While we expected an Apple Watch Ultra 3 today, Apple didn’t deliver. Instead, what we got was a refreshed Ultra 2, now available in a sleek Satin Black finish. No new features, just a darker look to go with your all-black-everything vibe. It’s still the rugged, feature-packed beast it always was, but no Ultra 3 in sight – better luck next year.

The new finish of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is made by a custom blasting process and features a diamond-like carbon PBD coating. The case is made from aerospace-grade recycled titanium.

The Satin Black version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 also gets updated bands that, of course, match the color of the watch itself. The company is launching a new "Ultra" band, titanium Milanese Loop that features corrosion-resistant titanium with dual release buttons. The company says the band is "surprisingly light."

In addition to the new band, the company is also releasing new colors for the Trail Loop, Alpine Loop, and Ocean Band. Hermes is also rolling out a new band for the Apple Watch Ultra with the Titanium Buckle as well as an exclusive Watch Face for the Ultra model.

The Satin Black Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still $799 and is available to preorder today. It will be available on September 20th.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

Today's Apple event is just hours away, and a last minute rumor from Mark Gurman says we won't see one big announcement that we previously expected. According to Gurman, there won't be an Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at the "It's Glowtime" event.

Previously, we expected to see an Apple Watch Ultra 3 launched at this September's event. In July, Gurman reported that he expects Ultra 3 to include a new Apple silicon chip, but nothing else regarding major hardware updates this year to the wearable. But apparently, this new device isn't coming today.

Instead, Gurman expects we will see a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It reportedly won't come with any new features, but will finally debut the long awaited black titanium.

It seems unusual Apple won't be bringing out a new Ultra model this year, but perhaps the tech giant doesn't want to pull focus from the much anticipated Apple Watch X. Perhaps, Apple will save the Apple Watch Ultra 3 for a bigger refresh next year.

What to expect for Apple Watch at the iPhone 16 event

The Series 10 is expected to get the most attention, as it marks the 10th anniversary of Apple’s smartwatch line. There's some debate as to whether or not this will be named the Apple Watch Series X. Most rumors seem to suggest so, but Gurman's report calls it the Series 10. Watch this space.

We’re talking a thinner case and bigger screens for the flagship model, though not much else in terms of AI. It's disappointing, as we were hoping for Apple Intelligence features. I'm still holding out hope.

There might also be a new budget Apple Watch model. The new Apple Watch SE would be the first update in two years. Expect slightly improved performance under the hood and the usual focus on fitness tracking and basic health features, but don’t hold your breath for any of the high-end features like blood-oxygen sensing or advanced AI tech.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

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Top iPhone and Apple accessory maker Nomad offers some of the best Apple Watch bands. My favourite band is the brand's titanium offering, but that might be about to change.

Nomad’s latest Apple Watch Ultra band, dubbed the Rocky Point, has just hit the shelves. It’s aiming to be the perfect companion for your rugged outdoor adventures. Crafted from rubber, it's both durable and breathable, so will sit comfortably on your wrist – no matter what adventure you may throw at it. While designed for the Apple Watch Ultra, it also works with all the other best Apple Watch models.

Available in three rather snazzy shades—Storm, Sol, and Atlantic—the Rocky Point Band comes with a price tag of $80. You can snag one directly from Nomad.

Why this Apple Watch band could be my new favorite

Nomad's Rocky Point band is crafted from “ultra-tough, compression-molded FKM” fluoroelastomer rubber. That's a fancy way of saying it’s both durable and flexible. It also comes decked out with grade 2 lightweight titanium hardware, perfectly matching the Apple Watch Ultra’s hardcore vibes.

Nomad’s gone all out with the metal injection molding to ensure the titanium components are as light as they are strong. Breathability is sorted too, thanks to those nifty ventilation grooves, and of course, it’s entirely waterproof. That's great for when you start to get active. In the past, I've noticed that other rubber bands aren't particularly breathable – which leaves you with sweaty wrists (and nobody wants that).

The Rocky Point Band, available in Storm, Sol, and Atlantic, is priced at $80 and is now available. If you’re looking to up your Apple Watch game, especially if you're into the whole outdoorsy scene, this one’s worth a look.

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Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra 3 next month, but despite previous reports that Apple could bring impressive new microLED technology to its high-end smartwatch, those plans have now been canceled. And that move could cost the company compensation.

LG Display is the company responsible for the displays used in a number of Apple products including iPhones and iPads, and it was also the company that was expected to provide the microLED displays for a future Apple Watch. However, with the upgrade having been canceled LG Display has found itself out of pocket to the tune of millions of dollars, and it wants Apple to make things right.

According to a new report, LG Display has spent "tens of billions of won" to get ready for microLED Apple Watch display production, only for Apple's plans to leave it high and dry.

A bright idea

The Elec reports that LG Display was set to provide the LED backplanes required for new microLED displays only for Apple to change course. There is no word on when the project will be rekindled, and LG Display is counting the cost — including missed opportunities to produce displays for other companies.

"LG Display secured space for the micro LED backplane process in Paju, recruited manpower, and formed a task force (TF)," the report explains. "Several of LG Display's equipment partners also prepared to supply equipment around the same time."

LG Display has requested compensation from Apple over the change of plans, but it's unknown whether any kind of contract had been signed and if so, what the break clauses for such a contract might look like.

The move to microLED technology, as and when it happens, could see future Apple Watches enjoy better battery life, improved durability, and a higher peak brightness which would obviously be beneficial in a wearable device.

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If you saw Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra and felt it looked familiar, you're not alone it seems.

The new wearable, which marks the company's debut rugged 'Ultra' smartwatch bears more than a passing resemblance to the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by Samsung's chairman according to a new report.

According to Ajunews (translated), Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong is disappointed at how closely the new watch and the Buds 3 series, which look similar to AirPods, ape Apple's existing design.

Samsung boss less than pleased by company's 'Apple design plagiarism'

The report says:

"This is a strict order that Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who is well-known within Samsung Electronics for his gentle nature and does not usually get angry, recently issued a strict order to employees of the MX division [Samsung's mobile division]."

"According to an insider at Samsung Electronics, personnel actions were also taken against some executives, including the group head of the MX division."

"Chairman Lee himself stepped forward as controversy over Apple design plagiarism and quality arose over the Buds 3 series and Galaxy Watch 7 released last month. The current internal atmosphere is not very good."

It'll be interesting to see how Samsung works to differentiate its devices from their Apple counterparts going forward, but for now, it seems Jae-yong is less than pleased.

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Earlier this month, Samsung announced a slate of new products. The biggest new devices were the latest foldable smartphones, which look quite impressive. But its new Galaxy Watch Ultra has drawn ire for looking suspiciously like an Apple Watch Ultra – complete with its own version of the iconic orange Ocean Band. It reminds me of that meme from The Office where Pam tries to spot the difference between two identical photos.

And the internet seemed to accept that. Until larger tech reviewers, such as MKBHD, shared their thoughts on the clone of the best Apple Watch right now. Now, lots of online chatter wants to defend the Galaxy Watch Ultra from being called a rip-off.

Let's get to this right off the bat. It's time to call a spade a spade. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is a rip-off of the Apple Watch Ultra. No ifs, buts, or coconuts. It's almost impossible to ignore the differences, with both having a similar battery capacity and weight. That's before you get to the orange band that looks just like one of the best Apple Watch bands, the customizable button, squircle design with titanium, and plenty of features on the watch itself.

Of course, that's not good enough for some, who want to defend this shameless copy. One Samsung Watch from 2017 (the Gear Sport) used an almost squircle design, so we can discount that. Samsung's Watch 5 Pro used titanium, so that one model excuses that. And there are other similar excuses to that effect. But what some people fail to realize is that copying all of those features in one product (which Samsung hasn't done before) just because your biggest competitor did so makes this a rip-off. You tell me if the Galaxy Watch Ultra looks more like the Apple Watch Ultra or Gear Sport.

But it's okay to admit that Samsung ripped off the Apple Watch Ultra. They're not the only ones to take a feature from a competitor and use it for themselves. But this device is one of the most shameless copies, which is a problem.

Why the Galaxy Watch Ultra ripping Apple off is such a problem

Broadly speaking, following your competitors is a good move. And we see it all the time in technology. Android had widgets and customization options for years, which the iPhone has. Plenty of other examples come to mind as well. Fingerprint sensors, multiple cameras, and so on. But in these cases, everyone implements things slightly differently.

And that different implementation is what makes inspiration like this so good for the devices you use. Each company is trying to outdo the other – trying to create something better. And then the first company tries to improve. And so on and so on. The end result is better devices in your hands, on your wrist, or anywhere else. Everybody wins. I want Samsung to have an Ultra smartwatch to rival the Apple Watch. They might have a good feature for Apple to draw inspiration from next year.

But when you copy a product almost identically, nobody wins. Nothing is getting better, nobody's learning anything. And then the products become the same, which is problematic. Inspiration is okay. Looking at someone's homework and changing the answers is okay (to me at least, maybe not to teachers). But just copying things word for word isn't.

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I’ve got a confession to make – I may be editor of an Apple-focused website, but I’m still rocking the Apple Watch Series 7 that launched back in 2021. While the world around me has jumped to the luxurious Apple Watch Ultra or Apple Watch Ultra 2, I’ve stood by my stalwart timepiece.

But that might all change today — Amazon’s Prime Day Apple Watch deals have seen a new lowest-ever price reached for the top-tier Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

It’s down to just $699.99 — $100 and 12% off its usual $799 retail price.

Previously I’ve held fire on making the upgrade leap — I’m only a casual sports enthusiast, I’m not a great swimmer, and being city-based the Watch Ultra 2’s hiking features are often lost on me. 

But with Apple Intelligence (the company’s big AI push) on the horizon, I’m ready to make the jump. Though the Apple Watch isn’t set to be the first port of call for Apple’s artificial intelligence features, I think the Ultra 2 might eventually be the perfect home for it. A wrist-based AI assistant sounds like the dream always-ready use-case for AI, and the Ultra’s bigger screen, paired with the potential for an AI-conjuring Action button loaded up with Apple Intelligence shortcuts, might make for the smartest wearable there’s ever been. At this price, it might be time to lay down the cash.

Time for an all-time low

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple’s most-premium smartwatch. Ruggedized for outdoor activity, it was introduced in September 2023, meaning it’s still among Apple’s newest wearables — even if an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to arrive before the end of the year. The early rumors point to a minor upgrade for the timepiece, so bagging a big saving now won’t necessarily leave you with buyer’s remorse come September.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 has solid specs regardless. As standard, it offers 36 hours of battery life, but you can squeeze out 72 hours in Low Power Mode. That’s why it’s become the go-to for outdoor pursuits where a power supply might not be readily available — and helps it perform in life-or-death scenarios. With a faster S9 chip and brighter screen, it was a worthy upgrade over its first-gen predecessor.

As a relatively recent release, it’ll be all set to receive the watchOS 11 update when it launches (usually in the fall), so you’ll get new features for some time to come. 

Just be aware that not every combination of size and watch band gets discounted during Amazon’s sales, so make sure to carefully check if the discount is applicable to the Ultra 2 set you’re after. 

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is Apple's formidable outdoor, all-conquering wearable for swimming, diving, kayaking, hiking, trail running, construction, exploration, navigation, and any other adventure you can think of. 

Packed full of safety features and sporting a massive display, it's also Apple's most expensive Apple Watch by some distance, making any saving on it worth taking notice of. 

With Amazon Prime Day just 24 hours away, you can now save $70 (nearly 10%) on the original price of the Apple Watch Ultra 2, reduced from $799 to $729 on Amazon right now. 

$70 off Apple Watch Ultra 2

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals: Amazon | Best Buy | Walmart

Unveiled in September last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is about to be supplanted by the Apple Watch Ultra 3. However, rumored upgrades are scant, and it sounds right now like you'd be better off making a saving on the existing model. 

This one comes with up to 36 hours of normal battery life, or 72 hours in its Low Power Mode, perfect for even the longest training session or weekend expedition. Apple Watch Ultra 2 includes an even brighter display compared to the first model, and also the new S9 chip which powers much snappier on-device Siri. 

What's more, it'll also bring support for watchOS 11 when that rolls out in the fall, and you can guarantee some good software support for a few years to come. Just make sure you dig around the Amazon listing, as not all the band and size combinations have the full discount right now. 

There's no denying how popular the Apple Watch is. It's the best-selling watch around the world, never mind the best-selling smartwatch. And the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is arguably the best Apple Watch. Over the regular Apple Watch Series releases, it offers a more rugged design, larger display, bigger battery, and extra feature for adventurers. And it's not just fans that have noticed. Samsung's obviously been paying close attention, as it's next smartwatch looks like an Apple Watch Ultra rip-off.

Samsung is planning to release a new Galaxy Watch Ultra as part of a new line-up of products later this year. Twitter tipster Evan Blass (better known as Evleaks) shared some leaked images of the new smartwatch.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra appears to flaunt a squarish design with orange accents on a dark gray body, including the power button. And let's not forget the glaringly similar vibrant orange band that screams Apple Watch Ultra rip-off.

But there's more. The band connector system on the Galaxy Watch Ultra appears to have borrowed a few too many pages from Apple’s playbook. Gone is the traditional spring pin connector, replaced by a new system that looks eerily familiar. Even the button on the underbody suggests that Samsung might have been taking some inspiration from Cupertino.

What else is coming from Samsung?

As for the rest of Samsung’s upcoming line-up, we’ve got the Galaxy Watch 7 and the Galaxy Buds 3 series. The Watch 7 sticks closely to its predecessor’s design, with a new olive green option and the good old spring pin band connector. This is more of a rival to the Apple Watch Series 9. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Buds 3 and Buds 3 Pro are making their entrance with stemmed designs – the Buds 3 mimicking Apple’s AirPods and the Buds 3 Pro retaining those trusty silicone eartips. Samsung is also embracing colourful accents with blue and orange touches across these accessories, including the budget-friendly Galaxy Watch FE.

Samsung fans can mark their calendars for the big reveal on July 10, and if you’re feeling particularly eager, you can reserve a device directly from Samsung for a chance at some sweet deals and a $5,000 credit sweepstake.

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Buying an Apple Watch Ultra 2 in China just got a little cheaper so long as buyers don't mind choosing a refurbished model rather than a brand-new one. Apple regularly offers refurbished products as a way for people to pick up a device or product without paying full price and this is the first time its best Apple Watch has been offered refurbished in China.

Apple had previously started to offer the refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States but this is the first time that the same option has been afforded to those who live outside Apple's home country. And while the savings aren't huge, they are still worth taking advantage of.

Buying a refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 will save Chinese Apple fans around 15% when compared to buying a new model and availability was first spotted by MacRumors.

Cheaper Apple Watches

Buying a refurbished Apple Watch from Apple is as close to buying a new one as you're likely to get, making the savings worthwhile. Apple's Certified Refurbished products all undergo full functionality testing and any defective parts are replaced. Apple Watches that require replacement parts however are simply not included in the Apple Certified Refurbished Program, meaning the watch you're buying is exactly as it was the day that it was new.

Apple says that each Apple Watch is put through a cleaning and inspection process before being repackaged with appropriate manuals and cables.

Notably, all refurbished Apple Watches are covered by the usual Apple warranty including the 14-day return window, while AppleCare Plus can also be bought on refurbished items.

On the downside, engraving isn't an option on refurbished devices nor is the gift wrap service. Stocks are also extremely limited at times, so there is no guarantee that you'll be able to get the watch that you want at the moment you want to buy it. 

As for the Apple Atch Ultra 2, it was released in September 2023 alongside the Apple Watch Series 9. It's powered by the fastest chip that has ever been used in an Apple Watch in the form of the S9 SiP while this model has a brighter display than any previous Apple Watch.

