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The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is worth it for iPhone owners who don't already have an Ultra 3: 5 critics average 8.4 out of 10, praising the longer battery life and new Readiness score but faulting the unchanged design and software features that have yet to arrive. This page is a consensus of published reviews, not hands-on testing.
Is the Ultra 4 worth it?
For most reviewers, yes, with a caveat about who is upgrading. Scores ranged from 8 to 9 out of 10, and the typical US price cited is $799. The common message is that this is the best Apple smartwatch for iPhone users, but an incremental update rather than a redesign.
What critics loved
Battery life is the headline. Tom's Guide cites up to 50 hours in smartwatch mode and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and Trusted Reviews says the watch lasts over two days, with up to 18 hours of GPS tracking and fast charging to 80% in 45 minutes. Expert Reviews also reports about two days of use.
The new Readiness score won wide praise. TechRadar found it actionable without a subscription, and Tom's Guide also liked the Health Age feature. Improved heart rate tracking drew credit from Tom's Guide, Expert Reviews and XDA, which also highlighted the very durable build. TechRadar said the S11 chip feels responsive and the build is still very rugged. Tom's Guide and XDA both noted that the price did not rise from the Ultra 3.
Where it falls short
The design is the most repeated complaint. Every critic notes it is essentially unchanged, and XDA adds that it is bulky and heavy on the wrist. TechRadar said performance is not a night-and-day boost over the Ultra 3.
Several features are not ready. Trusted Reviews and Expert Reviews both say some software features are not yet available, TechRadar names Siri Rewind and Live Recap, and Tom's Guide could not test the Audio Intelligence features. XDA raised privacy concerns about Audio Intelligence. Expert Reviews wanted dedicated stress tracking and a history view for Readiness, while Trusted Reviews said heart rate tracking is not spotless. Tom's Guide also missed a built-in LED flashlight and a second case size.
Price splits opinion slightly: Expert Reviews calls it expensive compared with the Series 12, and XDA calls $800 expensive, while Tom's Guide treats the unchanged price as a plus.
Who should buy it
It suits iPhone owners with an older Apple Watch, or no Apple Watch, who want multi-day battery, a rugged titanium case and strong GPS tracking. Ultra 3 owners should probably wait: Trusted Reviews and TechRadar both say there is little reason to upgrade.
