The Apple Watch Extremely ($800) is our favourite smartwatch in our Finest GPS Operating Watches information.
On this video, iRunFar explores its options and limitations, and the professionals and cons of choosing the Apple Watch Extremely over an alternate high-end GPS operating look ahead to lengthy distance operating.
[Editor’s Note: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 releases in September, 2023, and we’ll be testing it just as soon as we can get our hands on it. It appears that the most significant changes to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are a new chip, new sensors, and a brighter screen. According to Apple, we’ll see the same battery life and lack of native mapping abilities in the second version.]
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Apple Watch Extremely Assessment Transcript
Hey and welcome to Path Trials, the video assessment part of iRunFar. My identify is Travis Liles. On this video, we have a look at the Apple Watch Extremely. We ask the query, is it “extremely?” This query applies to iRunFar readers particularly, is that this one thing you’d put on for an ultramarathon and lengthy distance run coaching? Let’s test it out.
Earlier than we dig in, let’s speak about what this assessment is and isn’t. This machine has been out for some time. Updates are coming to it. I’m recording this in roughly the center of July, 2023. There have been some updates since I received it. I’ll be as correct as I can about the place we’re right now. I additionally plan on recording a supplemental video as time goes on, when options are added on which are relevant to both my critiques, or to our sport of ultrarunning basically.
That’s the distinction between this and one thing like a shoe. A shoe is a shoe, till a brand new model comes out. This watch will get software program updates, firmware updates, issues can change, and be added over time.
Due to that, now we have to think about this as a point-in-time assessment. Additionally, this isn’t an exhaustive expertise assessment. There are a bunch of these on the market already that speak about Apple watches, their well being options, their smartwatch options.
I’m attempting to condense this down into — if I’m an ultrarunner, what do I take into consideration this watch? How does it match into my world? If I’m going to spend on a high-end machine to trace my runs, is that this one which is sensible, given what I do? I hope to reply that by the top of this assessment.
The Apple Watch Extremely. All images: iRunFar/Travis Liles
Apple Watch Extremely Specs and Operation
Let’s begin by wanting on the general format of the Apple Watch Extremely. First, that is an all-titanium case. It’s 49 millimeters in diameter, and for a reference level, that’s a reasonably large sports activities watch.
I’m a small particular person. I’m 5 foot, 5 inches. I’m 135 kilos. I’ve received pretty small wrists. These watches have presence, however they’re not loopy huge. If you happen to have a look at the 2 of those in contrast [shows two watches], that is the Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Photo voltaic Version — you may take a look at our Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Photo voltaic Version assessment, too. A lot of phrases there. And right here is the Apple Watch Extremely.
The distinction is, one’s sq. and one’s round. For a reference level, these fall on the bigger dimension of the sports-watch class. There’s lots occurring right here when it comes to sensors, and GPS, and an even bigger battery. Particularly should you’ve solely used an everyday Apple Watch. However the case is made out of all titanium and it’s a giant, chunky case. Titanium is a reasonably light-weight steel. It’s mild for the dimensions that it’s. It has a really giant and shiny OLED display, which simply means blacks are actually black. If you happen to’ve received an iPhone Professional, this is similar sort of display, clearly a lot smaller. It’s actually shiny and vivid.
When it comes to working the watch, you might have a few issues to work with. One is the digital crown, and it does a pair issues. One, as you may see, it provides you a crimson face, which is cool. If you happen to don’t need one thing tremendous shiny, you may flip to that. If you happen to’re tenting or no matter, that’s a enjoyable perform to have. However the crown additionally works for scrolling by the apps. Once more, it is a smartwatch, so that you work together with it by functions. In fact, it has touchscreen, in addition to the crown button.
Over right here on the correct, there’s one other button, and that pops you into your not too long ago opened functions. Once more, you should use that crown to scroll. Contact remains to be a reasonably first rate interplay level with this watch, and that’s undoubtedly one thing to remember. For instance, if we go into the Climate app, you may scroll by some data. But when I wish to return to the checklist of places, I’ve to the touch on the display, and hit that time to get again. So, contact is a requirement as you’re employed with this, and we’ll discuss extra about that later.
