really knocked it loads always do knock my watches into stuff lol But genuinely love it
Let’s be honest, the battery is the major issue with the entire range, this being the best and also by far most expensive A Huawei costs a couple of hundred and does much of the same things with titanium good looks and about ten to twelve days charge minimum I’d buy the apple if they could sort the bloody battery out though
I’m still stuck on of I should buy one or another Garmin. The Garmins are fantastic but the new model is $1999 vs $1500 for the ultra. The Garmin is by far the superior watch for what I use them for (back country hiking navigation) because the battery can last weeks rather than a few days like the Apple Watch. However when we are talking about 2k for a watch it starts to not feel worth the money as it doesn’t do half the things the Apple Watch does. Such a hard decision to make! I love the look of the ultra however I wish you could opt for a different colour button! Orange was a strange choice
I upgraded from a 6 to an 8 and really stressed over the decision vs the ultra and after a couple months, I regret not just spending more for the Ultra after having talked to coworkers who have ultras. The battery life and screen brightness alone look like they are worth the extra price and I also think the LTE connection (though I realize not an ultra exclusive feature) would be nice as my watch will frequently just not connect to any services despite being in my house and on Wifi. It acts like if it's not within bluetooth range of my phone, I don't get calls, messages, notifications or anything. Very frustrating and something I have dealt with on my 5, 6 and now 8.
First off I have never paid this much for a watch. My SE cost $507.00 I’m sure I saw the price for the Ultra at over $1k in Canada. So for now I’m good with my midnight 44mm SE.
Just recently got a deal on the awu1. Under $500. I was coming from a s7 with battery health 78% and didn't always last an entire day. This thing is great I paired it with a Milanese Magnetic band (I'm not really food rubber or cloth bands). Looks really nice.
Hey! Welcome back. I love your Apple Watch reviews. I'm a 40/41mm guy, so the ultra is way too big for me. Maybe I prefer the regular design a bit more too.. still, more choice is always good.
I wear that same band from amazon, so much better than the apple bands. Also with the ultra being my first smart watch, the best feature for me... seeing the time without pulling out my phone. Crazy right? I switched from the Whoop to this and the battery life is comparable if you have the right battery settings.
I think when people go on about weight, a lot of metal watches can be so much heavier than a Apple Watch. I understand they might say it’s to heavy to train in but I’m sure it won’t make much difference than the lighter Apple Watch 🤔
I think it is worth it and not worth it. I expected more detailed review since it is a long term one. But overall you kinda covered the important features of it
The only thing the Ultra is good for is knowing what features the Series 9 steel case is going to have. Ok, that, and people who need a watch for actual outdoor hiking, rock climbing, and diving.
Got mine in November and still like it. I’ve noticed touch issues every so often but a restart fixes it. Also somehow got a decent scratch on the glass. No screen protector of course
Bought 1 yesterday, charged up to 100% until 11 AM, used for first configs, notifications in the afternoon, 1hr workout and sleep tracking. This morning just notifications and I had to put in in charge. It lasted 13 hours (the battery capacity is 100%). WHY???
I am pretty confused that so many people fall over the $800 price tag tbf, i bought my Apple watch 1, gloss black and leather strap for around $850 at the Apple store at release. So for me it feels pretty cheap at that price tag, to make you even feel better the Apple watch Ultra costs almost $1100 here in the Netherlands right now !!! ( €998 base price )
If the same battery technology is used and ages the same as the lesser models, then what difference does the Ultra body/material durability matter? Can the battery within that "more durable" Ultra be replaced?
I completely agree with your thoughts. I wanted one but I too like darker color watches which is why I'm still using my SS graphite series 7. I am trying to hold off on the aw ultra as maybe they will release another color on its next generation or maybe Apple will redesign the series watches and add space black again but right now the only watch in space black is the Hermes edition which I do not think are worth the cost but yolo... haha.
Just what I wanted to hear. I don't think this product is honestly meant for high level athletes, they will probably stick with a Garmin Fenix or something like that, but for people who uses the Apple ecosystem and currently has an older Apple Watch, they know that battery life is really one of the bigger compromises, and also durability, one fall and fixing it is so expensive that you will probably end up getting a new one or getting used to an ugly plastic case, killing the charm of the look. Probably a series 7 with a sturdy case is not slimmer than an Ultra. In that situation you know if you get a sturdier Apple Watch with double battery life or more, you can count on keeping it for a long time as the support is really good, you still can get the latest WatchOS on a series 4. I think most people will be in that situation and if able to afford the beefier price tag, they know it will pay for itself on durability and the peace of mind of not having an extremely delicate piece on their wrist, but a sturdy piece of tech that will be able to bear with them for a long time. And no ugly plastic case. Great and intelligent review.
