Chapter 1: Introduction to the Apple Watch Ultra

Since I first donned the Apple Watch Ultra, I’ve had my doubts about its advertised "Ultra" capabilities. While I genuinely appreciate the device—finding it visually appealing and reasonably priced—I see a gap between its marketing and real-world performance.

Apple's marketing team faces a unique challenge: how to convey that this watch genuinely lives up to its bold name. For Apple, "Ultra" implies elevating already demanding activities to new heights.

Are you a runner? Why not try ultra running in a desert? Planning a weekend hike? Aim for the tallest mountain! Prefer swimming? Deep-sea diving is the new standard.

While I’m not particularly keen on those extremes (aside from the diving), I do enjoy a challenging hike during my annual February visits to the Lake District. This year, I decided to take the Apple Watch Ultra, equipped with watchOS 9.3 and paired with my iPhone 14 Pro Max, to really push its battery life to the test.

Chapter 2: My Two-Day Hiking Test

Every year in the Lakes, we embark on two substantial hikes over a couple of days, often ending with a few pints at a local pub—an excellent way to clear the mind (and fill it again with ale).

In previous years, I’ve always worn an Apple Watch, and with each new model, its ability to last through an entire hiking day has improved. However, nightly charging was always necessary. The Apple Watch Ultra claims to remedy this need for constant recharging.

My approach for this test was simple: fully charge the Apple Watch Ultra before the first day's hike and wear it until I returned home. Would it endure two days of hiking, plus a three-hour car ride back? Let’s explore how Low Power Mode performs on the Apple Watch Ultra.

To activate Low Power Mode, swipe up from the bottom of the display to access the Control Center, where you can see your current battery percentage. Tapping on it provides the option to enable Low Power Mode, which conserves battery by turning off the always-on display, delaying notifications, and disabling certain sensors like background heart rate and blood oxygen measurements.

Interestingly, Low Power Mode isn’t exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra; it’s available on the second-generation Apple Watch SE and Series 8 as well. The distinction lies in battery size and the marketing strategies employed by Apple.

Apple states that Low Power Mode can extend the battery life of the Apple Watch Ultra up to 60 hours with minimal usage, which includes 35 minutes of app use, 15 hours of workouts, 600 time checks, 15 hours of sleep tracking, and three minutes of talk time. It’s important to note they’re not promising 60 hours of continuous workout tracking.

With two hikes in the Lake District totaling around eight hours of workout tracking and one night of sleep monitoring, I anticipated a successful test.

Chapter 3: Hiking Results - Day 1

On the first day, I took the Apple Watch Ultra off its charging puck at 07:55, displaying a full 100% battery. However, just ten minutes later, it had already dropped to 98%. Not the best start.

Fortunately, by 11:10, it stabilized at 93%, which was reassuring. Upon reaching our hiking destination—the breathtaking Fleetwith Pike/Haystacks horseshoe—I initiated the hiking workout. I neglected to lock the screen, leading to unintended pauses due to my coat sleeve's interference.

The Action Button also posed issues, as my base layer inadvertently activated it with every arm movement. A feature to disable all inputs during such moments would be beneficial.

By 13:48, I still had 78% battery left, which felt promising. We conquered 234 flights of stairs, trekked 18 kilometers, and logged 25,101 steps that day. By 23:30, the Apple Watch Ultra had 57% battery remaining, which was decent compared to my previous experiences with Apple Watches.

I went to bed for sleep tracking, eager for day two.

Chapter 4: Hiking Results - Day 2

Bleary-eyed, I checked my Apple Watch Ultra at 09:08, noting it had 48% battery left after sleep tracking—far more drained than anticipated.

Our second day led us to the Great Langdale valley, where we aimed to summit three peaks. This beautiful yet challenging route promised ample workout tracking for the Apple Watch Ultra.

By midday, only 40% of the battery remained, prompting me to question the efficacy of Low Power Mode. As we navigated rocky ascents, it seemed unlikely the Apple Watch Ultra would last the car ride home and another night of sleep tracking.

After another day of hiking, which included 14,000 kilometers, 21,292 steps, and 228 flights of stairs, the Apple Watch Ultra was down to just 16% battery when we jumped in the car for the journey home. I was perplexed by its rapid depletion of battery life during the rest of the day.

In contrast, my brother-in-law’s Garmin Forerunner 255, which he wore for three days prior to our trip, still held 85% battery after the first day and about 50% by the end of the weekend.

Chapter 5: Conclusion

Conducting battery life tests can be challenging due to numerous variables and potential errors. Thus, my results shouldn't be taken as definitive. If you take the Apple Watch Ultra on a two-day hike, you might find it lasts longer—or it could run out midway.

From my experience, the device seems to function as a two-day watch, whether used in everyday life or in Low Power Mode during rigorous activities.

Does it deserve the "Ultra" label? That's ultimately up to Apple to decide. It certainly stands apart from standard Apple Watches. However, I doubt the Series 8 would have performed as well on my Lake District trip, which is commendable for the Ultra.

But can it compete with high-end adventure watches? The answer is no.

Before you go

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The first video showcases a durability test of the Apple Watch Ultra against the Series 8, highlighting its resilience and build quality.

The second video features a hammer durability and drop test of the Apple Watch Ultra, providing insights into its toughness under extreme conditions.