News · Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 4 extends workout tracking to 45 hours

The titanium sports watch adds five-second heart readings, readiness and up to 50 hours of everyday battery life for RRP A$1,349.

Hen & Mills Editorial · 3 min read · 10 September 2026

• Ultra 4 measures heart rate every five seconds and adds a zero-to-10 readiness score.
• Battery life is rated to 50 hours normally, 84 hours in Low Power Mode and 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode.
• Australian pricing starts at RRP A$1,349 including GST, with availability from 18 September.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 arrives with the same new Health Sensing System as Series 12, but pairs it with a battery specification made for much longer outings. Announced in Australia on 10 September 2026, the titanium sports watch is rated for up to 50 hours of everyday use, 84 hours in Low Power Mode and 45 hours of outdoor tracking in its most economical workout setting. It starts at RRP A$1,349 including GST.

Five-second heart readings come to Ultra

Larger, power-efficient green LEDs let the optical sensor take a heart-rate reading every five seconds throughout the day. The watch also gathers heart-rate variability data more frequently. Apple calls this its most accurate wearable heart-rate system, a claim that belongs to the company, but the operational change is plain: Ultra 4 gathers passive readings at a far tighter interval and can show the current rate through an updated app or watch-face complication.

Ultra 4 also receives Apple's new readiness score. It analyses recent activity, training load, vital signs and sleep score, producing a zero-to-10 result with one of four recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready or Go For It. The score updates as new data arrives, including after a demanding workout or a change in daytime vitals. It is intended to frame a training decision, not make a medical diagnosis.

The battery figures split by use

Apple rates Ultra 4 for up to 50 hours in everyday use and 84 hours in Low Power Mode. Its new Extended Workout mode is quoted at up to 25 hours while retaining full GPS and heart-rate readings. Max Extended Workout mode stretches outdoor run, walk and hike tracking to 45 hours, with GPS readings every second. The hierarchy matters: the longest figure is not the setting with the richest sensor schedule, so buyers should match the number to their actual tracking needs.

Charging is quicker too. A 15-minute connection is rated to add up to 18 hours, enough on paper to recover from a forgotten overnight charge before a normal day. Battery results will change with mobile coverage, temperature, configuration and use, and Apple's figures come from pre-production hardware and software. Even with those qualifications, the combination of 50-hour everyday endurance and a short top-up is a meaningful practical step for the Ultra line.

Titanium stays, bands change colour

The case is available in natural or black titanium. Apple's launch imagery pairs those finishes with updated Trail Loop, Alpine Loop and Ocean Band colours, including a translucent kelp Ocean Band. The orange-ringed crown, raised crown guard and Action button preserve the recognisable Ultra layout. This release does not try to make the watch dressier or smaller. Its proposition remains a large, high-end Apple Watch built around long workouts and outdoor visibility.

Inside is Apple's S11 chip, which powers the Health Sensing System and new Audio Intelligence functions arriving later in 2026. Apple lists Live Rewind, Siri Recap, Sound Recognition and faster Shazam, with some functions requiring an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone and initially arriving in beta. Those future features carry compatibility and regional qualifications. The launch-day case is stronger when kept to the available improvements: sensing cadence, readiness, battery life and faster charging.

Who the Ultra 4 is for

The distinction from Series 12 is not the readiness score, because both watches have it. Ultra 4 earns its premium through the titanium construction and endurance modes. A runner, hiker or expedition user can choose between full GPS and heart-rate collection for 25 hours or the longer 45-hour mode. For anyone whose exercise rarely exceeds a few hours, Series 12 offers much of the new sensing story at less than half the starting price.

The choice of workout mode deserves attention before an event. Full GPS and heart-rate readings carry the shorter 25-hour claim, while Max Extended Workout reaches 45 hours by changing how the watch manages energy. Apple still specifies one-second GPS readings in that longest mode, but users should confirm which other measurements and connected features remain active before treating the headline duration as a universal setting.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 price and availability

Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at RRP A$1,349 including GST in Australia. Pre-orders opened on 10 September and retail availability begins on Friday, 18 September 2026. Natural and black titanium cases are offered with several band choices, so the final price can vary by configuration. Apple also announced an Hermès edition, but it is a separate proposition and is not the subject of the specifications or entry price here.