Over right here on the facet, the factor that’s completely different from the remainder of the Apple line is that this Motion button. The Motion button is, for all intents and functions, a shortcut — a deep shortcut button into the Exercise software, in my case. Once I hit that button, it goes into the Exercise app, and now it waits for a GPS sign. That could be a perform you could activate or flip off. It may possibly simply begin routinely whenever you hit that, or you may wait on your sign to be totally intact. When you’ve received that able to go, you’re good. You hit that button once more, and that can begin your exercise. Or you may edit this button to do various things, but it surely’s successfully going to right here, and I’ve it mapped to the Exercise app. Then Outside Run is the particular sort of exercise that I’ve it go to once I begin the machine.
The Apple Watch Extremely’s operating mode.
Apple Watch Extremely Options
We’ve got a pair different issues to name out on the Apple Watch Extremely. You’ll discover these huge holes right here — it is a speaker. There are microphones on this as nicely. These act in a few capabilities, however primarily for speaking to your voice assistant on the Apple world.
It additionally acts as a siren. You’ll be able to take a telephone name on this machine as nicely, and discuss to your wrist, which is oddly satisfying.
The display is made with sapphire glass, and that’s, for probably the most half, not scratchable, or extraordinarily exhausting to scratch. I’m certain there are situations, however I’ve had many sports activities watches and mechanical watches by the years with sapphire glass, and I don’t know of any of them that’s scratched.
Listed here are just a few notes on the straps. These straps are all detachable. That is the Path Loop right here. In all probability the one which’s most viable, I’d say, for most individuals, particularly with operating. It’s stretchy. It conforms to the wrist. It’s received stretch to it, but it surely will get a pleasant, cosy match, which implies that it locks down and get your coronary heart charge readings pretty nicely. You need it to be as darkish as may be beneath the watch to guarantee that it’s doing what it must, to take these coronary heart charge readings, these pulse readings, all that sort of stuff.
They’re simply modified out. You push these little buttons right here on the backside. This one is known as an Alpine Loop. I just like the aesthetic of this, that’s simply private choice right here. However they’re quite simple to vary out and in. There are many third-party choices. Apple makes a complete bunch you could go check out, to vary the feel and appear of the machine as you see match.
Utilizing the Apple Watch Extremely to Work Out
Let’s have a look at what it’s wish to work out with the Apple Watch Extremely. If you happen to’re going out on your run, you hit your button. It opens the Exercise app. You’ll be able to map it to about no matter you need right here, even third-party functions, which we’ll speak about in a bit. That arrow signifies that I’ve received my GPS sign.
What I’ll say about that is, I turned on mobile as an possibility, as a result of I wished to place this factor by the paces. So, this may use the GPS, mobile, and pedometer capabilities. It lays down actually good GPS tracks.
Once I evaluate it to different gadgets, I’ve by no means seen any huge swings in some way when it comes to the standard of the monitor, or shedding sign. In truth, it’ll even do some actually sensible issues. If you happen to’re in crowded downtown areas — as a result of Apple Maps has integration right here, like the identical one which’s in your telephone — it may fill in gaps and determine issues out.
Now, you should use your digital crown and work your method by your completely different screens right here. Coronary heart charge coaching, various kinds of splits, your tempo, no matter it’s, there are a number of choices right here you could customise to make it look the way in which that you really want. That is one which’s particular to elevation, and it’ll present like a chart. You then’ve received your music choices additionally, as a result of it is a smartwatch, and you’ll simply plug your headphones in and take off from there.
What you’ll most likely discover by all of that is it’s simply base-function-type monitoring. Once more, coronary heart charge, all that data, might be precisely such as you anticipate it to be. It tracks. It provides you your tempo. It does an incredible job of retaining all that data in. Whenever you’re achieved, it uploads into Apple Well being. You have got a pair interplay factors right here whereas it’s taking that knowledge. On the one facet, let’s proceed speaking about after I’ve achieved a exercise. That goes into Health.
The exercise menu on the Apple Watch Extremely.
The way in which Health works is rather like Garmin Join. It’s identical to the Coros app, or the Suunto app, no matter you’re utilizing. This syncs that knowledge right here, after which from right here, it decides on what to do with it.
