Apple has launched Apple Watch Ultra 4, a new generation of smartwatches specifically designed for sports and outdoor activities, especially those related to health monitoring that have been significantly updated. At the core is a new health sensing systemOn either side are the S11 chips, which Apple defines as the most powerful wearable chip ever.
The company claims to have achieved the most accurate heart rate detection ever on a wearable device, a result that has been verified through studies of more than 1,000 people and comparisons with other devices in its class. Of course, all the features already available on the Ultra range remain, from training and sleep monitoring to EKG, and from heart health-related notifications to satellite communications and safety features. The new model retains both natural and black titanium cases and is available for pre-order immediately.
Health sensing system and daily monitoring of changes in readiness status
New optical sensor uses larger, more efficient green LEDs Read your heart rate at five-second intervals throughout the day. This higher frequency also makes sport and exercise rings more precise, while new complications let you instantly check heart rate data directly from the watch face. The management of heart rate variability has also undergone profound changes, with a 24-fold increase in measurement frequency.
Apple now differentiates between recovery HRV (designed to account for daily stress and recovery signals) and overall HRVcontributes to a broader understanding of cardiovascular conditions. Nighttime vital signs also incorporate recovery HRV by comparing it to your personal reference, while the new daytime view allows you to observe any changes that have occurred during the day. Also added to the system is ‘readiness’, which combines recent activity, training load, important parameters and sleep quality, with a score ranging from 0 to 10, along with instructions to ‘recover’, ‘pace yourself’, ‘ready’ or ‘go’. This value does not remain static: it may change after rigorous training or changes in physiological parameters, also showing which factors influenced the results.
Another big news involves autonomy: In daily use, Apple Watch Ultra 4 has a battery life of up to 50 hours, while in power-saving mode it can reach 84 hours. Charging gets faster: According to Apple, 15 minutes of charging is enough for up to 18 additional hours of use. For outdoor sports, an extended workout mode debuts, capable of recording up to 25 hours of activity while maintaining regular GPS and heart rate readings, 25% more than its predecessor.
With Max Extended Workout, you can run, walk, and hike for up to 45 hours, with GPS tracking every second, and Apple says the duration is typically enough to cover more than 160 kilometers. The company also continues to define Ultra 4 as The most accurate sports watch with built-in GPS. The pedometer function has also been improved: new machine learning algorithms and the S11 chip improve distance estimation during indoor workouts and the accuracy of the all-day pedometer, and provide new dedicated complications directly on the watch face.
The S11 chip is also used for other features beyond fitness and health: Sound recognition, coming later this year, will allow the Apple Watch to independently recognize sirens, alarms, doorbells or a baby crying, with special attention to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, without the need for an iPhone to be present. The system runs directly on the device and uses Secure Exclave integrated into the chip: Apple specifies that the original audio is not recorded or stored and cannot be accessed by the operating system, applications, or the company itself. Shazam is also coming soon, with titles and artists automatically showing up in the library’s song identification widget.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 will launch with watchOS 27, which introduces a dynamic app grid with five Siri suggestions, a new click gesture for interacting with the Smart Gallery with your thumb and forefinger, contextual widget suggestions, perimenopause and menopause support in cycle tracking apps, and workout partners that can be used even without an iPhone, provide more activity data and are available in English.
Hermès new watch strap launched in Italy
The collection also launches with new straps: The Trail Loop comes in dark brown, sand, and burgundy, while the Alpine Loop comes in sand, olive green, and burgundy. Oceans switches to translucent silicone in grey, algae green and black. Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 4 is made of natural titanium, and the Grand H titanium strap makes its debut. It is equipped with a mechanism that allows it to be worn for extended periods of time and can even be worn over a diving suit. In addition, there are new Fathom and Wonder dials inspired by the depth of the ocean, which are divided into four styles and can be selected through the digital crown.
Apple also emphasized its work on materials: The device contains 45% recycled materials, with the 3D printed housing made of 100% recycled titanium The cobalt in the batteries is 100% recycled; the electricity used in production comes from renewable energy sources and the packaging is made entirely from fiber. Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at 909 euros, can be ordered now, and will be available in Italy on September 18 and more than 50 countries and regions.
watchOS 27 will launch on September 14 for Apple Watch Series 9 or later, SE 3 and Ultra 2 or later, and paired with iPhone 11 or later or iPhone SE second generation and later with iOS 27. On the same day, Apple Intelligence will also be available in watchOS 27 in supported languages (including Italian). Users who purchase an Apple Watch Series 12, SE 3 or Ultra 4 and subscribe for the first time will also get three months of free Apple Fitness+ and Apple Music; AppleCare+ and AppleCare One in the US are still available.
