When I reviewed last year Apple Watch Ultra 3, I called them the holy grail of all fans Apple WatchAnd although this label may seem a bit exaggerated, I stand by my assessment at the time. Ultra because in my opinion they represent practically everything that Apple Watch I love it, only in a much more durable body, with better GPS, a larger display and, most importantly, a battery that allows you to stop constantly thinking about when you will have to charge the watch again. But while last year I was on Ultra viewed primarily as a technologically extremely interesting product, this year I tested it Apple Watch Ultra 4 got me into a slightly different situation. I started to seriously think about whether I should Ultra were not intended to definitively replace the classic Apple Watch Series that I have been using for many years.
There are several reasons, but the main one is paradoxically something as simple as battery life. As I've been running more and more in recent months, I've been trying to track my sleep regularly while also using all the health features that Apple Watch offer, the one-day battery life of the classic Series is starting to feel like an increasingly limited one. In fact, during recent testing Apple Watch Series 12 I realized that Apple wants us to wear the watch practically all the time, but in the classic series it still doesn't give us a battery big enough for that. And that's exactly Ultra 4 have shown me over the past few weeks how nice it can be when this problem practically disappears. But enough of the introductory talk, let's get straight to the review.
Technical Specifications
Apple Watch Ultra 4 are available in a single 49mm version with a titanium case, in natural or black variante, while the design is the same as the previous generation. The dimensions of the watch are 49 x 44 x 12 mm and the weight is 63 or 63,1 grams depending on the selected version. The display is always on LTPO3 OLED Retina panel with a resolution of 422 x 514 pixels, an area of 1245 mm² and maxwith a maximum brightness of 3000 nits. MiniThe minimum brightness, on the other hand, reaches a single nit, which is useful, for example, when using the watch at night. The display itself is protected by sapphire crystal, so it should be very difficult to scratch.
Inside the watch you will find the S11 chip with a 64-bit dual-core processor, quad-core Neural Engine and 64GB of storage. Of course, there is also cellular connectivity including support for 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, second generation ultrabroadband chip or precise dual-frequency GPS using the L1 and L5 bands. Ultra 4 also has two speakers, a three-microphone system, a siren, a depth gauge up to 40 meters and water resistance up to 100 meters. Dust resistance meets the IP6X specification.
I deliberately left the most important parameter blank.onec. Apple namely u Ultra 4 promises up to 50 hours of normal use, 84 hours in low power mode, and up to 18 hours of standard outdoor exercise measurement. Compared to last year's Ultra 3, which offered up to 42 hours of regular use, is a nice eight-hour improvement. The difference is even more significant compared to the classic Apple Watch Series 12, whose endurance reaches maxat least 24 hours of normal use. Ultra 4 will last more than twice as long on paper, which is a really significant difference in my opinion. Fast charging can then get the battery from zero to 80% in about 45 minutes, while just 15 minutes of charging should be enough for up to 18 hours of normal use. The price starts at 21,990 CZK and actually depends only on the strap you choose for the watch. The body is still in one configuration, except for the color, unlike the Series models.
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Processing and design
Apple Watch Ultra I've had the 4 on my wrist for the last two weeks or so, and as a long-time Series user, I have to admit that before switching from the classic Apple Watch na Ultra model, I was a little worried about their dimensions and especially their weight. After all, I have been used to relatively light and inconspicuous watches for many years, which I practically don't notice on my wrist, while Ultra At first glance, they are significantly larger, more massive and heavier. However, when I put them on for the first time, I realized that I was completely unwarranted in my fears, because after about ten minutes I got so used to their weight that I practically stopped noticing that I had anything different on my hand than before.
Of course I'm not saying they are Ultra 4 as light as the classic Series, as the difference is noticeable from the first grip and in direct comparison the classic feels Apple Watch significantly more massive. However, wearing it itself is quite another matter. Once the watch is well "settled" on the wrist and one gets used to its dimensions, the higher weight is not as significant a problem as the paper specifications might suggest. At least in my case, the switch to Ultra 4 certainly didn't mean any discomfort.
What I liked immediately, however, was the overall workmanship. Ultra 4 looks incredibly honest and somehow different from the Series models. The titanium body, the prominent crown protection, the robust buttons and the overall more massive construction give this model the impression of a product that must really endure a lot. Just to give you an idea, from the classic Apple Watch I feel like I'm holding mostly elegant electronics. Ultra But the 4 feels more like a real sports tool to me, which by the way is also a very capable smartwatch, which I actually quite enjoy.