Other notable specs include a 49mm size, an Action button, and a depth gauge and water temperature sensor. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 also has the usual features we've become accustomed to including a heart rate sensor, ECG capabilities, and a blood oxygen sensor.

We haven't heard much about Apple's plans for its wearables in 2024 but the Apple Watch X has been tipped. With the Apple Watch celebrating its tenth birthday this year it's thought it could get its iPhone X moment, receiving a redesign to mark the occasion. There has been very little talk of an Apple Watch Ultra 3 however, but it seems likely we should expect Apple to refresh its most rugged and biggest watch this year also.

As for whether or not anyone should buy a new Apple Watch right now, that very much depends on how soon you need it. With rumors so hard to come by and the current Apple Watches being so good, there is little reason to wait. But if you absolutely must have the latest model, we expect the new 2024 Apple Watches to be announced in September.

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As the rest of the tech world began to find its own ways to leverage AI over the last couple of years, it has remained pretty quiet on the Apple AI front. The company kept up with Machine Learning advancements in its homegrown silicon, but it appears 2024 will be the year it wholeheartedly embraces AI from a software standpoint too, potentially even in partnership with Google.

That’s an exciting prospect given how far Siri remains behind its rivals in the personal assistant space. With Apple being so set on privacy, there's the hope it’ll be more secure than many of its rivals when it comes to how Apple's take on artificial intelligence leverages your personal data, too.

Aside from a smarter Siri, though, I’m most excited for AI to come to the Apple Watch and watchOS 11. Though the Apple Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 2 have added exciting hardware advancements for fitness fanatics, the lower-end of the Apple Watch line-up has felt a bit stagnant. All but the most hardcore Apple Watch fans would be hard-pressed to note substantial differences between the Series 8 and Series 9, for instance. The form factor makes radical hardware changes difficult to achieve, so advancement must come primarily from a software perspective. And artificial intelligence is brimming with possibilities in a wrist-worn device. 

Here’s what AI could bring to my favorite smartwatch — and the fitness potential that has me most excited.

Brains on my wrist

I love the Apple Watch and have spent the last few years covering it from both a productivity and fitness perspective. Sadly, though, Siri really does have rocks for brains, and it means that the idea of having Apple’s assistant on my wrist just isn’t an appealing one.

Whether it’s completely misunderstanding my requests, or failing to do anything at all, Siri drives me to the brink of despair on any device I attempt to use it on. It's got to the point where I just use a much more reliable Action Button Shortcut on my Watch instead, bypassing Siri wherever possible.

A lot of the difficulty of using Siri right now comes from the assistant guessing what you're going to say before you've said it. Having a more ChatGPT-style 'chatbot' interface, where my commands are transcribed back to me more accurately, giving me the opportunity to adjust mis-recognised phrases would be great. Even better, if AI was better able to infer my intent by pooling from the millions of daily requests it would get across the world would be even better, filling in the gaps of its understanding based on common requests from other users. 

In terms of accuracy, Alexa remains streets ahead of Apple, and Amazon's devices cost a whole lot less. Alexa is also faster, and while I acknowledge I’d probably need to upgrade to an Apple Watch Ultra 2 for the faster chipset for the privilege, I would love to have Siri, with expanded functionality and faster responses, on my wrist. Considering Apple Watch is most commonly used in strenuous fitness environments, accurate voice commands are a must — you don't want to be reaching from the tread climber to tap that screen into obedience.

Still, there is the question of privacy, and my dreams may be dashed depending on Google and Apple potentially hashing an agreement out in that regard. It seems unlikely Apple would throw years of privacy-minded focus to the wind for the sake of leveraging Google's Gemini, but how much data would be stored, and where? I certainly feel safer with Apple than I do with Google and Alexa.

A smarter workout

More than any other area though, the fitness-tracking potential of AI in an Apple Watch has me the most excited.

I like to lift weights. In fact, I’d say it’s a “love” these days, and that makes my Apple Watch a dream gym companion.

I track my workouts with Fitbod, which generates its own workouts using, you guessed it, an AI algorithm that takes user data into account. That means it’s always recommending exercises where I have relatively fresh muscle groups, but I can switch them out depending on my needs. As an example, there are certain exercises I can’t do due to a lack of equipment at my gym, so I can opt out of those.

And, while I’ve written at length before about Apple needing to adjust its Activity Rings to allow for rest days, having smarter AI to log workouts, plot muscle wear and tear, and suggest when to take a proper recovery day could be a huge step for regular gym-goers like myself. The prospect of Apple’s Fitness app taking inspiration from an AI-fuelled third-party option like Fitbod is just so exciting.

Imagine Apple’s Fitness app taking into account the muscle groups you’ve worked on, while also factoring in sleep, general fitness, and any other data it collects during  day-to-day wear. It could work with Fitbod to build a fitness plan (not just a single workout) that would run from week to week, taking into account the equipment I have available at the gym and maybe even the time I have to work out between work and parenting. Am I asking for the Earth? It’s probably not that simple, but I’ll keep dreaming.

Still, we don’t have too much longer to find out about what watchOS 11 will offer on the AI front, so we’ll see if Apple dashes my hopes come June 10 at WWDC 2024, or if my workout is about to get a whole lot smarter.

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Last year's Apple Watch Ultra 2 wasn't a particularly big upgrade. In fact, hardly anything changed on the best Apple Watch. This was expected, with the first-gen device only a year old, but it left Apple Watch us all wanting more. Rumors about a Gen 3 Apple Watch Ultra suggest the smartwatch will come with a MicroLED display, which would mark a huge evolution for the product. But it seems the much-anticipated device is teetering on the edge of the abyss.

According to display analyst Ross Young, Apple's quest for a brighter, more vibrant Apple Watch with MicroLED technology has hit a significant snag. This comes after a recent SEC filing by Kulicke & Soffa, a manufacturing equipment company, which revealed the cancellation of a mysterious "Project W" by one of its "strategic customers."

While unconfirmed, this "Project W" is believed to be the codename for the MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra. Kulicke & Soffa had been gearing up to assist in the development and future mass production of advanced display technologies. But with this unnamed strategic customer pulling the plug, Kulicke & Soffa -- and its "LED die transfer" system -- is potentially incurring up to $130 million in charges as they cease operations related to the project.

This isn't an isolated incident, either. Earlier this year, AMS-Osram, another Apple supplier, announced a reevaluation of its MicroLED strategy following the cancellation of a "cornerstone project," also believed to be tied to the microLED Apple Watch initiative.

Is this goodbye to the MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra?

With two major suppliers out of the picture, the project faces an unlikely future. Industry insiders and analysts, including the aforementioned Ross Young and the prolific Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, seem to agree that Apple may have put the MicroLED Apple Watch project on ice. But there's a plot twist: Sources like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and DigiTimes suggest Apple might be on the hunt for alternative suppliers, refusing to let the dream die just yet.

What does this mean for the future of the Apple Watch Ultra and its fancy MicroLED display? Well, if you were holding your breath for the upgraded device on your wrist, you might want to exhale. The MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra, with its promises of dazzling displays, seems to be several years away from becoming a reality. If it ever does.

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The next Apple Watch Ultra might not get a microLED display after all, as it is thought that Apple has just pulled out of a massive deal with display maker ams Osram.

In an announcement from the display maker, it is said that “a cornerstone project underpinning its microLED strategy got unexpectedly canceled.” The collaborator in this project has never been named — but it’s considered to be Apple.

The collapse of the deal has made ams Osram’s stock tank by 40% — and it's now looking to sell the brand new $1.41 billion factory it was building to produce microLED displays.

What next?

For ams Osram, the main target for the next few months is going to be damage control. The aforementioned selling of the new Malaysia factory to “improve cash flow profile” and “adjust its mid-term structural revenue growth target to 6% to 8%.”

While it’s not known for sure that it’s Apple that’s canceled its displays for Apple Watch Ultra — AppleInsider points out that it’s never been confirmed that the two were working together — it’s a massive blow to the company that’s made it reconsider its entire approach regarding the microLED display tech.

As for Apple Watch Ultra 3, the potential microLED display was going to be one of the most exciting parts. One of the biggest bonuses for most users looking forward to the upgrade would be energy efficiency, which would potentially improve battery life — better than the already solid Apple Watch Ultra 2.

The cancelation of microLED display productions has left a company with a massive drop in stock price and the price of a brand new factory that will no longer be used, that much is certain. While unconfirmed, however, it’s also left some Apple fans eager for a massive Apple Ultra 3 upgrade, wondering if the next version of the wearable will have anything that might persuade them to upgrade. 

Given that this deal between ams Osram and ‘unknown party’ was the best idea of where Apple was going for its microLED displays for Apple Watch, it is unlikely that there’s going to be a sudden shift to another manufacturer only half a year before the next Apple Watches are announced.

For this year, Apple's best Apple Watches could go microLED-less. We can only hope that there’s new display tech in the more distant future.

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When you're choosing the best Apple Watch in terms of battery life, there's only one place to look. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 can run for longer than any other Apple wearable between visits to the charger and it's the model to go for if battery life is a key feature for you. But as strong as the Apple Watch Ultra 2's 36-hour battery life (or 72 hours in Low Power Mode) might be, it still isn't the best you can find in a smartwatch. Not by a long shot.

That's something that has been very much proven following the unveiling of the new OnePlus Watch 2, a product that was shown off for the first time at the ongoing Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in Barcelona, Spain. The wearable, which is obviously aimed more at Android phone owners than those carrying an iPhone 15, has battery life for literal days. Days upon days, in fact.

OnePlus says that its new smartwatch can run for 100 hours on a single charge, and that's without turning off all of the best features as well. The way it does it is pretty incredible, packing two different chips and effectively running two different operating systems, the OnePlus Watch 2 can switch between them depending on what is needed at the time. Magic? Perhaps not, but it isn't all that far off.

A smarter smartwatch

OnePlus announced its latest wearable in a press release that detailed exactly what buyers of this little marvel can expect. The watch features what OnePlus calls Dual-Engine Architecture which means it uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 performance chip when it needs to run apps and other smart features. But when it's just telling you the time it switches to a BES 2700 MCU chipset that's designed with efficiency and battery life in mind.

"The BES2700 Efficiency Chipset runs RTOS and handles background activity and simple tasks, while the Snapdragon W5 handles more demanding tasks, like running your favorite Google apps," OnePlus explains. "This optimized approach, enabled by the Wear OS hybrid interface seamlessly managing the transition between chips, means users will experience a smartwatch that effortlessly does it all while extending the time between charges."

And by all accounts, it works. 100 hours between charges is impressive and even during heavy use wearers can expect 48 hours before the OnePlus Watch 2 is screaming for power. Charging is nice and quick as well with a 7.5W VOOC charger fully charging the 500mAh battery in just an hour.

While the Apple Watch Ultra models use titanium and go for the rugged look, that definitely isn't the case here. The OnePlus watch 2 is made out of stainless steel and is raised for IP68 water resistance. It's even certified to the latest MIL-STD-810H US military standard, should that thing be of interest to you. All the usual features are also present including sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more.

The OnePlus Watch 2 will be available in Radiant Steel and Black Steel with a price of $299.99 when the watch goes on sale this March 4th. And while it's unlikely many iPhone owners will rush out to pick one up, products like this are a good thing for Apple Watch owners as well. As is so often the case, competition is good for everyone and the more other smartwatch makers step up to the plate the more impetus Apple has to improve the Apple Watch lineup, too.

More from iMore

• I never loved my Apple Watch until I used it at the beach
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: The adventure continues
• How to train for a marathon with the Apple Watch Ultra 2

A new supply chain report indicates that the MicroLED display technology we once thought might debut in the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as early as this year has been delayed beyond 2026. 

For several months it has been reported that Apple is working on a significant Apple Watch display upgrade in the form of MicroLED. As recently as last year it was reported that this could come as soon as the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but that a 2024 release in line with the Ultra’s current annual release cycle was not on the cards. In October, top insider Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple had not yet kicked off Apple Watch Ultra 3 development, citing delays to “innovative health management features” and “issues related to Micro LED production.”

At the time, the revised prediction brought his musings into line with those of DSCC’s Ross Young, who has previously stated 2025 could be the year of MicroLED on the Apple Watch. Sadly, however, the latest reports indicate that even this time frame might be out of the question and that we could be waiting years for a potential MicroLED Apple Watch of the future. 

Apple Watch MicroLED — Likely years away 

Korean outlet TheElec reported on Tuesday that “It is expected that Apple Watch with micro LED will not be seen until 2026,” or perhaps even 2027. The report cites “multiple industry officials” who claim that Apple hasn’t completed the component supply chain it needs. To that end, Apple “is expected to have difficulty releasing an Apple Watch with micro light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 2026.” 

As you might expect, Apple is planning to bring its premium display upgrade to its best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra, ahead of the standard Series and SE line. However, according to the report Apple faces significant obstacles in the form of manufacturing costs and production yields. TheElec says a MicroLED for the Apple Watch Ultra costs nearly four times as much to produce as the current OLED display. The cost is so high that, as it stands, Apple’s current pricing policy could see a MicroLED Apple Watch priced higher than Apple’s best iPhone, the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Given that’s clearly unfeasible for consumers, it seems Apple is in part biding its time in order to bring down manufacturing costs. 

MicroLED Apple Watch displays would offer significant gains in product lifespan, making the Apple Watch UItra more durable and futureproof compared to the current OLED display used in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. MicroLED is also “superior in luminance and power consumption,” which would make the Apple Watch Ultra’s MicroLED display much brighter and more vibrant, all while consuming less power, extending the battery life. 

As noted, Ming-Chi Kuo had previously tipped the Apple Watch Ultra 3 as the first MicroLED Apple Watch. However, given reports of this significant setback, it seems safe to assume Apple might release at least one, if not two fresh Apple Watch Ultra models in the interim with the current OLED panel. 

More from iMore

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: The adventure continues
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Worth an upgrade?
• Apple to suspend Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2 sales in the US

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the best Apple Watch you can buy right now, as was the Apple Watch Ultra that came before it. They both have an iconic look so it was always going to be used as the inspiration for models sold by other companies. But one knock-off wearable has gone a bit too far.

The wearable in question is the Go-tcha Stealth from a company called The Trainer Club, and there's no denying that it's designed to look like an Apple Watch Ultra. In a promotional video for the Go-tcha Stealth, it's made clear that the wearable is designed to look like anything other than what it is — a device designed to help people collect Pokémon in the Pokémon GO game without having to have their iPhone out all the time.

This thing might look like an Apple Watch Ultra, but it definitely doesn't have an Apple Watch Ultra price. The Go-tcha Stealth can be yours for $80.

Limited Edition

The Go-tcha Stealth's website details what the wearable has to offer including the fact that it's a "Limited Edition" model with "only 50,000 units available."

Features include wireless fast charging, and a ton of Pokémon GO features that will no doubt mean a lot to fans of the game. But the biggest thing anyone will surely notice is the incredible resemblance to Apple's top watch — right down to the bands that are, as you'd expect, identical to the bands Apple sells.

Understandably, respondents to the X announcement of this knock-off Apple Watch, are quick to point out that it looks familiar with some suggesting that it doesn't even have the features that Pokémon GO fans want anyway. Regardless, it might not matter for too long.

The video above notes that these wearables will ship from the United States which means it's probably only a matter of time until Apple — or its lawyers — come calling.

More from iMore

• Apple Watch Ultra review: The best watch Apple has ever created
• I never loved my Apple Watch until I used it at the beach
• One month later, here's why I won't upgrade to Apple Watch Ultra 2

Before Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 back in September, there were repeated rumors that there would be a new black titanium color to go with the one that we're all familiar with. The Apple Watch Ultra came in a titanium finish that looks similar to the Natural Titanium of the iPhone 15 Pro — the best iPhone color, by the way — but the thought of a black one had many of us excited for what was to come.