Right here’s an instance of an Outside Run exercise. I can see my exercise time, distance, common tempo, coronary heart charge, and it’s damaged up into splits. All that knowledge that you’d anticipate to see. Even actually fascinating issues like vertical oscillations, are you off the bottom an excessive amount of or not, what’s your common cadence, floor contact, stride size. There’s a number of stuff in right here to essentially dig into and get details about what it’s that you just’re doing.
The opposite facet although, is what about sharing this knowledge? On the social facet of issues, you may sync all this data to Strava. It actually goes by this setting right here, which is your machine settings. You simply join Apple Well being. When you do this, the entire exercises add into Strava within the background. You’ll be able to inform it to do its factor. As a result of the watch has Wi-Fi and mobile, it’s a really fast course of.
There’s a bit of little bit of the app interface. Mainly, you’ve received all that wealthy knowledge, identical to you might have on all of your different apps which are on the market, once more, like Garmin Join or the Coros app. For getting that data after which for sharing that externally, it may go to these different functions. I’m utilizing Strava like I feel the vast majority of individuals are, however there are different platforms, and also you simply have to see if Apple Well being is a sync goal.
Apple Watch Extremely Security and Navigation
Let’s speak about security. The Apple Watch Extremely is a smartwatch, so it has mobile connectivity. Due to that, it has fascinating ideas not in different sport watches available on the market.
, the Apple commercials you’ve seen the place a man runs into the again of a automobile and his watch says, “I detect a crash.” Identical factor applies right here. It has crash and fall detection. Additionally, with this huge speaker on right here, it truly has a siren in-built and I’ll hit that in 3, 2, 1. [Beeping siren sound] What that does is, should you fall or get damage, you’ve received this siren, versus continuously screaming, you may set that, flip it on, and it beeps constantly. The siren, and the frequency, and the loudness, and the way it cascades and goes up and goes down — that’s imagined to be consideration grabbing. It’s not as loud as a whistle, but it surely does continuously go, it takes the “you” out of getting to continuously blow into one thing. You’ll be able to truly flip that siren on and it does that for you. It’s received mobile, and due to that, if by likelihood I crashed right into a tree — I truly had a coworker do that on his bike. His Apple Watch referred to as for an emergency, and he received pulled out due to that.
The opposite factor I’ll name out right here is the Compass app. If you happen to have a look at any Apple advertising and marketing, you’ll see the place you should use the Compass app’s Backtrack characteristic. I can hit that and mainly begin laying down a footpath. Or I can go into the all app display, and discover my option to Compass. You’ll be able to see why that motion button is absolutely useful in there.
Leaping to the display, and this has a few capabilities which are which are constructed into it. One is that Backtrack perform. As a observe, this watch doesn’t lay down a monitor for you routinely. Whenever you begin a run, you’re operating inside the Exercise app. It’s monitoring your tempo, it’s monitoring your distance, it’s laying down a map within the background, however it isn’t laying down a map you could, if by likelihood you’re taking a incorrect flip, return and comply with. There are triggers within the Compass app that can search for connection. When’s the final time it was in a position to discuss to mobile, and different issues, or discuss to your telephone over mobile, after which will supposedly lay down a pin. However probably the most surefire option to be sure you have a Backtrack is actually to return into this app that’s Compass. Begin that, and lay down this Backtrack.
You are able to do fascinating issues inside this app. It permits for scrolling proper out and in. I don’t get a number of data right here essentially. Consider it extra as a, because the crow flies, as the way in which the info is offered on right here. And actually, I can lay down, you already know, varied factors of curiosity and such to return to a spot. If I parked my automobile, it normally leaves a parked automobile spot by default. However in case you begin at a trailhead that’s farther away, you might lay that down and return to it.
But it surely lacks within the particulars of data. You don’t get a lot in method of contour. It’s primarily only a line. It doesn’t provide you with intersecting knowledge that you just’ve gone by, trails that you just’ve handed, or something like that. It’s very a lot simply laying down a monitor as you go.
That is a type of issues that I feel from a security standpoint, is simply too sophisticated. I’d have appreciated to have seen this Compass app and the Backtrack perform like an choice to activate routinely inside a exercise. As a result of should you don’t flip it on prematurely, it doesn’t do it.
