As an avid camper, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast, I was excited to test out the Apple Watch Ultra, the latest addition to Apple’s smartwatch line-up. Although my Series 3 Apple Watch was good at tracking my workouts and logging my heart rate, it was no match for the Ultra’s new features.
Together with a team of gear testers, athletes, mountaineers, and adventurers, I spent three days in different environments, putting the Ultra’s new features to the test. The Apple Watch Ultra is built for the outdoors, and here’s why:
Battery Life: With up to 60 hours of battery life on Low Power Mode, the Apple Watch Ultra is ideal for multi-day adventures. This is a significant improvement over Apple’s previous watches, which needed to be charged every night.
GPS and Compass: The Ultra uses dual-frequency GPS for precise location tracking. The redesigned Compass includes Waypoints to mark places of interest, such as your car or tent. With Backtrack, you can drop digital breadcrumbs as you hike, allowing you to retrace your steps using your Ultra’s GPS.
Emergency Features: The Apple Watch Ultra includes several new emergency features that are incredibly useful for anyone adventuring in remote areas. Emergency SOS via satellite allows you to connect with emergency services using your iPhone 14 and communicate via text with an emergency responder. You can share your Medical ID, emergency contact information, and exact location.
The Ultra also has Fall Detection and Crash Detection, which are designed to detect severe falls and car crashes and trigger Emergency SOS if you don’t respond. The Emergency Siren is activated by holding down the Action button and sounds an 86-decibel siren to draw attention to your location. As a woman who frequently travels alone, this is an invaluable safety tool.
Design: The Apple Watch Ultra has a sleek 49-millimetre aerospace-grade titanium case that is corrosion-resistant and waterproof up to 100 metres. While the Ultra is a statement piece, I appreciate its larger size and smooth edges. Three active bands are available for alpine explorers, ocean adventurers, and endurance athletes, while the standard 45-millimetre bands are compatible with the Ultra for everyday wear.
Diving: For scuba divers, the Apple Watch Ultra is a game-changer. The new Oceanic+ app, designed with Huish Outdoors, transforms your watch into a dive computer with all the features you need for recreational diving to 40 metres. The Ultra tracked my depth, water temperature, dive time, and my full dive profile, and it even buzzed when I got close to my no-deco time or when it was time for a safety stop. The watch locks so you don’t have to fiddle with the touch screen while underwater, and the larger Digital Crown is handy and can easily be used with cold fingers.
In conclusion, the Apple Watch Ultra is an excellent tool for anyone who loves the outdoors. It offers a range of features that are specifically designed for adventuring, including improved battery life, GPS and compass, emergency features, and scuba diving capabilities. While it may be pricier than other smartwatches on the market, the Apple Watch Ultra is worth the investment for anyone who spends time exploring the great outdoors.