Unfortunately, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 unveiling came and went with no new color to be found. And while the standard titanium finish looks as good today as it did in September 2022, that sucked. And it sucks even more now that we can see what a black Apple Watch Ultra looks like.

We can see that thanks to the unveiling of new images that appear to show an Apple Watch Ultra prototype with a black finish, although this isn't quite the same as the rumored black titanium model. In this case, the images show an Apple Watch Ultra with a black ceramic back whereas the model sold has a gray one. The images come courtesy of the FCC, which means that Apple was seemingly close to offering this model at some point, and the black back isn't the only difference.

Changes everywhere

While other Apple Watches in Apple's wearable lineup use a black back, it's notable that Apple chose to go with a gray one that more closely resembles the color of the watch's titanium body. However, the titanium used in this prototype does appear to be slightly darker than the one the Apple Watch Ultra ultimately shipped with — is it possible this is the black model we'd heard about? Maybe, although the photos could just be particularly dark.

However, the change in back ceramic isn't the only difference here. Those paying close attention will also see that the Action button isn't the same as the Apple Watch Ultra that ultimately shipped — it looks like it's plastic, for starters, whereas the one that shipped is metal. The design of the button itself appears to be different as well, with no indentation for your meaty finger or thumb to rest in.

So, what happened?

So why did the Apple Watch Ultra given to the FCC differ from the one that went on sale? That's a difficult question to answer, but we do know that Apple and indeed other companies sometimes send prototype versions of their products off for FCC approval while final design tweaks are made. It's likely that was the case here, and that Apple made changes to the way the Apple Watch Ultra looks afterwards. Remember that the FCC doesn't necessarily need to see the final form in order to certify a product — it just needs to know what radios they use and how much radiation they might emit. A change to the color of a ceramic panel or the shape of a button is of no consequence, at least to the FCC.

All of that being said, there's one thing that these FCC images do confirm — I really, really want a black titanium Apple Watch Ultra. Sure, the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 look great, but almost everything looks better when finished in matte black and this wearable is no different. Just take a look at the Space Black MacBook Pro to see how right I am.

Just don't try and strap one of those to your wrist to test it out, OK? People turning iPod nano into watches was bad enough.

More from iMore

• Apple Watch Ultra 2: Upgrades, release date, and more
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: The adventure continues
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Worth an upgrade?

A new report from Apple insider and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the likelihood of an Apple Watch Ultra 3 coming next year is decreasing, citing reports that Apple has yet to start developing the third iteration of its rugged wearable. 

Apple first unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra last year to much fanfare and updated this year with a very capable second generation. Apple Watch Ultra 2 delivers all the same potency of Apple’s regular watch lineup in a rugged exterior shell designed to survive the harshest of environments, whether that’s running on the trail, climbing, diving, or anything in between. 

This year’s release seemed to confirm that Apple was embarking on a yearly upgrade cycle for the foreseeable future, but Kuo’s comments have poured some water on that prospect.

Don’t give up hope on Apple Watch 3 just yet -  iMore’s take

“As of now, Apple has yet to kick off the Apple Watch Ultra 3 development officially. It is unusual given the product development schedule,” Kuo wrote in a blog post on Medium Thursday. 

Kuo warns that if Apple doesn’t start the process by December, we might not see a new Apple Watch Ultra in time for 2024. Kuo states that he believes Apple needs more time to “develop innovative health management features” and “address issues related to Micro LED production.”

Apple is expected to debut Micro LED technology in Apple Watch sometime in the near future. DSCC’s Ross Young stated that this would be in 2025, so that could line up with what Kuo is predicting here. A MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra could sport an even larger and brighter display than its predecessors, with a 2.1-inch screen size touted as the possible dimensions. Yet the Ultra’s display is already massive and the OLED Ultra 2 puts out 3,000 nits of brightness at its peak, which begs the question of why Apple would need to upgrade either.

Kuo warns that if Apple misses the 2024 boat with Ultra 3, “the shipments of the Apple Watch Ultra are expected to decline by 20–30% YoY in 2024, and the total Apple Watch shipments will decline by 10% YoY in 2024 to about 35 million units.”

While historically, Kuo has offered stellar insight into Apple’s future plans and products, his track record of late has been chequered, to say the least. Most recently he stated there were no MacBook or iPad launches on the cards for 2023, days before Apple announced its October 30 event. The company is expected to unveil new M3 Apple silicon chips and new Mac models. 

What's more, December is still weeks away, and plenty of time for Apple to get its act together and start developing the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which would definitely be the best Apple Watch to date. 

More from iMore

• Apple Watch Ultra 2: Upgrades, release date, and more
• One month later, here's why I won't upgrade to Apple Watch Ultra 2 ...
• Apple Watch Ultra 2 review: The adventure continues

The Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 have a unique feature that no other Apple Watch has: the Action Button. It’s been implemented to make the watch easier to control when the touch screen isn’t easily accessible. For example, if your hands are sweaty after a tough workout, if you’re wearing gloves at the top of a mountain, or if you’re about to go for a dive. 

There are many ways to use the button, and it’s easy to customize based on the apps you use most often. Below, we’ll show you how to program the button on your Apple Watch Ultra to instantly call up your favorite workouts, navigate through trails and hikes safely, and much more. 

How to access the Action button menu on your Apple Watch 

1. From the main menu, tap the Settings icon on your Apple Watch
2. Scroll down and tap to select the orange Action button option
3. Tap Action. Here, you’ll be presented with a list of options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Torch, and None. These are the apps that can be mapped to your Action button.
4. Once selected, pressing the Action button will automatically open your app of choice without moving through the menus
5. Tap the app you want to map to the Action button. A green tick will appear when the app is selected
6. Tap the blue back arrow (top left) to return to the main Action button option in Settings

Under the Action header, you’ll now see your selected app, which means the operation has been successful. Scrolling down under Gestures, you’ll see a series of instructions, highlighted in orange, of how to operate the Action button for that particular app. 

For example, the Stopwatch app will show you how to mark a lap and how to pause the Stopwatch using the Action button. 

This sounds very simple (and it is), but there are a few additional steps to effectively use the Workout and Dive functions with the Action button. We’ll break this down in the following two sections. 

How to use the Action button to record your workouts 

1. In Settings > Action button, tap Action as before and select the Workout option
2. Tap the blue back arrow (top left) to return to the main Action button option in Settings
3. You’ll see a new menu. Tap App and select your workout app of choice. This will probably be Apple’s own Workout app, but you might choose to record your workout using a third-party app such as Strava or Footpath
4. Tap First Press and select which workout profile you want to open

I usually have the Outdoor Run - Open workout profile from Apple’s Workout app selected, as it’s the one I use the most. However, if you know you’ll be doing an activity ahead of time, such as skiing or cycling, you can select a workout from one of these profiles instead.

If you’ve created a custom workout, as I have under the Traditional Strength Training workout profile, you’ll be able to select your custom workout as your First Press. 

If you use third-party workout apps such as Footpath, you have the option of selecting workout profiles from those apps instead of Apple’s own. Whichever app you select, continue scrolling down to see another series of instructions, highlighted in orange, of how to operate the Action button during a workout. 

Generally, all these workouts tend to operate in the same way: you press the Action button once to open the app and begin recording automatically, press it again to mark or change to the next segment, and tap both the Action button and the side button to pause the workout. However, it’s worth checking when you switch workout profiles to see if there are any changes.

How to use the Action button to record your dives

1. In Settings > Action button, tap Action as before and select the Dive option
2. As before, tap the blue back arrow (top left) to return to the main Action button option in Settings
3. You’ll see an option called App. Tap it to choose which app you’d like to record your dives
4. This could be Apple’s own Depth app, Oceanic+, which was developed in partnership with Apple, or a third-party option. Once selected, pressing the Action button will automatically open your app of choice
5. Scrolling down under Gestures, you’ll see a series of instructions, highlighted in orange, of how to operate the Action button for that particular app

How to create a Shortcut for the Action button

Sometimes, you might want to program the Action button to perform a different function than the ones listed above, such as playing music. To do this, you’ll need to select the Shortcut option, which won’t be available unless you’ve already created Shortcuts on your iPhone.  

1. On your iPhone, open the Shortcuts app
2. In the top menu, select Apple Watch
3. Tap the + icon at the top right of the screen
4. Either select a shortcut from the Next Action Suggestions menu or tap + Add Action to create a shortcut
5. On your Apple Watch, return to the Settings > Action button > Action menu. The Shortcut option should be added to the list of Actions, which you can select just like Workout or Stopwatch

One more thing... Endless possibilities

There are endless possibilities with the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2, so think of the actions you perform regularly and try out some Workouts or Shortcuts.

Now, the Action Button is on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and there are ways to get quick access to your favorite workflows on your Watch and your iPhone. That said, the best use case for the Action Button is to change the action regularly depending on the circumstance.

If you're looking for new ways to use the Action Button on your new iPhone, check out, in our opinion, the ultimate way to do so.

Readers, I have a problem - I just love buying new Apple tech. That feeling of peeling off the label, opening it up, even the smell - there’s nothing quite like it.

Thankfully, I know I’m not alone - the Apple subreddit over on Reddit is full of folks like me. I also listen to podcasts where other ne’erdowells upgrade their tablet without needing to, or swap out their phone annually (the troublemakers!).

And yet, despite all of this, I just cannot find it in me to get excited about the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Ultra Nonplussed

It’s not that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a bad device, far from it. The double-touch gesture (when it arrives in watchOS 10.1) sounds like the closest I’ll get to Vision Pro functionality without selling my house, and I’m sure it’d be nice to hand off podcasts to a HomePod if I had one.

I’m also pretty excited about the new S9 chip, which allows for smoother animations and better performance, according to our hands-on with the device. I even suggested the Ultra 2 is likely to be a far better, longer-lasting investment than the Series 9, despite the price difference.

And yet, despite being quite likely to get a significant amount of the value back from my Apple Watch Ultra 1, I can’t find the enthusiasm to get excited for another new wearable.

Can a sequel be better than the original?

Part of that could be due to me only buying the Ultra this year, a combination of it being a gift to myself for starting a new job, and a promise to take heart tracking more seriously than perhaps I have done in the past.

But even with the fresh performance and brighter screen, I find myself struggling to get excited - and this is coming from someone who prides himself on fashion to the point where I would’ve happily traded up for an Apple Watch Ultra in titanium black. 

Comparing the two side-by-side, you’ll find no design changes that catch the eye, with even the ‘Apple Watch Ultra’ underneath matching on both - there’s no denoting that the Ultra 2 is the latest model at all (at least Apple Watch models used to do things with red dots on the Digital Crown).

There are subtle updates, of course. The Ultra 2 offers Precision Finding for my iPhone 15 Pro, improved dictation, and double the internal storage - something I appreciate as someone who likes to keep a few albums and playlists downloaded on my watch. But more than anything, I’m struggling to work out who the Ultra 2 is for - and whether Apple may have actually been better off not launching it at all.

Not so Ultra

You could argue that this is more like an Ultra 1.5 rather than a next-generation model, and I'd agree.

But, this isn’t something that’ll affect most people. The Ultra, regardless of whether it’s a first or second-generation model, is targeting a subset of users who are really into fitness, exploration, or both.

And yet, the differences are so minuscule that I feel a lot of people are likely to flock to buy a secondhand first-generation Ultra rather than stump up $800 for the second version. 

It’s perhaps emblematic of the Apple Watch lineup as a whole (the Series 9 is also a very, very slim update), and makes me wonder if it’s time for a year off. Still, with rumors that 2024 will bring a Series 10/Apple Watch X model with a drastic redesign, maybe this is an instance of Apple needing to clear its processing plants of chassis and components ahead of a big update.

Whatever happens, it feels like a particularly slow year for Apple Watch - and one that has me scratching my head about why it was necessary at all.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is arguably the best smartwatch out there, but it isn't for everyone. If you fall into that category you should definitely check out the Gramin Epix Gen 2, a wearable that is now yours for just $649.99.

That price makes this cheaper than the Apple Watch thanks to a massive 28% discount that is worth $250. It's all thanks to the current Amazon Prime Day deals that are running, but act fast — they won't hang around for long.

Garmin Epix Gen 2 — a discounted Apple Watch Ultra alternative

This Apple Watch Ultra 2 alternative comes with a 1.3-inch always-on AMOLED display and a ton of sensors. It can monitor your elevation and distance while GPS and Bluetooth are also included. There's also a massive 16 days of battery life on offer when it's needed, too.

The usual array of fitness tracking and health monitoring features are present as well, including a sleep monitor and a whole lot more.

Heading out into the wilderness? The multi-band GNSS technology ensures you'll get pinpoint location data even in the most challenging of environments.

This model also supports CourseView maps for advanced golfing features for more than 42,000 courses while SkiView maps include coverage of around 2,000 worldwide resorts.

Still not convinced? Garmin's smartwatch includes 24/7 health and wellness monitoring including heart rate, Pulse Ox, and respiration checks while stress monitoring is also an option for those who want to know everything about their bodies.

This deal is only available to Amazon Prime members of course, and we'd suggest ordering your new watch soon to make sure you don't miss out. We don't know when Amazon will call time on this particular deal.

You've got barely 12 hours left to take advantage of the best Apple deal available in the Prime Big Deal Days event, a $50 discount on the brand new Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

The Ultra 2 is the second iteration of Apple's rugged, outdoor smartwatch that brings with it a new chip, double tap technology, and an even brighter display. But what makes this the best deal of the event? In a year of its lifecycle, the original Apple Watch Ultra didn't see a discount of more than $20, yet the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is $50 off despite being less than a month old. When the event ends, so will this deal. It's not going to get any cheaper, and there's no guarantee it will resurface on Black Friday, so move fast. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 $50 off

I've been using an Apple Watch Series 7 for a while now, and this deal has made me very tempted to go for an upgrade. As we said in our Watch Ultra vs Watch Ultra 2 piece, it may not be worth paying full price for the upgrade from an Apple Watch Ultra, but with an improved neural engine, a powerful S9 SiP chip, and 64 GB of storage, it's worth picking up in a sale. 

Designed with divers and hikers in mind, it is swim-proof up to 100 meters, has precisions dual-frequency GPS, and the always-on retina display can shine up to 3,000 nits on bright days. This makes it fantastic for any would-be adventurers. 

The Action button, now a main function in the iPhone 15 Pro, gives users more customizability in their watch, and blood oxygen, ECG, heart rate, and crash detection sensors give you a much better way to monitor all those important signs throughout the day.

Though it is a bit of an investment, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is an excellent device, and this discount makes it even better. 

If the Apple Watch Ultra 2 just wasn't enough of an upgrade for you to jump from your existing Apple Watch Ultra, take note — a bigger upgrade is on the way.

That's according to a new rumor that claims the next big upgrade to the Apple Watch will bring with it a display boost in the form of new microLED technology. It may have other improvements to go with it, but it's the display that's getting all of the attention right now.

That new display would be a notable upgrade over the current model, even though the Apple Watch Ultra 2 already has the best display ever used in an Apple Watch.

Apple's putting on a display

The latest microLED rumor comes courtesy of a Weibo account by the name of Instant Digital with the post in question spotted by MacRumors. According to the post, the next big Apple Watch Ultra upgrade will include that microLED display. If true, we can expect improved colors, better brightness, and even wider viewing angles. A wearable would benefit from all of those things for obvious reasons.

This is far from the first time that we have heard about the Apple Watch Ultra getting a microLED display, however. Display analyst Ross Young said that the 2025 model will get the same technology earlier this year, while analyst Jeff Pu said something similar not long before that. There have also been claims that the microLED display will be slightly larger than the one currently in use, too.

If the microLED display is coming to a future Apple Watch everyone seems to agree that it won't happen next year. That means that the 2025 Apple Watch Ultra might be the one to look out for unless next year's model brings with it a new design or a fancy new feature that makes it impossible to ignore.

