Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: A Different Breed of Smartwatch

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The best-selling watch in the world is the Apple Watch, with over 300 million units sold. Is that hard to believe? Yes, if you look at the Apple Watch as a watch. Stay with me.

I don't particularly see it as a watch first, but rather as a companion to the iPhone in a watch's body. And that's how the Apple Watch started. Over the years, it has grown and evolved from being a companion to your health, a fun fitness tracker and, more recently, a device touted as a medical-grade health tracker. Apple has even gone as far as to claim that its latest-generation watches have the "most accurate heart sensing in a wearable".

As for me, I've never been a watch guy, although I've owned an Apple Watch for the past three years, primarily for fitness tracking. However, I'd never experienced the Apple Watch Ultra, for a few reasons I'll get into.

Built for the Ultras

First of all, the Apple Watch Ultra is for the ultras: ultra-runners, marathoners, Ironman athletes and people who push themselves to their physical limits. Even the unboxing experience reflects that. The packaging features decals and details that lean into ruggedness, the outdoors and adventure. It's a nice touch, and Apple has always been good at making unboxing a part of the overall product experience.

The first reason I've never paid much attention to the Ultra is its size. It's big, rugged and, to me, a computer on your wrist. I prefer a more flush, minimal look, but I understand the thinking behind the design. This is a rugged watch built for rugged purposes. It's made from titanium, available in Natural and Black finishes, with orange accents on the Digital Crown and Action Button.

However, this isn't a watch you can wear just anywhere and expect it to blend in effortlessly. Compared with the regular Apple Watch Series 12, the Ultra's size and rugged styling make it stand out a bit too much, particularly with formal wear. The Series 12 can be paired with a sleek band and fit into almost any setting, whereas the Ultra has a much more pronounced presence on the wrist.

So, in those first few days, I wasn't particularly taken with the watch or convinced that it fitted into my lifestyle.

A Bigger Apple Watch, On Steroids

Moving from my Apple Watch Series 6's 44mm display to the Ultra's 49mm screen is quite a change. The display is crisp, bright and very easy to read outdoors. It's not that the Series 6 has a bad display, but when you put the two generations of hardware into perspective, you can see the difference. The Ultra's screen is a pleasure to look at, and the additional size makes everything feel more spacious.

Apple Watch Series 6 vs Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro vs Apple Watch Ultra 4 sizes

As far as usability goes, watchOS remains familiar, so there wasn't a major learning curve. There are a few differences, including the Action Button and the ability to use a full-screen keyboard directly on the watch. Essentially, it's a bigger Apple Watch on steroids, but without feeling particularly heavy on the wrist.

My favourite feature is the Action Button. Being able to customise it to launch a workout, recognise music through Shazam or turn on the flashlight with a single press is genuinely useful. It gives you quick access to functions you might otherwise have to navigate through menus to find, making the watch feel more convenient in everyday use.

For the most part, I used the Ultra in the same way I used my Series 6. My daily habits didn't suddenly change just because I had a bigger, more rugged watch on my wrist. The real difference came down to the additional features and the wealth of information the Ultra 4 gives you access to. And that's where the experience starts to become more interesting.

Built for the Ultras, but Not Necessarily Better at Fitness

The Apple Watch Ultra is designed for the ultras, but is its fitness tracking really that different from the regular Apple Watch Series? Not necessarily. When you compare it with the newer Series models, much of the core fitness-tracking functionality is shared. The Ultra's more specialised hardware includes a depth gauge for underwater activities and dual-frequency GPS, which can improve location accuracy in challenging environments. However, for everyday workouts, much of what makes the Apple Watch a capable fitness tracker is already available on the regular Series models.

In my experience, the Ultra 4 has been exceptional during the runs I've done with it. You get the information you'd expect, including heart-rate readings and pace, presented in an intuitive way that makes it easy to follow your performance while running. There's nothing particularly revolutionary about the way it tracks these metrics, but it does the job very well.

I also compared it with the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, and the two weren't far apart in my testing. Running the same route, the Huawei appeared to be about 20 metres behind, while the heart-rate readings never differed by more than 3 bpm. The GPS tracking and route mapping were precise, and both watches delivered remarkably similar results. Based on these runs, the Ultra performed exceptionally well, but it wasn't demonstrating a dramatic advantage over a much less expensive fitness watch.

There are also newer software features to consider, including training readiness insights, HRV tracking and more sleep tracking insights, although availability depends on the watch model and software version. Apple's planned improvements to Siri and its training features could add another dimension to the experience, but those benefits will depend on which features are actually released and supported.

Additional sleep tracking metrics were very welcome

Ultimately, fitness tracking isn't where the Ultra distinguishes itself most clearly from the regular Apple Watch Series. You get some additional data and specialised capabilities, particularly for underwater activities and more demanding outdoor pursuits, but those extras will matter more to some users than others. For someone like me, who runs occasionally and wants reliable workout data, the regular Apple Watch already does much of what I need. The Ultra's real advantage starts to become clearer when we talk about battery life.

