This evening Apple held its latest product showcase, with new wearables, smartphones and wireless earphones being revealed. On the wearables side the company unveiled three new smartwatches, with the Apple Watch Ultra being the most notable announcement.
Apple’s most expensive smartwatch to date, not counting some of the limited edition offerings, the Apple Watch Ultra is designed with extreme sports and adventuring in mind.
“Inspired by explorers and athletes from around the world, we created an entirely new category of Apple Watch designed for new and extreme environments — it’s the most rugged and capable Apple Watch yet,” highlighted Jeff Williams, Apple’s COO in a press release.
“Apple Watch Ultra is a versatile tool that empowers users to push their boundaries with adventure, endurance, and exploration,” he added.
As for what this device is sporting, a new 49mm aerospace-grade titanium case is present, with a flat sapphire crystal display (up to 2000nits brightness) and three built-in microphones present.
Added to this is longer battery life, with up to 36 hours available from a single full charge, according to Apple. There is also a low power mode, to help crank that figure up to 60 hours. While that is a big improvement compared to other smartwatches from the Cupertino-based firm, it still has some ways to go before it can match Huawei’s two weeks.
Other interesting features include dual-frequency GPS for improved accuracy and tracking on runs, along with a Backtrack mode when you’re lost on the trail and the option to set markers to better see how your course has been run or walked.
All of the Apple Watch Ultra devices come with a GPS+ Cellular functionality, so the company is not splitting the connectivity options as it has done with previous offerings.
There are three new band options too, each designed for specific applications and outdoor environments – Alpine, Ocean and Trail. Each of these feature a different material and closing mechanism.
We are yet to find out how much it will cost, or indeed when the Apple Watch Ultra will land in South Africa, but pre-orders are already live in the States from $799 and shipping to customers on 23rd September.
