Apple Watch Ultra: Tips and Tricks to Maximise Your Experience

The Apple Watch Ultra is a feature-packed smartwatch designed for adventurers, athletes, and tech enthusiasts. Whether you’re navigating rugged trails, diving underwater, or simply managing your day-to-day life, these tips and tricks will help you get the most out of your Apple Watch Ultra.

1. Customising Your Apple Watch Ultra

The Apple Watch Ultra is all about personalisation. Its versatile design and advanced features allow you to tailor your experience to suit your needs, whether you’re scaling mountains or running a marathon. Here’s how to make the most of its customisable options.

Set Up the Action Button

The Action Button is a standout feature on the Apple Watch Ultra, offering quick access to essential tools.

• Customisation Options: Assign it to tasks such as starting a workout, marking a waypoint, or activating the flashlight.

• How to Customise: Go to the Settings app > Action Button, and select your preferred action. This ensures you have immediate access to the features that matter most.

Personalise Your Watch Face

• Wayfinder Watch Face: Ideal for outdoor activities, this face includes compass details and supports Night Mode for low-light conditions.

• Adding Complications: Add shortcuts to apps like the Depth app, heart rate monitor, or weather for quick access to essential data. Complications can save time and reduce distractions during activities.

Adjust Haptic Feedback

Enable stronger haptic feedback for notifications to ensure you don’t miss alerts in noisy environments. Go to Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Haptic Alerts. This is particularly useful in challenging conditions where visual or audio cues might be missed.

2. Extending Battery Life

Battery life is critical for any smartwatch, especially when you’re on an extended adventure. The Apple Watch Ultra’s powerful battery, combined with smart settings, ensures you stay connected for longer. Here’s how to optimise your battery performance.

Enable Low Power Mode

Maximise battery life for long adventures:

• Go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode to extend usage up to 60 hours. This disables non-essential features like background heart rate monitoring and Always-On display while preserving core functionality.

Optimise Display Settings

• Disable Always-On Display: Navigate to Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle off Always-On Display to save power during everyday use.

• Reduce Brightness: Lower the screen brightness in settings to conserve energy, especially in dimly lit environments.

Fast Charging Tips

• Use the included USB-C charging cable to quickly power up the Ultra. A 15-minute charge can provide several hours of usage. Pair this with Low Power Mode for optimal performance during multi-day trips.

3. Navigating with Precision GPS

The Ultra’s dual-frequency GPS sets it apart, offering unparalleled accuracy for navigation in challenging environments. From marking trails to retracing your steps, these tips will help you leverage the Ultra’s advanced GPS features.

Drop Waypoints

Mark key locations during hikes or runs to retrace your path:

• Open the Compass app, tap the Action Button, and drop a waypoint. Label these waypoints for easier navigation later.

Use Backtrack Navigation

Retrace your steps in unfamiliar areas by enabling Backtrack in the Compass app. This is especially useful when exploring new trails or navigating urban environments.

Sync Maps with iPhone

Ensure you have access to detailed maps by pairing your watch with your iPhone and enabling location sharing. This allows for real-time updates and enhanced navigation.

4. Unlocking Health and Fitness Features

Introduction: The Apple Watch Ultra is a health powerhouse, offering advanced tracking for workouts and wellness. With features designed for athletes and health-conscious users alike, you can optimise your fitness journey with these tips.

Track Advanced Workout Metrics

• Runners: Monitor stride length, cadence, and elevation gain during runs to refine your performance.

• Cyclists: Use precise GPS tracking for route mapping, speed analysis, and elevation data.

• Triathletes: Switch seamlessly between swim, bike, and run tracking with multi-sport mode.

Use the ECG and Blood Oxygen Sensors

• For accurate readings, remain still during measurements. Access these features through the Health app and track long-term trends to stay informed about your well-being.

Sync with Fitness+

Pair your Ultra with Apple Fitness+ to access guided workouts and track real-time metrics. This integration ensures personalised coaching and goal tracking tailored to your fitness level.

5. Tips for Diving and Water Sports

Introduction: The Ultra is built for water enthusiasts, offering specialised features for diving and other aquatic activities. From tracking depth to fitting your gear, these tips will ensure smooth sailing (or diving).

Master the Depth App

• Familiarise yourself with the Depth app before diving. It provides real-time metrics such as depth, water temperature, and dive duration. Use the app to review your data post-dive for insights.

Secure the Ocean Band

• Adjust the Ocean Band to fit snugly over wetsuits to ensure accurate tracking during dives. The titanium buckle ensures it stays secure during intense activity.

