2023-06-08 04:42:37
[smartPC사랑=이백현 기자] As with any electronic product, there is always a demand for ‘high-end’ products. There are users who want to buy a high-end product even if it is not absolutely necessary, such as users who buy a PC with the latest CPU and graphics card without performing high-load work.
And the Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly an item that stimulates these ‘high-end’ buyers. However, in the case of this product, there are differentiated advantages and disadvantages to simply organize it as ‘the best model in the lineup’. Apple Watch Ultra, how is it different from the existing series?
big and heavy
Whether you are a user who has already used a smartwatch or a user who wants to purchase a new one, the most important thing is ‘where and how to use it’. However, it is difficult to say that the Apple Watch Ultra is suitable for all smartwatch users, but it is basically large and heavy. In case of weight, it is more than 1.5 times (61.3g) of the Apple Watch Series 8 aluminum model (38.8g, GPS), and when combined with a band, it reaches 72g (alpine loop band, actual measurement).
Considering that most recent flagship smartphones weigh around 210g, it is the same as carrying 1/3 the weight of a smartphone on your wrist at all times. Therefore, even though it is an outdoor concept product, it is not suitable for sports that move the arms vigorously, such as tennis.
Also, because of its size, it can be a bit of a burden while sleeping. If you wear a watch on your left arm and lie on your left side, you may place your arm with the watch facing the floor. At this time, the Apple Watch Ultra is very thick, so it is impossible to let go of the arm naturally, and the wrist bends upward, which interferes with sleep.
This weight and size can be inconvenient, but in other words, the Apple Watch Ultra has the same disadvantages compared to other lineups as mentioned above. Except for this, the above disadvantages serve as a springboard for providing the advantages described later.
Advantages of Ultra
The Apple Watch Ultra has all the features of the existing Apple Watch series, but has its own advantages.
In particular, ▲49mm display with the largest size and maximum brightness of 2000 nits ▲Sapphire crystal and titanium housing ▲US military standard certification (MIL-STD 810H) ▲Operating buttons that can map multiple functions ▲Precision dual-frequency GPS ▲ Long battery life of up to 36 hours ▲ Specialized diving functions are the exclusive advantages of the Apple Watch Ultra at the expense of weight and size. So, do these features really make the Apple Watch Ultra a ‘professional’ device?
Not suitable for ‘real experts’
Apple puts forward images such as ‘extreme environments’ and ‘explorers in the backcountry’ as images associated with the Apple Watch Ultra, but the product is not suitable for use at a real professional level, such as tens of days or months of exploration.
The first reason is the battery. Compared to the smartwatches that the general public usually use, the usage time is quite long, but the special purpose smartwatches used by experts have several months of usage time and functions such as solar charging. Compared to this, the use time is short. In addition, the maximum refresh rate of 120Hz, a bright display, and various sensors consume a lot of battery.
Another disadvantage is that some apps useful for mountain experts, such as Locus Map, cannot be used, and the basic app does not support GPX (a format that can record routes and voices along with GPS data) files.
Therefore, the Apple Watch Ultra is suitable for sports such as ‘relatively’ light mountain climbing or cycling for several days. As with other Apple Watch Series 8, it provides functions such as exercise-related functions through the ‘Fitness’ app, GPS location recording and route reversal through the ‘Compass’ app, and in particular, the Apple Watch Ultra uses dual-frequency GPS to provide excellent accuracy. location function can be used.
Comparable Performance as a Dive Computer
On the other hand, diving-related functions show comparable performance compared to other diving computers. It has functions suitable for the underwater environment, such as a water temperature sensor and a water depth gauge, and provides a dedicated app called ‘Oceanic+’.
The Apple Watch Ultra is designed to withstand diving to a depth of 40m, and is suitable for general users as the maximum depth for sport diving is limited to 40m. On the other hand, diving beyond this is called ‘technical diving’ and requires professional equipment and knowledge, such as dry suits and mixed gas rebreathers, so Apple Watch Ultra provides the most suitable functions at the level of mass users.
Great design, useful smartwatch for daily life
So what about in terms of daily life? I have no choice but to answer that it is useful. First of all, in the case of design, it goes well with a variety of outfits, from casual clothes to suits. In fact, when the reporter wore it, acquaintances often rated it as ‘the design is pretty’. In addition, the watch strap can be replaced in a modular way, and since there are various watch strap options from genuine Apple products to third-party accessory products, it is also an advantage that various productions are possible.
In addition, the battery that enables up to 36 hours of use is clearly a differentiating factor. In the case of the existing Apple Watch series, you had to use it in the way of ‘charging in the morning, going out, returning in the evening’, while the Apple Watch Ultra has a great advantage in that it can be used without difficulty even if you forget to charge for a day or so.
The largest and brightest display among the lineup and strong durability are also strengths. The ‘always on’ display with good visibility makes the Apple Watch Ultra look like a watch. In addition, existing Apple products gave users a perception such as ‘high price, weak durability’ (actually, the iPhone series has been improved overall), while the Apple Watch Ultra is made of titanium and sapphire that are not easily scratched even when used harshly. Crystal material was used. There is no need to protect the watch separately in everyday life, and there is no need to prepare a screen protector separately.
As much as it officially provides a ‘diving computer app’, it also provides a waterproof function that can be said to be ‘immune to water’. In addition, there is a function to automatically open the ‘water depth app’ when submerged in water over 1m, and to release water from the watch speaker when unlocking underwater. This can be very useful if you frequently use the watch in a place with a lot of water, such as taking a shower or using it in a swimming pool.
concluding
‘Apple Watch Ultra’ may be insufficient for use in very professional areas, but it provides ‘all-round’ performance in everyday life and recreation areas. Therefore, if you need a watch with a rugged design to use in your daily life, the Apple Watch Ultra can be a good choice. If you need a daily life smartwatch and a diving computer for sports diving at the same time, it is possible to express ‘good value for money’.
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