The Battery Is the Real Ultra Advantage

Apple has traditionally described the Apple Watch's battery life as lasting "all day", rather than giving users a figure in hours. With the Ultra, however, Apple quotes up to 50 hours, and in my experience, that claim holds up remarkably well. I managed at least three full days of regular use, including workouts, and by day four, I still had around 20% battery remaining. With the Always-On Display enabled, I was getting around 55 hours.

I managed to get at least 3 day of use on a full charge

Coming from an Apple Watch Series 6, the difference is substantial. With the regular Series models, charging becomes part of your daily routine. With the Ultra, you're looking at charging roughly three times a week, depending on how you use it. That's a significant part of the appeal, and it helps explain why the Ultra has become popular with everyday users who aren't necessarily marathon runners or extreme sports enthusiasts. Some people simply want an Apple Watch that lasts longer.

Charging is impressive, too. In my experience, 30 minutes was enough to take the watch from empty to around 50%, while a full charge took a little over an hour. Its power consumption is particularly noticeable during workouts. I started a 5 km run with the watch fully charged and finished with the battery still showing 100%.

Battery was still at 100% after a 5km run

For those tackling longer distances, Apple also offers Extended Workout and Max Extended Workout modes, designed to extend battery life during supported workouts by reducing the frequency of certain measurements and the amount of information recorded. That makes sense for an ultra-marathon, where conserving power over many hours matters more than recording every metric as frequently as you might during a shorter 5 km run.

Ultimately, battery life is where the Apple Watch Ultra makes its strongest case. It isn't necessarily the rugged design or the specialised features that make it appealing to a wider audience, but the freedom of not having to charge it every day. The regular Apple Watch Series models still offer much of the fitness tracking most people need, and I would personally still prefer the Series 12 because charging has never been a major issue for me. But if battery life is your priority, the gap between the two becomes much harder to ignore.

A Little Too Ultra for Me

After spending time with the Apple Watch Ultra 4, I can appreciate what makes it appealing, but it isn't game-changing enough to convince me to switch. The form factor remains my biggest sticking point, and while the extra battery life is a significant bonus, it's not enough to sway me. Fast charging on the regular Apple Watch Series models has been more than sufficient for my needs, so going several days between charges isn't a priority.

I'm also not an ultra-runner, cyclist or diver, which means many of the Ultra's more specialised features are lost on me. This is a watch designed for people who push their training and outdoor adventures further, and it makes sense that those users would appreciate its rugged construction, specialised tools and extended battery life far more than I do.

The Ultra's appeal becomes clearer when you consider its competition. Watches from Garmin and Huawei cater to users who prioritise dedicated fitness tracking, training metrics and endurance. However, choosing a different fitness watch can mean giving up some of the convenience of Apple's integration with the iPhone. For me, that ecosystem is one of the Apple Watch's biggest strengths. A competing watch might be objectively better suited to certain fitness needs, but the ease of use and seamless integration of the Apple ecosystem can be enough to make someone choose the Apple Watch instead.

As for me, I see the appeal, but the Ultra isn't my watch. I enjoyed using it during the review period, and moving from my Series 6 was certainly eye-opening. It showed me just how much the Apple Watch experience has evolved, particularly in terms of battery life and the amount of information available to users. But the Ultra was simply a little too ultra for me, a little too professional for the way I use a smartwatch.

For those who regularly run ultra-marathons or spend long hours cycling and exploring the outdoors, however, the combination of battery life and ruggedness makes a compelling case. The Ultra knows its audience. I'm just not quite part of it.

A Premium Watch for a Particular Kind of Athlete

Starting at R17,799, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a bit much for a watch, at least for me. But then again, this isn't a watch designed for someone like me. When you look at the wider market for premium sports watches, the Ultra 4 sits somewhere in the middle. You can find options from Huawei and Samsung for less, while some of Garmin's high-end watches can cost considerably more.

For endurance athletes who use an iPhone, the Ultra 4 makes a compelling case. You get the battery life, rugged construction and specialised fitness features you'd expect from a watch in this category, alongside the convenience of Apple's ecosystem. That last part matters more than you might think.

Switching from my Apple Watch Series 6 to the Ultra 4 for this review was incredibly simple. My existing data remained intact, and the transition felt almost effortless. It was like switching shoes: familiar, comfortable and ready to go without having to start from scratch. That seamless experience is one of Apple's biggest strengths, and it's a major reason someone might choose the Ultra over a dedicated sports watch from another brand.

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a good buy for the right person. If you're an endurance athlete who wants a rugged watch with excellent battery life without giving up the iPhone ecosystem, there's plenty to like. For everyone else, particularly those who mainly use their watch for everyday notifications, health tracking and occasional workouts, the regular Apple Watch Series remains a compelling alternative.

I enjoyed my time with the Ultra 4, and coming from a Series 6, it was an eye-opening experience. But the size, rugged design and specialised features aren't enough to make me switch. The Ultra is an excellent watch for the people who need what it offers. I'm just not one of them.