Adventures with watch ultra

10 min read

How to get the most out of Apple’s smartest, most durable Watch ever

The Apple Watch Ultra represents the first redesign of the most popular timepiece in the world since its launch back in 2015. It has slightly changed in size in recent times, but the Ultra is a completely different Watch and one which has intentions above and beyond what has come before. For some it fixes areas that had previously held back their Apple Watch experience, and for others it simply adds a new look to a software experience that is very familiar, but Apple is aiming the Ultra at those who want to be a little more adventurous. With this comes a raft of new software features and sensors that can be used every day or only when they are needed, and in the right circumstance they could save your life. The added functionality for diving is highly impressive as is the ability to alert others when you are in trouble, but there is much more to understand and take advantage of.

We will show you every major feature and explain how to make the most of them, all with the intention being to ensure that you take full advantage of what is arguably the best modern sports watch of all.

Find your way

The Wayfinder watch face is only available on the Ultra and is designed to aid you when undertaking more extreme adventures, and especially in adverse conditions. The Watch itself is built to withstand harsh environments, and for most activities the Wayfinder face will serve you well. It is laden with data, but still easy to read no matter the conditions.

Customise Wayfinder

Almost all Apple Watch faces can be tweaked to your preferences, but for the Wayfinder it is especially important. The layout can become very crowded, and because it is a face you’ll need during harsh activities you should spend time making it work for you.

1 Boss the bezel

If you do not need to have real-time access to latitude/longitude or elevation/ incline, you can choose ‘none’ for a cleaner and less busy-looking bezel.

2 Colours matter

Changing the colour scheme to a more consistent and lighter option will enable the important data to stand out more. It greatly lessens the visual density of the watch face.

3 Aunique Night Mode

The Night Mode feature, which is only available in the Wayfinder face, will save eye strain in low light conditions. It also works very effectively in the daytime.

Take full advantage of Precision dual‐frequency GPS

L1 and L5 may not mean much to you, but together they help the Ultra provide the best possible location data at all times. The L1 standard is the oldest GPS and contains two codes, one of which is open to everyone to use. The L5 standard is designed for highperformance needs and together they make a formidable team.

1 No phone needed

If you are navigating wit