I also quickly grew to like the action button on the left side, although this is nothing new for the series. UltraI admit that as a long-time user of classic Apple Watch before testing, I didn't think it was something that would affect me Apple Watch Series was somehow fundamentally missing. However, when you regularly run or do anything else, the ability to launch a selected function with a single physical press starts to make a lot of sense. Suddenly I don't have to click through menus on the display, deal with its operation with sweaty fingers, or think about where exactly to tap. ProI just press a button and the watch does what I expect it to do, which is simple, fast, and surprisingly addictive.
But, not to just praise, I do have one complaint. It seems to me that Ultra 4 are a little more "stupid" than the classic ones Apple Watch. In my observation, fingerprints and various smudges are more easily visible on the display (maybe because it is not curved, but completely flat), so I sometimes had to wipe it more often than I was used to with the Series. Of course, this is nothing major and certainly not a problem that would affect the functionality of the watch. But if I have to look for something that annoyed me a little during everyday use, it is this little thing.
Otherwise, however, I don't like the construction Ultra 4 really like it and what is perhaps even more important, after a few days of use their size started to feel completely natural to me. However, I repeat again that this is not really anything new under the sun, because we are still talking about the same design Apple Watch Ultra, which Apple he has already shown it several times in previous years.
A battery that changes the way you use it
If I had to choose one thing I would be willing to do from the classics... Apple Watch or even older models Ultra na Ultra 4 to go, it would definitely be the battery. And I say this objectively as someone who, just a few years ago, considered one-day battery life Apple Watch It's perfectly adequate. However, times are changing, as is the way I use my watch, and while I used to focus on notifications, quickly handling messages, controlling music, and occasionally recording sports activities, today they are more important to me. Apple Watch a much more important assistant for running and health monitoring. So with that, the need to charge it daily starts to become increasingly annoying.
Ultra The 4 was an eye-opener in this regard. In my typical usage, it can usually handle two runs and three nights of sleep tracking without needing to be charged, which is something the classic Series simply can't offer. Suddenly, I don't have to worry every night about how much battery I have left, whether I have enough energy to track my sleep, or whether the watch will last me through the next run. Apple Watch Ultra 4 I simply "just" carry it, use it and only start charging it when I really need it. It may sound trivial, but in my opinion, it is these little things that determine how pleasant a person's life with electronics is.
It is all the more pleasant that Apple He wasn't just satisfied with longer battery life, he also worked on charging. Ultra 4 can gain energy for up to 18 hours of regular use in just 15 minutes, which, combined with their durability, seems absolutely fantastic to me. You just need to put the watch on the charger for a while, for example while taking a shower, and you have enough energy for long hours of use. While with classic Apple Watch I've been feeling lately that I have to adjust my day to their charging, Ultra 4 is practically the opposite. The watch adapts to me.
It is here, unsurprisingly, that I think we need to look for one of the biggest reasons why Ultra It's not just that they have more than twice the battery life on paper compared to the Series 12. During testing, I fully realized that it's about the freedom that you get. When you want to Apple Watch If you want to use it at night, exercise regularly, and don't want to constantly monitor the battery percentage, the difference between a one-day and multi-day watch is really huge.
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Running and GPS: The difference you can really see
In addition to endurance, I was at Ultra 4 also very curious about the accuracy of the GPS. After all, running is one of the main reasons why I am thinking about switching to Ultra began to think more seriously. And since I also had at my disposal Apple Watch Series 12, I decided to pit both generations against each other in the conditions in which I normally use the watch.
My brother and I go running together quite often, and one of our routes runs mostly through city streets, an environment where houses and other obstacles can complicate GPS signal reception. This is where dual-frequency GPS should be Ultra 4 using the L1 and L5 bands has an advantage over the single-frequency GPS L1 in the Series 12. And it turned out that this advantage definitely does not have to exist only on paper.
During one of our runs together, we noticed a very interesting difference. We both completed practically the same route in the same time, while Ultra 4 measured a distance of 7,20 kilometers, while the Series 12 only 7,10 kilometers. So the difference was exactly 100 meters, which is approximately 1,4% of the entire route. And while this may not seem like a lot at first glance, when you run regularly, I think it is definitely not a negligible amount.
Even more interesting was the subsequent comparison with online maps. When I clicked on our route as accurately as possible, the distance came out to be approximately 7,19 kilometers. Ultra 4 only differed from this approximate value by about ten meters, while the Series 12 by about ninety. Of course, even internet maps cannot be considered an absolutely accurate measuring tool and it would be pointless to draw any universal conclusions from a single run. However, the result showed very well that a better GPS Ultra 4 can have real benefits in everyday use. I have covered the entire test in more detail in separate article on accuracy Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.
