Moto Watch Ultra Marks a Comeback for Wear OS

Just a few months after re-entering the smartwatch arena, Motorola is setting its sights on the premium segment with the launch of the Moto Watch Ultra. This model brings several enhancements over the previous Moto Watch, most notably the switch to Wear OS, but it falls short of the rugged features that would position it as a direct competitor to the Ultra models from other leading brands.

While the Moto Watch operated on a custom OS, the Ultra embraces Google’s Wear OS platform, powered by the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 chip. This upgrade provides the Ultra with a significant advantage, offering access to a broad array of apps, seamless integration with Android devices, and support for NFC payments via Google Wallet. It also supports Gemini and Motorola’s Qira AI assistant.

However, the trade-off comes in battery life. The Moto Watch boasted an impressive 13 days of usage, but the Ultra is expected to deliver only 50 hours, and that’s with the always-on display turned off.

Weighing in at 51g and measuring 12mm thick, the Ultra is a robust smartwatch, though its 46mm face is slightly smaller than that of the standard Moto Watch. It features a larger 1.5-inch OLED display, thanks to a reduced bezel. The stainless steel casing is available in black or silver, each bundled with two 22mm straps—one silicone and one leather. The silver variant includes green silicone and brown leather straps, while the black model comes with all-black options.

The Ultra boasts an IP68 rating, 5ATM water resistance, and Gorilla Glass 3 on the display. Health and fitness tracking is powered by a collaboration with Polar, covering heart rate, sleep, stress, SpO2, and recovery metrics, along with an AI running coach, supported by LTE and dual-band GPS. However, it lacks the extensive outdoor and extreme sports features found in the latest models from competitors, aligning more closely with standard smartwatch offerings.

Reflecting its positioning, the Moto Watch Ultra is priced at $349.99, which is about half the cost of its competitors’ Ultra models, yet more than double the price of the $149.99 Moto Watch. It will be available starting September 10th.