Or it’s a must to depend on a bunch of different components. You need to hope that it begins the Backtrack characteristic for you. That’s one half. The second half is as a result of it’s an app, the way in which that you just interface between this, if you’re misplaced on a path run, and also you wish to get again to the place you began, you’re bouncing out and in of those two. Okay, I’m again right here. I see how lengthy I’ve ran. I feel it was a few mile again, proper, for instance. I am going again into the Compass app. As a reference level, in case your arms are moist, or sweaty, otherwise you’re carrying gloves, all this turns into tougher to navigate by. But it surely does serve a base performance for the Backtrack. Once more, you simply wish to just remember to keep in mind to show it on.
A facet view of the Apple Watch Extremely.
Talking of maps and Backtrack, let’s speak about what I’d say might be the biggest obtrusive gap on this machine, because it stands. That’s the truth that you don’t have maps in-built. You don’t lay down a monitor as I discussed within the Compass half. There’s nowhere in these screens the place you’re getting the route that you just simply did, or are operating. That doesn’t seem wherever the place that line is laying down a breadcrumb behind you. Once more, until you utilize that Compass perform that I simply talked about.
If you find yourself operating a route, let’s use an instance right here of, let’s say I wish to do that out of doors run. Possibly I wish to run a route that I’ve achieved earlier than. There isn’t a perform of importing a GPX file to this. If you happen to get a race route or one thing alongside these traces, or buddies going out on a run collectively, and also you guys are all operating the identical route and put that in your watch. Otherwise you’re going someplace you don’t know. That’s not a base perform of the watch.
What it does have is that this potential to hint a route that you just’ve already run. You’ll be able to see right here, scrolling by, there are a few routes that from my home might be part of this that I’ve achieved previously. The set off is absolutely easy. You’ve needed to have achieved the route a number of instances, I consider twice, after which it’s a must to be near that begin spot. When you do, it presents itself.
This menu solely consists of those couple of routes right here, once I’m near the place to begin. Then when you’re in it, it solely tells you should you’re off target. It doesn’t let you know the way to get again on to it. That’s one of many main misses, I feel, because it pertains to path operating, is there isn’t a performance out of field for this machine to offer you that mapping that you really want.
Then there’s a giant a part of my day-to-day coaching that it data nicely. You’ve received the Compass app. It’s simply all sort of clunky, bouncing out and in of a few completely different locations.
Apple Watch Extremely Smartwatch Options
What I didn’t anticipate with the Apple Watch Extremely was that the smartwatch options would play fairly as huge a task as they did. I didn’t anticipate the extent of “wow” that I, for lack of a greater time period, skilled from utilizing this watch every day. I feel that’s the actual energy of that is, you already know, what it lacks in these different areas for, it makes up for within the smartwatch facet of issues. , I’ve every part I would like with me. If I wish to verify into my flight, it’s on my watch. If I wish to, discover out the place my automobile is parked, this factor remembers the place it was. It’s a smartwatch, proper, and that’s what you’re getting. You’re getting all of this actually nice — let’s name it client, or high quality of life — stuff that’s in-built, like messaging, and mindfulness. There’s simply a lot right here — Spotify, the information, I can use my electronic mail from work. There’s simply all these actually nice issues which are right here for me to benefit from, that I can look by actually simply, and see all my stuff. I can obtain these on the fly. I can take and make telephone calls by it. I will pay for meals.
Once more, what this watch lacks within the different half, I used to be mesmerized, if you’ll, with the opposite capabilities that got here in with it that I wasn’t anticipating. Whenever you evaluate that to one thing just like the Garmin equal, you understand simply how binary a majority of these gadgets are because it pertains to the smartwatch perform. These two usually are not even in the identical ballpark, proper? This could settle for a name or deny a name. This can provide me a notification that somebody despatched me a textual content. I may even learn that textual content, however I can’t actually reply in a full constancy method. I’m caught with a sure or a no, or pre-canned-type of data.