6. Safety and Emergency Features

Introduction: Safety is at the heart of the Apple Watch Ultra’s design. Whether you’re in the wilderness or commuting in the city, these features are designed to keep you safe and connected in critical moments.

Activate the Siren

The 86-decibel siren is essential for emergencies:

• Press and hold the Action Button until the siren activates. It can be heard from up to 600 feet away, making it invaluable in rescue situations.

Enable Crash Detection

Ensure crash detection is activated in the Safety settings to automatically notify emergency contacts during severe impacts. This feature uses the Ultra’s advanced sensors to detect accidents.

Set Up Emergency Contacts

Add key contacts in the Health app under Medical ID for quick access during emergencies. Include critical medical information for first responders.

7. Seamless Integration with Apple’s Ecosystem

Introduction: The Apple Watch Ultra isn’t just a standalone device; it’s a seamless extension of your Apple ecosystem. These tips will help you unlock its full potential by integrating it with your other Apple devices.

Apple Pay on Your Wrist

• Set up Apple Pay via the Watch app on your iPhone to make secure contactless payments directly from your watch. It’s perfect for quick purchases on the go.

Pair with AirPods

• Connect AirPods for seamless audio playback. Open Control Center on the watch and tap the AirPlay icon to select your AirPods. Enjoy music, calls, and guided workouts without interruptions.

Use the Watch as a Remote

• Control your iPhone’s camera, music playback, or even Keynote presentations directly from your Ultra. This feature is perfect for remote photography or managing presentations during meetings.

8. Hidden Features and Hacks

Introduction: The Ultra is packed with subtle but powerful features that can enhance your experience. Here are some lesser-known tips to take your smartwatch game to the next level.

Activate Night Mode Quickly

• Turn the Digital Crown while on the Wayfinder face to enable Night Mode, which uses red-tinted visuals to preserve night vision.

Double Tap Gestures

• (Ultra 2 only) Use the Double Tap feature to start or stop timers, answer calls, or interact with notifications hands-free. This gesture control is perfect for on-the-go convenience.

Ping Your iPhone

• Lost your phone? Swipe up to access Control Center and tap the Ping iPhone icon to locate it. The iPhone will emit a loud sound to help you find it quickly.

9. Advanced Workout Features

Introduction: For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, the Apple Watch Ultra goes beyond basic metrics. With advanced tracking options, you can refine your workouts and achieve peak performance.

Customised Interval Workouts

• Create personalised interval workouts directly on the watch for running, cycling, or swimming.

Real-Time Heart Rate Zones

• Monitor your heart rate zones during workouts to optimise effort and recovery. This feature ensures you’re training effectively.

Pace Alerts

• Set pace targets for running or cycling to stay on track during your sessions. Alerts will notify you if you’re going too fast or too slow.

10. Optimising Notifications

Introduction: Managing notifications can be overwhelming, but the Ultra allows for streamlined alerts to ensure you focus only on what matters. Here’s how to keep distractions at bay.

Filter Notifications

• Customise which notifications appear on your watch using the Watch app on your iPhone. Prioritise essential alerts like messages or calendar events.

Focus Modes

• Sync with your iPhone’s Focus settings to limit distractions during workouts, meetings, or downtime.

Silent Alerts

• Enable haptic-only notifications for quiet environments. This ensures you’re aware of alerts without causing interruptions.

11. Explore Siri Integration

Introduction: Siri transforms the Apple Watch Ultra into a hands-free assistant. From setting reminders to navigating trails, Siri can handle it all. Here’s how to make the most of its capabilities.

Set Up Siri Shortcuts

• Automate tasks like starting a specific workout or sending a preset message with Siri Shortcuts.

Voice-Activated Waypoints

• Use Siri to drop waypoints or navigate to a location without needing to touch the screen.

Health Insights

• Ask Siri for updates on your daily activity, sleep patterns, or heart rate to stay informed on the go.

12. Manage Stress and Mindfulness

Introduction: The Ultra isn’t just about fitness; it’s also a tool for improving mental well-being. These features help you stay calm and balanced throughout the day.

Breathe App

• Use guided breathing sessions to manage stress and improve focus.

Mindfulness Reminders

• Enable daily mindfulness notifications to encourage regular breaks and mental resets.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

• Monitor your HRV trends to gauge stress levels and recovery status, providing valuable insights into your mental health.

Wrapping up

The Apple Watch Ultra is packed with features that cater to a wide range of activities, from adventure and fitness to everyday productivity. By leveraging these tips and tricks, you can unlock the full potential of this powerful wearable and enhance your overall experience.