I tried Motorola’s first Wear OS watch since 2019, and I already have a big concern

Motorola is back in the Wear OS smartwatch game with its new release, the Moto Watch Ultra. However, it's important to note that this isn't a new version of the popular Moto 360 – the Ultra is a completely separate product. When Motorola last dabbled in the Wear OS market, it was with the Moto 360. That particular model was once a standout in the early days of Android Wear, but after a few generations, Motorola decided to move on.

A brief return to the 360 name in 2020 didn't last long, and Motorola's licensing deal likely played a role in the decision to let the name go.

Motorola hasn't stopped producing smartwatches, but they've all relied on an RTOS (real-time operating system) design. This focus has been on health tracking and battery life, which means these watches have limited functionality compared to others with a proper app ecosystem. The Moto Watch Ultra aims to break that mold, offering a Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. It runs Wear OS 6 and is powered by Motorola's Qira AI assistant.

Physically, the Ultra features a 1.5-inch pOLED display on a 46mm chassis that's 12.1mm thick. It's protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and comes in stainless steel with a brushed finish in either silver or gunmetal. The watch straps are interchangeable, with options for silicone and leather, but any 22mm band will work as there are no special connectors – just a standard spring pin. NFC for Google Wallet, IP68 + 5ATM dust/water resistance, and LTE support are also included.

Battery life is said to last for two days on the 550 mAh battery, though the Pixel Watch 5 (45mm) with a smaller 465 mAh battery serves as a comparison. Charging is done via a magnetic dock that connects through USB-C.

Motorola isn't resting on its laurels with the Ultra alone. The company has also launched a Swarovski-edition version of the base Razr 2026. This special edition features a dark grey case with Crystals by Swarovski embedded in the back, and it comes with a $100 premium, priced at $899. Both models will be available starting September 10.