Every new device arrives asking to be replaced, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 asks the same question with a quieter honesty than most. Its visible sameness on the wrist hides a rebuilt sensor system, a longer-lasting battery, and a brighter screen, and the reviewer of The Economic Times weighs these against the price of ₹1,09,900 and the patience of owners already wearing capable watches. The answer it reaches is less a verdict on the device than a map of who is ready to change and who can simply keep living with what they have.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Review: A Strong Upgrade for Some, but Not Everyone
It is not the Apple Watch everyone needs.
Mark
So who is this watch actually for, according to the review?
Mimi
Mainly people on a Series 7 or 8, or the original Ultra. For them the battery, display and health tracking add up to a real jump.
Mark
And Ultra 2 and 3 owners?
Mimi
The reviewer sees no reason to rush. Software updates continue, and those watches should last another two to three years.
Luke
Worth noting that's one reviewer's judgment, and the two-to-three-year figure is the reviewer's estimate, not an Apple commitment.
Mark
What about the battery numbers?
Mimi
Roughly two and a half days without sleep tracking, and a day and a half to two with it. Zero to 100 percent in about 45 minutes on the 18W charger.
Luke
Those are results from one person's testing and depend on usage. The review doesn't give a controlled test method.
Mark
Do the new health features justify the upgrade?
Mimi
The review says no, not alone. Many of them also reach older watches, depending on the feature and hardware.
Luke
And which features reach which older models isn't specified, so I'd check that before buying.
Mark
The screenless wearable section seems like a tangent.
Mimi
It frames the watch's identity. The reviewer still prefers a screen, partly for framing video shots from the iPhone.
Luke
The 2028 Apple screenless device is only a report and speculation. Nothing is confirmed.
O Pulso
- The watch looks almost identical to its predecessors, so the real change hides in its back-mounted sensor block and internal rebuild.
- Battery life, the reviewer's central gain, stretches to about two and a half days without overnight wear, yet drops to roughly a day and a half with sleep tracking.
- Newer health features like HRV insights and age-related data also reach older Apple Watches, blunting the case for buying in on health alone.
- Owners of Series 7 and Series 8 models, along with original Ultra users, find the upgrade meaningful, while Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 owners are told to wait two to three years.
- Charging from empty to full in about 45 minutes and a 3,000-nit display settle the watch as a practical, sunlight-readable tool, even as its bulk and weight remain unresolved.
Every new device arrives asking to be replaced, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 asks the same question with a quieter honesty than most. Its visible sameness on the wrist hides a rebuilt sensor system, a longer-lasting battery, and a brighter screen, and the reviewer of The Economic Times weighs these against the price of ₹1,09,900 and the patience of owners already wearing capable watches. The answer it reaches is less a verdict on the device than a map of who is ready to change and who can simply keep living with what they have.
The first thing you notice about the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is what has changed on the back. The sensor block now shows multiple lines, a sign that Apple has rebuilt the sensor system to carry more health features. From the front, though, the watch looks nearly identical to the one before it: the same 49mm titanium case, sold in Natural or Black with GPS and Cellular.
The Economic Times reviewer set aside the usual question of whether this is a good smartwatch and asked a harder one: who actually needs to buy it? Ultra 1, 2 and 3 owners are still well served, and for many of them daily life would barely shift. The Ultra 4 costs ₹1,09,900 in India, and for that money you get the S11 chip, the redesigned sensors, a 3,000-nit display, new health features and better battery life. The reviewer named battery as the most important gain.
In testing the watch lasted about two and a half days without overnight wear, and roughly a day and a half to two days with sleep tracking on. Charging from empty to full took around 45 minutes on Apple's 18W charger. The case is still large and heavy. The reviewer dislikes wearing it to bed, and admits the size is exactly what buys the battery life.
The review stresses that many of the new health tools, including HRV insights and age-related information, also reach older Apple Watches, so health features alone do not justify the purchase. The verdict is conditional. Someone moving up from a Series 7 or 8, especially an iPhone user hoping to be more active, will find a real upgrade, as will original Ultra owners who value battery and newer health tools. Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 owners have little reason to hurry, since software support should keep those watches useful for another two to three years.
The first thing that separates the Apple Watch Ultra 4 from its predecessors is on the back. Turn it over and the sensor block now shows multiple lines, a sign that Apple has rebuilt the sensor system to carry more health features. From the front, the watch is nearly identical: the same 49mm titanium case, in Natural or Black, sold only with GPS + Cellular.
That sameness is the heart of a hands-on review published by The Economic Times. The reviewer sets aside the question of whether the Ultra 4 is a good smartwatch and asks who actually needs to buy it. The Ultra 1, 2 and 3 are all still performing well, and for many owners little about daily use would change.
The price in India is ₹1,09,900 with the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop or Ocean Band. The Titanium Milanese Loop version costs ₹1,24,900. For that money you get the S11 chip, the redesigned sensors, a display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, new health features and better battery life. The reviewer calls battery the most important gain. In bright Indian sunlight, the screen read excellently.
In testing, the watch ran for roughly two and a half days when not worn overnight. With sleep tracking switched on, that fell to about a day and a half to two days, depending on use. The Ultra 3 already had strong endurance, and the reviewer describes this as a significant real-world improvement. It still cannot match a Garmin, a trade-off for the Apple ecosystem and Activity rings. Charging is quicker as well: with Apple's 18W charger, the reviewer went from zero to 100 percent in around 45 minutes.
The case remains big and fairly heavy. A larger wrist makes it feel more natural, and others face a learning curve. The reviewer wore it for sleep tracking during the test but still dislikes wearing an Ultra to bed. The size does buy battery life, which is where the watch justifies its bulk.
On software, the Ultra 4 runs watchOS 27 with a redesigned Health experience, new HRV insights and age-related health information. Heart rate variability is now split into Recovery HRV and Overall HRV, and dual-frequency GPS and ECG tracking carry over. But the review stresses that Apple's broader health platform also works with earlier watches, depending on the feature and hardware, so new health capabilities alone do not make the Ultra 4 the better buy. The larger display is not exclusive either, since the Apple Watch Series 12 also has one. On ECG, the reviewer says it can flag that something may be wrong, but anyone who feels unwell should seek medical help rather than rely on a watch.
The review also looks at screenless wearables. Whoop has won over much of the fitness community, Fitbit is part of the conversation, and there are reports that Apple could be working on a screenless device around 2028. That timeline is unconfirmed speculation. The reviewer would still choose a screen, partly because they use the watch while shooting content to frame shots from the iPhone.
The verdict is conditional. For someone coming from a Series 7 or Series 8, especially an iPhone user trying to be more active, the Ultra 4 is a significant upgrade. It is also worthwhile for original Ultra owners who care about battery and newer health features. Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 owners have no reason to rush: with software updates continuing, those watches should serve for another two to three years without missing the core Apple Watch experience.
Citações Notáveis
If you already own an Ultra 2 or Ultra 3, I don't see any reason to rush.— Reviewer, The Economic Times
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