10Rank 10 of 10 · GPS Running Watches
Apple Watch Ultra 4
The best smartwatch here, with dual-frequency GPS, 100 m water resistance under ISO 22810:2010 and 3,000 nits — but 18 h of workout battery, iPhone-only use and €899.
6.0BPR score
- €899Price
- up to 18 h outdoor workout — published by Apple (dual-frequency L1+L5)GPS battery life in the most accurate published mode
- 10 of 10in GPS Running Watches
- 6.0BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is for iPhone owners who want one device for daily life, running and water sports. Apple's specification page lists precision dual-frequency GPS (GPS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou), up to 18 hours of outdoor workout, up to 50 hours of normal use and 84 hours in Low Power Mode, a 49 mm titanium case at 63.0 g, an always-on LTPO3 OLED at 3,000 nits, and water resistance to 100 m under ISO 22810:2010 plus EN13319 recreational diving to 40 m. Apple's battery footnotes describe the test mix (notifications, two 60-minute workouts with music, sleep tracking), which is more transparency than most makers give.
The5krunner reports extended workout modes of 25 hours and 45 hours of GPS, a 4-hour gain over the Ultra 3's 14-hour outdoor figure, and that GLONASS has been dropped. Crucially, it states that no independent test of Apple's most-accurate-GPS claim for the Ultra 4 had been published; its earlier testing found the Ultra 3 generally market-leading. Our test score reflects that gap.
Price: from €899 on Apple's German store. It works only with an iPhone, it is the heaviest watch here, and its workout battery is short beside the COROS and Huawei models.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- GNSS
- Dual-frequency; GPS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou
- Battery, outdoor workout
- up to 18 h
- Battery, normal use
- up to 50 h
- Battery, Low Power Mode
- up to 84 h
- Display
- Always-on LTPO3 OLED, 3,000 nits
- Case
- 49 × 44 × 12 mm, titanium
- Weight
- 63.0 g (natural titanium)
- Water resistance
- 100 m (ISO 22810:2010), EN13319 to 40 m
- Price (Apple DE)
- from €899
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- Dual-frequency L1+L5 GPS
- 100 m water resistance to ISO 22810:2010, EN13319 dive to 40 m
- 3,000-nit always-on OLED
- Battery test conditions disclosed in footnotes
Worth knowing
- €899 — most expensive here
- 18 h outdoor workout in standard mode
- Requires an iPhone
- No independent Ultra 4 accuracy test published yet
- 63.0 g, heaviest here
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category GPS Running Watches.
| Product | Score | GPS battery life in the most accurate published mode | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 2Top score | 7.8 | up to 24 h with dual-band GPS — published by Suunto | €299 |
| Watch Ultra 4This product | 6.0 | up to 18 h outdoor workout — published by Apple (dual-frequency L1+L5) | €899 |
| Category average10 products analysed | 7.1 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Ultra 4 last on a long run?
Apple states up to 18 hours of outdoor workout. The5krunner reports extended workout modes of 25 and 45 hours of GPS, which trade some functions for endurance.
Can I use it with Android?
No. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 needs an iPhone for setup and use.
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The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
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