Own an Apple Watch Ultra and noticed that you can't see its display as easily as you once could, especially in the dark? You aren't alone, and it seems that watchOS could be to blame.

That's according to a number of reports which say that the best Apple Watch money can buy might not be all that great in low-light conditions thanks to the latest watchOS 10 update.

Some report that their Apple Watch Ultra is now difficult to read when in darker conditions, especially when they quickly move from a lighter area to a dark one with their Apple Watch seemingly getting confused in the process.

Not so bright, Apple

While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a new display that can go down to just 1 nit brightness, reports suggest that this isn't a problem that only affects the latest model — people with older Apple Watch Ultra hardware have also been affected.

MacRumors was the first to spy the pattern with some reporting that the Apple Watch's ambient light sensor simply can't quite come to terms with its environment. It appears the watch thinks it's in a darker room than it really is, causing it to make the display darker as a result. That, in turn, makes the display difficult to see.

Thankfully, there might be some light at the end of this particularly dark and hard-to-see tunnel. Apple is reportedly already aware that something is amiss which will hopefully mean that a fix is on the way. The watchOS 10.0.2 update hasn't fixed the issue to date, so keep your eyes peeled for a future watchOS 10.0.3 or watchOS 10.1 update. Hopefully that'll have a fix for this new issue.

Thankfully, this issue doesn't appear to afflict every Apple Watch Ultra owner but it does seem limited to the Ultra and Ultra 2 models which means owners of others need not worry about this issue.

When it came out last year, the Apple Watch Ultra was a smartwatch revelation. Apple’s first foray into the world of adventurous wearables was met with great fanfare and, for the most part, won users over with its epic design, larger display, cool bands, incredible battery life, and more. 

Now, the new Apple Watch UItra 2 is here, and it promises to be a decent upgrade on the first iteration of Apple’s durable, rugged smartwatch for the great outdoors. So how does that new chip and a brighter display stack up against this year’s Apple Watch Series 9? We took it to the shores of Lanzarote to find out.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price and availability

Following in the footsteps of the Apple Watch Ultra, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is available from Apple for $799. Unlike the Series 9, there’s only one size, and there’s only one cellular configuration. The Watch comes as standard with one special band. If you want a carbon-neutral option, pick the Alpine Loop or the Trail Loop (pictured), or you can choose the Ocean Band, which is the one for watersports enthusiasts. Bands each come in three colors and three sizes; small, medium, and large, and you can add AppleCare+ for $99, or just $4.99 a month. Given this is a watch designed to be pushed to the limit, that’s not bad considering it gets you unlimited repairs for accidental damage with a $79 excess, otherwise, the service cost is $499. You can also buy it from Amazon, Best Buy, and carriers including Verizon and AT&T. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 at a glance: What's new?

S9 SiP - the Apple Watch Series 9 has a whole new chip that’s faster and powers on-device Siri as well as Double Tap

UWB - the new UWB upgrade can help you find your iPhone with astonishing accuracy, and provides seamless HomePod interactions

Brighter display - The Ultra 2 puts out 3000 nits of brightness, making it much easier to read in direct sunlight and well-lit areas

Carbon neutral - Two of the three Ultra 2 watch band combos are carbon neutral

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Specs

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design and Display

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts the same incredible Always-On Retina LTPO OLED Display as the first Apple Watch Ultra, with one key difference. Apple has simultaneously upped the maximum brightness to a whopping 3,000 nits, while also adding a setting that goes as low as 1 nit in very low-light conditions like the theater. The upshot is that the Ultra 2 is just as vibrant and spacious as the previous version, but is now easier to read than ever before. When you consider this is a watch made for the outdoors that brightness performance will really pay dividends. The display is absolutely brilliant in daylight and was crystal clear even in the blistering Lanzarote sun when I took the Ultra 2 on holiday. This is the brightest display Apple has created on any product ever, and the results are clear to see. Literally. The one-nit brightness will also be smashing in the theater or while you sleep, as you can check your watch without any concern for disturbing others. 

Having come from the Series 8, and having reviewed the Apple Watch Series 9, I can happily report that the Ultra’s display definitely beats both. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts an ever so slightly higher pixel density of 338 ppi, vs 326 in the Series 9. You might not notice the pixel density, but you’ll definitely notice the size. The 49mm display is 1.93” compared to 1.77”, measuring 502 x 410p vs 484 x 396p. That means you can get more information on your Apple Watch display, as evidenced by the awesome new Modular Ultra face, which has become a mainstay in my testing. The Modular Ultra boasts the time, a compass, six complications, and a cool ring around the outer edge of the display that shows the seconds passing by. Getting all that information on one screen really drives home just how big of an advantage that larger display real estate is. Thanks to the large casing, the display doesn’t look out of place or disproportionate. My only (small) gripe is that the Ultra has a distinctive bezel all the way around the device. Coming from the Series 8 and 9, it does irk slightly, but it’s largely a product of the Ultra’s very large casing and its completely flat display. 

The Ultra boasts the same design as its predecessor. The casing is obnoxiously thick and hefty and gives a reassuring weight to the whole device. I have a lot of confidence in the Ultra when it comes to fighting bumps and scrapes that the Series 8 and 9 simply can’t handle. That shell is made from aerospace-grade titanium, just like Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro. It’s light but very sturdy and is a huge step up on either the aluminum or stainless steel of the Series range. The whole chassis, even the ceramic rear, screams durable and tough, as do the hefty Digital Crown and Side Button, housed in a side portion of the chassis. These buttons are designed to be usable even when you’ve got gloves on, a staple accessory of the adventurer. That means they’re much easier to turn and press thanks to their size, but it does make them more intrusive on the wrist. 

As I noted in my Series 9 review, Apple Watch continues to suffer from a chronic issue with its side buttons, they’re too easy to press accidentally during a workout. Using my Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the gym, there have been multiple times when I’ve accidentally paused my workout tracking mid-exercise while doing wrist-loaded movements including bench press. This is super-frustrating, and I think watchOS is still crying out for a setting that locks these buttons during workouts in the same way that Water Lock can lock your display during swimming. The problem with the Apple Watch Ultra is that because the case is larger and the buttons are more intrusive, they’re much easier to accidentally press, which has been my overwhelming experience. One colleague suggested I simply flip the watch around, but that would make the Digital Crown and side button very difficult and unintuitive to use, and it’s also not how Apple markets the watch for use. On the Ultra, it also would solve the issue even less due to its party piece, the Action Button. 

The Action Button is one of the Ultra’s defining features and one that’s now made its way to the iPhone with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. You can set the button, which has a lovely orange finish, to start a workout, start a stopwatch, record a waypoint, begin backtrack, dive, turn on the torch, or run a Shortcut. The latter is awesome because you can basically make you’re Ultra do anything you want. It’s very handy, I’ve loved simply tapping the side button as I make my way into the gym to begin the workout, knowing my movement is now being recorded. You can choose a specific workout, which is great for training, pressing it again marks a segment, and pressing it with the side button pauses the workout. 

The Action Button hasn’t changed from last year’s model, but users coming from the Series line will really notice the added functionality. The best way to get the most out of it, as with the iPhone, is to change the Action Button settings regularly based on what you’re doing. 

Overall, I love the look and feel of the Apple Watch Ultra 2. And for those who want a rugged, durable watch it is absolutely perfect. But there are definitely some drawbacks. The first is the aforementioned issue, the buttons are too easy to press accidentally and the Ultra’s size amplifies this. The other drawback is the weight and bulk of the watch on your wrist. It’s not crazy, but it is noticeably larger and heavier than a Series 8 or Series 9, which you barely notice you’re wearing at all. I don’t think I have small wrists, but the size of the case and the way the band attaches to the housing means the fit of the Ultra is nowhere near as snug as the Series 9. It’s not uncomfortable, per se, but I’ve definitely noticed that I enjoy wearing the Ultra a lot less than the Series 9. The Trail loop band is very comfortable and extremely secure, but overall, I’ve found myself suffering a lot of wrist fatigue from the Ultra’s chassis. It has gotten easier over time, and I may just need more time to become accustomed to it, but to me, that relegates the Ultra 2 to a much more specialist device. I’m very surprised at previous users who have touted the Ultra as the best all-round Apple Watch because it certainly doesn’t feel that way to me. I know friends who have and use the Ultra every day, but they benefit from its rugged design and features. If you just want the best Apple Watch available, but aren’t planning to hit the trail, the sea, or anywhere else “extreme”, then the Series 9 is a more comfortable everyday option. 

Speaking of which, in the sea, the Watch excels, but I did find my Digital Crown got a bit clogged up with sand and seawater and needed a day or two before it was moving properly again.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Health, Fitness, and Safety

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 boasts all of the same safety features as its predecessor, but it’s worth reiterating what they are. You get the same crash detection and Emergency SOS features as the Series 9, Fall Detection, and alerts from the heart rate monitor about low or high readings. There’s also the ECG which can detect conditions such as atrial fibrillation before they become an issue. 

The Ultra 2 stands out from other Apple Watch models thanks to its rather loud siren, which can be used to help locate you in an emergency and is audible up to 180 meters (600 feet) away. Don’t worry about testing it, take our word for it, it’s loud. The rescuers will find you.

The Apple Watch range excels in health and fitness tracking, and the Ultra is no different. Just like the Series 9, you get all the same workouts and metrics for measuring progress and performance. The big difference the Ultra offers you is significantly longer battery life, aimed at extreme exercise sessions such as triathlons and ultra-marathons. It also benefits from the Action Button which is handy for starting workouts and recording segments. These aside, however, the differences are minimal. In fact, again, regular gym goers or swimmers who aren’t out in the open sea might actually find the Ultra more obtrusive as a workout companion. If you don’t need the rugged durability, the Series 9 weighs less and protrudes less from your wrist. It’s also far less susceptible to the aforementioned issues I’ve found with accidentally pressing the side button and the Digital Crown. 

As I alluded to earlier, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is really susceptible to these accidental button presses. I’ve worked out almost every day for the last six years wearing an Apple Watch, primarily for weight training, and I have never had to remove my Watch during a workout because it was hindering my exercise. However, my Apple Watch Ultra 2 got the boot recently because I found it repeatedly pausing my workout and my podcasts/music during exercises including bench press, overhead press, and tricep extensions. If you’re looking for an Apple Watch that will be used during weight training, pilates, yoga, or other activities where you’ll be putting a load on your wrist, I simply cannot recommend the Ultra 2. 

If health and fitness for you means long runs outdoors, on the trail, climbing, hiking, or open water swims, then the Ultra will deliver tremendously thanks to its rugged exterior, which I’m confident can survive literally any environment. By design, the Ultra is made for these more hostile environments, but personally, I’ve found it all but useless in the gym.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Battery and Performance

The Apple Watch’s Ultra 2’s battery life is very impressive. With double the estimated life of the Series 9, this is the only Apple Watch I’ve had that offers true “all-day” battery life that will include sleep tracking. However, the Ultra is big and bulky and I’m not sure it’s a great sleep tracker, I can’t imagine trying to sleep while wearing one on my wrist. I’ve been using it without sleep and getting multiple full days of usage comfortably. Sometimes, "at rest," the watch will drain maybe 2 or 3% over two hours. My colleague John-Anthony reliably informs me his Ultra 2 is good for 3 full days of use, even without a full charge. The Ultra has the same 36-hour rating as well as 72 hours in Low Power Mode, for when you absolutely need a watch without charge over a long camping weekend or similar. The higher brightness setting in watchOS 10 does eat up the battery a bit more than before, but there are three settings you can choose to get the best mix of usability and battery life. 

The big upgrade in the Ultra 2 this year is its new S9 SiP, which also stars in the Series 9. This new processor powers two awesome new features, but it’s also noticeably snappier. Turning on your watch, setting up the device, and navigating menus are also slicker thanks to S9. Every menu, app, and setting is noticeably more responsive on this year’s Apple Watch models, and that S9 chip will ensure you get watchOS updates for years to come. 

On-device Siri now provides answers to some queries (such as starting a timer) without the need for mobile data. Siri is so much faster and more responsive in these situations. As I noted in my Series 9 review, the S9 can carry out tasks like starting a timer before the words for the query have all appeared on the screen, such is its speed. 

The other big upgrade is Double Tap. Available in watchOS 10.1 (currently in beta and due for release soon) it lets you perform certain actions using your thumb and finger in a double-tap motion. It lets you answer and end calls, stop timers, and call up the Smart Stack from the Home Screen. Double Tap is really responsive; my favorite use is to stop timers, but I’ve not found any Double Tap scenarios yet where I haven’t wanted to use it. It’s perfect if you’ve only got one hand free, for example, if you’re carrying something like keys or groceries. Double Tap also hasn’t yet failed to register a tap on the first attempt, which I think is very impressive. 

Another major upgrade is the new Ultra WideBand chip, which powers Find My iPhone, letting you locate your iPhone like an AirTag with minute precision. It also enables you to control what’s playing on a nearby HomePod directly from your wrist, pausing and playing songs, skipping tracks, and more. This can also be used with an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro to find your iPhone the same way you would an AirTag, complete with a cool interface that guides you right to your phone. 

Only serial early adopters will find cause to upgrade from the original Ultra here but know that the Ultra 2 is noticeably more responsive than S8 models. Both on-device Siri and Double Tap, as well as the new UWB upgrades, are game-changing and will make the Apple Watch infinitely more usable for years to come.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: watchOS 10

Like the Series 9, the Ultra 2 comes with watchOS 10. There’s not much to shout about here, although apps have been upgraded to use more screen real estate. For instance, the Weather app is now more colorful and shows more information. The Smart Stack is also handy, showing you a stack of widgets with a quick flick of the Digital Crown. 

watchOS 10 can now also activate Night Mode automatically on the Apple Watch Ultra using the ambient light sensor. This feature surprised me at first, as I’d forgotten it existed. It’s very snappy and responsive, arguably too responsive. It often switches your Ultra’s display to the all-red glow when you enter a dark room in the house, or when your sleeve covers your Watch Face, but it’s very handy in bringing up the Night Mode when you actually need it, and those red and black faces look absolutely epic.  If you don’t like it, you can always turn it off. 

Ultra 2 users will also benefit from new topographic maps in the Maps app that can show points of interest, contour and elevation, and waypoints. 

My biggest gripe with watchOS 10 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is that the screen real estate isn’t well used in a lot of places. Take for example the workouts screen, Strength Training Workouts leave nearly 50% of the display dark.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Competition

The best alternative this year to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the Apple Watch Series 9, which is much lighter and smaller, and definitely the best Apple Watch this year. It's not as rugged but offers the same great features internally, minus that very bright display. You could consider last year's Ultra, but early sale prices on the Ultra 2 mean that for the same price you might as well get the newer model. 

If you want a more purpose-built outdoor wearable, the Garmin Epix Pro is a great shout, boasting 31 days of smartwatch battery life or 82 hours with GPS tracking, that's more than the Ultra will get even on its low-power mode. It's more expensive but has a similarly rugged titanium chassis. There's also the Garmin Enduro 2 and even Huawei's Watch Ultimate. However, remember, only an Apple Watch will get you seamless synchronization and integration with your iPhone. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Should you buy it?

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Verdict

I was surprised by how much I prefer the Apple Watch Series 9 to the Ultra 2 this year. Make no mistake, as a rugged, durable iPhone companion for hiking, camping, trail running, ultra marathons, diving, climbing, mountain biking, and anything else you can think of, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will excel. But, its usefulness as a day-to-day Apple Watch is far more limited than I’d been led to believe. The bulk and weight are noticeable compared to the Series range, and you’re also more limited in the straps you can use for different occasions. The Ultra 2 will take any 45mm Apple Watch band, but not many are going to look aesthetically pleasing at a dinner party or a more formal event. 

