{
  "id": 13972898,
  "title": "Apple Watch Ultra 1 vs. Ultra 4 Buyer's Guide: Is It Worth Upgrading?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/apple-watch-ultra-1-vs-ultra-4-buyers-guide-is-it-worth-upgrading",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-12T14:07:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MacRumors",
    "slug": "macrumors",
    "url": "https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-watch-ultra-1-vs-ultra-4/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Apple Watch Ultra 4, released four years after the original model, brings a host of improvements that may justify upgrading for current owners, despite the original Ultra still being capable of handling daily tasks. Both watches share a 49mm titanium case, an Action button, a siren, dual-frequency GPS, and support for recreational diving to 40 meters. However, the Ultra 4 offers a brighter and larger display, satellite connectivity, upgraded health sensors, more powerful chips, and extended battery life. The Ultra 4 starts at $799, while the original Ultra is no longer supported for the latest watchOS release.\n\nThe key differences between the two models include a LTPO2 OLED display with always-on updates on the original Ultra, upgraded to a wide-angle LTPO3 OLED display with 1Hz always-on updates on the Ultra 4, providing ticking seconds on supported faces. Brightness has increased from up to 2,000 nits on the original Ultra to up to 3,000 nits on the Ultra 4, with a minimum brightness of 1 nit. The Ultra 4 boasts a larger 1,245 sq mm display area compared to the original's 1,245 sq mm, with thinner display borders. Touch gestures like Flashlight, Flashlight boost via Digital Crown, S8 chip, S11 chip, and advanced Neural Engine capabilities are also new to the Ultra 4. Storage capacity has doubled from 32GB to 64GB.\n\nAs for the software, the Ultra 4 supports on-device Siri for supported requests, including health and fitness data logging, while dictation has been improved. It offers first-generation Ultra Wideband chip support, unlike the original Ultra. The Ultra 4 provides audio intelligence features like Sound Recognition, automatic music identification, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap. Built-in speakers are available for calls, alerts, and Siri, catering to a more immersive user experience.\n\nBattery life has been improved significantly, with the Ultra 4 offering up to 50 hours of normal use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, compared to the original's up to 36 hours and 12 hours in Low Power Mode. Outdoor workout tracking has extended from up to 12 hours on the original Ultra to up to 18 hours on the Ultra 4. The Ultra 4 also includes new health features such as an enhanced Health Sensing System, offering more detailed heart-rate and recovery insights, sleep apnea and hypertension notifications, and blood oxygen readings viewable on the watch when paired with an iPhone.\n\nFor users who find their original Ultra Ultra struggling to finish extended workouts or regularly travel beyond cellular coverage, the improved battery life and satellite connectivity are compelling reasons to upgrade. Additionally, users who have experienced limitations with the original model's software capabilities may find the Ultra 4's enhanced Health Sensing System, longer battery life, and larger brighter display to be worthwhile upgrades.",
  "summary": "The Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrives four years after the original model. Across three subsequent generations, Apple added a brighter and larger display, satellite connectivity, new health sensors, more capable chips, and longer battery life. For owners of the original Ultra, are those cumulative improvements enough to justify upgrading now, or can their existing watch last another year? Both watches…",
  "key_points": [
    "Ultra 4 features brighter, larger display with LTPO3 OLED",
    "Enhanced health sensors and software capabilities in Ultra 4",
    "Improved battery life up to 50 hours on Ultra 4"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}