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Apple Watch Ultra: Everything you need to know about Apple's rugged watch

At its September event, Apple unveiled its most rugged, action-packed product: The Apple Watch Ultra.
Written by Jada Jones, Associate Editor
apple-watch-ultra-night-mode
Jason Hiner/ ZDNET

Following the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE 2, Apple unveiled its newest addition to its array of smartwatches: The Apple Watch Ultra.  It is inspired by the most extreme athletes, and the features of the watch reflect its marketing to those who want to take their watch on their outdoor adventures.

Apple Watch Ultra: Price 

The Apple Watch Ultra is now available to order for $799.

Apple Watch Ultra: Release date

The Apple Watch Ultra will ship on Sept. 23, 2022.

Apple Watch Ultra: Design

The Apple Watch Ultra's display is the largest yet, coming in at 49mm, accompanied by the brightest display an Apple Watch has to offer.  

The Apple Watch Ultra is made out of titanium, built to withstand extreme temperatures, and is held to the same manufacturing standards as military and rugged outdoor equipment. 

Apple also announced three new watch bands accompanying the Apple Watch Ultra, each band intended to serve a specific purpose. For running and endurance activities, the flexible and lightweight Trail Loop is ideal.

The Alpine Loop features a woven band that attached to an adjustable top loop via G-hook, so your Watch Ultra stays secure on long hikes.

The Ocean Band, intended for extreme aquatic activities and recreational diving, is a flexible but secure band that includes an extended tail to fit over wetsuits. 

Apple Watch Ultra: Features

If you decide to begin an adventure in the most remote parts of the world, the Apple Watch Ultra comes with built-in cellular capabilities. The Watch Ultra also has a night mode, which transforms its display to a bright red font for better visibility at night. 

Included in the Apple Watch Ultra are added microphones and speakers for voice clarity in harsh conditions. If your journey takes you too far out and you get lost, the Apple Watch Ultra has a new feature called Backtrack, which can trace your steps and lead you on the path you took to help you get back to safety.

The Watch Ultra also boasts an 86-decibel siren, which you can deploy if you are unable to use other functions to get help. 

Apple also announced the Oceanic+ app, which serves as a dive computer compressed into your Apple Watch Ultra. 

Apple Watch Ultra: Battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra touts a longer battery life and beefed-up GPS features. With a 36-hour battery life from one charge, the Apple Watch Ultra has the longest battery life of any Apple Watch. Later this fall, Apple plans to integrate battery optimization to almost double the Ultra's battery life to 60 hours from one full charge.

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