However, compared to the first-generation Ultra, the new S9 chip is very impressive, as is Double Tap and on-device Siri. The new Ultra WideBand chip is also a delight, and taken together they mark a significant update on last year’s model. The much brighter display is also a huge bonus, as is the one-nit option. 

The Ultra 2, then, is a highly-targeted watch for those who need extreme reliability in any situation, but in my opinion, it’s not the best choice for most users, and I’m certain the best Apple Watch for most people this year is the Series 9. 

Though the Watch Ultra 2 is an excellent watch, it doesn’t have any huge features the previous watch doesn’t have. Instead, it focuses on incremental changes - giving users a slightly better experience. If you were to put it on, the two are almost indistinguishable but the Ultra 2 has some features that will make the next ultra much better as a result. 

It looks identical to the Ultra but has a better chip, a brighter screen, and some really interesting Siri support. If you already have the first Ultra, you may not notice the difference but, upgrading from a Series watch or nothing, you will be getting the very best smartwatch available on the market. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Specs

Here are all the specs for the two watches

The two watches are very similar but the first difference you may notice is the new S9 SiP chip, which is a bit smarter and more powerful. This comes with a 4-core Neural Engine, allowing the watch to process machine learning tasks on the go. This new chip allows for on-device Siri that can use basic functions without your phone, as well as precision finding — meaning you can find your iPhone with your watch using accurate real-time data. It also has better storage at double the capacity which is a neat but small upgrade. 

Designed to replace the original Ultra watch, one thing a spec sheet can’t fully account for is the battery life. Though both watches share the same battery life, as batteries age and go through charge cycles, they tend to lose their efficiency. A new Ultra 2 will last a good bit longer than the standard Ultra purely because it’s newer and the first Ultra is a year old now. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Features

Here are the new features in the Apple Watch Ultra 2

Improved Find My

The new chip has improved Find My functions, allowing you to pinpoint exactly where your devices are. It gives you a small notification with the direction and range of your iPhone. If you have a habit of forgetting where you have placed your phone, this watch can give you exact directions to get it.

On-device Siri

Used for small activities like setting timers and activating workout mode, you can now use Siri directly on your watch. Previously, it couldn’t activate without being connected to your phone but the S9 SiP makes your phone just a little more effective in those circumstances

Double Tap controls

If you have ever found yourself with just one hand struggling to navigate your watch, the brand-new Double Tap controls leverage that smart chip to allow you to use your watch with simple gestures. You can tap your thumb and forefinger together to click on certain buttons or activate some apps. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Sensors

The sensors in the Ultra 2 are identical to the first Ultra watch. Both have a heart rate monitor, ECG, temperature sensors, Blood Oxygen sensors, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, and depth gauge. 

These will function a little better than previous watches due to upgraded specs but there is nothing new this time around. This means that, if you have the Ultra, there is no reason to upgrade when just looking at the sensors. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Processor

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has an impressive S9 SiP chip. System in Package chips, or SiP chips for short, are a processor, storage, and RAM all in one as it is a very smart way of stacking integrated circuits. This allows Apple to ram more power into a smaller frame. The watch can get more powerful without having to get bigger. 

It is a 64-bit dual-core processor, like the first Apple Watch Ultra, but the new Ultrawide gen 2 chip adds those Find My upgrades and it features double the storage capacity of the previous model at 64GB. 

The S9 SiP has a 30% faster GPU and the 4-core neural engine is twice as fast as the original Ultra. The processor is one of the biggest upgrades between the Ultra and Ultra 2 with some real difference on paper. In everyday use though, you may not notice just how much stronger it really is. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Display

Both the Watch Ultra and Watch Ultra 2 have an OLED display and only come in 49m. They have the same dimensions and look identical from a distance. However, there are some upgrades to the display that come in the form of brightness

Whereas the first Watch Ultra has a peak brightness of 2000 nits, the Watch Ultra 3 can go all the way up to 3000 nits. This makes it better on those particularly bright days — something that compliments the very active lifestyle of many Ultra users. Despite this, the Ultra 2 appears to have the same basic battery life. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Colors

There are no new colors this year, with both Ultra watches coming with a Titanium finish. While you can customize straps, you cannot customize the color of the frame itself. There were rumors earlier this year that a black Ultra Watch would launch but this didn’t happen.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: Strap options

From the official Apple shop, the strap options available have not changed at all with the options being: Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band. The Alpine Loop is a polyester rugged band with ridges that originally came in Starlight, Orange, Abyss Blue, and Green but the Ultra 2 Alpine Loop is currently available in Blue, Indigo, and Orange. 

The Trail Loop, on the other hand, is a very light stretchy strap that originally came in Blue/Gray, Black/Gray, and Yellow/Beige. You can now only get the Ultra 2 in Green/Grey, Blue/Black, and Orange/Beige

Lastly, the ocean Band is designed to be used in water so has a tubular design. The Ultra Ocean Band came in Black, White, and Yellow, whereas the Ultra 2 Ocean Band is available in Blue, White, and Orange. If you pick up the bigger Series straps, they are also compatible with the Ultra line.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra: should you upgrade?

If you already have an Apple Watch Ultra, there isn’t much of a reason to upgrade. Though the spec differences are certainly welcome, they don’t feel nearly powerful enough to throw down another $799 to get them. The Ultra 2 is, however, a superb upgrade over the Series line so, if you are looking for a reason to get a more lavish watch and feel like you will get the most out of its more durable frame, this is a great upgrade choice. 

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, the added Find My functions are pretty great and will work nicely into the ecosystem. As well as this, that processor will make you a little bit more future-proofed but the first Watch Ultra still performs excellently today as it’s only one year old. 

If you don’t yet own a smartwatch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, with good battery life and a huge selection of unique features, is an excellent place to start. 

The new Apple Watches are finally on shelves, and we’ve been scouring the web to find the best Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals so that you can save some money. It is, after all, not a cheap watch, with a retail price of $799. Ouch.

The big update to last year's Ultra is a brighter screen and a more powerful chip inside. The brighter screen goes up to 3,000 nits, which is mind-bogglingly bright — and it means that the watch will be more viewable in direct sunlight. No more botched calls when the sun is shining. The chip on the inside is now the S9 SiP, a drastic improvement over the previous, and 30% faster than the old model, according to Apple. That’s the chip that runs everything, otherwise known as the ‘System in Package’. It contains the processor, RAM, and storage. That storage has also been upped to 64GB, so you can store more offline Apple Music playlists, audiobooks, podcasts, apps and more.

All this does come at a cost, as we said up top, so to save you some money we’ve found the best deals out there on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Best Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals: What you need to know

• Out now
• Colors: Titanium
• Price: $799

There are a couple of places to find the best deals on Apple Watch Ultra 2 — the first being those normal big box retailers like Apple, Amazon, or Best Buy. Here you’ll pay every cent of that $799 up front, but then you won’t have to pay anything else for the device for as long as you own it. Remember that even if you go this route, however, you’ll still need to find a data contract for it. 

The other way to get your Apple Watch Ultra 2 is to go the route of the carrier, where you’ll pay monthly for the watch. That will combine with the price of the necessary data plan too, so it won’t seem as bad, but you will be paying slightly more overall when interest is taken into consideration. It does, however, spread the cost of the watch which might make it more affordable for you if you can’t lay down the money on day one.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 retailer deals

Apple Watch Ultra 2 carrier deals

Apple Watch Ultra 2 deals Q&A

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Q&A

After all the rumors and guesses Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on September 12 before making it available to buy on September 22. But at no point did Apple say anything about a change that we're now only able to confirm after someone took the thing apart.

That change is the addition of a new, larger battery when compared to the one that previously powered the Apple Watch Ultra. The new battery isn't a huge one — it's only around 4% larger than the one it replaces — but it's an increase in capacity nevertheless.

However, where that extra battery goes isn't really clear. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is rated for the same 36 hours of battery life as the outgoing model.

More power to you?

The new Apple Watch Ultra ships with an upgraded 564mAh battery as confirmed by the teardown and repair experts over at iFixit. That battery is slightly larger than the outgoing 543mAh part and it's absolutely fair to say that a circa 4% increase was never likely to have a huge impact on battery life.

One potential explanation for where the extra battery goes is the brighter display used in the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It tops out at a peak brightness of 3,000 nits which is a big leap over the Apple Watch's 2,000-nit limit.

Wherever the battery goes, this is undoubtedly the best Apple Watch ever made. It comes with a fast S9 SiP inside and has the largest display of all models. And that's before you get into things like its ability to act as a dive computer and more. The titanium construction also makes it more rugged than other models, too.

The new Apple Watch Ultra is now available for $799 and comes with cellular connectivity as standard, although you'll still need to add a data plan of your own.

All of the attention might be on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 right now, but the original Apple Watch Ultra is still a great option and right now you can pick one up for a song if you're quick.

The Apple Watch Ultra would normally retail for around $800, but if you order one right now you'll pay just $699.99 for a range of bands and colors, with one in particular currently selling for even cheaper.

Order the small orange alpine loop and you'll save an extra dollar, making the price just $698.99. That's one of the best bands around and in our favorite color — just make sure that small version will fit your wrist before placing an order.

Bargain Apple Watch Ultra

Every Apple Watch Ultra has a 49mm case and big display for easy reading when working out and enjoying the great outdoors. The included cellular modem helps with that as well, meaning you don't have to take your iPhone everywhere if you don't want to. You'll need to get a cellular plan of course, but it could be well worth it for some people.

Other features include extra long battery life that ensures you'll go for around 36 hours between charges, while the usual array of sensors and apps are available.

Amazon says that this is the best price the Apple Watch Ultra has been available for in at least the last 30 days and it's a great way to get into one of the best Apple Watches for less.

Does Apple Watch Ultra 2 fit older cases?

Best Answer: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will work with an original Watch Ultra case but will not work with any of the Series or SE watch cases. If you are upgrading from a traditional Series watch, you will need to buy a brand-new case. The same can be said for straps if you happen to have picked the smaller Series watch. 

What is the Apple Watch Ultra 2?

An upgrade to the previous top-of-the-line watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the most durable and most expensive Apple wearable currently available. With an always-on Retina display reaching up to 3000 nits, it is designed for you to be able to access it at almost any point, be it in a forest or at sea. The Watch Ultra 2 may be a little extravagant for some but, if you are an adventurer looking for a device that will accompany you through long hikes, it is the perfect accessory. You can access all of your iPhone’s notifications without having to grab your phone and built-in GPS and cellular makes it an excellent choice in a pinch. 

Will my old bands fit the Apple Watch Ultra 2?

Yes. Although the Watch Ultra 2 is a good bit bigger than the biggest Series 7,8, and 9 watches, you can put the 44mm band on your Watch Ultra 2. As well as this, the previous Ultra bands will work with the Ultra 2. 

Slight changes

Like the Apple Watch Series 9, watch upgrades are mostly reliant on internal upgrades. Though the chip will be upgraded and the display will be brighter, Apple has avoided changing the dimensions of devices too much in the last few years. This means that watch accessories are very compatible with each other. Though there are reports that the Watch X will have a different band type, it seems likely the dimensions will be similar to previous years. Apple has landed on a winner in their wearable design and they know it. 

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 was announced at Apple's iPhone 15 event on September 12 and was immediately put up for preorder. That meant that people could start to place orders as soon as the Apple Store came back online, and those who delayed doing just that might have to wait a bit longer for delivery.

With Apple Watch Ultra 2 preorders having been running for a couple of days already, it seems that some configurations have already proven so popular that people ordering today will face a multi-week wait before their new watch arrives.

In fact, some Apple Watch Ultra 2 configurations are already starting to get worryingly close to a two-month delivery window. Buying the best Apple Watch could mean playing the long game.

The wait is on

The protracted shipping estimates were first spied by MacRumors and include up to a seven-week wait time for models that come with the Trail Loop in Orange and Beige across both the S/M and M/L sizes.

Those ordering some other models will fare better, with the Alpine band likely to make buyers wait a couple of weeks when ordering online.

Those who really can't wait for a new Apple Watch Ultra 2 could try their luck at physical Apple Stores come the September 22 release date of course, while Apple's retail partners may also have some stock on hand.

It isn't yet clear whether these delivery estimates mean that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is selling well or if Apple simply doesn't have that many to go around. The new model isn't all that different to the original Apple Watch Ultra with the main differences being a faster S9 chip, on-device Siri, and some display upgrades.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 15 event news and reactions now that Wonderlust is over. Don't miss all our iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, iOS 17and watchOS 10 coverage so far.

The Apple "Wonderlust" event has been and gone and while we already expected about much of what was announced, there were still some tidbits of note. And then there's the tidbits of the tidbits, too.

The first tidbit is that the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with a fancy new watch face that is designed to make better use of its large display, putting more information on-screen at any given moment. That's a win in our books.

Then the tidbit of the tidbit comes when you realize that the new Modular Ultra watch face will also be available on the existing Apple Watch Ultra, too. That's an even bigger win.

No upgrade necessary

Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra 2 alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 and, of course, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models. But the new Modular Ultra watch face was one of the biggest improvements to come to the best Apple Watch in the lineup.

"A new watch face designed for Apple Watch Ultra — Modular Ultra — takes advantage of the large display, using the outermost edge to present real-time data, including seconds, altitude, or depth," Apple's press release reads. "It offers the most complications of any Apple digital watch face to customize for sports, outdoor adventures, and ocean and water activities."

But the best part is something the press release doesn't mention — the Modular Ultra watch face will be available as part of the watchOS 10 update for the existing Apple Watch Ultra model.

It's only available in beta right now, but watchOS 10 will roll out to everyone on September 18. So, there isn't all that long to wait for your new Modular Ultra watch face, Apple Watch Ultra owners.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 15 event news and reactions now that Wonderlust is over. Don't miss all our iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, iOS 17and watchOS 10 coverage so far.

If you are looking for the best Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands, you will find tons of great choices, from super rugged straps capable of withstanding anything, to classy steel clasps. They can add a nice splash of color to an outfit or some breathability while you are on the go. 

With its launch late last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is one of the best Apple Watches right now, thanks to an excellent chip, fantastic battery life, and a strong design. It is the most expensive Apple Watch but also the most feature-packed. 

Not only does Apple do its own range of fantastic bands but you don't need to rely on the official choices for something great. There are truly so many excellent straps out there to choose from.

These are the best Apple Watch Ultra 2 bands you can find right now. 

Quick List

Q & A

Do Apple Watch Series bands fit on Apple Watch Ultra 2?

Yes, as long as you have an Apple Watch Series Band that is 44mm or 45mm, it will work with the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Will my first-generation Apple Watch Ultra band fit the Apple Watch Ultra 2?

Yes, the Apple Watch Ultra 1 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are the same size and have the same attachment mechanism.  Don't feel limited in any way by bands specifically intended for the Apple Watch Ultra. Choose the band you like best!

Which Apple Watch Ultra 2 band should I buy?

I'd recommend Apple's own Trail Loop band, since it's designed by Apple engineers specifically for the kinds of adventures you might embark upon wearing the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It comes in multiple colorways so you're sure to find one that works for you.

Apple shook up the Apple Watch product line with the Apple Watch Ultra's debut in 2022, with the more expensive, durable watch expected to be the pinnacle of the product line for some time.

As it happens, it's been quickly overthrown - the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has arrived just a year later. And while many of its upgrades are minor, the new chipset may make usage even slicker, and it'll share plenty of the new features of the Apple Watch Series 9, too.

Here's everything new in the Apple Watch Ultra 2, including improved performance, Double Tap, a brighter display, and more.

1. Even brighter display

The original Apple Watch Ultra offered a 2,000 nits brightness rating, which the Series 9 has caught up with.

Not to be outdone, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has upped things to a retina-searing 3,000 nits, the brightest display Apple has ever made across any of its devices. Expect it to be easy to read in just about any situation, bright or dark.

