The new Apple Watch Ultra 4 was just announced, and the suped-up outdoor adventure wearable will officially launch on September 18, 2026. If you can't wait to get your hands (or wrists) on the device, you're in luck. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is now available to preorder at multiple retailers.
The bulk of the upgrades for the Ultra 4 are internal and help bring the watch up to standards found in other devoted health and fitness trackers. The biggest improvements include longer battery life, enhanced heart rate and step tracking, and a brand-new Readiness score. The Ultra 4 will also work with a new suite of Audio Intelligence features, the most notable of which will be released later in the year.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 offers upgrades in health and fitness tracking, battery life, and more. The device will also incorporate new Audio Intelligence features, many of which launch later this year. The Ultra 4 comes in one 49mm size, offering a large screen for those hard-to-read features.
We've highlighted everything you need to know about the Ultra 4 below, including where you can preorder the device and a breakdown of all of the best new features. If you're interested in something a little bit smaller and less expensive, you can check out the new Apple Watch Series 12. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also still on sale and is the top pick for outdoor enthusiasts in our best Apple Watches guide.
How to preorder the Apple Watch Ultra 4
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 was initially made available for preorder through Apple. The device is now available to preorder on Amazon, and we expect preorders to launch at other retailers soon (including cellular providers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon). The 49mm watch starts at $799 and comes in natural and black titanium finishes.
What's the trade-in value for my current device?
If you're hoping to save some money, you can always try trading in an old device. Apple allows trade-ins on eligible items, including previous-generation Apple Watches, iPads, Macs, iPhones, and select Android devices. There's a full list of eligible devices and models on Apple's website, but you can explore the estimated maximum trade-in values for select products below:
What's new in the Apple Watch Ultra 4?
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 primarily offers internal upgrades, most notably across battery life, health and fitness tracking, and Audio Intelligence. Our team has yet to formally test the Apple Watch Ultra 4, so these facts and figures are reported by Apple. Some of these features can be found in other Apple Watch devices, including previous generations and the new Series 12. (*Denotes a forthcoming feature.)
- Readiness score: The Readiness score offers a 0-10 rating based on activity, training, vitals, and sleep. Readiness will offer suggestions, including succinct recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It.
- Longer battery life: The tagline for the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is "a battery you can't outrun," and the new device certainly puts that to the test. The Ultra 4 boasts up to 50 hours of battery life (up from 42 in Ultra 3) and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode (up from 72 hours).
- Faster charging: Like previous generations, the Ultra 4 is fast-charge capable. Now, 15 minutes of charge can get up to 18 hours of normal use (up from 12 hours in the Ultra 3), and a five-minute charge can get up to 10 hours of sleep tracking (up from 8 hours).
- Better step counting: The Ultra 4 offers improved step tracking thanks to the S11 chip and new machine learning models. In addition to improved daily step count data, this will enhance measurement accuracy for indoor walking and running workouts (e.g., on treadmills).
- Enhanced heart rate sensing: The redesigned heart sensors provide high-frequency background heart rate tracking, including continuous measurements every five seconds. HRV (Heart Rate Variability) measurements have also been improved, with readings taken up to 24 times more often each day. The watch now provides Recovery HRV and overall HRV variants, viewable in a new section of the Heart Rate app.
- Redesigned Health app*: Apple is revamping its health app, which will arrive later this year. The new Health app will be able to respond to Apple Intelligence data, including data collected from the Apple Watch, and offer detailed information in the new Insights and Longevity tabs (including a Health Age feature). There will also be new, optional integration for labs.
- Audio Intelligence*: Apple's new Audio Intelligence features work in tandem with the Apple Watch Ultra 4 to offer special perks like Sound Recognition and Shazam. Siri Recap and Live Rewind will be available in beta later this year and will require an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 16 or later (not the iPhone 16e).
- See also: Preorder Apple AirPods 5 | Best iPhone in 2026
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