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Sam Machkovech - Sep 7, 2022 5:38 pm UTC

CUPERTINO, Calif.—The third and final new Apple Watch introduced at Apple's hardware-reveal event today is the company's first stab at a premium, trail-ready piece for your wrist: the Apple Watch Ultra.

Apple COO Jeff Williams described the new model, which starts at $799 and can be ordered starting today, as an option for "exploration, adventure, and endurance," and its features seem designed for the highest hikes and deepest dives. The Apple Watch Ultra includes deep water resistance (it's EN13319 certified), a siren that can be heard up to 600 feet away, and high-end physical materials. The 49 mm case is composed of "aerospace titanium," while the new "alpine loop" wristband combines titanium with woven fabric.

Apple says that in regular use, the Watch Ultra will last for "up to 36 hours" on a single charge, thanks to the "biggest battery yet" on an Apple Watch. That battery life could grow to as much as 60 hours via a "battery optimization setting coming later this fall." The lower-power mode will be achieved via "reduced frequency of GPS and heart rate readings." The Ultra's display is also the brightest yet for an Apple Watch, reaching up to 2,000 nits of brightness—though we're still waiting to hear how battery life will be affected by constant use of max brightness.

The aforementioned alarm can be triggered with the Apple Watch Ultra's new "action" button, which also supports other functionality based on your actions. One obvious example is using the button to either start a workout or mark segments of your current run or exercise session.

Apple will pair the Watch Ultra with a new dedicated app called Oceanic+ for scuba divers, while hikers can look forward to a new, high-contrast "night" mode that blasts important information to users in a clear, red format. The night mode seems particularly suited for a new digital watch face dubbed "wayfinder," which resembles the data-filled stuff of traditional hiking wristwatches and shows compass bearing, altitude, and more. All models of Apple Watch Ultra include GPS and cellular functionality.

Update, 3 p.m. ET: Since the Apple Watch Ultra has gone on sale, we can confirm that every available model costs $799. This is not affected by choosing any of the new model's three available wristbands, and buyers cannot pay more to further upgrade Watch Ultra's native hardware.

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