Watch 8-ultra
Twyla Plack
I am a long-time Apple Watch user and currently have the 7 series... But I am interested in both the 8 series and the Ultra. I have looked a both and seen the tech specs, but I'm looking for another person's perspective. I am leaning towards the Ultra, merely for the coolness factor, but the price difference between the 8 and ultra has me just enquiring.
I've owned a number of Apple Watches over the years, all Stainless Steel as having a Sapphire screen and more durable case really matters to me. I bought the Ultra this year when it was released. I'm not going to climb any mountain. I won't dive the depths of any ocean. I'm not a hiker, a rock climber or really anything which the Ultra is touted to better do. And yet, you couldn't pry my Ultra Watch off my cold dead wrist. '
Ps; I've had a blast buying new bands for my Ultra and have amassed quite a few thus far. I've bought the Nomad Pure T2 Titanium Band, a couple Titanium bands from LDFAS and Robust (the Robust is on its way to me), plus a couple new bands from Apple and some purpose made for the Ultra from Amazon and Nomad too.
Alpine look is comfortable, but it's a nylon cloth and the Titanium buck at the end of the band if pulled far enough back can come in contact with the watch and possibly scratch it. If you do things which could get your band dirty, it may not be the best option.
Trail loop is a fancier version of the standard loop Apple sells for the other watches. It's a stretchy nylon and is admittedly sublimely comfortable, but again is't nylon and if you do things which could get messy or dirty, it may be hard to keep clean.
Ocean Band. To me, by far the neatest option. It's made of a high quality FKM Fluorolastimer, is super durable, won't stain, is comfy (though the other loop bands may be a bit more comfortable) and will last the longest of the three options you can choose.
The novel shape of the Apple Watch Ultra is all about adding durability features such as a crown and pusher guard on the right side of the case, as well as the higher-walled bezel that helps protect against certain types of impact. In addition to all of that, Apple had enough room to include an additional button on the case, which is the first programmable button on the Apple Watch and that can be adjusted for a variety of purposes (it triggers the exercise tracking function by default). Not only is the Apple Watch Ultra larger than previous-generation Apple Watches or the Apple Watch Series 8, it is also more durable in at least a few ways.
One of the things I found interesting when first holding the Apple Watch Ultra is how much the hardware is starting to resemble that of traditional luxury watches. Not only does the visual shape of the Apple Watch Ultra lend itself to much more interest and imagination than the relatively plain smooth-pebble look of the standard Apple Watch, but the materials used are the same as those for elite luxury watches. The Apple Watch Ultra begins with a flat sapphire crystal over the screen, with a case that is produced from sandblast-finished titanium. The rear of the case is mostly ceramic, and of course, the fit and finishing of the Apple Watch Ultra hardware is the current apex of smartwatch industry standards.
In this article, I recently talked about the interesting experience of sleeping with an Apple Watch Series 8 in order to evaluate the sleep-tracking feature as part of the larger Apple Health suite of applications and sensors that are now an inherent part of the Apple Watch experience. With each product (including the Apple Watch Ultra), Apple is able to install new body monitoring features which make taking off the Apple Watch difficult, and the tendency is to want to allow the device to get to know and track you as closely as possible. Related to all of this is the exercise and fitness tracking functionality that Apple not only does extremely well but probably better than anyone else in the smartwatch class. Pretty much all of the Apple Watches do a great job with exercise tracking, the Apple Watch Ultra being no exception. But I do want to point out that people who are accustomed to exercising with a smaller version of the Apple Watch might require some adjustment to wearing the Apple Watch Ultra given the larger size. There will probably still be some people who prefer the smaller size of other Apple Watch products if their goal is to exercise with a smaller-profile activity-tracking device.
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Whether you're traveling across the planet or having adventures closer to home this summer, one of the ways to make your travels safer, healthier, and more fun is to take advantage of the latest features in the Apple Watch.
Each year, the Apple Watch adds new capabilities, so if you dig your Apple Watch and your model is at least two or three years old then you may be ready for an upgrade. If you're ready for a summer adventure and want to take the latest tech with you, then the big question is whether to upgrade to the Apple Watch Series 8 or to the Apple Watch Ultra. Both models come with a lot of the same features, including:
To be clear, you don't have to be an extreme athlete to appreciate the Apple Watch Ultra. The extra battery life, bigger display for better viewing of images and text, more durable design, and upgraded GPS will appeal to many of you who rely on your Apple Watch for valuable functions every day. And for the summer, the ability to leave your phone and only have a larger Apple Watch that can go into the pool or the ocean, answer quick texts and phone calls, and pay for lunch and snacks with Apple Pay directly from the watch will be a welcome upgrade.
If it follows its typical schedule, Apple will release the next version of the Apple Watch, the Series 9, in September. There are reports that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is also on the way. That said, there are not many reports about big upgrades coming to the next generation of Apple Watch hardware. The most anticipated feature we're still waiting for is blood glucose monitoring -- for diabetics and those who want to closely track their nutrition. However, that feature is likely at least a year or two away.
The Series 8 and especially the Ultra were big leaps ahead; the next upgrades should be pretty incremental. So unless you're a serious techie who always wants to live on the cutting edge, you're pretty safe jumping to the Series 8 or the Ultra and enjoying their best new features this summer. Plus, both will get a big software upgrade this fall with the arrival of the new WatchOS 10.
Battery life has never been a selling point of the Apple Watch; that is, until the Apple Watch Ultra. Promising up to 36 hours of battery life (before the new Apple Watch low power mode,) the rugged smartwatch doubled the stamina expectancy that existing Apple Watch users experience.
Somewhere between 1 p.m and 2 p.m. on Sunday, my Apple Watch Ultra finally ran out of juice. That means it lasted nearly 48 hours with what I would consider normal use. This is more than double my battery life experience with the Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra. When I tested the Apple Watch Series 8 without low power mode, it lasted just about 24 hours, or a full day.
By comparison, many of the best Fitbit trackers and best Garmin watches I've tested have a battery life of a week or longer. That's to say I know the Apple Watch Ultra's longer battery life might not seem like a huge feat for marathon runners or others who have never had to charge their smartwatch every day.
I think it'll take me a couple weeks to nail down new charging habits, finding the sweet spot of the smartwatch's stamina and my schedule's convenience. In the meantime, it's safe to say this is one of the key reasons I would recommend the Apple Watch Ultra to someone. Though it has a handful of other exciting differences, none might have as much of a daily impact as the battery life.
As I said in my Apple Watch Ultra review, even if you're not an outdoors enthusiast or endurance athlete, you should still consider the Apple Watch Ultra. Think of it as a souped-up Series 8. Here are the main differences between the two to help you decide which is the right Apple Watch for your wrist.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a 49mm case with a flat display and, depending on your personal style and wrist size, it's either going to look great, or it's going to feel too big. My wrist measures 152mm, which is relatively small, but I've had no issues wearing the Ultra. The Series 8 comes in two different sizes, 41mm or 45mm variations, that accommodate a wide range of wrist sizes. It also comes in the choice of stainless steel or aluminum, which is the lightest option. You can see a full weight comparison in the video on this page.
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