2. New Modular watch face

What's a new Apple Watch display without a new watch face? The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is offering a fresh new look for users with the Modular Ultra watch face.

With a huge number of customizable elements, it'll offer more information than any other Apple Watch face before.

To do so, it moves elevation and depth information right up to the edges of the display, the first Apple watch face of its kind to do so. There's certainly a lot going on, but if you're the kind of Apple Watch user who wants glanceable info, you'll certainly find plenty to look at.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 can also switch to Night Mode automatically, switching to the red-hued look whenever ambient light drops below a certain threshold.

3. New chip

The Apple Watch Ultra has the same CPU that was found in the Series 6 years ago, but the Ultra 2 will get an upgrade with the same S9 chip found in the Series 9.

It comes with the same improvements, with a 4-core neural engine for machine learning that's twice as fast, a 30% faster GPU, and on-device Siri for faster, more secure processing.

And yes, that fun new Double Tap gesture makes the jump too, powered by the new chip, so you can engage with various controls without actually touching the Apple Watch at all - neat. Double Tap arrives next month as part of a software update.

4. New cycling features

If you cycle, both watchOS 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 could be a great upgrade.

Both feature new compatibility with Bluetooth accessories to enable tracking of cadence, speed, and power as you bike down woodlands and even commutes. This way, you can get a better idea of how you can improve your speed, by connecting to peripherals like power meters.

Running a cycling workout will also trigger a Live Activity on your iPhone, giving even more metrics on a device that can be positioned between your handlebars.

What didn't come true: No black color option!

We'd hoped we might see a new color debut for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. But sadly there was no such announcement for those who were hoping to see this new model in Titanium Black.

It would have fit great with the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max in Titanium Black. But alas, it wasn't to be.

I've written about wanting one in this shade before, but it seems we may have to wait for the Apple Watch Ultra 3 instead.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 15 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, iOS 17and watchOS 10 coverage so far.

watchOS 10 is the latest software update for the Apple Watch and was released alongside iOS 17 on September 18.

The new software is a significant update that redesigns your favorite Apple Watch apps, including Activity and Heart Rate. watchOS 10 also adds new features, including the Smart Stack, which adds widgets to your Apple Watch by simply swiping up on your watch face or scrolling up on the Digital Crown. watchOS 10 is available on the Apple Watch Series 4 and newer, but you'll need one of the newer Apple Watches to use the brand new Double Tap feature, now available in watchOS 10.1

Here's everything you need to know about watchOS 10, a redefining software update for your favorite smartwatch.

watchOS 10: Latest Version

watchOS 10.2

The latest version of watchOS 10 is watchOS 10.2, released December 11. It features significant upgrades to a couple of important features. Users can now access and log Health app data with Siri, as long as they're rocking an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra 2. Apple Watch Series 6 and Apple Watch Ultra or later will now automatically view Now Playing when in proximity of a HomePod 2 or HomePod mini, and you can once again swipe to change a watch face.

watchOS 10: New features

watchOS 10 brings a significant overhaul to many of the Apple Watch's day-to-day apps. This includes Weather, Stocks, Home, Maps, Messages, World Clock, and others. They all now use up more screen real estate so that you can see useful information more clearly.

Apple has taken a new approach to the design of watchOS, with a new focus on what it is calling 'Smart Stack'. The feature is accessible with the Digital Crown and provides more glanceable information when you look at your wrist. The 'Smart Stack' is comprised of small, rectangular versions of your apps and widgets, with small versions of apps like News, Weather, and Health. A quick tap takes you to the app itself where there are more new design elements.

The idea is to make these elements give you more information using more of the screen, rather than the smaller complications that Apple Watch has relied on before. Apple says that "a new Smart Stack contains widgets that display timely information that adapts to the user’s context and can be revealed with a simple turn of the Digital Crown from any watch face."

The widgets in the Smart Stack provide information that's live and useful, with Apple stating that the new Smart Stack "enables users to enjoy a beautiful watch face, like Portraits, while still offering a way to quickly access information they care about."

Developers will also be able to use the new feature, allowing for third-party apps in the Smart Stack.

As part of the new design, Control Center has moved to the side button, so it's easier to open it when needed. Double-clicking the Digital Crown reopens any apps used recently.

New Watch Faces

Two new faces are now available for the Apple Watch in watchOS 10. The first is the Palette face, which shifts and changes using three layers as time changes.

The second new face is the iconic dog Snoopy. The Peanuts characters, Snoopy and Woodstock, feature on a new watch face with interactive elements. The characters play with the hands of the watch and also react to weather conditions in your area.

Workouts

watchOS brings an update to the cycling app with Apple adding power zone tracking and FTP calculations. Short for Functional Threshold Performance, FTP is a vital stat for cyclists and sure to be a welcome addition. The Apple Watch will also new connect automatically to cycling accessories, "such as power meters, speed sensors, and cadence sensors."

Hikers also see a useful update with the ability to save Apple Maps for offline use for when you're off the grid. There's also an 'in case of emergencies' call function called "Last Emergency Call Waypoint" that estimates where on a route your device last had a connection. It can then find the best place to call an emergency contact.

Also new for fitness enthusiasts is Apple Fitness Plus offers the ability to create a custom plan for your workouts.

If you have a goal in mind, you can choose your weekly schedule, including how long you want to workout per day, as well as how many weeks you want to pursue your goal. Add on the activity types you want to enjoy, and Apple Fitness Plus creates a personal plan for you to follow. 

Each day, you'll receive suggestions of what to do with your workout time.

Mindfulness

There are Mental Health updates as well to help with your mental well-being. The new Mindfulness app allows you to log your moods, as well as what's making you feel that way. It ties in with the Health app so you can see a complete picture of both your physical and mental well-being.

NameDrop

There's also NameDrop, one of the title features of iOS 17. It lets you transfer your contact panel between watches and phones. You'll also be able to take FaceTime calls while viewing on the watch screen.

Offline maps

Offline Maps are coming to iPhone. This allows you to use turn-by-turn navigation on a map you've saved without depending on cellular services or Wi-Fi. When paired with an Apple Watch, you'll be able to see turn-by-turn directions. 

watchOS 10: Compatibility

Apple watchOS 10 runs on all the same watches as watchOS 9. That means it runs on the following devices:

• Apple Watch SE
• Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation)
• Apple Watch Series 4
• Apple Watch Series 5
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

watchOS 10: Questions and Answers

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is here! The update to Apple's best Apple Watch includes performance upgrades, a new way to use the Watch, and a focus on carbon neutrality.

While the upgrade to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a little underwhelming, it goes to show how great the Apple Watch Ultra was to begin with. With its large display, stellar battery life, and rugged case, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the flagship Apple Watch for anyone who wants not only the best smartwatch but also a beautiful timepiece.

Here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Ultra 2

Apple Watch Ultra 2: The headlines

• What is it? An updated Ultra model.
• Release: September 22, available to purchase now
• Price? $799
• Headlines: S9 SiP chip, double tap gesture, carbon neutral

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Release date

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Series 9 will be available from September 22. You can purchase yours now from the Apple Store Online.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Price

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 will remain the same price as the previous model. That means you'll find everything great about the original Apple Watch with the new added features, all for that same $799 price.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Design

There are no design changes to report on this year's Apple Watch Ultra 2. We were expecting to see a new darker titanium color, but that didn't come to fruition. The major change to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is when the smartwatch is paired with the new Apple Watch Trail Loop or Alpine Loop, which are carbon neutral and contain over 30 percent recycled content.

There is also a new Apple Watch Ultra face called the Modular Ultra Watch Face, which gives you more information than any other Apple Watch face. It takes full advantage of the 49mm display on the Ultra. That said, the Modular Ultra Watch Face also works with the first generation Ultra running WatchOS 10.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Features

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with watchOS 10, bringing a big redesign to how you use the operating system. watchOS 10 will be made available for other Apple Watch models, too, from Series 4 and above. WatchOS 10 will be available on September 18.

Additionally, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Apple Watch Series 9 have a new double-tap gesture that allows users to easily interact with their watch by simply double-tapping their index finger and thumb. This works by looking at the blood flow in your hand and determining when your index finger makes contact with your thumb.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has the brightest screen on any Apple product, with a display that can reach up to 3,000 nits for those times when you're in direct sunlight and need to be able to see your Watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: Processor

The Watch Ultra 2 boasts a new upgraded processor called the S9 SiP, which has "a new 4-core Neural Engine that can process machine learning tasks up to twice as fast as the original Apple Watch Ultra."

The S9 SiP is at the heart of the Ultra 2 and allows features like Double Tap to work seamlessly alongside faster on-device Siri and general usage improvements. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2 and watchOS 10

Apple announced watchOS 10 during the WWDC 2023 event in June and it will be available on September 18.

New watchOS features include updated apps as well as a redesigned Smart Stack feature that makes quick-access information more easily accessible. New watch faces are also coming, as are improvements for cyclist workout tracking and more.

If, like me, you’ve been looking down at your standard Apple Watch with a slight hint of disdain ever since the superior Apple Watch Ultra was revealed, you’ll love this. Accessory makers Nomad have designed a rugged case for the standard Apple Watch that, at a glance, could see them mistaken for Apple’s premium timepiece.

The Nomad Rugged Case for Apple Watch is the company’s first attempt at making a durable cover for the wristwatch, with the package comprising both a band and protective shell. It’s looking like a contender for the best Apple Watch case crown.

Compatible with 45 and 44mm Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, Series 6, Series 7 and Series 8 devices, it’s made of a hardened 315L stainless steel, with a 1000 HV DLC coating that should help make it near impervious to bumps and scrapes. A TPU lining, designed for shock absorption, rounds out the protective features.

As for the band itself, Nomad says it’s using “FKM fluoroelastomer for a soft yet durable finish”, alongside a stainless steel buckle. It’s a tough cookie, and built right into the case for the best defence — which also means you can’t mix-and-match this with other bands you may like.

A Series Watch in Ultra clothing

The neatest trick might be the detailing around the buttons — you’ve got interchangeable black and ‘Ultra’ orange buttons that can be swapped in at your leisure, which finish off that Ultra-aping look.

Though ruggedised, the case keeps all functionality accessible, so you don’t lose touchscreen or Digital Crown access.

Considering an Apple Watch Ultra starts at $799, and a Series 8 starts at $399, you can get a decent approximation of the Ultra at a fraction of the price — the rugged case would set you back just $120 on top.

Of course, it’s not just the tough construction that sets the Ultra apart — features like the Wayfinder watch face and scuba-diving swimming depth support. But if you want to just make your old watch feel tough again, it’s looking like a solid option.

It’ll be interesting to see if the upcoming Apple Watch Series 9 will be taking any ruggedised cues from the Ultra line-up when it’s expected to release next month — and whether or not the Apple Watch Ultra 2 has pushed the envelope further too when it is revealed, expected to make its own debut alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple Watch Ultra was the next step in Apple’s wearables line in 2022, but for Ultra 2, I want to see it refined for both convenience and features in certain situations

When the Apple Watch was first announced in 2014, it gained a sale out of me. I bought the Series 0 model at launch in 2015, and I’ve worn one ever since. I moved onto the Series 5 in 2019, and currently, I’m trying out the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple has repositioned the Apple Watch as a device for fitness, rather than communication. Apple Watch Ultra took this one step further. Now, it’s not just about fitness, but safety as well. You can use its Satellite SOS call feature in emergencies, its compass lets you pinpoint your exact location, and its bigger battery allows the GPS coordinates to keep your family and friends aware of where you are.

But I’m not an extreme sports guy, I simply love the design of the Ultra, from its more-angular face to the Action button. With that in mind, there are three big features that I’d love to see in an Apple Watch Ultra 2, with a focus on convenience and style.

Touch ID

Imagine if Touch ID finally arrived on Apple Watch, but it was under the display, just like we once thought it would be on iPhone 15?

All you’d have to do is place your finger on the screen when prompted, and your Watch would be unlocked. It could also be used for purchases on the App Store and Apple Pay too, without needing your iPhone to authenticate them.

Touch ID would be a great feature to separate the Ultra from the rest of the lineup too - especially if the Action button moves to the Series 9 and iPhone 15 Pro later this year. It would be the first Apple device to have Touch ID under the screen, and its convenience would be a big draw to many for the Ultra 2. But if not, it could also be placed in the side button or the Digital Crown, similar to the Lock Button on the iPad.

Smart Bands

This is a rumor I used to hear incessantly around the time of Series 4 in 2018. For those unaware, smart bands would attach to your Apple Watch as normal but include additional sensors or batteries in them. The Watch would recognize these and could give you more accurate readings for your blood oxygen levels and more.

It would make the Ultra 2 even more personable and more modular too. For example, there could be an Apple Watch band that would focus on your heart rate for fitness and training. Or another user could have an Ultra 2 that could last a whole week because their smart band would just be an extra battery.

These could also add to the uniqueness of the Apple Watch Ultra line, apart from the action button and different design compared to the Series 8. Smart bands could be exclusive to Ultra 2 and extend its functionality to suit the user.

Camera

If, like me, you remember watching those commercials and TV shows of watches that took photos and videos back in the day, this feature is for you too.

Answering FaceTime calls or creating short video messages would be the natural step for a camera on an Ultra 2, but it could go further than that.

Leaving short video messages, perhaps with the 'thumbs up' FaceTime gesture lifted from iOS 17, could be a great way to keep in contact with someone. 

But Visual Lookup and QR codes could work in a much better way than they do on iPhone.

Imagine you’re on holiday, and there’s a QR code you need to scan for a menu or to send a message to in order to book a table. The camera could scan it, and you could use Hand Off to your iPhone to look in further detail.

Visual Lookup could be a matter of waving your Apple Watch Ultra 2 at a sign in another language, or a certain object, and it could give you information about it on the fly. It could even be given by having Siri read it out to you, or by expanding it in more detail on your iPhone when you next take it out of your pocket.

It would also add to the convenience factor - the camera won’t be used for selfies and 4K videos of your dog, but it’ll be used for those short moments that cut the hassle for when you can’t use your iPhone.

Brace yourself

We’ve come a long way since the debut of the Apple Watch in 2014. The overhaul that watchOS 10 brings, such as widgets, redesigned apps, and more, only shows where Apple wants its wearable to go in the future.

I’ve been happy with Apple Watch, ever since my Series 0. It’s helped me deal with stress, it’s made me more aware of my fitness, and it’s also helped me to keep in touch with my wife when my iPhone runs out of battery.

The Apple Watch Ultra, however, has shown me how much further the wearable can go - with a bigger screen, an extra button, and a better battery. If the Ultra 2 brings just one of my wishful features next month, I’ll be ready to upgrade as soon as it’s available.

Apple’s next event is likely just a few weeks away. And while speculation will naturally be rife about the iPhone 15 lineup given that product’s popularity, I always find it exciting to think about what could be coming to the Apple Watch.

The lineup has shifted drastically over time, starting out as a luxury device and moving into the health space within a few years, and it finally feels like it’s found its place among Apple’s products - and where it sits among the competition.

The Apple Watch is a great device now, and much easier to recommend than it’s ever been - but there’s something it needs that you shouldn’t have to pay $799 for with the Apple Watch Ultra.

No, I’m not referring to those orange accents or the chunkier design. Rather, I’m referring of course, to the Action Button.

A course of action

The Apple Watch Ultra is a fantastic fitness tracker, and easily the pinnacle of what Apple's wearable can be. It’s the kind of watch you can wear to dinner if that dinner happens to be in the middle of a desert or under the ocean’s waves.

It’s stylish, it’s weirdly practical, and it doesn’t weigh much more than a Stainless Steel Apple Watch model.

It even has an extra button, specifically for, as Apple tells us, using a siren to call for help, or switching disciplines in the heat of a triathlon.

