Apple Watch Ultra, the smartwatch you didn’t know you’d need

Apple did indeed introduce a rugged Apple Watch Ultra, a really powerful version of the original device packed with features everyone who watched the announcement suddenly seems to need.

Apple Watch Ultra includes all of the connectivity, activity, and health features that have made Apple Watch such a success, but adds numerous additional features.

What’s new in Apple Watch Ultra

Bigger than an ordinary Apple Watch and designed for use in situations in which you might be wearing gloves or clinging to the side of the mountain, Apple Watch Ultra is built for explorers, adventurers, and endurance pros.

It’s basically the mini-computer you might need when you’re meeting physical challenges at the very edge.

In part this is because of its customisable Action button offers instant access to a wide range of useful features.

You’ll be able to use that single press to initiate apps such as Workouts, Compass Waypoints, Backtrack, and more.

Additional features include:

• 49mm aerospace-grade titanium case.
• Flat sapphire front crystal for a really bright 2,000-nits display.
• Up to 36-hour battery life, extends to up to 60-hours in low power mode.
• Available to order now, ships from September 23.

• Provides the most accurate GPS of any Apple Watch to date, provides precise distance, pace, and route data for training and competing.
• Apple Watch Ultra is the only Apple Watch that can show six metrics at once.
• Operates at between -4° F (-20° C) to 131° F (55° C). Certified to MIL-STD-810H.
• Apple Watch Ultra is certified to WR100. Apple Watch Ultra is also certified to EN13319,

 

The device also features three built-in microphones to significantly improve sound quality in voice calls during any conditions. These use a range of technologies including machine learning to capture voice while reducing ambient background sounds, resulting in remarkable clarity.

[Also read: How to get your Apple Watch ready for emergencies]

Apple has defined the target audience.  The Wayfinder watch face is designed specifically for the larger Apple Watch Ultra display and includes a compass built into the dial, with space for up to eight complications.

A better Compass

Apple has also redesigned its Compass app in watchOS 9, it now provides mode information and additional views, including latitude, longitude, elevation, and incline, as well as an orienteering view showing Compass Waypoints and Backtrack.

Compass Waypoints are a quick and convenient way to mark a location or point of interest directly in the app. Pressing the Action button or tapping the Compass Waypoint icon drops a waypoint that can be edited by tapping the icon that appears.

Backtrack uses GPS data to create a path showing where the user has been, which is useful if they get lost or disoriented and need help retracing their steps. It can also turn on automatically in the background when off the grid. With a single press of the Action button, users can quickly drop a Compass Waypoint or start or view a Backtrack. An 86-decibel siren is designed for emergencies.

New bands for tough challenges

Apple Watch Ultra also brings three new bands — Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band — each of which have been designed to look cool, be nice to wear, and to handle the rigours of walking, climbing and oceans respectively.

Ultimate swimwear

Utilising a new depth gauge, Apple Watch Ultra features a Depth app designed with an intuitive user interface. With just a glance, the Depth app displays time, current depth, water temperature, duration under water, and max depth reached.

In partnership with Huish Outdoors, known for delivering innovative and reliable equipment for recreational diving, the new Oceanic+ app turns Apple Watch Ultra into a capable dive computer. Available from the App Store later this fall, the app runs the Bühlmann decompression algorithm, and includes dive planning, easy-to-read dive metrics, visual and haptic alerts, no-decompression limit, ascent rate, and safety stop guidance.

Oceanic+ also offers a personalized user profile, reports on current and local dive conditions, and a dive logbook that can be shared with family and friends and automatically syncs to iPhone.

Apple Watch Ultra features recycled gold in the plating of multiple printed circuit boards — a first for Apple Watch — as well as 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled tungsten in the Taptic Engine. Display glass is arsenic-free, and Apple Watch Ultra is mercury-, BFR-, PVC-, and beryllium-free.

What Apple said

“Inspired by explorers and athletes from around the world, we created an entirely new category of Apple Watch designed for new and extreme environments — it’s the most rugged and capable Apple Watch yet,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer.

“Apple Watch Ultra is a versatile tool that empowers users to push their boundaries with adventure, endurance, and exploration.”

When can I get one?

Customers in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Japan, the UAE, the UK, the US, and more than 40 other countries and regions can order Apple Watch Ultra now, with availability in stores beginning Friday, September 23.

Apple Watch Ultra is $799.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolic’s bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.