@@hdmedia7404 The screen can get up to 2x as bright so if you had the flashlight on the highest setting it is 2x as bright. In my testing it seems to be the case. It is noticably brighter
I call bs when people say they get 3 or more days out of the ultra with a fair bit of use unless micro charges to top up is done because mine is 5 days old & I get through a day & a night then most of the next day if I’m lucky & I send a handful of texts & 2-3 calls & use it to control my podcasts or music sometimes so I don’t use it a lot & I’m on 38% at the moment so unless micro charges are made it’s bs in my opinion I don’t use low power mode
Have to disagree. Yes, it is a marginal size increase but putting them side by side I can tell a difference with the naked eye. It is not huge, but it is there.
this thing is like a 1000 euros in europe. i hate that these kind of tech products almost never get discounts (or verly low discounts); every recent video i watch of new apple watches always mention discounts on whatever american store there is. the 2nd gen se is 350 euros, still waiting for it to drop to 300. (prolly when the series 9 comes out)
Battery on mine deteriorated already instead 3 I get 2 days of use. Maybe this is caused by software update as I did not change my habits how I use my watch. If you are about to buy this watch for battery life then be prepared that at some point battery will wear off. Replacing battery in this watch in UK is a whooping £109. You have said you got 4 days of battery life out of your Watch without using power safe mode. Assuming you’ve used your watch on a daily basis, do not believe this is possible. This watch is still worth to buy and the main reason is durability look and feel rather than features.
I like it, but I love the pebble look of the series 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 as they look sleek. & the “Edition” models of the non ultra Watches are extremely durable as well. All-in-all good review!
@@dad.0 I’d probably get a used one, or one with a damaged glass, and have a shop help me on the disassembly of it. Then I’d take the frame for coating at my local firearms coating service, then have the shop put it together. Of course with a new battery and glass. I don’t trust myself with these complex tech items any more.
Again ‘price.’ It costs FIFTY dollars more than the stainless steel larger Series 8 I would have purchased. Is it not worth fifty dollars? Are you comparing it to the $16 Casio I used to wear?
As much as I’m tempted to buy the ultra I’m gonna wait for version 2. The orange button and accent would put me off. It’s as if Apple and Home Depot partnered to make a Watch.
I like the #AppleWatchUltra not so much for its design, but the durability and battery life. I still gravitate to the sleekness of the Series 7/8. I think the *titanium* construction was a good choice by Apple. It’s lighter and seems more scratch resistant than stainless steel. I’ve had regular watches with stainless steel, and most of them are scuffed. The great thing about it is that all the previous 42 mm (+and up) watch bands still fits. You can even save even more battery life if you turn-off Background App Refresh under Settings (or just select the Apps that you use frequently).
I’m on the crisp of getting one, upgrading from a stainless AW 6 but I’m hanging one that silver color too (as you did). Should I wait til Sept? I’m like 85% of getting it tomorrow.
“3,5 - 4 days of battery life” That is just insane. I can JUST squeeze 48 hours out of it - given I do play with it quite a bit still but an hour run a day and sleep tracking gives me 48 hours. Have you seen big increase in battery with deactivating the always on display?
i've just receive mine and it's really amazing to be honest i barely feel that i have a huge watch on my wrist i'm used to have a citizen eco-drive and i just want to know how to get the facewatch with all the place on the world that show what time it is around the world
So if I only get notifications 3-4 times a day make two three calls test my heart once a day. Can I turn off most things how many days? I want to just replace my iPhone ?
have to be honest when you say you think the price is worth it. I bought one and I can honestly say it is way too expensive. Only buy it if you really want it, but don’t pretend it’s not too expensive. It is.
I am not saying it is not expensive... but it is relative. Compared to a high end Garmin, Coros, Suunto, or classical watch it isn't all that expensive.
3.5 4 days of battery life with 60 min workouts??? Never managed more than 2 days, 3rd day it dies during sleep tracking also went to a youtuber suggesting battery saving tips never did it for me and that is disappointing
Got mine when it was first out like you love it sold my seven and haven’t looked back yes I’m not a sports man anymore to old now 65 but love this watch and still haven’t seen many people wearing them around me 🇬🇧🇬🇧
I get 3 days of battery life as well on my AWU. No need to have always on display on if 90% of the day your watch is at your side? This watch was meant to be used by outdoor enthusiasts, ultra runners, etc. why do you think garmin watches do not have cellular on them to make and receive calls, they are fitness watches, not a fashion statement!
Yes, it fits larger wrists better. You needed to give a measurement of your wrist. Otherwise, your review gets incomplete and borderline complimentary.
In low light settings the Ultra is hard to read. If you need to turn up the brightness on your smart watches, just know that is not an option with the Ultra. It decides the lumens, not the you.
ok long term review for an average user like me: don’t notice a difference anymore, used to the size and the screen, battery life is better than my old one, i like the orange button… that’s it