I’m a fan of exercise as much as the next tech writer, but I don’t use my Apple Watch Ultra’s Action Button for that. Instead, I use it as a shortcut that triggers a menu that lets me open messages, my task manager Things 3, Apple’s Workout app, or a third-party one.

Apple has, arguably, offered similar functionality with the side button prior to watchOS 10, which allowed users to check out their recently used apps at a button press. In a lot of ways, watchOS is worse off for removing that, removing that quick access to must-haves like the Now Playing. An extra button could re-add that functionality - although that feels like it can only happen if this is added to Series 9 watches, too.

It’s not what Apple had in mind, I’d wager, but that’s the joy of technology - you never know what someone is going to do with something once you send it out into the wild.

Why the Apple Watch Series 9 needs an Action Button

The shame of it is that for many people, an $800 smartwatch is off limits - let alone one aimed at the 1% of the populace looking to explore every corner of the planet.

The rollout of an Apple Watch Action Button for the Series 9 would mean more users could tinker with it, running all kinds of wild shortcuts (seriously, one glimpse at Reddit and you’ll see some fantastic automation ideas).

Whether it's triggering ChatGPT, recording straight into a Drafts file, or digging through your RSS feed, there's a Shortcut for everyone.

It’ll also increase the eyes on Apple Watch automation as a whole. As a concept, Apple Watch shortcuts have always felt a little like a Rube Goldberg machine - lots of proverbial spinning gears for the sake of watching said gears spin. It lacks a personal touch that can be applied to more everyday situations.

What’s more personal than a device that sits on your wrist, that offers you the option to trigger something that makes your life easier through a simple button press?

There’s also the unique novelty of the addition of a new button on Apple hardware. Over the years, the company has shifted the iPod away from the click wheel, the iPhone away from home buttons, and even buried the row of function keys on the MacBook for a time.

It’s not often we see Apple revisit product lines to add fresh input options in the form of buttons, and while I acknowledge it’s one more part that could fail, there’s still something magical about that.

Do you want the Apple Watch Series 9 to add an Action Button? If not, why not, and what are you hoping for from the next Apple Watch? Let us know in the iMore Forums.

The best Apple Watch money can buy is about to get a whole new color, and it's going dark. That's according to a new leak that backs up a previous report that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will come in a dark titanium option.

The leak also suggests that this new darker color won't replace the existing Apple Watch Ultra's silver look, something that wasn't clear in a previous report.

However, while news of a new color is sure to be popular among potential buyers, there is still one big reason for them to be left disappointed by this latest leak.

New color, same old design

That leak comes via Twitter user ShrimpApplePro who has had relatively good success in the past. Now they're backing up a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman which said that a dark titanium color had been considered for last year's Apple Watch Ultra release, but it was ultimately canned. He went on to suggest that it could be revived for this year's refresh.

Now, ShrinkApplePro seems to believe that it will indeed arrive alongside the existing silver option rather than replace it.

In the tweet, the leaker said that he "can confirm this year we will have the black titanium this year along with the current standard titanium." But that isn't the end of the story.

According to the leak, the new Apple Watch Ultra 2 will have the "same design" as the previous watch, although that probably isn't all that surprising. The 2022 Apple Watch Ultra was the first one, and a redesign coming as soon as 12 months later would have been unusual.

Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Ultra alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 in September. That same unveiling should also see the debut of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models as well.

Buyers of one of the 2023 Apple Watches can expect to enjoy improved performance thanks to the biggest chip upgrade in years, according to a new report.

The Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 are all expected to be announced in September and now it appears they’ll all be faster than previous models.

Apple hasn’t meaningfully upgraded the chips used in Apple Watches since 2020, but it’s now said that the S9 chip will offer “a fairly sizable performance bump” for those that pick up Apple’s newest and best Apple Watches. 

Much-needed performance upgrades

This news comes via Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter over the weekend. Gurman notes that Apple’s new S9 chip will offer bigger performance upgrades than we’ve seen from any other Apple Watch chip since the S6 — a chip that powered the Apple Watch Series 6. It was also slightly modified for use in future Apple Watches and then relabeled. The S8 currently ships in the 2022 wearables including the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra.

With an upgraded chip buyers of the latest Apple Watches can expect speedier performance across the board, including opening apps and refreshing data. Apple’s watchOS 10 update will change how the Apple Watch is used, making widgets more accessible. It’s possible the performance upgrades are to ensure that they update as quickly as possible when called upon.

The new Apple Watches are all expected to be announced during an event in September, likely alongside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups. New iPads and possibly even new Macs could also arrive before the end of 2023.

Apple launched the Apple Watch Ultra last year as a premium smartwatch last year. It costs more than the regular watch, and comes with a titanium casing. While you could get different strap options, the watch itself just arrived in the one titanium color option. 

That may change with the next Apple Watch Ultra, however. Apple may be working on bringing a dark titanium color option with the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra. Mark Gurman talked about the possibility in his latest Power On newsletter.

Apple tested a dark titanium color for the original Watch Ultra

We ended up getting the Watch Ultra in a single color, but that wasn't always the plan. Gurman revealed that Apple did consider and test a dark titanium color for the best Apple Watch, but ultimately decided to not release it.

Gurman wrote, "Before the release of last year’s Ultra model, Apple tested a dark titanium color option. It ultimately canceled the option because designers didn’t like the appearance, but it could still theoretically arrive in 2023."

Of course, there's no confirmation that this is going to happen, but it makes sense that Apple would want to bundle more colors with the new generation. The dark colorways also sell rather well, so there wouldn't be any reason to not do it, unless the design team gives it another pass.

We've also previously heard that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 could get some 3D-printed parts. Those are likely to be the internal mechanical parts, though, so there may not be a difference in the cosmetics on that end. We can expect a range of strap options, however, and more outdoors-focused features, since the watch is designed for exactly that.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is due to arrive before the end of the year, and likely alongside the iPhone 15, possibly in September.

A new report claims that the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is going to land in the second half of 2023, with 3D printed parts coming as part of its new manufacturing process. 

According to prolific insider Ming-Chi Kuo, "Apple is actively adopting 3D printing technology, and it’s expected that some of the titanium mechanical parts of the 2H23 new Apple Watch Ultra will be made by 3D printing."

Kuo did not specify which parts will get the 3D printing treatment, but says the ones that are in line for the new process "still have to go through the CNC process for back-end processes." If successful, it would improve both production costs and time for Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

Apple Watch Ultra 2

According to Kuo, Apple Watch is coming between now and December 2023, although it's likely it would debut alongside Apple Watch Series 9 and the iPhone 15. 

The Apple Watch Ultra is the company's best Apple Watch thanks to its rugged design, immense battery life, and vibrant screen that has seen it become a popular hit amongst all-comers, not just those with a passion for the great outdoors. Mark Gurman, another top insider, has previously leaked that Apple Watch Ultra 2 is coming later this year.

At the same time, Apple will release watchOS 10 to the public, after a couple of months of beta testing. New features include big changes to the interface, an all-new smart stack widgets feature, as well as Control Center activation, and a hiking workout. 

The current Apple Watch Ultra is $799 and has not seen any significant discounts since its release. While a new release would bring the price of the first model down, it's unclear whether Apple would target the same price point for the next model, or whether upgrades might push the price up. With a September launch likely, we don't have long to find out. 

After the recent launch of the Apple Vision Pro, the company is gearing up to launch more products. Barring any surprise events, we will likely see Apple unveil the next iPhone in September. Apple usually also unveils new Apple Watch models alongside the iPhones. It appears we're also getting a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra alongside the Apple Watch Series 9 this year. 

In the latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman revealed that an Apple Watch Ultra refresh is due this year. Gurman also revealed that a larger iMac, with a screen size of over 30 inches is in early development.

A bunch of new Apple products are on the way

Gurman discussed what Apple will do now that the long-awaited mixed-reality headset has finally been revealed. With the iPhone 15 lineup set to launch in September, Gurman says new Apple Watch models will be launched alongside.

He wrote, "In addition to the iPhone 15 lineup this fall, there will be two Apple Watch Series 9 models and an updated version of the Ultra (the watches are codenamed N207, N208 and N210)."

There was some uncertainty around whether the Apple Watch Ultra would be on an annual update cycle. Since the product is relatively expensive, it would've made sense if Apple took a longer upgrade cycle with it. However, it looks like we're about to get the second-generation model in a year.

Gurman also revealed the other products that were under development and would be arriving later, which include a larger iMac with a screen size that will be over 30 inches.

• An M3 13-inch MacBook Pro
• M3 Pro and M3 Max 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros
• 24-inch iMacs
• A new 30-inch iMac
• New MacBook Air models
• OLED iPad Pro
• A new iPad Air

Gurman also said that third-generation AirPods, smart displays, and an improved Apple TV box are also being developed. The 30-inch iMac is the most interesting one of the bunch. It's likely that it will be a part of the M3 or M4 cycle. The iMac Pro hasn't been refreshed since the Intel days, so it will be interesting to see if this iMac refresh includes a Pro model to join the lineup of the best Macs out there.

According to analyst Ross Young, the next big update to the Apple Watch Ultra with an improved microLED display is coming, but you'll have to wait until the second half of 2025.

Previously, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman had confirmed Apple was working on a microLED model and expected the huge update to the best Apple Watch to release towards the end of 2024. Now it appears that the release window is even further away than it first seemed.

Young had previously reported a 2025 release but is now expecting the microLED Apple Watch Ultra to release closer to 2026 than first anticipated. In February, Young tweeted, "While everyone else reported that the MicroLED Apple Watch would launch in 2024, we remained steadfast that it would be 2025, now essentially confirmed by its MicroLED supplier Osram."

Will a microLED Apple Watch Ultra be worth the wait?

The Apple Watch Ultra has been a massive success since releasing last year. With a bigger screen, longer battery life, and a sturdier body, the Ultra has become the go-to Apple Watch for those looking for the best of the best. 

Adding microLED technology to the Apple Watch Ultra would make the smartwatch even better and brighter for those that use the watch in direct sunlight. The Ultra is expected to be the first Apple product to incorporate microLED technology, with the iPhone and iPad likely to follow further down the line.

microLED is the latest advancement in LED displays and uses ultrafine pixels to create a sharper and brighter image. That being said, what would the benefits be over OLED on such a small display? With a couple of years to wait, watchOS may be overhauled entirely by the time this new Apple Watch Ultra brings new use cases for microLED technology and makes the best Apple Watch even better.

At Apple’s September 2022 event, the company unveiled a completely new version of the Apple Watch: the Apple Watch Ultra. The company positioned it as a smartwatch for the adventurer. Whether you are a runner, a biker, a hiker, or a diver, the Ultra was built to handle the extreme conditions that you find yourself in when you need a smartwatch to perform without worry.

This is our review of the original Apple Watch Ultra, a watch that we originally said was easily the best Apple Watch on the market – not to mention one of our favorite wearables. Fast-forward to late 2023 and the Apple Watch space has been shaken up by not only the latest Apple Watch Series 9, but the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the next-generation of the Ultra. 

This means if you want the newest and best Apple Watch, you need to look at the Ultra 2. But that doesn't mean the original Ultra isn't still worth considering. Especially now it'll be available for a reduced price – or at least, slightly reduced. With that in mind, read on for our original Apple Watch Ultra review. 

Apple Watch Ultra: Price and availability

When it was first launched, the Apple Watch Ultra retailed at $799. Back then, there was only one model, and each band option cost the same.

At that price, the Apple Watch Ultra is less expensive than any of the Apple Watch Hermès models and slightly more expensive than most of the stainless steel Apple Watch Series 8 models. And the Apple Watch Ultra is significantly less costly than previous Apple Watch Edition models that also featured a titanium body. 

The Apple Watch Ultra is available from Apple.com, Apple Stores, and numerous third-party retailers, and there are even some discounts to be found in our best Apple Watch deals.

Apple Watch Ultra: Design

I remember when I first saw the design of the Apple Watch Ultra when Apple unveiled it with its always over-the-top product introduction video. I…was not impressed. It looked more like a piece of high-end cookware than a high-tech adventure smartwatch. My first impression was that it looked too bulky for my taste. That quickly changed when I actually got my hands on it.

After using the watch over the last six months, I've come to appreciate the design. It's surprisingly light but still built like a tank, making me confident with wearing it whether I am lifting, running, hiking, backpacking, or even playing paintball. The watch has a sleek and minimalist look that goes well with any outfit, whether I’m ascending a mountain or wearing it into the office. 

Speaking of orange, the accent colors on the watch, specifically those on the Action Button and the Crown, look great. The protruded Digital Crown and Side buttons were also the right call. As someone who ends up using gloves a lot when hiking or running in colder climates, it’s been so much easier to use those functions more precisely, so that change is much appreciated.

Another key design change with the Ultra is its recessed display. The new design opts for a slight lip that protects the display from most bumps and, while I was skeptical about how effective this was going to be at the start, I can say that, so far, I have yet to damage the display in any way. This is likely also due to the updated design for the glass as well, which I’ll cover later, but the lip is also doing its job here. I am known to scratch up my Apple Watch display pretty quickly and I have not gotten even the slightest imperfection on this display so far.

The biggest surprise that I had when switching to the Apple Watch Ultra was finding out just how light it is. The Ultra is massive compared to the regular Apple Watch models, so I also expected a decent jump in weight, something that had me worried since this was supposed to be a smartwatch you used for extreme activities. No one wants to wear a brick on their wrist when trying to hit a PR. Thankfully, due to its titanium case design, the Ultra feels surprisingly light. The weight is evenly distributed and feels great whether I’m on a run, at the gym, or anything else I’m doing.

Apple Watch Ultra: Display

I have to admit, I was skeptical about the Apple Watch Ultra's display at first. I thought it would look too flat and boring compared to the cool, curved edges of the previous models. I was also worried that the increased size of the display, which dwarfs the sizes of the regular models, might end up looking ridiculous on my wrist.

After using it for the last few months, however, I'm totally hooked on the flat display. The Apple Watch Ultra’s display comes in at 410 by 502 pixels, an impressive 27% screen real estate than the Apple Watch SE. Despite that, the bezels on the Ultra are actually smaller than the Apple Watch Series 8 due to their less curved design. It looks sleek and modern, and it makes the screen feel more spacious and immersive. It’s hard to explain but the flat display does make it feel that the content on my watch is ON the display rather than submerged underneath it.

I was also concerned that the sheer increase in size might make the Apple Watch Ultra look like a behemoth on my wrist, but that also turned out just fine — at least for me. While it’s definitely bigger, it looks perfectly normal on my wrist. The Watch measures 49mm by 44mm by 14.4mm and weighs 61.3 grams. Despite the larger size of the hardware, the Ultra actually weighs less than the stainless steel 45mm Apple Watch Series 8.

After using the Ultra for just a few days when I got it back in September, I put my 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 on my wrist again and thought, “this thing looks strange.” After using the Ultra, the regular Apple Watch now looks hilariously tiny on my wrist.

That display also makes interacting with the Apple Watch much easier. With the larger screen size, Apple was able to make some small but notable changes to the user interface, making some things bigger or providing more functionality in the same space when compared to smaller models. The Messages app comes immediately to mind. I’m able to see twice as much of a message when I’m checking it out on my watch. No more scrolling to see every third line.

The brightness is also underrated. With2000 nits of brightness (same as the iPhone 14 Pro) I can easily read the time, notifications, and other data without squinting or tilting my wrist. This is especially handy when I'm on a run and want to check my pace, distance, heart rate, and other metrics.

Apple Watch Ultra: Battery Life

I love hiking and backpacking, and one of the main issues I've had with the regular Apple Watch was the battery life. It was so frustrating to have to worry about charging it with a battery bank every night or even having to charge it during a lunch break to ensure it could last until we got to camp. Sometimes, I’d be mid-day and the watch would just die, leaving me without my workout tracking and All Trails on my wrist for part of the day.