This, to me, was actually an sudden profit, I feel, of what got here out of utilizing a smartwatch. That’s that I didn’t need to have my telephone with me on a regular basis. There was a degree of freedom there that was simply sudden. Whenever you pair this with headphones for instance, it’s proper there in your wrist. Going out for my run, I can rapidly swipe over, seize my music, and join it to no matter headphones that I may need. Once more, something with Bluetooth connects proper up. I can begin listening to that, and if somebody calls, I get the decision.
Just like the workflow, or lack thereof, is fairly engaging. I’d say whilst somebody that’s in expertise, that didn’t historically use this, I used to be very a lot impressed with the mixing. You’ve received to be within the Apple ecosystem to essentially benefit from it. However lots of people in america and past are. That’s one thing to remember.
A again view of the Apple Watch Extremely.
Apple Watch Extremely Use with Exterior Apps
The very last thing that I wish to speak about is filling the hole with the Apple Watch Extremely. What do I imply by that? Effectively, I discussed the shortage of maps difficulty, and what a giant miss for me. However I discovered apps on-line that fill that hole. There are a few apps that work rather well, and the one I’ll speak about right here is WorkOutDoors.
WorkOutDoors is mainly a full-blown sport watch software. And also you get to decide on what it’s that you just’re doing. However the place this fills the hole is on this map. This map space allows you to go in your telephone, choose a location, add that map. It sends over the tiles, after which you’ll be able to add a route from beneath. We will go to settings. I can hit considered one of my routes. I’ve considered one of them on right here. The Nasty Junior is the identify of my route. I can drop that route on there. Now it’s chosen. If I head again right here to my map. Alright, we are able to see this route is on the watch. Now I can actually go right here. I can park. It’ll give me turn-by-turn instructions, the maps there, all of the stuff that was lacking earlier than, is right here.
There are a few completely different apps that use this, and there’s completely different ways in which you are able to do this. I’ve talked a complete lot about core performance. That is the distinction right here, between [the Garmin fēnix 7 — Sapphire Solar Edition] and [the Apple Watch Ultra.] If [the Garmin] doesn’t have what you need, you’re caught, proper? On the Apple watch, you may change screens. You are able to do this, you are able to do that. This factor actually has 1000’s of apps that you should use to make the machine work in a method that matches for you. The WorkOutDoors app is a major instance of how that occurs.
What I’ll level out although, is that it’s a third-party software. What meaning is that you just’re reliant on updates from this app. You’re reliant on, you already know, it sustaining the identical battery requirements because the Apple Exercise app does, and people kinds of issues. I discovered that to be the case, but it surely’s one thing to consider, as a result of it’s not the native perform of the machine to do the kinds of issues. Not less than the mapping in the way in which that that is, however should you really need a number of screens and completely different choices in your watch, I’d suggest this to take a look at. I’ve no monetary curiosity or something like that.
There’s a few different apps that permit for drawing of routes, and people kinds of issues. However this one let me get the screens I wished. It let me do the mapping that I wished, and allowed me to get nearer, if you’ll, to the Garmin, which I’ve received very snug with, due to having that map knowledge at all times obtainable. Whenever you’re off the grid, or at the least out of mobile vary, this, to me, was a sport changer when it comes to utilizing the machine.
The clock face on the Apple Watch Extremely.
Apple Watch Extremely Total Impressions
In closing, what’s my closing impression of the Apple Watch Extremely? If the query is, do you have to purchase this watch versus a high-end Garmin, Coros, Polar, or Suunto — it’s not a straightforward reply. That’s not usually the reply that individuals wish to hear.
But it surely actually is determined by what it’s that you just want. This machine has been actually nice for Monday by Friday. Once I know what I’m doing, once I know what I’m entering into, once I want to have the ability to probably take a telephone name as a result of my oldest daughter must come up with me whereas she’s watching my youngest daughter, or the varsity has to name me, or one thing occurs. I’m out and about as a result of I’ve received a free afternoon to go for a run. I can nonetheless be related to work. I can obtain a podcast. I can hearken to music. I’ve entry to do what I have to do, and nonetheless be related with out having to hold a telephone in my again pocket, or placed on a waistbelt, to have that storage.
