Stuff Verdict

The most adventure-ready Apple wearable yet and a really great all-rounder. Still, the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery life pales compared to sports watch rivals

Pros

Excellent screen

Bigger battery life than other Apple Watches

Better durability

Cons

Lacks some navigation skills

Carries a hefty premium

Needs longer battery life to compete with the best

Introduction

With a bigger battery, new rugged design and some beefed up outdoor smarts aimed at runners, hikers, divers and climbers, the Apple Watch Ultra is the first Apple smartwatch built with adventure and endurance in mind. Previous Apple Watches may have dipped a toe in Garmin’s waters, but the Ultra put its wetsuit on and dived straight in.

Can it compete with the best outdoor GPS watches, though? And now that Apple has introduced a successor model, should you save a bit more cash and go for the Watch Ultra 2 instead? Stuff has comprehensively tested the Apple Watch Ultra to find out.