Apple Watch Ultra (2022)

Highly durable build Luxury materials Three-day battery life Expertly judged special features Characterful design Does everything the Series 8 does LTE as standard

Twice the price of the Series 8

“The Apple Watch Ultra's expertly made special features give it surprisingly wide appeal, with the long battery life and characterful, luxurious design making it a fantastic choice even for those not planning any daring adventures.”

Improved battery on previous Apple Watches ; Surprisingly light design ; Good sports tracking performance ; Bigger, brighter Retina display

It’s not cheap ; Design could be sleeker ; Some outdoor features are a work in progress ; New straps are a mixed bag

The Apple Watch Ultra is a great smartwatch that takes everything you get from the Series 8 and gives it a design and feature set update and greater battery life to make it a much better companion on hikes and long runs as well as for more extreme use...

Comfortable for the size ; Best battery life of any Apple Watch ; Comprehensive safety features ; Action button! ; Big screen is good for readability ; Improved durability ; All models come with cellular

Lacks recovery metrics ; No offline maps or turn-by-turn navigation ; More aspirational than hardcore ; Size may be too big for very petite wrists

Update, December 21, 11:00 AM ET : Updated to include results from further testing and the Ultra review video.

Feels big and solid ; Great screen ; Easy to use on the go

Design won’t suit everyone ; Battery life not a match for some sports watches

The Apple Watch Ultra is big and bold, and has the performance to back that up. Whether you’re an athlete or just want the very best, you won’t be disappointed in this device. The combination of an incredible screen, a larger battery and a seriously...

Comfortable and breathable ; Secure and highly adjustable ; The lightest, thinnest strap you can get ; Very secure, thanks to the G-hook ; Comfortable ; Good if you’re hiking in the rain ; The most fashion-forward of the three ; Definitely waterproof

It’s $99! ; So-so color options ; It’s $99!! ; G-hook is hard to take off quickly ; The orange one is ; so ; orange ; Did I mention it’s $99?! ; The removable clasp is finicky ; Not great for small wrists

If it’s simply a matter of aesthetics, I’d rather buy a third-party band. For $99, you could get at least six or seven attractive bands on Amazon, Etsy, and a dozen other places. Truly, there’s no limit to the styles and aesthetics you can find outside...

Highly rugged and water resistant ; Much better battery life than other Apple watches ; Customizable Action button ; Emergency siren ; Cellular connectivity comes standard ; Louder speaker than Series 8 ; Tactile buttons work with gloved hands ;...

Large ; Expensive ; Digital Crown may irritate skin

Though bulky and expensive, the rugged Apple Watch Ultra is an excellent adventure-focused wearable with features that encourage exploration and keep you safe in the wild.

Bold, utilitarian design ; Gorgeous display ; Action button unlocks a ton of functionality ; Really strong battery life ; Impressive athlete-tier fitness tracking

Not for small wrists ; Expensive ; You could probably get away with the Series 8

For professional athletes, the Apple Watch Ultra is the most fitting option, but what about regular people like me? It’s still an optimal choice for the average Joe with a big, beautiful display, that customizable action button and a ridiculous battery...