Apple Watch Ultra is now available to order in India, priced at Rs. 89,900. There’s no variation in terms of size or connectivity, but you do have a few options when it comes to straps. This price may seem outrageous, especially when there are a lot of options priced under Rs. 5,000 in the market now. But the Apple Watch Ultra is no ordinary smartwatch. It is specially designed for adventure sports and survival, and there is nothing like it.
The Apple Watch Ultra is huge and heavy compared to the previous model. It is designed to be compact and easy to operate with gloves on in harsh and harsh conditions. It has by far the biggest and brightest screen of any Apple Watch so you can see at-a-glance information about your surroundings or your current activities. Of course this makes it quite chunky and at just over 60 grams, you will definitely be aware of it on your wrist at all times.
The 49mm casing is made of titanium and unlike other Apple watches, the screen is completely flat, with a metal rim around it, protecting the corners. The screen itself is made of sapphire crystal. Apple has managed IP6X rating which means that this device is dust resistant to some extent. There is an alarm of 86db for people trapped outside.
While other models are described as “swimproof,” the Watch Ultra is also EN13319 certified and water-resistant to 100 meters, so it can be used for recreational dives. In fact, it has a depth gauge and water temperature sensor, so you’ll see third-party apps that take advantage of it specifically for divers. There is also a leash specially designed for divers.
The Apple Watch Ultra’s display is larger and has a higher resolution than any other model. This allows more activity parameters to be shown right on the dial, with eight slots for complications. It is also brighter up to 2000nits. A special visibility mode turns the entire display a bright monochromatic red if necessary.
The Digital Crown is larger with more pronounced grooves, and the side buttons are also raised, making them easier to use with gloves. There’s also an additional customizable action button. The device also comes with dual speakers and a three-mic array for better audio with calls and Siri.
The customizable action button is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra and lets you trigger commands in apps in challenging situations
Thanks to the large body, the battery life is claimed to last up to 36 hours. Apple will also roll out a new Low Power Mode with a software update, and you should be able to get up to 60 hours per charge, though it will be with many functions disabled.
Beyond these distinctive design elements and features, the Apple Watch Ultra does everything its more mainstream siblings do, including everyday health monitoring and sleep tracking with ECG and blood oxygen measurements. Of course, there are tons of apps you can use, a slew of Apple services, and Siri for voice commands.
A temperature sensor gives this generation of Apple watches even more insights into cycle tracking, especially for women. The all-new Apple Watch can detect car accidents thanks to advanced sensors and machine learning.
Apple has developed its own S8 processor, which is common in this generation of watches. You also get 32GB of storage for apps and offline music. The Apple Watch Ultra has dual-band GPS and isn’t an option without cellular connectivity. You also get Bluetooth 5.3 and Ultra Wideband for accurate location and orientation detection.
Unlike its iPhones, Macs, and AirPods, Apple isn’t calling this new watch a “Pro” model because it isn’t a more premium version of the standard Apple Watch for those who can afford it. This is a very specialized, purpose-built device and probably won’t appeal to anyone who likes the latest and greatest products. For that, there’s still the stainless steel version of the Apple Watch Series 8, which can cost the same or more, depending on the size and strap you choose.
Full reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Series 8 coming soon on Gadgets 360.
