Apple Watch Ultra Features and Functionalities - An In-depth Guide

On September 7, 2022, Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra with a new, striking, and sturdy design and a host of features. This Watch is specially made for those who are adventurous and like to explore and push their limits of endurance. This Apple Watch Ultra features a 49mm titanium case and a flat sapphire from crystal, making it the brightest and the biggest Apple Watch display to date. 

Well, these elements are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Apple Watch Ultra features. Let’s break them down in our detailed guide on the Apple Watch Ultra. 

Better In Every Domain

The Apple Watch Ultra is cast from aerospace-grade titanium striking a perfect balance of durability, weight, and corrosion resistance. It has raised edges that cover all edges of the flat sapphire front crystal, which further protects the Retina display (the display is 2000 nits and twice as bright as any Apple Watch display). 

Its new and improved Action button is easily customizable to access a wide range of features such as Compass Waypoints, Workouts, Backtrack, and more. On top of that, the new Watch has three in-built microphones that enhance the sound of calls significantly. 

Apple Watch Ultra features a beam-forming algorithm that helps microphones capture voice and reduce ambient background noise. When the conditions get windy, the Watch Ultra uses wind noise-reduction algorithms and machine learning for clear audio calls. 

Great for Endurance Sports and Elite Athletes

The Watch Ultra is a great tool for elite athletes or for people who like to push the limits of their endurance. For the first time, Apple Watch Ultra features a dual-frequency GPS, which leverages both L1 and L5 positioning algorithms. Thus, it makes the Watch Ultra the most GPS-precise Apple Watch yet. It provides the most accurate pace, distance, and route data for competing as well as training. 

It's no surprise that this Watch has WatchOS 9, which has the most advanced running metrics that measure performance such as Ground Contact Time, Stride Length, Running Power, and Vertical Oscillation. The Watch Ultra has New Workout Views like Elevation, Splits, and Segments, which offer six vital metrics all thanks to its largest display to date. 

If a user’s training is getting a little stagnant, they can take it up a notch with features such as Custom Workouts, Heart Rate Zones, Pacer, and Race Route, which will be launched later this year. For people interested in duathlons, triathlons, or activities that include biking, swimming, or running, the Watch Ultra has the Multisport workout, which auto detects these activities. To top it all off, the Apple Watch Ultra has a 36-hour-long battery life that can last for a triathlon, consisting of a 112-mile bike ride, 2.4-mile swim, and full marathon at 26.2 miles. 

With the Action button, you can instantly start a workout and move to the next interval of a custom workout. It can also enhance a runner's track experience as it offers accurate distance and pacing estimates. 

Crash Detection

Next in the long list of Apple Watch Ultra features is its crash detection. It has an advanced sensor fusion algorithm and two new motion sensors that can detect severe car crashes. When the sensors are triggered, the Watch Ultra will flash a message on the screen to turn off the SOS emergency feature. If not turned off, the device will automatically dial the number of the emergency contacts and share your device’s location. It can tremendously help response teams to reach you on site as fast as possible. 

SOS Siren Feature

This feature is ideal for users who love to go trekking. In case you or your partner gets lost, this feature can help find you or your partner. When this feature is triggered, the device will transmit an 86-decibel siren, which will have a unique sound signature. The Watch Ultra has two different sound patterns. The first one suggests distress, whereas the second one copies the universally identified SOS pattern. Both these patterns can repeat themselves for several hours. 

Skin Temperature Sensing 

For the first time, temperature sensors have been introduced in an Apple Watch. To reduce the bias from the ambient environment, the Watch Ultra has a two-sensor design. With this feature, the users can receive ovulation estimates, which can help in family planning. The temperature sensors can also provide an enhanced period prediction. 

New Wayfinder Watch Face

The big Apple Watch Ultra display houses a Wayfinder watch face, which has a compass built into the dial. The dial can be further customized for the ocean, mountain, or trial. 

36-hour Battery

Compared to a single day’s battery backup in previous Apple Watches, the Watch Ultra can last up to 36 hours with normal use. Furthermore, with a low-power setting, you can extend it up to 60 hours. 

Rugged

Without a question, Apple Watch Ultra is the most rugged in its lineup. It is certified for MIL-STD-810H, which is used for military equipment. According to Apple, the tests include High Temperature, Low Pressure (Altitude), Temperature Shock, Low Temperature, Freeze/Thaw, Contamination by Fluids, Humidity, Rain, Sand, Immersion, and Dust, Shock, Vibration, Ice/Freezing Rain, and more.

For better visibility in the evening, you can turn the Digital Crown, which makes the interface red and increases visibility in the dark. It is designed for extreme water sports such as wakeboarding, kitesurfing, and scuba diving up to 40 meters. To make these sports adventures possible, the Watch Ultra is WR100 certified.

Apple has partnered with Huish Outdoors, a company that delivers reliable and innovative recreational diving equipment. Together they have created the new Oceanic+ app that makes the Watch Ultra a very competent dive computer. 

The app uses the Bühlmann decompression algorithm, which includes easy-to-read dive metrics, dive planning, no-decompression limit, visual and haptic alerts, safety stop guidance, and ascent rate. 

The Oceanic+ app also offers a user profile with a personalized dive logbook, and reports on current and local dive conditions, which can be shared with friends and family and it syncs with the iPhone automatically. This app will be available to all from this fall. 

Mike Huish, the CEO of Huish Outdoors said that they are thrilled to partner with Apple and combine their expertise to turn an everyday watch into an innovative dive computer. 

New Bands

With the new Watch Ultra, comes three new bands, Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band. These bands offer a unique design and a comfortable and secure fit for all adventures. The Alpine Loop has two integrated layers crafted from one perpetual weaving process that removes the need for stitching. 

The Trail Loop is the slimmest Apple Watch band yet. It is both flexible and soft due to its lightweight woven textile, and the presence of a convenient tab is ideal for easy and quick adjustments. Lastly, the Ocean Band is specifically designed for recreational diving and extreme water sports with a spring-loaded loop and a titanium buckle. 

Additional Features

The Apple Watch Ultra features all the activity, connectivity, and health features that an Apple Watch has, putting it on top of the smartwatch space. It has features such as ECG and Blood Oxygen apps, heart rate monitoring, activity rings, and mindfulness with some extra safety, health, and navigation features. 

On top of everything, it is designed to reduce its impact on the environment. Its several printed circuit boards are made from recycled gold. The Taptic Engine has 100 percent recycled tungsten and all magnets have 100 percent recycled elements. The display glass is arsenic-free, mercury, PVC-, BFR-, and beryllium-free. Also, the packaging of the Apple Watch doesn’t have any plastic, which moves it closer to its goal of removing plastic from its packaging by 2025. 

The Best Apple Watch Yet?

Apple has knocked it out of the park with the Apple Watch Ultra. This rugged watch is ideal for people who love outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, trekking, recreational diving, and more. Not that this, elite athletes who run the duathlons and triathlons can also benefit from all the health features. With long-lasting battery life, it is the best Apple Watch yet. However, the Apple we know never stops innovating and the upgraded version of the already incredible Apple Watch Ultra will be out before we know it.

Apple Watch Ultra features - FAQs