Why The Apple Watch Ultra Was Our Smartwatch Of The Year

Every year we celebrate our best wearables at the Wareable Tech Awards, and this year the Apple Watch Ultra is our Smartwatch of the Year.

Apple surprised everyone when it released a super sporty and rugged outdoor version of its smartwatch in September 2022, and the Ultra is definitely a niche product.

The Apple Watch Ultra will appeal to many because of its submersible capability, multi-band GPS, and longer battery life.

> Check out the full list of Wareable Tech Awards 2022 winners

However, our favorite parts of smartwatches are what they stand for in terms of design.

Perhaps the biggest selling point is that the design of the Apple Watch Ultra is divisive.

The 49mm case is too big for many people's wrists, and the crown guard on the right is elusive and wild. It is heavy and expensive, but it is a pleasure to use and own it.

The standard Apple Watch has become so successful because of its universal appeal. It is completely independent and can be used by men, women, young and old, very rich and newcomers.

But for those who are tired of wearing the same watch as their friends, colleagues, and parents, the Apple Watch Ultra is a breath of fresh air.

It captures a certain attitude and says something about your personality. It is a trendy smart watch and a bold game for a mass market product.

It's made for weekend enthusiasts who previously preferred the raw power of the Garmin Fenix. .

But while the Garmin Epix won the New Year, the Ultra offers more than smartwatches.

First, it's all about the Apple Watch, with apps, payments, music, fall/lock detection, and all the features that make it a successful smartwatch. In fact, the 49mm screen improves the experience, and with a 2-3 day battery life, the Apple Watch lives better.

And while the navigation features, lack of built-in maps, and basic performance analysis features don't make the Fenix a serious contender, Apple has given Garmin cause for concern.

In testing at the Chicago Marathon, the Apple Watch Ultra outperformed the Garmin Epix in GPS accuracy, despite both watches having multiple internal bands.

This shows that Ultra can offer real and serious benefits to athletes, although we may have to wait until Ultra 2 to see more.

The prospect of this should worry the giants of outdoor advertising and performance.