That’s no longer an issue with the Ultra. The battery on this thing is a beast — even without the low-power modes the watch can reach 36 hours of use before dying out. I’m able to get through more than two days of normal use on a single charge and have no issues when I’m backpacking now. The watch is able to get through an entire day of hiking while I’m tracking the workout and also using the watch to navigate with All Trails.

Everyone talks about range anxiety with electric cars but, until the Ultra, I had battery anxiety with my other Apple Watch models. Honestly, the same thing happened when I had the iPhone mini for a couple of years. While I miss the smaller size of the mini, it’s really nice to not sweat battery life with my iPhone 14 Pro now. The same goes for the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple Watch Ultra: Connectivity

The Apple Watch Ultra features the usual round of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and cellular connectivity, but one thing to note is that the Ultra only offers a cellular version. While other Apple Watch models like the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE 2 offer non-cellular configurations, you have to get cellular if you want the Ultra. This makes a lot of sense as, since this watch is made for adventure, as you want to ensure you have cellular connectivity when you can in order to contact people in case of an emergency.

If you do end up in an emergency like a car accident and have cellular, the Ultra includes Apple’s Crash Detection feature that will automatically detect the accident occurred and call emergency services for you. If you have your iPhone 14 with you as well, both devices will work together to detect the accident and contact emergency services.

The Ultra also gets an upgrade over other models when it comes to GPS. The Ultra gets precision dual-frequency (L1 and L5) GPS which makes the watch much more accurate at tracking your location, especially in cities. While I haven’t personally had much of an issue with the regular Apple Watch’s tracking, I’m sure this is coming in handy for those who need to track things with much higher precision than me.

Apple Watch Ultra: Features

Outside of the design, the display, and the battery life, the Apple Watch Ultra also sets itself apart from the other Apple Watch models with some exclusive features.

The most obvious one is the new Action button. It’s hard to miss — it’s a gigantic orange button on the left side of the watch that allows users to customize an action. While some in the Shortcuts community have used this to do a ton of cool stuff, I personally haven’t found a ton of use for this button. Don’t get me wrong, it is convenient to just press the button to take me into the Workout app — which is what I currently have it set to do — but it’s not a huge convenience to ask Siri to start a workout or throw a compilation on my watch face.

The Apple Watch Ultra also features an 86-decibel Siren function that can be triggered by holding down the Side button. While I haven’t needed to activate this siren yet, it does give me a little bit more peace of mind when I’m hiking in case I end up off the trail and need someone to find me.

The Ultra also gets dual speakers and a three-mic array with beamforming, some other upgrades from the other Apple Watch models. The only thing I’ve used that has given me an impression of the quality of the speakers and mics is taking a phone call from the watch. I didn’t have my old watch to compare, but I can say that I can clearly hear the person on the other side of the call and they said they could also clearly hear me.

The new watch is also built for water, including a depth gauge, water temperature sensor, and new Depth app. The Ultra is also able to be used as a dive computer for scuba divers. I’m not a diver, so I haven’t gotten to test that, but it does appear to be useful for those looking for an all-in-one watch that is also able to dive.

The Ultra is also the only Apple Watch to get the new Wayfinder watch face, which packs a ton of information into one screen. I’ve personally used this watch face exclusively since picking up the Ultra since it offers easy access to its Waypoints and Backtrack features, which allow you to mark notable locations on the trail as well as find your way back if you get lost. If you scroll upward on the Digital Crown, you can also turn on the Wayfinder watch face’s Night Mode to preserve your night vision. It’s a small but handy feature when camping.

Apple Watch Ultra: Bands

It also looks great with all of the bands that the company has released for it so far. That’s definitely due to its mostly silver design, which is hard to make look terrible with most other colors. I have both the Green Alpine Loop and the Black and Orange Trail Loop and both look fantastic with the Ultra.

The band I go to by default is definitely the Trail Loop. While the Alpine Loop looks cooler — at least to me — the Trail Loop is much better for the day-to-day. It’s the lightest of all of the bands and works great for going to the gym or going on a run. It’s also more comfortable, so it’s a better band to go to bed with if you use your watch to track your sleep as I do.

However, when I go hiking, I switch to the Alpine Loop. While it’s not as light or comfortable as the Trail Loop, it is incredibly secure due to the titanium G-hook that secures the band. Even if I hooked the band onto something, the G-hook would keep the watch on my wrist. I definitely feel more secure using the Alpine Loop for hiking, camping, and backpacking.

Apple Watch Ultra: Competition

Apple Watch Ultra's most significant competition could come from companies like Garmin, which offers an extensive lineup of smartwatches across multiple categories, including multi-sport, adventure, and swimming. Among these are the Fenix 7 and Forerunner 955.  

Depending on your needs, you'll need to decide whether these are a better choice. For adventurers not yet committed to the watchOS ecosystem, the first-generation Apple Watch Ultra might not cut, if only because it might lack some features unique to your specialty. 

If you're already familiar with Apple Watch and are dedicated to the iOS + watchOS combination, your choice might come down to the Apple Watch Ultra and a stainless steel version of the Apple Watch Series 8. The devices are nearly identical in price, so you can't base your choice on that. Instead, it probably comes down to size. If you don't believe a 49mm watch will look good on your wrist, you'll probably be better off getting a 41mm or 45mm Apple Watch Series 8. And yet, I strongly suggest you see an Apple Watch Ultra in person before making your decision. This wearable is lightweight and might not feel as big as expected. 

Apple Watch Ultra: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

You want a solid Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 8 is essentially the Apple Watch Series 7, so there's not much new here. By contrast, the Apple Watch Ultra is significantly better. However, now the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is on the market it's officially not the best.

You're even remotely into endurance or performance tasks
The Apple Watch Ultra is an outdoor beast when it comes to hiking, camping, and more.

You want longer battery life
Honestly, 36 hours vs. 18 hours is reason enough to switch. 

You shouldn't buy this if:

You're on a budget
$799 is still a lot of money. When budget is the underlying factor, consider the Apple Watch SE 2 or the regular Apple Watch (in aluminum). 

You worry about the size on your wrist
Some wrists are smaller than others, and, at least for now, Cupertino isn't offering a 41mm Apple Watch Ultra. If you're even remotely worried about the size of this Watch, I strongly recommend seeing the beast in person before making a decision, as it might surprise you. 

Apple Watch Ultra: The Verdict

After using the Apple Watch Ultra for the last six months, I have to say that it truly is the Apple Watch I’ve been waiting years for. Outside of bringing SOS via satellite to it, which will be an engineering feat if Apple could pull it off, I honestly can’t think of anything else I would want the Ultra to do.

If you’ve been holding off on picking one up due to not being sure it fulfills its promises, don’t hold off any longer. Just pick it up. You won’t regret it. Personally, I can’t see myself ever going back to a regular Apple Watch. 

Obviously, it's worth considering the Apple Watch Ultra 2 now that's available. But the original Apple Watch Ultra is still well worth your time if you're weighing up whether to buy the older model. 

The Apple Watch has come a long way in its eight years. While much of the exterior has remained the same, in theory if not in exact form, watchOS has grown from a curiosity to a competent platform for apps of all kinds.

There are some idiosyncrasies, of course (does anyone use the dock regularly? And why can’t we get third-party watch faces?), but it’s now a mature platform. And yet, for all of its focus on fitness and getting users moving, it fundamentally misunderstands a key part of exercise - recovery.

Close your rings

Laying my metaphorical cards on the table, I’ve owned multiple Apple Watch devices over the years, starting with the Series 0 and running right up to the Apple Watch Ultra. In that time, the Apple Watch has done more to get me moving than any personal trainer would have. 

The satisfying feeling of “closing your rings” on the Apple Watch has captivated budding athletes and aspirational couch potatoes the world over. It’s a simple system - you exercise for 30 minutes, you burn a set number of calories, and you stand for a short period of each hour for twelve hours of the day.

It all contributed to the aforementioned rings, and the Apple Watch subreddit is full of incredible streaks that last months and years.

The trouble is, there are days when you simply cannot close your rings, and the Apple Watch doesn’t do a great job of letting you off the hook.

"I'll do it tomorrow"

Naturally, there are days when you just want to stay indoors. Whether it’s an illness, an injury, a hangover, or any other reason (and sometimes you don’t need one), it’s OK to stay indoors.

That won’t convince your Apple Watch, though, and it’ll nudge you to step it up, even on days when you don’t want to, or can’t.

For the most part, that’s fine – there have been days where the telltale vibration on my wrist has got me to push myself out the front door for a walk, but some days it’s simply not good for you.

The power of recovery

If you’re working out regularly, you’ll likely know that exercise, such as lifting weights, shreds your muscle with micro-tears in the muscle fibers, leading to growth through recovery.

Working out every day doesn’t give these tears a chance to heal, increasing the chances of injury. That muscle reparation can also help muscles return stronger, too, so strength training is just as much about your days off as your days at the gym.

The same can be said of cardio exercises, with exercise eating into your muscles’ glycogen levels. Without that, they’ll ache even when you’re sitting still, meaning if you’re working out a lot, you’ll need a rest day of some description.

Naturally, that rest day can be a relaxing stroll, but that may not be enough to hit your defined calorie goal on the Apple Watch.

A lack of rest day can also bring on mental fatigue, with a feeling of exhaustion that can affect concentration and even your memory. 

Apple is lagging behind

The biggest surprise, however, is that this isn’t new information - and other fitness trackers and apps do a much better job of handling rest days.

Fitbod, for example, which is a popular fitness app for all sorts of workouts, can track muscle fatigue depending on exercises. As an example, bicep curls will wear out your biceps, and the app will (unless overridden) not work those muscles until they’re recovered.

Perhaps the north star Apple should look to, however, is Fitbit. The company’s premium-only Daily Readiness Score feature offers an easily-digestible score that factors in a variety of data points.

Late night with disturbed sleep? That’ll knock your score by a few points. Big workout and a stressful workday? Maybe you can skip that gym session and have an early night.

Oura Rings and other hardware understand the sanctity of rest, but Apple seems insistent on pushing for workouts every day. For the most part, that’s fine, but keep in mind that it’s OK to take things a little slower.

On days when you’re tired or stressed, being nudged to “do more” can send you in the opposite direction to what Apple had intended - just be prepared to say no.

Apple has changed its stance on what people should do if their iPhone or Apple Watch calls emergency services when they aren't needed.

The iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra all support Crash Detection — a feature that can detect when someone has been in a car crash and then call for emergency services automatically. But it's a feature that's caused more than a few unrequited calls to go into call centers around the world and Apple has changed what it wants people to do if they find themselves initiating a call that they don't need.

Don't cancel the call, Apple says. Even if you're perfectly fine.

Faux crashes detected

Ever since Crash Detection launched there have been reports of rollercoasters and skiing falls causing it to trigger, calling emergency services as a result. Apple previously told users to "tap Cancel and confirm that you don't need emergency services" if they didn't need help. But it's now changed that wording.

The change, which was made to a support document and spotted by MacRumors, now tells people that they should let the call connect and explain the situation.

"If the call has been made, but you don't need emergency services, don't hang up," Apple says. "Wait until a responder answers, then explain that you don't need help."

It appears that Apple wants to ensure service responders are not left wondering if the call dropped by accident and whether someone is hurt. By canceling the call people were leaving things open-ended. By letting the call connect, they can explain that a false call was placed and that no assistance is required.

Apple has been tweaking its Crash Detection system to try and prevent false emergency calls, but some are sure to get through. The feature is only available on the best Apple Watches and iPhones to date, but as it trickles down to more handsets we can surely expect even more calls to be made to emergency services in error.

The Apple Watch Ultra is the undisputed king of wearables right now. It's big and beautiful and it's a dive computer. But now there's an equally big dive computer on the scene. And it might be even better.

In fact, some might even say it's the Ultimate diving smartwatch.

Others would call it the Huawei Watch Ultimate.

Just look at it

There's no denying that the Apple Watch Ultra is the best Apple Watch money can buy today, but the laughably-named Huawei Watch Ultimate seems to tick a lot of boxes.

Those boxes start with a big and bright 1.5-inch AMOLED display that's housed beneath a sapphire crystal to ensure scratches are kept to a minimum. Maximum 1,000-nit peak brightness isn't to be sniffed at and could come in very handy the next time you're underwater.

Speaking of water, the Huawei Watch Ultimate loves it. TechRadar notes that it's rated for depths of more than 100m for up to 24 hours, which is a lot longer than anyone should want to spend that deep. Or in water at all, for that matter. It's also passed diving tests and has officially been awarded the ISO 22810 standard.

Much of that won't mean an awful lot to a ton of people, which is fine. Because all you have to do is look at this thing to know it's a dive watch. The bezel and liquid metal casing just drive home that point.

In terms of smarts, Expedition Mode switches to dual-positioning GNSS satellites for more accurate placement on maps. Then there are the SpO2 measurements it'll take. Oh and the claimed 14-day battery life which is, frankly, impressive.

The downside? We don't know how much Huawei will sell this thing for when it goes on sale on April 3, 2023. We do know that it'll launch in the U.K. and Europe as well, although there's no word on the United States for obvious reasons.

You don’t need to be following the Apple rumor mill too closely to know that there are big changes coming with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. One of those changes is the removal of real, clicky buttons in favor of something new. But just how new will Apple go?

We’ve been hearing rumors about Apple ditching clicky volume buttons for months now, going back to 2022. Recent leaks show CAD images that appear to depict the changes well — Apple will remove the two volume buttons and replace them with a single touch-sensitive button instead.

But there’s something else. Another button. One that looks set to replace the mute switch. But what else can it do and could Apple take a cue from one of its more recent releases, the Apple Watch Ultra?

Muted mute button

First, a recap.

Apple’s iPhones have had a mute switch since the get-go. The OG iPhone had a mute switch way back in 2007 and it’s been one of the many things Android owners wished their own devices would have. A quick way to stop the iPhone from making noise, perfect for going into a meeting for example.

Now, it looks like the switch is going away. There’s a button in its place, according to these CAD images, which suggests to anyone paying attention that pressing the button will mute the phone come iPhone 15 Pro time. Press it again, and the phone’s back to making noise.

That’s less than ideal for one key reason — there will be no hardware visualization to show whether the phone is muted or not. That isn’t great, and I have been known to put my hand in my pocket to feel which position the mute switch is in. I won’t be doing that anymore.

But that’s OK so long as Apple does one thing — turns that faux mute switch into an Action button, just like Apple Watch Ultra.

Faux Action button

The Apple Watch Ultra is the best Apple Watch for a variety of reasons, but one of those reasons is the addition of an extra button that can be programmed to do just about anything. By default, it can start a workout and whatnot, but with Shortcuts support it can then be configured to do all kinds of things. Want to press a button and have a new task created in OmniFocus? No problem. Run some sort of smart home automation? Sure, why not?

The same can be said for anything else that the Shortcuts app supports on the Apple Watch. So how cool would it be if Apple brought the same capabilities to its best iPhone?

Sure, you could still have that button behave like a mute switch if you wanted to. But what if pressing that same button could start a navigation for work, or show you the latest bus times, or when your flight will land, or… you get the idea. It could even open a menu created in Shortcuts that then branches out into all of the things you most often use your iPhone for.

The sky really is the limit here, but it’ll all only work if Apple lets it. There’s no suggestion that there will be any extra buttons on the iPhones this time around, so a dedicated bright orange Action button isn’t happening. But being able to repurpose the mute button would be the next best thing and it’s something I’m absolutely here for.

Unfortunately, none of this would come to the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus because they aren’t going to get the same titanium refresh and button delete, but maybe next time? For now, the Action button could be another key differentiator as Apple seeks to show people why they should go Pro this time around.