Moreover, the difference was not only reflected in the measured distance, but also in the calculated pace. While Ultra 4 showed an average of 6:02 min/km, Series 12 calculated 6:07 min/km. And pace is one of the data points I monitor most often when running. If you are working on improving your fitness, trying to maintain a certain speed, or setting a specific running goal, you naturally want to have the most accurate idea of how you are doing.
However, it is fair to point out that accurate dual-frequency GPS is not new to this generation, but has been offered in previous models. Ultra, so the owners Ultra 3 definitely have no reason to switch to 4s because of her. Pro a person who still used classical Apple Watch, this is a very nice bonus and in my case even one of the arguments that made me decide to finally switch to Ultra they are approaching.
I also like the overall focus of the watch on sports. The larger display offers plenty of space to display pace, distance, heart rate, or other metrics, while the action button makes it easy to control during the workout itself. Ultra 4 can also measure running performance, cadence, heart rate zones, elevation and many other values. Of course, these are not all functions that are exclusive to the Ultra, but in combination with their design, GPS and battery, they form a very successful whole.
Health functions and performance
Similar to this year's Apple Watch Series 12 is Apple also focused on more advanced health monitoring. Ultra 4 bring a new system of health sensors working with the S11 chip, thanks to which they can monitor heart rate and its variability. Apple specifically, it reports up to 60x more frequent background heart rate measurements and 24x more frequent HRV sensing compared to Ultra 3. The watch can monitor heart rate in the background every five seconds, while HRV can be monitored up to once every five minutes.
On the one hand, this is a technically very interesting improvement, but on the other hand, I have to admit that in terms of everyday use, it is practically useless.ancand directly feel it. The watch simply provides him with more detailed data about what is happening to his body, which can be beneficial especially when exercising regularly and monitoring regeneration. However, more frequent measurements themselves are honestly not something that he would Ultra 4 felt fundamentally different from their predecessors in everyday use.
One of the main innovations is the Readiness application, which I have already discussed in quite some detail in my review Apple Watch Series 12. I will therefore only remind you of the most important things. The function combines data on previous activity, sleep and vital signs and based on them creates a score that is supposed to tell the user how much his body is ready for the next load. The idea is undoubtedly interesting to me, but my experiences with it have been somewhat contradictory so far.
For example, when testing the Series 12, I had a fairly demanding combination of running and floorball, and I still didn't feel completely at home after a cold, and yet the watch showed me a high level of readiness and recommended further exercise. However, I myself felt tired and definitely didn't feel like my body was ready for another intense workout, so you probably won't be surprised that I have quite mixed feelings about this feature for now. It's of course nice to have all the information clearly summarized in one number, but personally I wouldn't follow it when planning sports regardless of my own feelings.
On the other hand, just at Ultra 4 mi Readiness makes a little more sense in terms of the overall concept of the watch. Thanks to its long battery life, you can wear it for several nights in a row without any problems, continuously monitor sleep, regeneration and daily activity, and at the same time not have to worry about constant charging, which is where I think the individual advantages of the watch come into play. Ultra they are starting to complement each other very nicely.
The performance of the S11 chip that powers the watch is excellent. As with the Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 very snappy, apps launch quickly and I didn't feel like I had to wait for anything when switching between functions. This is a welcome improvement over last year's S10 chip, although certainly not so fundamental that it makes sense to change Ultra 3 for Ultra 4. Performance Apple Watch For several generations now, it has not been something that would significantly limit me in everyday use.
Summary
Apple Watch Ultra 4 is one of those products for which it is relatively easy to list the advantages, but much harder to explain why I actually enjoy them so much. Technically, of course, they are the best Apple Watch, which Apple currently offers. They have a top-notch display, a very durable construction, accurate dual-frequency GPS, a fast chip, advanced health features and, above all, battery life that is superior to classic Apple Watch somewhere else entirely. But their real charm, I think, lies mainly in how all these features work together.
Of course not Ultra 4 are not perfect. Their dimensions and weight may not suit everyone, the price starting at 21,990 CZK is definitely not low, and we can also talk about whether their appearance could stand a slight facelift. At the same time, it must be said objectively that for the owner Ultra 3 This year's new feature is not a major reason to upgrade. Last year's watch still offers an excellent display, durability, accurate GPS and very good battery life, so the biggest changes this year lie mainly in longer battery life, a new chip and more advanced health monitoring.
But if you are switching from classic Apple Watch or older generations Ultra, which have even wider bezels around the display, the situation is completely different. In this case, Ultra 4 can offer something extra that you might appreciate. So what can I say in conclusion? Actually, last year I Ultra 3 called the holy grail of all fans Apple WatchAfter experiences with Ultra 4 I wouldn't change anything about this designation. I would just add to it this year that while previously I Ultra I admired it mainly as a technologically extraordinary watch, but this year for the first time I started to feel like I really needed it.