That’s a really releasing feeling that you just simply don’t get with common GPS watches. Sure, different watches available on the market permit for notifications and light-weight interactions. However I can actually take a telephone name on this watch by placing my wrist as much as my mouth. I can have earbuds on, and I can ship out a textual content message. That could be a feeling of freedom and engagement that, on one hand, is possibly too related. However alternatively is like, Wow, I see how that is nice.
The place it misses is all of the maps. I don’t belief what it has on it for maps, the shortage of the power to place a GPX file on there and comply with a route natively, I simply don’t have the consolation in that third-party ecosystem. I need that to be a core perform of the watch. As of proper now, it isn’t.
Once more, you are able to do it. I’m certain of us will say, “You are able to do that like this.” I’ve used this app, and I did it. I simply have apprehension about it, as a result of it feels prefer it needs to be there, and it feels prefer it needs to be an even bigger a part of the bundle.
So, the place to go along with that? If you happen to’re an Apple consumer, clearly that’s a step in. If you happen to’ve been utilizing an Apple Look ahead to coaching and also you suppose, I may actually simply use higher battery life, or possibly you need one thing extra rugged, additionally an possibility. Or should you’re coming from that entry degree watch area, and now you’re attempting to suppose, Do I need this Apple Watch that’s a smartwatch, that does all these items, that may monitor my runs? Or do I need this Garmin or Coros that may monitor all my runs?
It comes all the way down to this. Would you like a sports activities watch that has some smartwatch performance, or would you like a smartwatch that has some sport watch performance?
It is a smartwatch first. You’ll be able to inform that by the way in which that you just work together with it, by the touch-first design, by bouncing out and in of apps, by the way in which that the Compass app is disconnected from the run program within the Exercise app, and it’s a must to bounce backwards and forwards if you wish to use these two independently. If it’s moist otherwise you’re sweaty, use points could include that. How typically does that occur? These are questions to remember as you’re fascinated with shopping for this.
Whereas these different watches are constructed sport first. My location is already there, the map is getting laid down as I run, and I don’t have to fret about sweating. They’ve contact, however my predominant interplay is thru buttons that I can simply navigate up and down. However then I can’t simply stroll away from the home and never take my telephone. I’ve to be related. I can’t obtain music as I’m going.
In order that’s your determination level. As a result of you may get by a extremely long-distance race utilizing this Apple Watch Extremely. You’ll be able to even use the previous battery trick, the place you plug it in when you’re going, and it retains recording. That each one is there to do and have. However how a lot fuss would you like?
For me, at this level, I’m extra of a set it and neglect it. I wish to begin my watch. I wish to know that it’s working. I need to have the ability to look down. I need to have the ability to see that my map is on the market to me. I don’t wish to have to consider, like, Did I begin this? Did I begin that? Will my battery final for twenty-four, 30 hours, no matter that quantity may be. That’s the choice level for me.
However should you’re solely doing that a couple of times a yr, then it is a fairly superior setup. That is the query: the place would you like your performance to go?
I’ll shut with this. That is model considered one of this watch. Apple is a huge firm. They’ve a market cap of shut to a few trillion {dollars}. They’ve received a number of analysis and improvement, and plenty of issues that they’ll do. In a standard Apple sense, they work their method into issues slowly, after which turn into the usual. Will that occur right here? That’s exhausting to say. However foundationally you may see the place that is going, and know that that could be a firm that has deep sufficient pockets that if they’re so fascinated about actually going all in, they’ve that potential to take action.
[Editor’s Note: Again, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 releases in September, 2023, and we’ll be testing it just as soon as we can get our hands on it. It appears that the most significant changes to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 are a new chip, new sensors, and a brighter screen. According to Apple, we’ll see the same battery life and lack of native mapping abilities in the second version.]
You may also verify our information to the Finest GPS Operating Watches to see how we in contrast the Apple Watch Extremely with different market leaders.
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Name for Feedback
So, with that mentioned, questions? Feedback? Are you utilizing a smartwatch on your coaching? Do you might have these splits that you concentrate on? What’s your machine of selection proper now and why? Go away these within the feedback beneath. Thanks for watching. We’ll catch you subsequent time.
[Editor’s Note: If you’re affiliated (i.e., an employee, ambassador, etc.) with a brand, please share your relation in each of your comments on this article. Thanks!]
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